Honda HRB215SDA, HRM215PDA, HRM215SDA Owner's Manual

INTRODUCTIONI

. A FEW WORDS ABOUT SAFETY

Your safety, and the safety of others, are very important. And using

this lawn mower safely is an important responsibility. To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided

operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.

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,

including:

l Safety Labels - on the lawn mower.

0 Safety Messages -

preceded by a safety alert symbol m and

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

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY

HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY

HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow

instructions.

l Safety Headings -

such as Important Safety Reminders or

Important Safety Precautions.

l Safety Chapter -

0 Instructions

such as MOWER SAFETY.

- how to use this mower correctly and safely.

This entire book is filled with important safety information - please

read it carefully.

Turn to the beginning of each chapter for a complete list of subjects.

MOWER SAFETY.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Important information about some specific hazards, and what you can do to prevent injury.

CONTROLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Identification of components and information about how the controls work.

BEFORE OPERATION

How to fuel and check your mower to be sure it is ready. How to prepare your lawn and yourself before you begin mowing.

OPERATION

Starting and stopping the engine, safe mowing practices, and mowing tips.

TRANSPORTING

How to load and carry your mower safely.

MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

When and how to perform routine inspection, service, and adjustments to keep your mower in good operating condition.

TROUBLESHOOTING . .

What to check if you have a problem with your mower.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How to protect your mower from rust and corrosion,

and ensure that it will start easily when you want to use

it again.

SPECIFICATIONS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Dimensions, capacities, and other technical information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Additional information, Honda publications available to you, warranty, and how to contact us if you have a

question or a warranty repair problem.

INDEX......................................... 87

QUICK REFERENCE INFORMATION . . . inside back cover

MOWER SAFETY

This chapter explains what you need to know to operate your mower safely.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Avoid Rotating Blades. Clear Mowing Area

Keep Shields in Place

Refuel with Care Wear Protective Clothing. Turn Engine Off When Not Mowing.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS.

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6 6 6 6 6 6

7 8

MOWER SAFETY

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Most accidents with walk-behind mowers can be prevented if you follow all instructions in this manual and on the mower. The most common hazards, according to accident statistics, 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 running. If you need to adjust the cutting height, or work around the deck for any other reason, always shut off the engine. Wear heavy gloves and disconnect the spark plug cap when you

need to clean the mower deck or handle the blade(s).

Clear Mowing Area

Mower blades can throw rocks and other objects with enough force to

cause serious injury. Before mowing, carefully inspect the area and

remove all sticks, stones, pieces of wire, and other loose objects.

Never operate the blade(s) over gravel.

Keep Shields in Place

Guards and shields are designed to protect you from being hit by

thrown objects and from hot engine parts and moving components.

For your safety and the safety of others, keep all shields in place

when the engine is running.

Refuel with Care

Gasoline is extremely flammable and gasoline vapor can explode. Refuel only outdoors, in a well-ventilated area, with the engine OFF. Never smoke near gasoline, and keep other flames and sparks away. Always store gasoline in an approved container.

Wear Protective Clothing

Wearing protective clothing will reduce your risk of injury. Long pants and eye protection reduce the risk of injuries from thrown objects.

Sturdy shoes with aggressive soles will help protect your feet and give you better traction on slopes or uneven ground.

Turn Engine Off When Not Mowing

If you need to leave the mower for any reason, even just to inspect

the lawn ahead, always turn the engine OFF.

MOWER SAFETY

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS

YOUR CHILDREN’S SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT to Honda. That’s why we urge you to read this message before letting your youngster 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 accidents by making good decisions about if, when, and how your youngster operates this equipment.

The first question you’ll need to ask is whether your youngster is capable of operating this mower safely. Remember, young people vary widely, and AGE IS NOT THE ONLY FACTOR.

Physically, a youngster must be LARGE ENOUGH AND STRONG ENOUGH to easily start the mower and control its direction. The

youngster also needs enough size, strength, and coordination to

comfortably reach and operate the controls. Another, tougher question you need to ask is if your youngster has

enough MATURITY AND RESPONSIBILITY to safely operate this mower. Does the young person think through problems and come to logical solutions? Be honest! Anyone who takes unnecessary risks and doesn’t obey rules should not operate this lawn mower.

