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INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your selection of a Honda lawn mower! We are 
certain you will be pleased with your purchase of one of the finest 
lawn mowers on the market.

We want to help you get the best results from your new mower and to 
operate it safely. This manual contains the information on how to do 
that; please read it carefully.

We suggest you read the 

DISTRIBUTOR’S LIMITED WARRANTY

 

(

page 20

) and 

EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WARRANTY

 

(

page 21

) to fully understand coverage and your responsibilities of 

ownership.

When your mower needs scheduled maintenance, keep in mind that 
an authorized Honda servicing dealer is specially trained in servicing 
Honda mowers and is supported by the parts and service divisions of 
American Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction 
and will be pleased to answer your questions and concerns.

Keep this owner’s manual handy, so you can refer to it at any time. 
This owner’s manual is considered a permanent part of the lawn 
mower and should remain with the lawn mower if resold.

The information and specifications included in this publication were in 
effect at the time of approval for printing. American Honda Motor Co., 
Inc. reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change 
specifications or design at any time without notice and without 
incurring any obligation whatever. No part of this publication may be 
reproduced without written permission.

SAFETY MESSAGES

Your safety and the safety of others are very important. We have 
provided important safety messages in this manual and on the 
mower. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt 
you or others. Please read these messages carefully.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the 
hazards associated with operating or maintaining a lawn mower. You 
must use your own good judgment.

You will find important safety information in a variety of forms:

Safety Labels

 – on the lawn mower.

Instructions

 – how to use this mower correctly and safely.

Safety Messages

 – preceded by a safety alert 

 symbol and one 

of three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION. These 
signal words mean:

Each message tells you what the hazard is, what can happen, and 
what you can do to avoid or reduce injury.

Damage Prevention Messages

 – You will also see other 

important messages that are preceded by the word NOTICE. This 
word means:

CONTENTS*



DANGER

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY 
HURT if you don't follow instructions.



WARNING

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY 
HURT if you don't follow instructions.



CAUTION

You CAN be HURT if you don't follow 
instructions.

NOTICE

Your engine or other property can be 
damaged if you don’t follow instructions.

INTRODUCTION ............................... 1

SAFETY MESSAGES........................ 1

LAWN MOWER SAFETY .................. 2

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO 
PARENTS ..................................... 2
SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS ...... 2

SETTING UP YOUR NEW MOWER . 3

CONTROL LOCATIONS ................... 4

BEFORE OPERATION...................... 4

IS YOUR LAWN MOWER 
READY TO GO? ........................... 4
GET THE MOWER READY.......... 5

OPERATION...................................... 7

SAFE OPERATING 

PRECAUTIONS .......................... 7

STARTING THE ENGINE............. 7
OPERATING THE CONTROLS 
FOR MOWING.............................. 7
STOPPING THE ENGINE ............ 8
SAFE MOWING PRACTICES ...... 8

SERVICING YOUR LAWN MOWER . 9

MAINTENANCE SAFETY............. 9
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE ....... 9
BLADES...................................... 10
GRASS BAG CLEANING AND 
REPLACEMENT ......................... 11
ENGINE MAINTENANCE ........... 11

SMART DRIVE CABLE 

CHECK/ADJUSTMENT ............ 13

REFUELING ............................... 13

TRANSPORTING ............................ 14

STORAGE ....................................... 14

TAKING CARE OF UNEXPECTED 
PROBLEMS..................................... 16

TECHNICAL INFORMATION .......... 17

SERIAL NUMBER LOCATIONS. 17
CARBURETOR 
MODIFICATION FOR HIGH 
ALTITUDE OPERATION ............ 17
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM 17
AIR INDEX.................................. 18
SPECIFICATIONS...................... 18

CONSUMER INFORMATION ......... 19

REPLACEMENT PARTS, 
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT, AND 
SERVICE ITEMS ........................ 19
DEALER LOCATOR 
INFORMATION........................... 19
CUSTOMER SERVICE 
INFORMATION........................... 19
DISTRIBUTOR'S LIMITED 
WARRANTY ............................... 20
EMISSION CONTROL 
SYSTEM WARRANTY ............... 21

PRODUCT REGISTRATION 
CARD .................................Last page

*For information regarding how to mow your lawn, see FAQs at www.HondaPow-
erEquipment.com

OWNER’S MANUAL

HRR216VYA

 

WARNING

:  

The engine exhaust from this product contains 

chemicals known to the State of California to cause 

cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.

