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I hope someone may be able to shed some light on an issue have have with my new HRX2173HZC.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Mike

Hi Mike:

Sorry to hear of the trouble, but let's see what we can do:

(1) If the starter motor is knocking/clicking, but not turning the starter or engine, it sure sounds like the battery has failed or is weak, even after a solid charge period. The battery in the HRX is a Cylon-brand battery, and is generally very reliable. If the battery has indeed failed, and it's determined to be a factory defect, it should be covered under warranty. If your dealer isn't going that way, you should contact Honda Customer Relations to discuss; they are available 9-5/M-F at 770-497-6400.

(2) The recoil start is smooth, and here are a few tips to make it work best: (a) Pull the rope out slowly until you feel some resistance, then, pull it briskly upward, and gently let it down to the eyelet. (b) Don't yank the handle aggressively like pulling a tooth; it needs a smooth and even pull, not lightening-fast. If it's still hard to pull or isn't smooth, there could be problems internally. Again, if found to be a factory defect, should be covered under warranty.

(3) All Honda dealers are under agreement with Honda to provide warranty service (they are NOT obligated to provide NON-warranty service) regardless of where the unit was purchased. Of course, a dealer is an independent business, and can do whatever he wants, but it's in his best interest to take care of all customers with Honda mowers. Again, if you can't make progress on this with the dealer, consider finding another one, or contact Honda to see what can be done.

 

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Mike, from what you described about the electric start issue, it sure sounds like the battery isn't producing enough power to properly turn the starter motor. Since the charger is showing 14+ volts output, I think it's safe to say the charger is probably okay. I would suspect the battery has at least partially failed. The rest of the electric start system is quite robust, and it's unlikely there any issue with it, unless there's been water intrusion to the cables, starter motor, etc., of if there's been physical damage to the wiring starter motor, etc.

For the hard-starting when using the recoil, a few things: (1) Disconnect the spark plug cap and remove the spark plug. Slowly pull the recoil handle a few full strokes. You should feel some drag as the piston and valves move, but nothing really difficult or excessive. With the spark plug out, there's no real compression, and the rest of the parts should move smooth and with little effort. If not, there may be some damage or binding in the pull-start reel, rope or ratchet assembly. (2) All Honda mower engines have a compression-release device that holds open an valve briefly when you are pulling the starter rope to reduce the effort required. As the engine starts to turn just a bit faster during the pull, the compression-release disconnects and lets the valves operate normally. Should this device fail, it can be a rear arm-strainer to get the engine started.

Both detailed inspection and repair of the recoil starter and compression release parts are somewhat involved, and I don't recommend they be done by a DIY'er without a shop manual and medium to above-average mechanical skill and a good assortment of tools. This is especially true for a unit that may qualify for warranty repairs. The last thing you want to do is tear into the machine, not find the problem, and then not be able to get it back together before having to take it to the dealer. You run a strong risk a the warranty being denied if you attempted repairs and caused a situation where more work is required to make the mower operate properly.

Now if you weren't under warranty, have at it. You can buy a detailed factory shop manual direct from Honda at their eBay store, free shipping. Here' s a link to the one for your HRX:

Honda HRX217 Lawn Mower Service Repair Manual 61VH700E7 | eBay