If you decide that your son or daughter can handle the mower safely, CAREFULLY READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL with your youngster. Make sure you both understand all instructions and safety

information. Also, be sure your youngster wears sturdy shoes and other protective clothing when operating or handling the mower.

SUPERVISION is also very important. Walk with your youngster during the first few minutes of mowing. Even after the youngster has

become confident with the mower, do not let the young person use the mower without good adult supervision. An adult should also be

present during refueling and maintenance. In fact, it’s up to parents to

make sure that the mower is properly maintained and kept in safe

operating condition.

By always placing safety first, your youngster will acquire useful skills

and a sense of accomplishment. And you’ll both get the best results from your lawn mower.

MOWER SAFETY

SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS

The labels shown here contain important safety information. Please read them carefully. These labels are considered permanent parts of your mower. So if a label comes off or becomes hard to read, contact an authorized Honda dealer for a replacement.

(HRB215)

UNDER NORMAL USAGE, THIS GAG MATERIAL IS

SHOULD BE CHECKED FREQUENTLY FOR BAG REPLACEMENT. THIS BAG CONFORMS TO A.N.S.I. STANDARD 671.1. ANY REPLACEMENT

CONTROLS

This chapter shows the locations of controls and other important parts of your mower, and it tells you how the controls work.

COMPONENT iDENTiFiCATiON DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS.

FuelValve ....................................

ThrottleLever .................................

Flywheel Brake Lever Drive Clutch Lever (SDA). Shift Lever (SDA).

Cutting Height Adjustment Levers.

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10 12

12 12

13 14

CONTROLS

COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION

DRIVE CLUTCH

LEVER (SIDA)

/ ’

J-N -\

GRIP

GRASS BAG (HRB215)

FLYWHEEL BRAKE LEVER

, HANDLEBAR

SHIFT LEVER

THROlTLE LEVER

DISCHARGE GUARD

/ FUEL TANK CAP

REAR CUlTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER

OIL FILLER CAP

MUFFLER’

MOWER DECK

HRB215K3PDA: Manually propelled, high-lift blade, and grass bag. HRB215K3SDA: Self-propelled, high-lift blade, and grass bag.

HRM215K3PDA: Manually propelled, mulching blades, and mulching plug.

HRM215K3SDA: Self-propelled, mulching blades, and mulching plug.

FRONT CUlTlNG HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVERS

ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER (on back of engine)

SPARK PLUG CAP

FLYWHEEL BRAKE LEVER

FRAME SERIAL NUMBER

CONTROLS

REAR CUlTlNG HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER

FRONT &iNG HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVERS

CARBURETOR

Record the frame and engine serial numbers in the space below. You will need these serial numbers when ordering parts and when making technical or warranty inquiries (see page 84).

Frame serial number: MZB- Engine serial number: GJAB -

CONTROLS

DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS

Fuel Valve

The fuel valve opens and closes the fuel passage from the fuel tank to the carburetor.

Throttle Lever

I I

+ SLOW - - - For idling the engine.

CHOKE --

FAST- - - -

For starting a cold engine.

For restarting a warm engine and for mowing.

CONTROLS

Flywheel Brake Lever

This lever is connected to the engine flywheel brake and the ignition switch. The engine will not start unless this lever is pushed forward.

FLYWHEEL BRAKE LEVER

Drive Clutch Lever (SDA)

The drive clutch lever engages and disengages the transmission that drives the rear wheels.

(SW

CONTROLS

Shift Lever (SDA)

The shift lever selects and controls the mower’s drive speed. 1 (slow) -For mowing thick grass or maneuvering in small areas. 2 (medium) -For intermediate self-propelled mowing speed. 3 (fast)

-For maximum self-propelled transport speed.

Cuttlng Height Adjustment Levers

There are six settings to choose from, as shown in the illustration. The cutting height figures are approximate. The actual height of cut grass will vary with lawn and soil conditions. There is an adjustment lever on each wheel.

