New Honda HRN216

[greenjp]

The 16 year old Craftsman I "inherited" at my new house in the spring of 2023 bit the dust earlier in the week, one of the front wheels broke off due to the deck breaking at the connection point. At a different time of the year I might have been inclined to attempt a makeshift repair, but it's the start of a busy mowing season around here so that wasn't going to work.

Wanted to stick with a push mower (non-self propelled) and decided to try to get a Honda before they stop being available. Long story short only found one vendor who had the HRN216 in stock, Acme Tools, so I ordered it from them and it arrived via FedEx 3 days later. Not sure how you can ship a lawnmower from Minnesota to Maryland for free but there it is.

Started up on the first pull but haven't cut the grass yet. Sometime this weekend.

jeff

 

[Gladtojoin88]

I bought a big wheel push Troy bilt a few years ago with a Honda engine. It needs the carb cleaned but does mow and it cuts way better than a rider ever has!

 

[thunderfog]

I did the same and just bought a HRX217VKA from Home Depot. It's a bigger yard, so I went the self-propelled route, and it has the GCV200 engine. Home Depot had it $100 off. But yeah, this was totally a get-the-Honda-engine-on-the-lawn-mower while we still can!

 

[E150GT]

Push mower is the way to go. I just bought an HRX to replace my 2012 troybilt push mower. I repaired my troy built and I find myself using it for parts of the yard where space is tight. Easier to back up and maneuver.
Change that oil at the 1 hour mark and then the 5 hour mark and you'll be good to go. Heck, don't ever change it and you'll still probably be good to go. My troybilt has a Honda engine that I have changed the oil maybe 3 times in 12 years. Still starts on the first pull.

 

[thunderfog]

Push mower is the way to go. I just bought an HRX to replace my 2012 troybilt push mower. I repaired my troy built and I find myself using it for parts of the yard where space is tight. Easier to back up and maneuver.
Change that oil at the 1 hour mark and then the 5 hour mark and you'll be good to go. Heck, don't ever change it and you'll still probably be good to go. My troybilt has a Honda engine that I have changed the oil maybe 3 times in 12 years. Still starts on the first pull.

The 2013 GCV160 in my signature is a County Line branded mower I got from Tractor Supply Co. I think it was an MTD rebrand? But yeah, I like the standard push-mower. I just wish I had the foresight back then to protect the underside of the deck. It's not looking too good these days. But the engine fires up every time on the first or second pull. I change the oil at the end of each season.

 

[TomYoung]

I have one purchased in 1999. Still works great but think about grabbing one of the last ones.

 

[CharBaby]

The 2013 GCV160 in my signature is a County Line branded mower I got from Tractor Supply Co. I think it was an MTD rebrand? But yeah, I like the standard push-mower. I just wish I had the foresight back then to protect the underside of the deck. It's not looking too good these days. But the engine fires up every time on the first or second pull. I change the oil at the end of each season.

I have a TroyBilt w/Honda GCV160 from 2009 and this is the last year for this deck. Engine is perfect and I'll do a swap to a better deck sometime soon.

 

[E150GT]

The 2013 GCV160 in my signature is a County Line branded mower I got from Tractor Supply Co. I think it was an MTD rebrand? But yeah, I like the standard push-mower. I just wish I had the foresight back then to protect the underside of the deck. It's not looking too good these days. But the engine fires up every time on the first or second pull. I change the oil at the end of each season.

You could always get a new deck from MTD if that's the case. That's what I did

 

[PontiacHO]

Gotta love the plastic blade shroud under that Honda. Got a piece of mulch or a small rock wedged between that shroud and the deck and I thought the motor was knocking. Since the blades beat on it and distorted the plastic, that piece had to be trimmed away. Not impressed.

 

[CharBaby]

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

 

[greenjp]

Used it a bit the last few days, starts up easily as it should, the one-sided height adjustment is nice. Mows fine. The bag does let more dust out than the old Craftsman did.

 

[thunderfog]

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

No idea, and can't wait to hear how it goes lol

 

[CharBaby]

^^^ I posted my results here:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...ap-onto-a-craftsman-deck.386779/#post-6999718