Just bought my first Honda lawn mower / first self-propelled mower.

[mrsilv04]

Honda HRN216. Self-propelled, variable speed. Sticker on the engine shows that it is a 2021 model. Picked it up at a household auction about 20 miles away. Was being sold as "untested", even though it looks like it has been used a handful of times at the most. Not a scratch or blemish on it. Snatched it up for $80. New ones are $599.

Siphoned the old gas out of it, even though it didn't smell that bad. But I wasn't going to run it through the engine, not knowing how old it was. Refilled with fresh gas, checked the oil, it was still clean and full. I'll go ahead and change the oil this weekend. Owner's manual states it takes all of 12 ounces of 10w-30.

One pull and it was running. So I went ahead and mowed the yard with it.

This is my first four-cycle push mower, and my first self-propelled mower. I'm amazed that it pushes as easy as my old mower, even without engaging the rear wheel drive. I've only used two-cycle Lawn-Boys all of my life. Mainly picked this up to chop and bag leaves this fall, since my Lawn-Boy has always been terribly cold blooded and doesn't like to do much of anything once the temps drop below 50 degrees.

 

[mitsuman47]

Great deal! Should last a long time.

 

[AZjeff]

Set for life.

 

[Escape08]

Very nice

 

[E150GT]

What a deal

 

[daves87rs]

Cool!

 

[JHZR2]

Great deal! Metal or plastic deck?

 

[fantastic]

I convinced my father back in 2011 to go with a self propelled & he consistently thanked me for the recommendation thereafter. My first experience with SP was way back on a new 1995 Craftsman. Worked great until my older bro & his buddy clamped the handle, jumped on the motor, then scooted on down the street in fun until it quit moving.

"Scratch n dents" are some of the best deals I've had but you're in a better position to score a deal on gasoline powered equipment these days due to companies phasing out that type of OPE. That is a steal! What years are your LB's?

 

[ecotourist]

I bought a very similar one this spring - and paid a lot more than that. I like it a lot.

My old mower has a Honda engine which has been pretty much trouble free, and it's probably 20 years old. I change the oil annually, have replaced the pull cord once or twice, the air filter a couple of times, and the spark plug twice. Still starts on the first or second pull. I keep a jug of 10W-30 conventional oil just for that engine. It doesn't use any oil.

One trick is to turn the gas off while it's running and let the engine die of fuel starvation when you're putting it away for the winter. That minimizes the fuel left in the carburetor. If you don't do that, the first few starts of the year can be kind of cranky.

 

[sparky123]

Our family owns 4 Honda mowers (all Self-Propelled) and they are all GREAT mowers. The best is an HRX model, which is a little heavier than the rest, but on level ground is an absolute pleasure to mow with. The last new HRX model can still be bought new. Home Depot $699. You bought a great mower for a song!

 

[CharBaby]

Great deal! Metal or plastic deck?

I'll answer!
The HRN216 are generally a steel deck with a GCV170cc motor.
Yeah, the OP did very well with this purchase.

 

[CharBaby]

^^^ EDIT
I'm not saying that the OP's lawn mower(great deal BTW) doesn't have the famous Honda Composite Deck, I'm just saying(from looking at the photos more closely) in general, the HRN216 is the steel deck and generally equipped with the 170cc engine instead of Honda's larger cc displacement engines.

And it was indeed a great find for the OP and one of the best mowers on the market.
We have 2 TroyBilt mowers with Honda 160cc engines and they’re frikken great…Just fabulous!

 

[mrsilv04]

It being a steel deck doesn't bother me, as I'm in it for the long run... and this one will be staying on one property and not moved around.

Other than that, this one checks all of the boxes... variable speed drive, upgraded 170cc engine, and it bags, mulches, or discharges.

Plus, if I decide that it isn't for me, I can put it on Facebook Marketplace next Spring and sell it for $250 easily.

 

[JHZR2]

It being a steel deck doesn't bother me, as I'm in it for the long run... and this one will be staying on one property and not moved around.

Other than that, this one checks all of the boxes... variable speed drive, upgraded 170cc engine, and it bags, mulches, or discharges.

Plus, if I decide that it isn't for me, I can put it on Facebook Marketplace next Spring and sell it for $250 easily.

Ive never had issues with steel decks.

Great mower!

 

[CharBaby]

I've had good and bad steel decks. Some steel decks lasted longer than the engine itself.

 

[mrsilv04]

I know how one would fix a steel deck with a defect. I'm not sure how one would fix a plastic deck.

The Honda plastic deck does have a lifetime warranty... but to the original purchaser only.

 

[Nessism1]

Using Stabil in your garage gas can is strongly recommended...

 

[mrsilv04]

What years are your LB's?

One is a 1983 model 7268 (last year before the 1984 blade brake mandate), bought new (with my own $$$) when I was 13 years old.
The other is a 1990 model S21ZPN, which I bought used around 20 years ago for $50.

I aslo have a Lawn Boy edger from 1968. which came from an estate tag sale for $10.

 

[fantastic]

One is a 1983 model 7268 (last year before the 1984 blade brake mandate), bought new (with my own $$$) when I was 13 years old.
The other is a 1990 model S21ZPN, which I bought used around 20 years ago for $50.

I aslo have a Lawn Boy edger from 1968. which came from an estate tag sale for $10.
View attachment 243613

That's essentially the same handle on my 1953. That's awesome you still have an 83' from new. Thanks for sharing!

 

[CharBaby]

I've had good and bad steel decks. Some steel decks lasted longer than the engine itself.

In addition to my last response^^^ above:

* I've owned steel decks that lasted over 30 years with only surface rust but the engine was getting too hard to start and blowing oil.
* And I've owned decks that only lasted 12-15 years(mostly from anything MTD regardless of who's name was on the deck) and rusted apart causing me to look for a donor deck for my still decent engine, in which I did recently. I put on my Honda GCV160cc from a TroyBilt deck onto a Craftsman donor deck...I posted in another thread, see below.

C

Thread 'Honda engine swap onto a Craftsman deck?'

Sep 1, 2024

Will a Honda GCV160 engine adapt atop of a Craftsman(MTD) deck that currently has the OE B&S engine on it?
I have a great condition Craftsman/MTD lawnmower deck with a(not so good) B&S engine on it!
And a rotted TroyBilt/MTD deck w/ the OE Honda engine on it and I want to swap the Honda engine over to the Craftsman deck that has the B&S engine.

Will the mounting holes lineup?
I found this video which is exactly what I’d like to do but I have some reluctance.

• CharBaby
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Lawn Mower and Small Engine

• 

^^^This is not my video but it is exactly what I have done.
IDK how many years the Craftsman(MTD) deck will last but it's really solid right now.