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4

Add Engine Oil

The mower is shipped 

WITHOUT OIL

 in the engine. 

Remove the oil filler cap/dipstick 
and add the entire contents of 
the included bottle of oil into the 
oil filler opening.

 

All Honda engines are run at the 
factory prior to packaging. Most 
of the oil is removed prior to 
shipment; however, some oil 
remains in the engine. The 
amount of oil left in the engine varies.

If you don’t use the supplied oil, add enough SAE 10W-30 API service 
category SJ or later oil to bring the oil level between the upper and 
lower limit marks on the dipstick—without screwing the dipstick in 
(approximately 12 to 13.5 ounces is required). See 

page 6

.

Do not overfill the engine with oil

. If the engine is overfilled, the 

excess oil may get transferred to the air cleaner housing and air filter. 
An indication of overfilling is white or blue smoke coming from the 
muffler when the engine is running.

After filling the engine with oil, screw the filler/cap dipstick in and 
remove the hang tag near the recoil starter grip that says “

The engine 

has no oil.

Assemble the Grass Bag 

1. Install the assembled frame into the fabric grass bag, keeping the 

grass bag handle exposed.

2. Secure the seven plastic clips to attach the bag to the frame.

Please Register Your Mower

Please take a few minutes and register your purchase with Honda. 

You can register by completing and mailing the registration card on 
the back cover of this book or going online to 

powerequipment.honda.com. 

You can click on the SUPPORT tab, 

and then Product Registration, or use the Product Registration link 
located at the bottom of the home page.

Before Using Your Lawn Mower

Before using the lawn mower, all mower operators must read the 
following sections:

FOR YOUR SAFETY 

(

page 2

)

BEFORE EACH OPERATION

 (

page 4

)

OPERATION

 (

page 7

)

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

 (

page 11

)

BEFORE EACH OPERATION

Your safety is your responsibility. A little time spent in preparation will 
significantly reduce your risk of injury.
Read and understand 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 condition. Be sure to take care of any problem you 
find, or have your servicing dealer correct it, before you operate the 
lawn mower.

• Make sure the lawn mower is on a level surface.
• Look around and underneath the lawn mower for signs of oil or 

gasoline leaks.

• Look for signs of damage.
• Check each control for proper operation.
• Check the blades for wear. Replace as necessary (

page 12

).

• Check that the blade bolts are tight (

page 12

).

• Check that all nuts, bolts, and screws are tightened.
• Check the air filter (

page 13

) and oil level (

page 6

).

• Check the fuel level (

page 7

). 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.

Anything that can be picked up by the blades and thrown is a potential 
hazard to you and others. Look for things like stones, sticks, nails, and 
wire, and remove them from the lawn area.

People and animals near the lawn area can move into your lawn 
mower’s path or into a position where they could be struck by thrown 
objects. Clear the area of pets and people, especially children. Their 
safety is your responsibility. Use extra care when approaching blind 
corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may block your view of a 
child.

Check the height and condition of the grass. Adjust your lawn mower 
cutting height, ground speed, and mowing swath accordingly. See 

page 9

 for mowing tips and recommendations.

GRASS BAG

GRASS BAG 
HANDLE

PLASTIC CLIP (7)

BAG FRAME

WARNING

Improperly maintaining this lawn mower, or failing to correct a 

problem before operation, could cause a significant 

malfunction.
Some malfunctions can seriously hurt or kill you.
Always perform a pre-operation inspection before each 

operation, and correct any problem.

Summary of Contents for HRN216VKA

Page 1: ...k Plug 14 Spark Arrester optional part 14 Blade Control Check 15 TRANSPORTING 15 STORAGE 15 Fuel 15 Oil 15 Cleaning 15 Storage Location 15 Handlebar 16 Removing From Storage 16 TROUBLESHOOTING 16 Engine Will Not Start 16 Loss of Power 16 Vibration 16 Mowing and Bagging Problems 16 TECHNICAL INFORMATION 17 Serial Number Locations 17 High Altitude Operation 17 Emission Control System 17 Air Index 18...

Page 2: ...ful tools not toys As with any equipment bad judgments can result in serious injuries Please ensure before any child adolescent or inexperienced person begins using this device they Possess the necessary level of physical strength and have the mental capability of using the device in a safe manner Can fully operate all controls and understand the safety instructions and warnings provided Honda str...

Page 3: ...e 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 4 HANDLEBAR ADJUST KNOB 2 P ...

