Honda Power Equipment HT-R3811 User Manual
Thank you for purchasing a Honda riding mower.
This manual covers the operation and maintenance of the Honda HT-R3811
riding mower, type SA (side discharge).
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right to make changes at any time without
notice and without incurring any obligation.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission.
This manual should be considered a permanent part of the riding mower and
should remain with the riding mower when sold.
Pay special attention to statements preceded by the following words;
A DANGER: Indicates severe personal injury or loss of life will result if instructions are not followed.
M&m
Indicates a strong possibility of severe personal injury or
loss
of
life if instructions are not followed.
CAUTION: Indicates a possibility of personal injury or equipment damage if
instructions are not followed.
NOTE: Gives helpful information.
l Honda riding mowers are designed to give safe and dependable service if
operated according to instructions.
l Read and understand this Owner’s Manual before operating the riding
mower. Failure to do so could result in personal injury or equipment
damage.
If a problem should arise, of if you have any questions about the riding mower
consult an authorized Honda riding mower dealer.
It is illegal in some areas to operate a gasoline engine without a U.S.D.A.
qualified spark arrester; check local laws and regulations. You can purchase
an optional spark arrester for this riding mower from your authorized Honda
Power Equipment dealer.
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD. 1986, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
CONTENTS
1. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
2. COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION
3. CONTROLS
..............................................................................
4. PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
5. OPERATION ................
l Starting the engine
l Mowing
. Stopping the engine
. High altitude operation
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6. TRANSPORTING/STORAGE
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7. MAINTENANCE ........................................................................
8. TROUBLESHOOTING
9. SPECIFICATIONS
10. WIRING DIAGRAM
11. WARRANTY SERVICE
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10
15
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30
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38
55
58
59
60
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WARNING LABEL LOCATIONS
1 m SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
PASSENGERS.
GMAXIMUM SAFE OPERATING ANGLE
10 DEGREES.
(17% GRADE)
#REDUCE SPEED WHEN TURNING OR
I
OPERATING ON SLOPES.
GSTOP ENGINE BEFORE REMOVING GRASS
CATCHER OR CLEANING DISCHARGE CHUTE
#KEEP ALL SHIELDS AND SAFETY DEVICES
IN PLACE.
GKEEP PEOPLE AND PETS AT A SAFE DISTANCE
WHILE OPERATING.
I
10’MAX.
RIDING MOWER SAFETY
w
Oberating a riding mower requires special efforts on your part to
ensure your safety and the safety of others. Know these requirements before
you operate the riding mower.
SAFE OPERATING RULES
l
Always make a pre-operation inspection (page 15) before you operate the
riding mower; you may prevent an accident or equipment damage.
l
All parts, especially guards and shields, should be in good condition, and
securely fastened in place.
l
Be sure all nuts, bolts and screws are tight; especially the blade mounting
bolts.
l
Do not remove any guards, warning labels, shields or safety devices; they
are installed for your safety.
l
Know how to stop the engine and blades quickly. Thoroughly understand
operation of all controls.
l
Never permit anyone to operate the riding mower without proper
instructions.
l
Do not allow passengers to ride on the mower or any of its attachments.
l
Children should not be permitted to operate this riding mower.
l
Because of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning, do not run the engine
indoors.
l
To prevent serious injury, never put your hands or feet under the cutter
deck.
l
Do not operate the riding mower while barefoot. Wear sturdy shoes or
boots and clothing that is not loose.
l Be alert. Do not operate the riding mower when you are tired, ill or under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.
l Mow only in daylight or good artificial light.
l Watch out for and avoid rocks, roots, holes and other obstacles.
l If you hit an object, stop and inspect the riding mower; fix any damage
before you operate the mower again.
l Replace damaged, worn or broken parts immediately.
l Do not operate near the edge of a ditch or an embankment.
BEFORE MOWING
l Before mowing, always clear the lawn of stones, sticks and other debris.
These objects could be thrown out by the spinning blades and cause an in-
jury or equipment damage.
l Select a safe operating speed (gear position) for the area to be mowed.