ADJUSTMENT LEVER

HRB215

BEFORE OPERATION

This chapter explains how to fuel and check your mower to be sure it

is ready, and it tells you how to prepare your lawn and yourself before you begin mowing.

ARE YOU READY TO MOW? CHECK YOUR LAWN

Objects .......................................

PeopleandPets Lawn..

CHECK YOUR MOWER

Blade(s) ......................................

Engine Oil Level

Fuel .........................................

Air Cleaner Inspection

Handlebar Height Adjustment Grass Bag (HRB215).

Inspection ...................................

Installation

Removal ....................................

Mulching Plug (l-fRM215). Cutting Height

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17 18 19

22 23

BEFORE OPERATION

ARE YOU READY TO MOW?

Be sure to wear protective clothing. Long pants and eye protection can lower your risk of injury from thrown objects. Wear footwear that protects your feet and won’t let you slip if you mow on slopes or uneven ground.

CHECK YOUR LAWN

For your safety and for the safety of others, always inspect the area

before mowing.

Objects

Anything which can be picked up by the blade(s) and thrown is a

potential hazard to you and others. Look for things like stones, sticks, bones, and wire. Remove them from the mowing area.

People and Pets

People and animals near the mowing area can move into your path or into a position where they could be struck by thrown objects. Clear the area of people and pets, especially children. Their safety is your responsibility.

Lawn

Check the length and condition of the grass, so you will know what cutting height and mowing speed to use.

Avoid mowing wet grass. Not only will wet grass clog your mower

deck and collect in clumps on the lawn, it also gives poor traction, increasing your risk of losing your footing.

CHECK YOUR MOWER

Blade(s)

1. Turn the engine OFF and turn the fuel valve to the OFF

position (see page 31).

2. Disconnect the spark plug cap

from the spark plug (see page 46).

3. Tilt the mower to the right, so

the carburetor side is up. This will help to prevent fuel leakage and hard starting.

4. Inspect blade(s) for wear and damage.

A worn, cracked, or damaged blade can break, and pieces of the damaged blade can become dangerous projectiles.

Thrown objects can cause serious injury.

BLADE

BEFORE OPERATION

BLADE(S)

Inspect the blade regularly, and do not operate the mower with a worn or damaged blade.

i-l I u w

NORMAL

A dull blade can be sharpened, but a blade that is worn out, bent, cracked, or otherwise damaged must be replaced. A worn or damaged blade can break, causing blade pieces to be thrown from the mower.

When a blade needs sharpening or replacement take the lawn mower

to an authorized Honda servicing dealer. Or, if you have a torque wrench, you can remove and install the blade(s) yourself (see pages 56 - 57).

Check that the blade bolts are tight (see page 57).

EXCESSIVELY

WORN

BENT

CRACKED

Englne Oil Level

Check the engine oil level with the engine stopped and the mower on a level surface.

1. Remove the oil filler cap, and wipe the dipstick clean.

2. Insert and remove the dipstick

without screwing it into the filler

neck. Check the oil level shown

on the dipstick.

FILLER CAP/DIPSTICK

3. If the oil level is low, add the

recommended oil (see page

46) to reach the upper limit mark on the dipstick. Do not overfill.

4. After checking the engine oil level, screw in the filler cap/dipstick securely.

UPPER LIMIT

LOWER LIMIT

BEFORE OPERATION

Fuel Fuel tank capacity: 0.26 US gal (1.0 a)

Refuel in a well-ventilated area before starting the engine. If the

engine has been running, allow it to cool. Refer to page 51 for fuel

recommendations and page 85 for information about oxygenated

fuels.

Remove the fuel tank cap and check the fuel level. Refill the tank if the fuel level is low. Refuel carefully to avoid spilling fuel. Do not overfill; there should be no fuel in the filler neck. After refueling, tighten the fuel tank cap securely.

Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive. You can be burned or seriously injured when

handling fuel.

l Stop the engine and keep heat, sparks,

and flame away.

l Handle fuel only outdoors. l Wipe up spills immediately.

