How would I like the HRX

[stygz]

I have been thinking of replacing my Lawn Boy Platinum series aluminum deck 10765 (personal pace with Briggs motor) with a Honda HRX217HYA - hydrostatic drive model. We have bermuda grass and cut low. I like the honda as it cuts down to 3/4". I mostly mulch. How is the cruise control compare to personal pace? I like how the Honda has more power for the thick bermuda grass. What should I know about the Honda vs the Lawn Boy?

[Wayne195]

Welcome to the forum!

I say go for it! The Honda HRX217's are longlasting, durable lawnmowers. However, I don't have experience with your model LawnBoy so I can't give you an accurate comparison between the two. I haven't yet gotten my hands on the new Honda cruise control drive system as that is a rather recent feature. Go to your nearest Honda dealer and take a look and take one for a test run and see how you like it!

[robert@honda]

Originally Posted by stygz

How is the cruise control compare to personal pace? I like how the Honda has more power for the thick bermuda grass. What should I know about the Honda vs the Lawn Boy?

The Honda Cruise Control is a fully hydrostatic (fluid drive) system. There are a couple of nice features it provides:
* There are two controls to adjust speed. The drive clutch lever on the handlebar adjusts the speed from zero to maximum. This is very nice and easy to change speed on conditions, turns, and obstacles. There is a short, orange lever on the side that sets the maximum speed. Together, these make it a breeze to precisely tune the drive speed to match your pace.
* The entire system operates under constant belt tension, which minimizes the abruptness and possibility of a belt slipping off a pulley. Other drive systems (like the Personal Pace) typically use a slipping-belt clutch design.

Finally, take a look a recent consumer reporting publication and note Honda mowers recently captured 3 of the top 5 spots, including a "Best Buy" rating. The hydrostatic model wasn't even tested as it had won the top spot many times in the past.

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

Robert@Honda

[stygz]

As far as my model goes it is just a Toro super bagger in green. Unfortunatly I do not have a Honda dealer in my area. I would have to go to home depot. They dont stock that model so it would be a special order.

On the Honda speed is controlled by a lever and the cruise control is for maximum speed. Does anyone have a pic they can post showing the levers from a view that you would see while operating the mower?

[stygz]

One other thing. I was looking at pics and the mowing dech shows a 1" setting for cutting but on the specs is says 3/4". Can someone confirm the low cutting height? Reason I ask is I have bermuda grass and I cut low.

[robert@honda]

The HRX will indeed cut down to 3/4"

Here's an image of the handle bar:



The lever with the yellow button is the blade clutch. You press in the yellow button and push the lever against the handlebar to engage the blade.

The narrower black lever is the drive clutch. You leave it open/away from the handlebar to roll in neutral or backwards. The closer you press it to the handlebar, the faster the drive speed.

The orange lever on the side sets the maximum drive speed. So it the mower can run from 0-4 mph, setting the orange lever 1/2 way will limit to top speed to 2 mph. When you push the drive lever all the way forward, the mower will run at 2 mph.

Finally, the short black lever is the throttle/choke control.

-Robert@Honda

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

[stygz]

I assume the reach for the drive lever is natural feeling/easy to reach. Funny the mower deck says 1" but it actually cuts to 3/4".

[robert@honda]

Originally Posted by stygz

I assume the reach for the drive lever is natural feeling/easy to reach. Funny the mower deck says 1" but it actually cuts to 3/4".

I think the "1" mark on the deck was originally "one inch" but now is simply the "first" (lowest) position, which happens to equal 3/4" cut height.

-Robert@Honda

Caveat: I work for Honda, but the preceding was my opinion alone.

[stygz]

I checked consumer reports and the HRX217 with smart drive was the highest rated. Followed by two Toro models for the top 3. Like you said they hydro model was not tested. Probably because of price. Funny the Honda was rated all the same as the toro except one area it was marked one notch less but it still beat the Toro by one point overall.

Is the 160cc honda quieter than the 190cc?

I remember years back using a Honda mower and it being really quiet. That mower was hard to start but it lived a hard and abused life.

[stygz]

Why does the Honda take about 20oz of oil for initial fill but regular oil changes take 13oz?