© 2005–2012 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.—All Rights Reserved

31VL0B410
00X31-VL0-B410

 POM31VL0B410

HPE.2012.04

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

EM5

K8

Click here to save 

this manual to your 

computer.

Summary of Contents for HRR216VYA

Page 1: ... safely Safety Messages preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of three signal words DANGER WARNING or CAUTION These signal words mean Each message tells you what the hazard is what can happen and what you can do to avoid or reduce injury Damage Prevention Messages You will also see other important messages that are preceded by the word NOTICE This word means CONTENTS DANGER You WILL be KILLED ...

Page 2: ...tting your child operate this lawn mower Lawn mowers are tools not toys As with any equipment bad judgments can result in serious injuries You can help prevent injuries by making good decisions about if when and how your child operates this equipment The first question you ll need to ask is whether your child is capable of operating this mower safely Remember young people vary widely and AGE IS NO...

Page 3: ...e engine is overfilled the excess oil may get transferred to the air cleaner housing and air cleaner After filling the engine with oil remove the hang tag near the recoil starter grip that says The engine has no oil A container of oil is in the shipping box Fuel Refer to page 13 Before Using Your Lawn Mower Before using the lawn mower all mower operators must read the following sections LAWN MOWER...

Page 4: ...il level page 11 Check the fuel level page 13 Starting with a full tank will help to eliminate or reduce operating interruptions for refueling CHECK YOUR MOWING AREA For your safety and the safety of others always inspect the area before operating the lawn mower Objects Anything that can be picked up by the blades and thrown is a potential hazard to you and others Look for things like stones stick...

Page 5: ...The mulching plug helps to curve the inside of the mower deck for more efficient mulching Install and remove the mulching plug by raising the discharge guard as shown The mulching plug only fits one way Remove the mulching plug when using a grass bag Grass Bag A lawn mower works like a vacuum cleaner it blows air through the bag which traps the grass clippings Always empty the grass bag before it ...

Page 6: ...he discharge guard Check the rear shield for cracks or tears If the rear shield is excessively worn have it replaced by your authorized Honda servicing dealer Cutting Height Adjustment The cutting height figures are approximate The actual height of cut grass will vary with lawn and soil conditions To adjust the cutting height pull each adjustment lever toward the wheel and move it into another not...

Page 7: ...rip gently 4 Set the throttle lever at FAST to mow or at SLOW to idle To ensure easy restarting and maximum performance from the Auto Choke System allow the engine to run for at least three minutes after starting a cold engine before shutting down This minimum run time will be longer if the temperature is below 70 F 21 C OPERATING THE CONTROLS FOR MOWING Throttle Lever For best cut quality always ...

Page 8: ...opes Mow across slopes not up and down Avoid steep slopes more than 20 and be careful when changing direction Mowing on a slope when the grass is damp or wet could cause you to slip fall and lose control of the mower Obstacles Use the side of the mower to cut close to large obstacles such as fences or walls Release the Smart Drive control to disengage the drive when mowing around trees and other o...

Page 9: ...or explosion be careful when working around gasoline Use only a nonflammable solvent not gasoline to clean parts Keep cigarettes sparks and flames away from all fuel related parts MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE 1 Service more frequently when used in dusty areas 2 These items should be serviced by an authorized Honda servicing dealer unless you have the proper tools and are mechanically proficient Refer to t...

Page 10: ...he spark plug cap page 12 and then tilt the mower to the right side from the operator s point of view so the fuel filler cap is up page 10 2 Remove the two blade bolts with a 14 mm 6 sided wrench or socket Use a wooden block to prevent the blades from turning when removing the bolts 3 Remove the blades Installation 1 Clean dirt and grass from around the blade mounting area 2 Install both blades us...

Page 11: ...ilter NOTICE Running the engine with a low oil level can cause engine damage This type of damage is not covered by the DISTRIBUTOR S LIMITED WARRANTY page 20 4 Screw in the filler cap dipstick securely Engine Oil Recommendations Oil is a major factor affecting performance and service life Use 4 stroke automotive detergent oil Always change the oil in accordance with the MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE page 9...