5th gear should be used only while driving to and from the storage area.
l Always ensure that the area in front of and behind the riding mower is clear
of people, pets and debris before starting.
l Be very careful when you operate the riding mower in Reverse.
l Do not mow in Reverse unless it is absolutely necessary.
OPERATION ON SLOPES
l This riding mower is intended for use on relatively flat terrain. Do not use on
sloped surfaces exceeding 10 degrees (I 7% grade). This angle may be further reduced by the condition and type of surface.
Maximum safe operating angle
MAXIMUM IO” (17% GRADE)
0”MAX
5
l If mowing on a sloping surface, always drive up and down the face of the
grade. Never turn or drive across the face of the slope.
l To prevent loss of control or overturning, always reduce speed and exer-
cise extreme caution when operating on sloping or uneven surfaces.
l Avoid turning or stopping on sloping surfaces; see page 28 for special
instructions.
l Do not back down or rapidly accelerate up a sloping surface; see page 28
for special instructions.
l When mowing on slopes, empty the grass bags when they are half full. On
a slope, the weight of full bags may cause the mower to tip over.
CLEANING AND STORAGE
l Leaves, grass clippings, oil and other combustible materials can become a
fire hazard. Be sure to keep the engine compartment, the upper cutter deck
surfaces and the belt and pulley areas clean.
l
Stop the engine before removing the grass bags or cleaning the discharge
chute.
l Check the condition of the grass catcher bags frequently. For your safety,
replace any bag that is worn or deteriorated.
l Always empty the grass catcher bags when mowing is completed. D,amp,
decomposing grass clippings generate heat and can become a fire hazard.
l
To reduce the possibility of fire, allow the engine and exhaust system to
cool before storing the mower in an enclosed space or near combustible
materials.
2. COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION
STEERING WHEEL
ENGINE SWITCH
LEVER
DISCHARGE’CHUTE
I
\
WARNING BUZZER
\
AIR INTAKE
BRAKE‘ PEDAL
7
POWER TAKE-OFF
DECK HEIGHT
ADJUSTING L
CUTTER DECK /
REAR BODY
8
Raise
Engine compartment
FUEL’VALVE
AIR CLEANER
OIL DRAIN
(LOCATED ON THE FRAME)
PLUG
PLUG
OIL FILLER CAP
9
3. CONTROLS
1. Engine switch
Ewm
Always remove the key from the engine switch whenever the
riding mower is unattended to prevent children or unauthorized persons from
starting the engine.
This riding mower is equipped with an automotive type ignition switch, which
controls all the electrical circuits. The switch is located on the right-hand side
in front of the gear shift lever.
Key positions: “START” to start the engine
“ON”
to run the engine after starting
“OFF” to stop the engine.
ENGINE SWITCH
NOTE: The starter motor will not work unless the shift lever is in NEUTRAL
and the P.T.0 lever is in the OFF (Disengaged) position.
2. Throttle lever
The throttle lever controls engine speed from SLOW (idle) to FAST (max
speed). START (CHOKE) is for starting a cold engine.
START
THROTTLE
LEVER
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3. Cutter deck height adjusting lever
This lever is used to raise and lower the cutter deck. To adjust the cutting
height, squeeze the handle lock and then press in and hold the set button.
Raise or lower the lever until the desired cutting height appears on the indicator. At that point, release the set button and the handle lock. Be sure the
handle lock returns to its normal position when released.
Cutting height: 1 .O, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 k-r. (Approx)
CAUTION:
. To avoid damage to the cutter deck, always raise it fully when driving the
lawn tractor to and from the mowing area; this provides maximum ground
clearance.
l To avoid damaging or disabling the handle locking mechanism, never at-
tempt to screw the adjusting lever’s set button in or out.
SET BUTTON
0
+!57
4. Shift lever
This lever is used to select one of the five forward speeds, neutral, or reverse.
The drive clutch automatically disengages while the lever is being moved. The
clutch will then engage automatically when put into gear unless the brake
pedal is depressed.
Enml
Do not operate the shift lever on a slope.
