Honda HRU216
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Very slow I can push faster – I’m really disappointed with the mower. I’ve owned this for 3 weeks , it’s still brand new. Selling for $1750. It’s VERY slow and not that powerful. I’ve had it checked by Honda and they set it at 3200rpm the max it should be set on. And it’s still not good. I have it on the rabbit (full throttle) and it’s a slow walking pace on gear 3 the fastest setting. I had an old Honda push mower and I got my jobs done a lot quicker with this. I can push faster than the self propelled. I really thought it would be a great mower for my business but it’s slowing me down. I expected to get my jobs done quicker.
Purchased in .
Reliable commercial use – I purchased my Honda HRU216 new about 4 years ago and have been using commercially 5 days a week ever since in my lawn and garden business. The machine has never let me down. I change the oil twice a year myself, replace the the plug at the same time and air filter. The blades last me about 4 weeks which is normal seeing as we use it approx 3 hrs per day x 5 days x 4 weeks = 60 hrs mow time
I spoke with other contractors prior to buying and they all said to give the machine a slight push being engaging the self propelled lever as this takes the load off the gearbox. The dealer agreed saying that they had a few gearbox problems in the past.
The only fault I have is that the Shute is way too small and clogs up when the grass is a little damp or a bit long. You think Honda could overcome this problem easily. I noticed other comments about the weight of this machine - remember you are buying a commercial machine that is made to last which is not made to into the boot of the car. We use ramps which you can drive up (obviously with the disengaged)
Overall the machine is a no brainer for commercial use
- Date Purchased:
Reviews with attachments
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Weekly use for a year . Look the quality of the machine , reliable and use perfect for home user for renovation and weekly cut’ Show details
Happy as, last mower I'll buy for a decade or two – Best mower I've owned to date. To address some of the negative reviews in the past and my opinion of those. Think some of the reviews are of different models and mistaking listed as a hru216m3. Tramming is too slow! Tramming speed is plenty with the M3 version. It's a brisk walk speed in 3rd and 2nd is more comfortable. You wouldn't want it any… Read more
quicker. I'm assuming it's been changed from previous versions. Video attached It's heavy! Well yeah it is, but I like the slightly heavier weight, it can be a good thing in mowers especially those you don't have to push. It holds the ground and when I mow the old man's house on serious slopes it pisses it in without slipping. FYI Reel mowers work better the heavier they are, can't see why rotary mowers would be any different. I'm happy as with it. Also selling the reel mower in photo as the rotary does a better job on buffalo.
In-depth reviews
Worst thing I’ve even bought – As a contractor I was recommended this machine by the salesman as a 10 year bulletproof machine. The trouble started after 2 weeks when the transmission wouldn’t engage and began clicking. I took it back and they tensioned the cable to its maximum. It worked ok for a few weeks then completely failed. They replaced the transmission under warranty… Read more
(2 weeks). I picked it up and only a week later it happened again. I was told the batch of replacement transmissions were faulty. A third transmission was ordered (2 weeks) and then a week after the cable snapped mid job. They replaced the cable at my cost and a few months later it snapped again. I’ve just accepted the wobbly wheels that lost their tread within 6 months, the faded paintwork and I replaced the catcher that fell apart, all at my cost. Finally the deck cracked and cannot be repaired as cast iron is difficult to weld. They quoted me a new deck at 2/3 the original purchase price. I’ve now ditched it completely to the back of the shed in favour of my bulletproof Bushranger. I’ll never buy Honda again. Worst $1799 I’ve ever spent.
It's great for what I want – Purchased just after the drought breaking rain, this Honda is an adjunct to the 10 year old Honda HRU196. The old mower was very heavy but pretty near indestructible. On the basis of the old clunker's reliability I thought I'd have a shot at the HRN216PKU. The cutting deck is wider and the mower itself would have to be 20kgs lighter than the old… Read more · 1
one. My property is beset with steep hills and sataria. I push mow about an acre and a half. It's thinking time and exercise.
The first two mows after the rains in Northern NSW were industrial and vicious, the various grasses (what a rural property laughingly calls 'lawn') at least knee-high.
The new Honda works a treat. I'm not sure if I like the auto-turn off where as soon as you let go the lever the engine stops. That's a small quibble for having a mower that's robust enough to get through pretty heavy duty grass while being light enough to tackle the steep bits.