Page 4: ...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 condition Be sure to t...

Page 5: ... position To discharge clippings to the rear remove the grass bag and leave the Clip Director lever in the BAG position Rear Shield During normal use the rear shield is subject to deterioration and wear Remove the grass bag and raise the discharge guard to check the rear shield for cracks or tears If the rear shield is excessively worn have it replaced by your authorized Honda servicing dealer Gra...

Page 6: ...er neck Check the oil level shown on the dipstick 3 If the oil level is low add oil to reach the upper limit mark on the dipstick Do not overfill If the engine is overfilled the excess oil may get transferred to the air cleaner housing and air filter An indication of overfilling is white or blue smoke coming from the muffler when the engine is running Use 10W 30 API Service category SJ oil for nor...

Page 7: ...ll sticks stones pieces of wire and other loose objects Never operate the blades over gravel NOTICE Striking objects with the spinning blades can cause severe engine damage which is not covered by the DISTRIBUTOR S LIMITED WARRANTY 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 an...

Page 8: ...ease the blade control lever to stop the engine and stop blade rotation whenever you need to leave the mower Smart Drive Control With the engine running and the blades rotating slowly push the Smart Drive control to propel the mower forward Ground speed will increase as more pressure is applied to the Smart Drive control After maximum ground speed is obtained applying additional pressure will not ...

Page 9: ...te 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...

Page 10: ...e 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 engine ...

Page 11: ...ach use 5 hours of use or firstmonth 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 O 5 Blade control operation Check O O 15 Spark...

Page 12: ... 14 mm 6 point socket wrench Wear thick leather gloves and hold the blades with your hand to prevent the blades from turning when removing the bolts Remove the blades 5 Inspect the blade holder and blade mounting surface for damage If damage is found or the blades have impacted a hard object the blade holder should also be replaced 6 Clean dirt and grass from around the blade mounting area 7 Insta...

Page 13: ... 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 Clean the air filter after the first 25 hours of use Thereafter clean the filter...

Page 14: ...reinstalling the old spark plug tighten 1 8 to 1 4 turn after the spark plug seats 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 pa...

Page 15: ...nce is felt and then return the starter grip gently This will close the valves so moisture cannot enter the engine cylinder Cleaning Mower Deck Allow the engine to cool before cleaning or washing Before cleaning or 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...

Page 16: ... replace the spark plug page 14 Spark plug wet with fuel flooded engine Dry and reinstall the spark plug 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 is too tall Raise the cutting height page 6 cut a narrower swath use a slower ground speed or cut more frequently In...

Page 17: ...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 Tampering is a violation of federal and California law Tampering with or altering the emissions control system may increase emissions b...

Page 18: ...e speed transmission flywheel brake fixed throttle Auto Choke System Length 61 0 in 1 550 mm Width 22 6 in 575 mm Overall height 40 8 in 1 037 mm Dry mass weight 77 8 lb 35 3 kg Cutting width 20 9 in 530 mm Cutting heights 1 4 in 27 100 mm Wheelbase 26 6 in 676 mm Model GCV170 Type 4 stroke overhead valve single cylinder air cooled Displacement 10 1 cu in 166 cc Bore and stroke 2 36 x 2 32 in 60 x...

Page 19: ...e fuel deterioration 3 to 4 Weeks Before Next Use Reason Turn the fuel valve OFF and fill the mower s fuel tank If the fuel tank is only partially filled air in the tank will promote fuel deterioration With the fuel valve off start the engine and let it run until it runs out of gas Running time should be approximately 3 minutes The small amount of gasoline in your lawn mower s carburetor will dete...

Page 20: ...T and then Owner s manuals or you can click the Owners Manuals link provided at the bottom of the home page 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 whateve...

Page 21: ...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 This warranty is limited to Honda Power Equipment part...

Page 22: ... under the emission warranty solely for use of non Honda replacement parts or service performed at a location other than an authorized Honda dealership however use of a part that is not functionally identical to the original equipment part in any respect that may in any way affect emissions including durability could result in denial of coverage If such a non Honda replacement part is used in the ...

Page 23: ...ll remain confidential It will not be released 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 or register online at powerequipment honda com Print your 7 digit serial number here commercial rental users check one private homeowner use for hire use Owner s Last Name Company Name Address C...

Page 24: ...click Submit It s that simple 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 HPE 2019 08 PRINTED IN U S A EM5 ...

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