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15

Select Drive Cable Adjustment

With the engine off, loosen the jam nut 

one revolution. 
With the Select Drive control released, 
TIGHTEN the adjuster by turning 
clockwise 1 revolution by hand, and 
then pull the lawn mower rearward to 
check resistance. 
If no wheel resistance exists, repeat 
the above procedure until the wheels 
lock when pulling rearward. It will 
usually take more than 8 turns for the 
wheels to lock up.
Next, mark the adjuster and LOOSEN 
the adjuster counterclockwise 8 
complete revolutions. 
Hold the adjuster and tighten the lock 
nut against the adjuster. Push the 
lawn mower forward and pull backward and check for little or no 
resistance.

Start the engine to ensure the lawn mower does not move forward 
without pushing the Select Drive control.

TRANSPORTING

If the engine has been running, allow it to cool before loading the 

mower on the transport vehicle. A hot engine and exhaust system can 

burn you and can ignite some materials.
Turn the fuel valve to the OFF position. This will prevent carburetor 
flooding and reduce the possibility of fuel leakage.

If installed, remove the grass bag.

If a suitable loading ramp is not available, two people should lift the 
mower on and off the transport vehicle while holding the mower level.

Position the mower so all four wheels are on the bed of the transport 
vehicle. Tie the mower down with rope or straps, and block the 
wheels. Keep the tie-down rope or straps away from the controls, 
adjustment levers, cables, and the carburetor.

Fold the handlebar so the mower will take up less space. See 

“Handlebar” on 

page 16

.

STORAGE

Proper storage preparation is essential for keeping your lawn mower 

trouble free and looking good. To help keep rust and corrosion from 

impairing your lawn mower’s function and appearance, and to make 

the engine easier to start after storage, follow the instructions 

described in this section to:
• Drain or treat the fuel
• Change the oil and coat the engine cylinder
• Clean the mower, engine, and grass bag
• Choose a storage location

Fuel

See “AVOIDING FUEL-RELATED PROBLEMS” on 

page 19

 for a list 

of recommended procedures to avoid fuel related problems.
The 

DISTRIBUTOR’S LIMITED WARRANTY

 (

page 21

) does not 

cover fuel system damage or engine performance problems resulting 

from neglected storage preparation.

Cleaning

Mower Deck

Allow the engine to 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 the engine to cool, and then wash the engine by hand. Be 
careful to prevent water from entering the air cleaner and exhaust 
opening.

NOTICE

Using a garden hose or pressure washing equipment can force water 
into the air filter. Water in the air cleaner will soak the paper element 
and can enter the carburetor or engine cylinder, causing damage.
Water contacting a hot engine can cause damage. If the engine has 
been running, allow it to cool before washing.

Grass Bag

Remove the bag from the mower, and wash it with a garden hose or 
pressure washer. Allow the bag to dry completely before storage.

Drying

After washing the lawn mower, wipe dry all accessible surfaces.

Place the mower with its wheels on a level surface. Start the engine 
outdoors and let it run until it reaches normal operating temperature to 
evaporate any water remaining on the engine. Stop the engine and 
allow it to cool.

After the lawn mower is clean and dry, touch up any damaged paint, 
and coat other areas that may rust with a light film of oil.

Oil

Change the engine oil (

page 13

) if planned storage is 3 months or 

longer or when storing in a high humidity environment.

Add oil in the engine cylinder to prevent corrosion.

1. Remove the spark plug (

page 14

).

2. Pour a teaspoon (5 cc) of clean 

engine oil into the cylinder to 
keep it from rusting.

3. Pull the starter rope several 

times to distribute the oil in the 
cylinder.

4. Reinstall the spark plug.

5. Pull the starter rope slowly until 

resistance is felt, and then 
return the starter grip gently. 
This will close the valves so 
moisture cannot enter the 
engine cylinder.

Storage Location

If your mower will be stored with gasoline in the fuel tank and 
carburetor, it is important to reduce the hazard of gasoline vapor 
ignition. Select a well-ventilated dry storage area away from any 
appliance that operates with a flame, such as a furnace, water heater, 
or clothes dryer. Also avoid any area with a spark-producing electric 
motor, or where power tools are operated.

Make sure the fuel valve is in the OFF position to reduce the 
possibility of fuel leakage.

JAM NUT

LOOSEN

TIGHTEN

ADJUSTER 
MARK

SPARK PLUG HOLE

OIL

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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