CAUTION: Bring the riding mower to a complete stop before shifting from a
forward speed to reverse, or from reverse to a forward speed. Shifting between forward and reverse speeds while the riding mower is moving can
cause transmission damage.
When shifting from one forward speed range to another while moving, do not
force the shift lever and do not shift up or down more than one slot at a time.
NOTE: The riding mower will pull
’
away from a stop in any speed range.
No shifting is necessary.
5th speed is not recommended for
mowing but may be used for driving
the riding mower from one area to
another.
5. Power Take-Off (P.T.O.) lever
This lever engages and disengages the power take-off clutch to drive the blade.
Lever positions: ON (Engaged) . . . . . . . . . . Blade turns
OFF (Disengaged) . . . . . . . .
\
ON (Engaged)
P.T.O. LEVER
Blade stops
NOTE: An interlock switch prevents the engine from starting unless the
P.T.O. lever is in the OFF position.
6. Brake pedal
Depressing the pedal will first disengage the riding mower drive clutch. As you
continue to depress the pedal, the brake will be applied to stop the riding
mower.
When the clutch pedal is released, the clutch will automatically engage
smoothly.
CAUTION: Releasing the brake pedal too slowly can cause the clutch to slip,
and may lead to premature clutch wear.
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7. Warning buzzer
The warning buzzer has two functions which are described below.
A.Low oil level alarm (intermittent beeping sound)
If the oil level falls to a predetermined level while the engine is running, the
warning buzzer will beep on and off. If this happens, stop the engine immediately, check the engine oil level and add enough of the recommended
oil to bring the level to the upper mark on the dipstick (See page 16).
CAUTION: Running the engine with insufficient oil can cause serious
engine damage.
B. Parking brake reminder (steady buzzing sound)
The warning buzzer will sound continuously if the transmission is shifted into gear while the parking brake is engaged. If you hear a steady buzz from
the warning buzzer, release the parking brake or shift the transmission into
neutral immediately (See page 14).
m
result in severe damage to the brake lining, and could lead to a complete
brake system failure.
CAUTION: If the alarm changes from a steady buzz to an on and off
beep when the parking brake is released, stop the engine immediately,
and check the engine oil level.
Operating the riding mower with the parking brake set will
PARKING BRAKE LEVER
BUTTON
WARNING’ BUZZER
13
8. Parking brake lever
This lever is used to set the brake when the riding mower is parked. Pull the
lever fully up until the ratchet locks.
NOTE: The parking brake lever does not operate the automatic clutch.
Always put the transmission in neutral, or turn off the engine switch before
setting the parking brake. A steady warning buzzer will sound if the parking
brake is engaged while the transmission is in gear and the engine switch is
ON.
CAUTION:
l When washing the riding mower, do not allow water to get into the warn-
ing buzzer holes.
l Never park the riding mower on a slope.
To release, pull the lever up slightly and press the lever set button, lower the
lever while holding the button in.
E8Nm
Operating the riding mower with the parking brake set will result
in severe damage to the brake lining, and could lead to a complete brake
system failure.
PARKING BRAKE LEVER
WARNING BUZZER
\
SET BUTTON
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4. PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
m To pr’event accidental start-up, remove the engine switch key,
and disconnect the spark plug cap before performing the pre-operation
inspection.
1. Make sure the cooling air intake screens are clean.
CAUTION: If the cooling air intake screens are blocked the engine may
overheat.
‘
REAR BODY
15
2. Check the engine oil level
CAUTION:
l
Engine oil is a major factor affecting engine performance and service life.
Non-detergent oil and 2-stroke engine oil are not recommended.
l
Running the engine with insufficient oil can cause serious engine damage.
a. Place the riding mower on a level surface.
b. Lift the rear body, wipe dust and dirt from around the oil filler cap, remove
the cap and wipe the dipstick clean.
c. Insert the dipstick into the oil filler neck, but do not screw it in.
d. Check the oil level shown on the dipstick. If near or below the lower level
mark, fill to the upper level mark with the recommended oil.
