Honda Hru Manual
We bought a used Honda HR214 in 1991, and it's been great.I have no idea how old it really is. Still starts on the first pull and just does what it's supposed to do. A couple of weeks ago, however, whatever allows the rear wheels to free wheel when the mower is pulled backwards locks up whether the engine is running or not. There is 3/16-3/8 play in the drive clutch lever as per the manual. Other than the blade, nothing has been touched under the deck since we bought it. I thought I'd take a look at the transmission and ran into chunks of deck missing, a rusty axle, bolts that don't want to break loose, floppy axle bearings.
Do the Honda people have any recommendations?? I have had an HR214SX since 1983. I say FIX IT! The problem with the wheel locking up is just a part right behind the wheel- called a 'rachet' and it is $20.00. But it might only need cleaning and lubrication.
There are a couple of 'dogs' in there that cause the part to ratchet one way and lock up the other. The replacement axle bearings are about $18.00 each. Doing these repairs is worth the money, as a new mower will cost you a lot more, and wont last nearly as long. Sadly, new hondas are not near the quality, except maybe the commercial models (@ $1,200.00 each!) AND, you will save this one from the dump, making you 'green', and satisfied you did the work yourself. If the chunks out of the deck have not bothered you to date, they probably wont bother you any time soon.
The rusty bolts can be freed with good penetrating oil and TIME- get some Seafoam Deep Creep at AutoZone. Let the bolts soak a day or so. The engine on the HR214 is practically bulletproof. Probably the best engine ever put on a lawnmower. It will likely last for years to come. If it starts to smoke, then rebuild it! And when was the last time you replaced the belt on this mower????
Honda Hru 196
Here is a link that might be useful. First of all, I hope all of you previous 'posters' read this.The older honda mowers (with exception to the commercials) WERE the best ever built. Honda pretty much built themselves out of the lawn mower business, that's why those older 'good' ones aren't built anymore. They weren't making money on them because they'd never break and last forever. I'm using 2 HR214SX's (ORIGINAL RECEIPTS/OWNERS MANUAL FROM 1988) and 2 HRC216HRX's (commercial, 1 FROM 1995 AND 1 NEWER ONE) for my lawn business. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER.
Let me just mention, lonestar245 is right on the money, except for one thing.the HR214's don't have belts, the self propel is shaft driven, so don't spend your whole day looking for belts to adjust/replace, cause you won't find any. Those ratchet things are the problem to the hard wheels, as mentioned before. I'm showing Part# 23510-VB5-803 for the right and Part# 23520-VB5-803 for the left, $20.14 each. Pull off the wheel and there it is.schematic listed below: Hope this helps.
Honda Hrv Manual
You can look up all of the schematics on that website and you can even rebuilt the mechanical tranny by looking at the picture if you're mechanically inclined. Don't waste your money on the HRR/HRX mowers from Home Depot. They're crap (that's why Honda builds them so you'll be back for a new one 5 years down the road). And if you thought 20+ years was bad for the tranny on your HR214, you'll be even more disappointed when the belt driven Hondas they're making now go out after 5 years.