Page 12: ...ace it if damaged 4 Clean the filter by tapping it several times on a hard surface to remove dirt or blow compressed air not exceeding 30 psi 207 kPa through the filter from the inside Never try to brush off dirt brushing will force dirt into the fibers 5 Using a moist rage wipe dirt from the inside of the air cleaner housing and cover Be careful to prevent dirt from entering the air duct that lea...

Page 13: ...e revolutions Tighten the jam nut to lock the adjuster in place REFUELING This engine is certified to operate on unleaded gasoline with a pump octane rating of 86 or higher We recommend refueling after each use to minimize the air present in the fuel tank Refuel in a well ventilated area with the engine stopped If the engine has been running allow it to cool first Never refuel the engine inside a ...

Page 14: ...d so the mower will take up less space page 15 STORAGE PREPARING FOR STORAGE Proper storage preparation is essential for keeping your lawn mower trouble free and looking good The following steps will help to keep rust and corrosion from impairing your lawn mower s function and appearance and will make the engine easier to start when you use the lawn mower again Cleaning Engine Wash the engine by h...

Page 15: ...e lack of fuel in the carburetor fuel bowl Running time should be less than 3 minutes Long Term or Seasonal Storage greater than 90 days Start the engine and allow it to run long enough to empty all the gasoline from the entire fuel system including the fuel tank Do not allow gasoline to remain in your engine for more than 90 days of inactivity Engine Oil Change the engine oil page 11 Engine Cylin...

Page 16: ...treating gasoline or refueled with bad gasoline Refuel with fresh gasoline page 13 Fuel filter clogged carburetor malfunction ignition malfunction valves stuck etc Take the mower to an authorized Honda servicing dealer for repair POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION Grass and debris lodged under the mower deck Clean out the mower deck page 14 Blades loose bent damaged or unbalanced by improper sharpening Tig...

Page 17: ...sions of carbon monoxide oxides of nitrogen and hydrocarbons Additionally Honda fuel systems utilize components and control technologies to reduce evaporative emissions The U S California Clean Air Act and Environment Canada EPA California and Canadian regulations require all manufacturers to furnish written instructions describing the operation and maintenance of emissions control systems The fol...

Page 18: ...ge 12 Maximum Governed Speed 2 950 3 100 rpm Shop manual Smart Drive Cable Adjust for proper operation page 13 Throttle Cable Adjust for proper operation and maximum governed speed Shop manual Blade Bolt Torque 36 43 ft lb 49 59 N m page 10 Do not try to increase the engine speed above the maximum governed speed the blades could fracture and come apart See the FAQ section of the Honda Power Equipm...

Page 19: ...dress and telephone number A detailed description of the problem Honda Publications These publications will give you additional information for maintaining and repairing your lawn mower Shop Manual This manual covers complete maintenance and overhaul procedures It is intended to be used by a skilled technician Available through your Honda dealer or visit www HondaPowerEquipment com and click on Pr...

Page 20: ...or consequential damages so the above exclusions and limitations may not apply to you This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state Honda Parts Accessories and Apparel This warranty is limited to Honda Power Equipment parts accessories and apparel when distributed by American Honda Motor Co Inc 4900 Marconi Drive Alpharetta Georgia ...

Page 21: ...da approved replacement parts may be used in the performance of any warranty repairs and must be provided without charge to the owner The use of replacement parts not equivalent to the original parts may impair the effectiveness of your engine emission control system If such a replacement part is used in the repair or maintenance of your engine and an authorized Honda dealer determines it is defec...

Page 22: ...NOTES ...

Page 23: ...ONLINE www HondaPowerEquipment com commercial rental users check one private homeowner use for hire use Owner s Last Name Company Name Address City Date of Purchase First Name Telephone State ZIP Code Application Commercial Non commercial Rental y R Serial number professional use Dealer Store ZIP code Dealer Store number If available MONTH YEAR DAY E mail address Dear Honda Customer Thank you for ...

Page 24: ...t It s that simple You ll receive e mail confirmation of your registration Power Equipment Division American Honda Motor Co Inc 4900 Marconi Dr Alpharetta GA 30005 9956 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES Product Registration BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS MAIL ALPHARETTA GA PERMIT NO 117 POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE ...

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