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9

Starting the Engine

The blades turn when you start the engine. Start the engine in a clear 
or mowed area where the blades can turn freely.

1. Turn the fuel valve to the ON position (

page 3

).

2. Pull back on the blade control 

lever and hold it against the 
handlebar.

3. Pull the starter grip lightly until 

you feel resistance, and then pull 

briskly. Return the starter grip 

gently.

4. 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 stopping the 
engine. This minimum run time 
will be longer if the temperature 
is below 70 °F (21 °C).

Stopping the Engine

1. Release the blade 

control lever to stop the 

engine and blade 
rotation.

2. When you finish 

mowing, turn the fuel 

valve OFF.

3. If your mower will not be 

used for 3 to 4 weeks, 
we recommend running 
the engine’s carburetor 
out of fuel. You can do 
this by leaving the fuel 
valve OFF, restarting the engine and running it until it stops. See 
“AVOIDING FUEL-RELATED PROBLEMS” on 

page 19

 if you don’t 

plan to use your mower for a month or more.

4. Clean your mower after each mowing; refer to “Cleaning” on 

page 15

.

Mowing Tips

When to Mow 

Most grasses should be mowed when they have grown ½ to 1 in 
(12 ~ 25 mm) above their recommended height. More frequent 
mowing is required for mulching than for bagging. For best mulching 
results, you may need to mow the lawn twice a week during the 
growing season.

Cutting Height 

Consult a local nursery or lawn and garden center for cutting height 
recommendations and advice about specific types of grasses and 
growing conditions in your area.
Most grass has stems and leaves. If you cut off the leaves, you’ll scalp 
the lawn. Let the grass recover between mowings. Your mower will 
work better, and your lawn will look better.
Cutting grass that is too tall or mowing the lawn too quickly can clog 
the mower deck with grass and may cause the engine to stall. If your 
grass gets too tall, cut it once at the highest cutting height setting 
using a slow ground speed, then mow again in 2 or 3 days. Don’t take 
off more than one third of the total grass height in any one mowing, or 
brown patches may develop. Cutting height adjustment is explained 
on 

page 6

.

Cutting Width 

For an even lawn finish, overlap each mowing swath by a few inches. 
If the grass is very tall or thick, use more overlap and a narrower 
mowing swath.

Blade Speed 

The blades must spin very fast to cut properly. If engine speed drops, 
it could mean the engine is being overloaded by the blades trying to 
cut too much grass. Mow a narrower swath, move the mower slower, 
use the rear discharge chute, or raise the cutting height.

Blade Sharpness 

A sharp blade cuts cleanly. A dull blade tears the grass, leaving 
shredded ends that turn brown. When your blades don’t cut cleanly 
anymore, have them sharpened or replaced.

Dry Grass 

If the ground is too dry, mowing will stir up a lot of dust. Besides being 
unpleasant to work in, too much dust will clog the air filter. If dust is a 
problem, water your lawn the day before mowing. Mow when the 
grass is dry to your touch, but the soil is still moist.

Wet Grass

Wet grass is slippery and can make you lose your footing. Also, wet 
grass clippings will clog the mower deck and collect in clumps on the 
lawn. Always wait for wet grass to dry before mowing.

Fallen Leaves 

When equipped with the grass bag, your mower can be used to pick 
up fallen leaves for disposal. If using the mower to bag large amounts 
of fallen leaves, and not for mowing, set the cutting height adjustment 
levers so the front of the mower deck is one or two settings higher 
than the rear. 
If you want to mulch fallen leaves into your lawn, don’t let the leaf 
cover get too deep before you begin. For best results, start mulching 
while grass still shows through the leaf cover. In places where fallen 
leaves completely cover the grass, remove the leaves by raking, or 
install a grass bag, so your mower can pick them up for disposal. 
Collecting leaves while they are damp will help to control dust and 
result in more effective mulching of the leaves. You can also shred 
leaves using the Clip Director; se

page 5

 for details.

Clogged Mower Deck 

Before clearing a clogged mower deck, stop the engine and turn the 
fuel valve to the OFF position. With the spark plug cap disconnected, 
tilt the mower so the carburetor side is up.
Clear a clogged deck with a stick, not your hands.

Mowing Patterns 

Your Honda mower will work most efficiently if you use the following 
mowing patterns as much as possible. Mower deck and equipment 
design, and the direction in which the blade rotates, cause these 
mowing patterns to provide the best results.