Use Honda 4-stroke oil, or an equivalent high detergent, premium quality
motor oil certified to meet or exceed U.S. automobile manufacturers’
requirements for service classification SE or SF (Motor oils classified SE or SF
will show this designation on the container).
SAE low-40 is recommended for general, all-temperature use.
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I
-20 0
8
-20 -10
-30
20
40
10 20 30
0
I I
60 80
LOWER LEVEL
100°F
UPPER LEVEL
I
40 “C
3. Check the fuel level
Raise the rear body and check the fuel level.
Refill the tank to the upper level mark if necessary.
Your engine is designed to use any gasoline that has a pump octane
number (R ; M
tane number of 91 or higher. Gasoline pumps at service station normally
display the pump octane number.
We recommend that you use unleaded fuel because it produces fewer
engine and spark plug deposits and extends the life of exhaust system
components.
Never use stale or contaminated gasoline or an oil/gasoline mixture. Avoid
getting dirt, dust or water in.the‘ fuel tank. Use of a lower octane gasoline
can cause persistent “pinging” or heavy “spark knock” (a metallic rapping
noise) which, if severe, can lead to engine damage.
) of 86 or higher,
or that has a research oc-
CAUTION: If “spark knock” or “pinging” occurs at a steady engine speed
under normal load, change brands of gasoline. If spark knock or pinging
persists, consult your authorized Honda dealer. Failure to do so is considered misuse, and damage caused by misuse is not covered by Honda’s
Limited Warranty.
Occasionally you may experience light spark knock while operating under
heavy loads. This is no cause for concern, it simply means your engine is
operating efficiently.
After refueling, be sure to tighten the fuel tank cap firmly.
UPPER LEVEL
17
Rwlm
l
Gasoline is extremely flammable and is explosive under certain conditions.
l
Refuel in a well!ventilated area with the engine stopped. Do not smoke or
allow flames or sparks in the area where the engine is refueled or where
gasoline is stored.
l
Do not overfill the fuel tank (there should be no fuel in the filler neck). After
refueling, make sure the tank cap is closed properly and securely.
l
Be careful not to spill fuel when refueling. Spilled fuel or fuel vapor may ignite. If any fuel is spilled, make sure the area is dry before starting the
engine.
l
Avoid repeated or prolonged contact with skin or breathing of vapor. KEEP
OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
GASOLINES CONTAINING ALCOHOL
If you decide to use a gasoline containing alcoh.ol (gasohol), be sure it’s octane
rating is at least as high as that recommended by Honda. There are two types
of “gasohol”:
not use gasohol that contains more than 10% ethanol. Do not use gasoline
containing methanol (methyl or wood alcohol) that does not also contain
cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors for methanol. Never use gasoline contain-
ing more than 5% methanol, even if it has cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors.
NOTE:
l
Fuel system damage or engine performance problems resulting from the use
of fuels that contain alcohol is not covered under the warranty.
Honda cannot endorse the use of fuels containing methanol since evidence
of their suitability is as yet incomplete.
l
Before buying fuel from an unfamiliar station, try to find out if the fuel contains alcohol, if it does, confirm the type and percentage of alcohol used. If
you notice any undesirable operating symptoms while using a gasoline that
contains alcohol, or one that you think contains alcohol, switch to a
gasoline that you know does not contain alcohol.
one containing ethanol, and the other containing methanol. Do
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4. Check the air cleaner elements
1. Raise the rear body.
2. Remove the two wing nuts to remove the air cleaner cover and air cleaner
elements.
If the elements are dirty, follow the cleaning procedure described on page 39.
AIR CLEANER COVER
WING NUTS
AIR CLEANER ELEMENTS
5. Check brake lining wear
Inspect brake lining condition every time the riding mower is used.
Firmly set the parking brake, and then check the position of the brake wear indicator. If the indicator is near the wear limit, take the riding mower to
an Authorized Honda Power Equipment Dealer for repair.
CAUTION: Under no circumstances should the riding mower be operated if
the brake lining is at the service limit.
PARKING BRAKE LEVER
WHEEL
BRAKE WEAR
INDICATOR
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