Never refuel the mower inside a building where gasoline fumes may reach flames or sparks. Keep gasoline away from appliance pilot lights, barbecues, electric appliances, power tools, etc.

Spilled fuel is not only a fire hazard, it causes environmental damage. Wipe up spills immediately.

pGiEq

Fuel can damage paint and plastic. Be careful not to spill fuel when filling your fuel tank. Damage caused by spilled fuel is not covered under warranty.

FUEL TANK CAP

FUEL FIL NECK

BEFORE OPERATION

Air Cleaner Inspection

Check that the air filters are clean and in good condition. Dirty air filters will restrict air flow to the carburetor, reducing engine performance. Refer to page 47 for air cleaner service.

AIR CLEANER HOUSING

PAPER FILTER

=a--

FOAM FILTER

COVER

COVER KNOB

BEFORE OPERATION

Handlebar Height Adjustment

Adjust handlebar height for a comfortable operating position.

1. Loosen the handlebar locking knobs.

2. Spread the lower ends of the handlebars to release the locating pins.

3. Move the handlebar up or down, so the locating pins engage the other holes on the handlebar mounting brackets.

4. Tighten the handlebar locking knobs securely.

HANDLEBAR

LOCKING KNOB (2)

HIGH

MID

LOW

BEFORE OPERATION

Grass Bag (HRB215)

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 becomes filled to the limit of its capacity. Bagging performance will diminish after the bag becomes about 90% filled. Also, the bag is easier to empty when it is not packed full.

Inspection

Inspect the grass bag for tears, holes, and excessive wear. The grass bag wears during normal use and will eventually require replacement. Grass bag replacement is explained on page 58.

Installation

1. Raise the discharge guard, and hook the grass bag onto the mower deck as shown.

2. Release the discharge guard to HANDLE secure the grass bag.

GRASS BAG

DISCHARGE GUARD

Removal

1. Raise the discharge guard, grasp the grass bag handle and remove the grass bag.

2. Release the discharge guard.

3. When the grass bag is clear of the discharge guard, you can

lift it through the handlebar opening, or you can remove it to the rear of the mower below the handlebar.

Mulching Plug (HRM215)

The mulching plug contours the mower deck for efficient mulching.

You can quickly remove the plug to install a grass bag or side-discharge chute, which are available as optional equipment.

Raise the discharge guard to

remove or install the mulching plug. When installing, be sure the plug is fully inserted, and the discharge guard is closed.

BEFORE OPERATION

DISCHARGE GUARD

Cutting Height

Check the mower deck cutting

height settings, and be sure that all four adjustment levers are set to the same cutting height position.

To adjust cutting height, pull each adjustment lever toward the wheel, and move it into another

notch.

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 cutting height if necessary.

ADJUSTMENT LEVERS

ADJUSTMENT LEVER

This chapter tells you how to operate the mower safely and effectively.

MOWING PRECAUTIONS STARTING THE ENGINE OPERATING THE CONTROLS FOR MOWING.

Throttle Lever

Flywheel Brake Lever Drive Clutch Lever (SDA). Shift Lever (SDA).

STOPPING THE ENGINE. SAFE MOWING PRACTICES

Slopes..

Obstacles .....................................

Gravel and Loose Objects.

MOWING TIPS

WhentoMow ..................................

Cutting Height Cutting Width.

Blade Speed Blade Sharpness

DryGrass .....................................

WetGrass..

Fallen Leaves

Clogged Mower Deck

Mowing Patterns

Mulching ....................................

Bagging ....................................

Side-Discharge Mowing.

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32 33

34 34 34

35 35 35 35 35

35 36

36 36 36

OPERATION

MOWING PRECAUTIONS

Before operating the mower for the first time, please review the IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION beginning on page 6 and the previous chapter, titled BEFORE OPERA T/ON.

Even if you have operated other mowers, take time to become familiar with how this mower works and practice in a safe area until you build up your skills.

For your safety, avoid starting or operating the engine in an enclosed area such as a garage. Your mower’s exhaust contains poisonous carbon monoxide gas which can collect rapidly in an enclosed area and cause illness or death.

+ 65 hidden pages