HONDA HRX217 3-speed to Hydro Swap Possible?

[Fordiesel69]

Super long story summerized. Scored a bunch of mowers and do not want to spend $135 bucks for a new 3 speed tranny. I have a broken deck with a Hydro transmission. Other than the speed control detents being 3 vs 10, is there any reason this would not work?

 

[wpod]

Give it a try

 

[Fordiesel69]

Its a lot of labor hence the question. And the snap rings are rusty!!!

 

[super20dan]

yes it will work

 

[Fordiesel69]

So......pulled the belts off and tilted the transmissions and found that they will be an exact fit from a deck standpoint.

However the 3 speed uses (as you guessed it) a 3 position speed select cable, in addition to an independent enguagment cable connected to the operator hand bail. The hydro on the other hand uses a single variable tension cable connected in series to the speed selector then daisey chained into the operator hand bail.

To swap the transmission i'd need to swap a handle assembly that I do not have,

 

[qjohn]

Can you use the lever-control of a handle from an HRB215 ? There are some on ebay (full disclosure: I have one for sale there).