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Owner’s Manual
Rotary Mower
HRX217TDA
See page 57 for instructions on
setting up your Lawn Mower.
EM3
POM53619-A
IPC XXXXX.2006.04
31VH7001
Printed on
00X31-VH7-0010 © 2003-2006 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.—All Rights Reserved
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Recycled Paper
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Keep this owner’s manual handy, so you can refer to it at any time. This owner’s manual is considered a permanent part of the lawn mower and should remain with the lawn mower if resold. 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 whatever. No part
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INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your selection of a Honda lawn mower! We are certain you will be pleased with your purchase of one of the finest lawn mowers on the market. We want to help you get the best results from your new mower and to operate it safely. This manual contains the information on how to do that; please read it carefully. As you read this manual, you will find information preceded by a NOTICE symbol. That information is intended to help you avoid damage to your mower, oth
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INTRODUCTION A FEW WORDS ABOUT SAFETY Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And using this lawn mower safely is an important responsibility. To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others. Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintai
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CONTENTS LAWN MOWER SAFETY ..............................................................................4 IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ...................................................4 IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS .................................................5 SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS .................................................................6 CONTROLS & FEATURES ...........................................................................7 COMPONENT & CONTROL LOCATIONS ..............
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LAWN MOWER SAFETY IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Most accidents with walk-behind mowers can be prevented if you follow all instructions in this manual and on the mower. The most common hazards, according to accident statistics, 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 running. If you need to adjus
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LAWN MOWER SAFETY IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS YOUR CHILDREN’S SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT to Honda. That’s why we urge you to read this message before letting your child operate this lawn mower. Lawn mowers are tools, not toys. As with any equipment, bad judgments can result in serious injuries. You can help prevent accidents by making good decisions about if, when, and how your child operates this equipment. The first question you’ll need to ask is whether your child is capable of operatin
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LAWN MOWER SAFETY SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS These labels warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury. Read them carefully. If a label comes off or becomes hard to read, contact an authorized Honda servicing dealer for a replacement. CAUTION UNDER NORMAL USAGE, THIS BAG MATERIAL IS SUBJECT TO DETERIORATION AND WEAR, AND SHOULD BE CHECKED FREQUENTLY FOR BAG REPLACEMENT. THIS BAG CONFORMS TO A.N.S.I. STANDARD B71.1, ANY REPLACEMENT MUST MEET THIS STANDARD. WARNING Objects throw
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CONTROLS & FEATURES COMPONENT & CONTROL LOCATIONS HANDLEBAR SHIFT LEVER THROTTLE LEVER DISCHARGE GUARD FUEL TANK CAP FLYWHEEL BRAKE LEVER GRASS BAG REAR CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER (2) OIL FILLER CAP MUFFLER DRIVE CLUTCH RECOIL STARTER LEVER GRIP SPARK PLUG CAP HANDLEBAR LOCKING CARBURETOR KNOB (2) CLIP DIRECTOR® FUEL VALVE KNOB FRONT CUTTING AIR CLEANER HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVERS 7
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CONTROLS & FEATURES DESCRIPTION OF CONTROLS Fuel Valve The fuel valve opens and closes the fuel passage from the fuel tank to the carburetor. OFF FUEL VALVE ON Throttle Lever The throttle lever controls engine speed and opens and closes the choke. THROTTLE LEVER CHOKE Closes the choke; use when starting a cold engine. FAST For restarting a warm engine and for mowing. SLOW For idling the engine. 8
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CONTROLS & FEATURES Flywheel Brake Lever This lever is connected to the engine flywheel brake and the ignition switch. The engine will not start unless this lever is pushed forward. FLYWHEEL BRAKE LEVER Drive Clutch Lever The drive clutch lever engages and disengages the transmission that drives the rear wheels. FLYWHEEL BRAKE LEVER DRIVE CLUTCH LEVER 9
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CONTROLS & FEATURES Shift Lever The shift lever selects and controls the mower’s drive speed. 1 (slow) For mowing thick 1 (SLOW) grass or maneuvering in 2 (MEDIUM) small areas. 2 (medium) For intermediate 3 (FAST) self-propelled mowing speed. 3 (fast) For maximum self-propelled transport speed. SHIFT LEVER Cutting Height Adjustment Levers Each wheel of the mower can 3/4 in (20 mm) be adjusted to one of seven 1-1/4 in (32 mm) 2 in (46 mm) settings. The cutting height 2-1/2 in (62 mm) f
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BEFORE OPERATION ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED? Your safety is your responsibility. A little time spent in preparation will significantly reduce your risk of injury. Knowledge 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. IS YOUR LAWN MOWER READY TO GO? For your safety, and to maximize the service life
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BEFORE OPERATION Check the General Condition of the Lawn Mower • 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 32). Check that the blade bolts are tight (page 34). • Check that all nuts, bolts, screws are tightened. Check the Engine • Check the air cleaner (page 38) and oil level (page 36). • Check the fuel level (page 46). Starting with
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BEFORE OPERATION GET THE MOWER READY Handlebar Height Adjustment 1. Loosen the handlebar locking knobs (2). 2. Spread the lower ends of the handlebar to release the locating pins and move the handlebar up or down so the locating pins engage other holes on the handlebar mounting brackets. 3. Tighten the handlebar locking knobs securely. HIGH MID HANDLEBAR LOW LOCKING KNOB (2) 13
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BEFORE OPERATION Clip Direction Clip Director® Knob Adjustment Adjust the Clip Director knob in any one of ten positions to achieve the desired mowing results. To adjust the Clip Director knob, pull the knob downward and towards the rear of the mower. The knob adjusts a sliding door from the fully open BAG position to the fully closed MULCH position (see the following page). CLIP DIRECTOR KNOB DISCHARGE GUARD SLIDING DOOR (fully closed) Some grass accumulation in the discharge opening is no
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BEFORE OPERATION Sliding Door Position The sliding door can be positioned to produce different mowing results. If the preferred sliding door position is unknown, install the grass bag (page 17) and begin mowing with the Clip Director knob all the way to the BAG position. Check the appearance 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. BAGGING OR REAR DISCH
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BEFORE OPERATION Rear Discharge To discharge clippings to the CLIP DIRECTOR rear, remove the grass bag and KNOB 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. As the Clip Director knob is moved toward the right (MULCH) position, less grass will be discharged though the rear discharge guard. 16
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BEFORE OPERATION Grass Bag A lawn mower works like a vacuum cleaner; it blows air through the bag, which traps the grass clippings. Always empty the grass bag before it becomes filled to the limit of its capacity. Bagging performance will diminish after the bag becomes about 90% filled. Also, the bag is easier to empty when it is not packed full. The grass bag can be left on the mower during mowing, then depending on conditions, certain areas may require full mulching where as other ar
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BEFORE OPERATION Cutting Height ADJUSTMENT LEVERS Move all four adjustment levers to the same position. To adjust cutting height, pull each ADJUSTMENT LEVER adjustment lever toward the wheel, and move it into another notch. 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 cutting height if necessary. 18