Mulching

Use a counterclockwise mowing 

pattern. If the lawn has an 

irregular shape, or many 

obstacles, divide it into sections 

where you can use 

counterclockwise patterns.

Bagging

Use a clockwise mowing pattern. 

This will give the best bagging 

performance, leaving the least 

amount of clippings on the lawn.

BLADE 
CONTROL 
LEVER

STARTER 
GRIP

BLADE CONTROL LEVER

MULCHING PATTERN

BAGGING PATTERN

Summary of Contents for HRX217VKAA

Page 1: ...ble Adjustment 15 Specifications 18 Check Your Mowing Area 4 TRANSPORTING 15 AVOIDING FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS 19 Clip Director 5 STORAGE 15 CUSTOMER INFORMATION 20 Rear Shield 5 Fuel 15 Parts Accessories and Service Items 20 Grass Bag 6 Cleaning 15 Dealer Locator Information 20 Cutting Height Adjustment 6 Oil 15 How to Contact Honda 20 Check the Oil Level 6 Storage Location 15 Honda Publications 20 ...

Page 2: ...Message to Parents The safety of your children is very important to Honda Lawn mowers are tools not toys As with any equipment bad judgments can result in serious injuries Your child must be big enough strong enough and have the coordination necessary to comfortably reach and operate the controls Anyone who takes unnecessary risks and doesn t obey rules should not operate this lawn mower Safety La...

Page 3: ...les on each handle stay Setting the adjust knobs in the lowest holes raises the handlebar to its highest position 3 Turn the handlebar adjust knobs 90 degrees into the lock position making sure both sides are positioned at the same height 4 Remove all the cardboard from around the handlebar BLADE CONTROL LEVER P 8 REAR DISCHARGE GUARD P 5 FUEL TANK CAP P 7 MUFFLER P 14 OIL FILLER CAP P 13 HANDLEBA...

Page 4: ...derstand this manual Know what the controls do and how to operate them Familiarize yourself with the lawn mower and its operation before you begin using it Know how to quickly shut off the lawn mower in case of an emergency Check Your Mower For your safety and to maximize the service life of your lawn mower it is very important to take a few moments before you operate the lawn mower to check its c...

Page 5: ... of the lawn As the knob is moved towards the MULCH position more grass will be recycled back into the lawn Adjust the Clip Director knob until the desired result is achieved Rear Discharge To discharge clippings to the rear remove the grass bag and position the Clip Director knob in the BAG range Maximum rear discharge will occur when the Clip Director knob is all the way to the left BAG position...

Page 6: ...djusting the cutting height To adjust cutting height pull each adjustment lever toward the wheel and move it into another notch Move all four adjustment levers to the same position forward for tall grass and rearward for short grass If you are not sure what cutting height to select start with a high setting and check the appearance of the lawn after mowing a small area Then readjust the cutting he...

Page 7: ...s Most injuries and property damage with walk behind mowers can be prevented if you follow all instructions in this manual and on the mower The most common hazards are discussed below along with the best way to protect yourself and others Avoid Rotating Blades Rotating blades can cause serious cuts and even amputate fingers hands toes or feet Keep away from the mower deck whenever the engine is ru...

Page 8: ...maged by accidental impact collision Operating the Controls Blade Control Lever The blade control lever must be pulled back against the handlebar to start and run the engine The blades start to rotate when the lever is pulled back against the handlebar and the recoil starter grip is pulled Continue to hold the lever fully against the handlebar This will keep the engine and blades rotating smoothly...

Page 9: ...ry fast to cut properly If engine speed drops it could mean the engine is being overloaded by the blades trying to cut too much grass Mow a narrower swath move the mower slower use the rear discharge chute or raise the cutting height Blade Sharpness A sharp blade cuts cleanly A dull blade tears the grass leaving shredded ends that turn brown When your blades don t cut cleanly anymore have them sha...

Page 10: ...ntenance Safety Some of the most important safety precautions follow However we cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in performing maintenance Only you can decide whether or not you should perform a given task Safety Precautions Make sure the engine is off before you begin any maintenance or repairs This will eliminate several potential hazards Carbon monoxide poisoning from ...

