Honda Automobiles HR215SXA, HR215HMA, HR215HXA User Manual
Owner's Manual
Rotary Mower
HR215SXA • HR215HXA
HR215HMA
©1996 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.—All Rights Reserved
Keep this owner’s manual handy, so you can refer to it anytime, and
make sure the manual stays with the mower if you sell it.
This owner’s manual is considered a permanent part of the lawn
mower and should remain with the mower if resold.
The information and specifications included in this publication were in
effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Power Equipment
Mfg., Inc. reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change
specifications or design at any time without notice and without
incurring any obligation whatever.
Honda lawn mowers meet Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) blade safety requirements for walk-behind rotary mowers.
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.
As you read this manual, you will find information preceded by a
symbol. That information is intended to help you avoid
damage to your mower, other property, or the environment.
We suggest you read the warranty policy to fully understand its
coverage and your responsibilities of ownership. The warranty policy
is a separate document that should have been given to you by your
dealer.
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.
Best Wishes,
Power Equipment Division
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
© 1996 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. – All Rights Reserved
1
INTRODUCTION
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:
• Safety Labels — on the lawn mower.
• Safety Messages — preceded by a safety alert symbol 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.
• Safety Headings — such as Important Safety Reminders or
Important Safety Precautions.
• Safety Chapter — such as MOWER SAFETY.
• Instructions — how to use this mower correctly and safely.
This entire book is filled with important safety information — please
read it carefully.
2
CONTENTS
Turn to the beginning of each chapter for a complete list of subjects.
MOWER SAFETY................................. 5
Important information about some specific hazards, and
what you can do to prevent injury.
CONTROLS ..................................... 9
Identification of components and information about how
the controls work.
BEFORE OPERATION............................. 17
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 ....................................27
Starting and stopping the engine, safe mowing
practices, and mowing tips.
TRANSPORTING .................................41
How to load and carry your mower safely.
MAINTENANCE ..................................43
When and how to perform routine inspection, service,
and adjustments to keep your mower in good operating
condition.
TROUBLESHOOTING .............................67
What to check if you have a problem with your mower.
STORAGE ...................................... 71
How to protect your mower from rust and corrosion,
and ensure that it will start easily when you want to use
it again.
SPECIFICATIONS ................................79
Dimensions, capacities, and other technical information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION .......................83
Additional information, Honda publications available to
you, and how to contact us if you have a question or a
warranty repair problem.
INDEX .......................................... 89
QUICK REFERENCE INFORMATION ....inside back cover
3
4
MOWER SAFETY
This chapter explains what you need to know to operate your mower
safely.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ................ 6
Avoid Rotating Blades............................ 6
Clear Mowing Area .............................. 6
Keep Shields in Place ............................ 6
Refuel with Care ................................ 6
Wear Protective Clothing ......................... 6
Turn Engine Off When Not Mowing ................. 6
IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS ............... 7
SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS....................... 8
5
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.
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 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.
6
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.
7
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
your dealer for a replacement.
8
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 ................... 10
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS .................... 12
Fuel Valve .................................... 12
Throttle Lever ................................. 12
Engine Switch (HMA) ........................... 13
Blade Control Lever ............................ 14
Drive Clutch Lever ............................. 14
Shift Lever.................................... 15
HR215SXA ................................. 15
HR215HMA & HR215HXA ..................... 15
Cutting Height Adjustment Levers.................. 16
9
CONTROLS
COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION
HANDLEBAR
GRASS BAG
DISCHARGE GUARD
FUEL TANK CAP
RECOIL
STARTER
OIL FILLER CAP
MUFFLER
MOWER DECK
HR215K1HMA: Manual & electric starting; self-propelled; hydrostatic
transmission
HR215K1HXA: Manual starting; self-propelled; hydrostatic
transmission
HR215K1SXA: Manual starting; self-propelled; 3 speed transmission
10
CONTROLS
ENGINE SERIAL NUMBER
(on back of engine)
SPARK PLUG CAP
BLADE CONTROL LEVER
DRIVE CLUTCH LEVER
SHIFT LEVER
FRAME
SERIAL
NUMBER
BLADE CONTROL
BUTTON
THROTTLE
LEVER
HANDLEBAR
LOCKING
KNOBS
CUTTING HEIGHT
ADJUSTMENT
LEVER
FUEL VALVE
CUTTING HEIGHT
ADJUSTMENT
LEVERS
AIR CLEANER
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 85).
Frame serial number: MZAM – ______________
Engine serial number: GJAB – ______________
11
CONTROLS
DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS
Fuel Valve
The fuel valve opens and closes the connection between the fuel tank
and the carburetor.
Throttle Lever
CHOKE – – For starting a cold engine.
FAST – – – For restarting a warm engine and for mowing.
SLOW – – – For idling the engine.
STOP – – – For stopping the engine. (On HR215HMA, turn
OFF
ON
FUEL VALVE
the engine switch OFF to stop the engine).
THROTTLE LEVER
12
SXA
HXA
HMA
CONTROLS
Engine Switch (HMA)
START ––– Operates the electric starter.
ON –––––– Running position (the engine switch must be in the ON
position to use the recoil starter).
OFF ––––– Stops the engine.
OFF
DEMARRAGE ELECTRIQUE
ELECTRIC STARTER
ENGINE
SWITCH
INTERRUPTEUR
D’ARRET
ENGINE SWITCH
OFF
ARRET
ON
ON
MARCHE
START
DEMARRAGE
START
13
CONTROLS
Blade Control Lever
The blade control lever starts and stops blade rotation.