Page 11: ...each use 5 hours of use or first month First 25 hours of use 50 hours of use or every 6 months 100 hours of use or every year 150 hours of use or every two years See page Rear shield Check O 5 Blades Inspect O 12 Blade mounting bolts Inspect O 12 Engine oil Check O 6 Change O O 2 O O 13 Air filter Check O 13 Clean O 1 O 1 O 1 Replace O Grass bag Check O 6 Blade control operation Check O O 14 Spark...

Page 12: ... wrench Use a wooden block to prevent the blades from turning when removing the bolts Remove the blades 5 Clean dirt and grass from around the blade mounting area 6 Install the sharpened or replacement blades using the two blade bolts and special washers as shown below Be sure to install the washers in the direction shown Always install both blades as a set The blade bolts and washers are speciall...

Page 13: ... life Always change the oil in accordance with the Maintenance Schedule page 11 Recommended oil for general use SAE 10W 30 Other viscosities shown in the chart may be used when the average temperature in your area is within the recommended range The SAE oil viscosity and service category are in the API label on the oil container Honda recommends API service category SJ or later oil Air Filter Clea...

Page 14: ...If installing a new spark plug tighten 1 2 turn after the spark plug seats Spark plug torque 14 ft lb 20 N m NOTICE A loose spark plug can overheat and damage the engine Overtightening the spark plug can damage the threads in the cylinder head 7 Install the spark plug cap on the spark plug Spark Arrester optional part The spark arrester must be serviced every 100 hours to keep it functioning as de...

Page 15: ...cool before washing Before washing the underside of the mower deck stop the engine and turn the fuel valve to the OFF position Rest the mower on its right side so the fuel cap side is up This will help to prevent fuel leakage and hard starting due to carburetor flooding Wear heavy gloves to protect your hands from the blades Be careful to avoid getting water into controls and cables Engine Allow t...

Page 16: ...install the spark plug Fuel filter clogged carburetor malfunction ignition malfunction valves stuck etc Take the mower to an authorized Honda servicing dealer for repair UNLOCKED Possible Cause Correction Grass is too tall Raise the cutting height Cut a narrower swath Use a slower ground speed Cut more frequently Grass is too wet Allow the grass to dry Mower deck is clogged Clean out the mower dec...

Page 17: ...Acts and Environment and Climate Change Canada ECCC U S EPA California and Canadian regulations require all manufacturers to furnish written instructions describing the operation and maintenance of emissions control systems The following instructions and procedures must be followed in order to keep the emissions from your Honda engine within the emissions standards Tampering and Altering NOTICE Ta...

Page 18: ...an 80 cc 1000 hours 225 cc and greater HRX217K6VKAA HRX217K6VKPA Honda rotary mower 21 inch mower deck Clip Director Select Drive variable speed transmission Auto Choke System Length 63 4 in 1 610 mm Width 23 1 in 588 mm Overall height 42 2 in 1 073 mm Dry mass 89 1 lb 40 4 kg Cutting width 20 9 in 530 mm Cutting heights 7 3 4 4 in 19 101 mm 1 1 4 inch 32 mm cutting height and handle in highest po...

Page 19: ...t before each use A properly maintained air filter will help prevent dirt from entering the carburetor The small passages inside the carburetor can become blocked 3 to 4 Weeks Before Next Use Reason Keep your lawn mower s fuel tank full of fresh fuel when not in use Turn the fuel valve OFF If the fuel tank is only partially filled air in the tank will promote fuel deterioration Turn the fuel valve...

Page 20: ...ications 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 Shop Manual This manual covers complete maintenance and ove...

Page 21: ...is written limited warranty Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental 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 T...

Page 22: ...warranty repairs and must be provided without charge to the owner A list of warranted parts is shown in the table below All emission related parts are under warranty for the remainder of the warranty period Normal maintenance items such as spark plugs and filters that are on the warranted parts list are warranted up to their required replacement interval only Honda will also replace other engine c...

Page 23: ... to any other company or organization Failure to register your lawn mower does not diminish your warranty rights Please complete and mail the postage paid card scan the QR code or register online at powerequipment honda com reg as shown on the next page Print your 7 digit serial number here example Scan this QR code to register your lawn mower commercial rental users check one private homeowner us...

Page 24: ... 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 2 Enter your serial number and then click Submit Register Your Product Online HPE 2022 01 PRINTED IN U S A EM5 K6 ...

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