BLADE CONTROL LEVER
BUTTON
Drive Clutch Lever
The drive clutch lever engages and disengages the transmission that
drives the rear wheels.
BLADE CONTROL
LEVER
14
DRIVE CLUTCH LEVER
CONTROLS
Shift Lever
The shift lever selects the drive speed for the mower.
HR215SXA
1 (slow) –––– For mowing thick grass or maneuvering in small areas.
2 (medium) – For intermediate self-propelled speed.
3 (fast)––––– For maximum self-propelled speed in large, open areas
and for transport.
SHIFT LEVER
(SXA)
HR215HMA & HR215HXA
SLOW ––– For mowing thick grass or maneuvering in small areas.
FAST –––– For maximum self-propelled speed in large, open areas,
and for transport
SLOW
SHIFT LEVER
(HMA & HXA)
FAST
15
CONTROLS
Cutting 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.
ADJUSTMENT
LEVER
There is an adjustment lever on each wheel.
ADJUSTMENT LEVERS
16
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.
CHECK YOUR LAWN ............................ 18
Objects ...................................... 18
People and Pets ............................... 18
Lawn ........................................ 18
CHECK YOUR MOWER .......................... 19
Blade........................................ 19
Engine Oil Level ............................... 20
Fuel......................................... 21
Air Cleaner Inspection........................... 22
Handlebar Height Adjustment..................... 23
Grass Bag.................................... 24
Inspection .................................. 24
Installation.................................. 24
Removal ................................... 24
Cutting Height ................................. 25
Are YOU Ready to Mow? ........................ 25
17
BEFORE OPERATION
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 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.
18
CHECK YOUR MOWER
Blade
1. Move the throttle lever to the
STOP postion (see page 12).
2. On HR215HMA, turn the key to
the OFF position (see page 13).
3. Move the fuel valve to the OFF
position (see page 12).
4. Disconnect the spark plug cap
from the spark plug (see page
52).
5. Tilt the mower to the right, so
the carburetor side is up. This
will help to prevent fuel leakage
and hard starting.
6. Inspect the blade for wear and
damage.
BEFORE OPERATION
BLADE
BLADE
BOLTS
NORMAL
EXCESSIVELY
WORN
BENT
CRACKED
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 the blade needs sharpening or replacement take the lawn
mower to an authorized Honda dealer. Or, if you have a torque
wrench, you can remove and install the blade yourself (see pages
62-63).
Check that the blade bolts are tight (see page 63).
19
BEFORE OPERATION
Engine 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 oil to
reach the upper limit mark on
the dipstick (see page 50).
4. After checking the engine oil
level, screw in the filler
cap/dipstick securely.
FILLER CAP/
DIPSTICK
UPPER LIMIT
LOWER LIMIT
20
WARNING
BEFORE OPERATION
Fuel
Fuel tank capacity: 0.26 US gal (1.0 )
Refuel in a well-ventilated area before starting the engine. If the
engine has been running, allow it to cool. Refer to page 55 for fuel
recommendations and page 86 for information about oxgenated 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.
• Stop the engine and keep heat, sparks,
and flame away.
• Handle fuel only outdoors.
• 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.
NOTICE
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 FILLER NECK
21
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 51 for air cleaner service.
AIR CLEANER HOUSING
PAPER FILTER
FOAM FILTER
COVER
COVER
SCREW
22
BEFORE OPERATION
Handlebar Height Adjustment
Adjust handlebar height for a comfortable operating position.
1. Loosen the lower handlebar locking knobs.
2. Loosen both left and right height adjuster locking bolts with a
12 mm wrench.
3. Adjust the handlebar to a comfortable height.
4. Tighten the height adjuster locking bolts, then tighten the locking
knobs.
HEIGHT
ADJUSTER (2)
LOCKING BOLT (2)
LOWER HANDLEBAR
LOCKING KNOB (2)
23
BEFORE OPERATION
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 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 64.
Installation
1. Raise the discharge guard, and
hook the grass bag onto the
mower deck as shown.
2. Release the discharge guard to
secure the grass bag.
GRASS BAG HANDLE
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.
24
DISCHARGE GUARD
BEFORE OPERATION
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.
ADJUSTMENT LEVERS
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.
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.
25
26
OPERATION
This chapter tells you how to operate the mower safely and effectively.
MOWING PRECAUTIONS ......................... 28
STARTING THE ENGINE.......................... 29
OPERATING THE CONTROLS FOR MOWING ........ 31
Throttle Lever ................................. 31
Blade Control Lever ............................ 31
Drive Clutch Lever ............................. 32
HR215SXA ..................................32
HR215HMA & HR215HXA ......................32
All Models ...................................32
Shift Lever.................................... 33
HR215SXA ..................................33
HR215HMA & HR215HXA ......................33
STOPPING THE ENGINE ......................... 34
SAFE MOWING PRACTICES ...................... 35
Slopes ....................................... 35
Obstacles .................................... 36
Gravel and Loose Objects ....................... 36
MOWING TIPS .................................. 37
When to Mow ................................. 37
Cutting Height ................................. 37
Cutting Width ................................. 37
Blade Speed .................................. 38
Blade Sharpness............................... 38
Dry Grass .................................... 38
Wet Grass .................................... 38
Fallen Leaves ................................. 38
Clogged Mower Deck ........................... 38
Mowing Patterns ............................... 39
Bagging ..................................... 39
Side-Discharge Mowing ........................39
Mulching ....................................39
27
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