The dual blades are an interesting innovation. The design brief is they cut grass and that's what they do. I'll explore this more as I get used to the mower. Wet grass doesn't seem to be a problem but I guess that's contingent on the height settings and the grass type.
The mower was (according to the dealer) designed in the US, explaining why there is a height adjuster on the rear and forward axles. That's a useless piece of engineering. Why would you want the cutting deck anything other than flat? Oh that's right, consumer choice!
I never bother with the catcher. Without it (and possibly with it) the Honda is nimble and easy to throw around.
It's good! It's done about 30 hours of mowing. I'll update the review as the mower gets a little more wear.
***Update June 08 2020*** Still good but it does have hiccups that weren't noticeable early on. Please remember this is a one acre house paddock that's tough mowing. It's not a flat suburban lawn. The old Honda commercial cuts way better because it has a bigger engine and smaller cutting deck. But it's heavier and takes longer.
The new mower's dual cutting blades really don't like sticks. That's one quibble but certainly not a major thing.
So it's a combination of both mowers that works well for me - the new one for the slopes and the old heavy clunker for the almost-level bits.
The Hondas seem to be pretty much indestructible.
Big and powerful, but not perfect for all applications – This is a big, powerful mower. Ideal for cutting through tough, tall grass. This mower is not ideal for all applications. Weighing in at 54kg, it is not possible for the average person to lift this into the back of their vehicle. Yes, I know some people can lift 54 kg, but it's an awkward shape and not all that easy to wrangle in my view. If… Read more
you are moving this mower from location to location by car, I'd suggest using a ramp or at least some sort of method to assist getting it in and out of a vehicle other than just lifting because it's too difficult to do on your own on a regular basis.
Having said that, for situations where you have a large area to mow and you either cannot afford or is not practical to use a ride-on mower, this mower will give you results that are almost as good. To be fair, ride-ons are a different category, so I won't labour that comparison too heavily, but this is a good alternative if you are thinking you need something less than a ride-on but more than a regular mower.
Looking at the speed settings on the self-propelling side of things: this mower has three speeds and I tended to use 1 for the first mow over very tall grass, then switch up to 2 or 3 once I'd cut the grass down to a managable size. I was also mowing over uneven and rocky ground, often with rubbish (such as cans and plastic containers) strewn around so I didn't want to go too fast. Your situation may be different to mine. If you're doing residential you are less likely to deal with these problems.
My only issue with self-propelled is the manouverability around obstacles such as trees was a little tricky, I had to disengage the self-propelled features and manually push around the trees. Depending what type of mowing you are doing this will either be a nuisance or irrelevant - I rarely encounter problems navigating trees as I'm mostly mowing open spaces and verges.
The blades have had to be replaced after about 4 months of regular use. I'm sure results will vary depending on use. I was using this mower in situations where there was rocky, uneven ground with rubbish that obstructed the blade (often not visible due to long grass so went through mower). I fully accept that my use of the mower probably put more stress on the blades than a normal domestic situation would and I am also willing to accept that the replacement of blades will depend on how you are using this machine.
In summary this is a powerful and useful machine. But I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. I'd really consider what your needs are before spending the big bucks on this one, but if you think it suits your needs you will be very happy with it.
Positive reviews
Awesome mower – Bought this mower to replace my old Masport. I wanted a self propelled as it is used on the farm and the mow area is large and rutted and uneven with a hefty slope at the back. The build quality is awesome and it is a dream to start. It is easy to operate and clean and is relatively quiet. I don't use the catcher and it works well in wet grass… Read more
and the power of the mower is fine. I looked at a range of the self propelled mowers available here in NZ and this one was recommended to me and I can see why. Definitely recommended.
Second-hand decent quality mower – I have the newer model and brought one of these second hand couple weeks ago. Between the 2 they both have there better points. Works pretty good as a self-propelled mower. What i like about this model. It feels a lot lighter and easier to move around. Great if your mowing every day compared to the new standard hru216. The newer model, no way you want to use it if the self propelled isnt working. This one wouldn't be so bad Show details
There's no better – Great mower used commercially and never missed a beat . Changed spark plug and air filter 2 times year and oil at the same time . There's a reason all serious contractors have these sitting on the back of the ute . Show details
Negative reviews
Couldn't buy a victa so poor 2nd choice – It bogs down on lowest cutting height so you have to raise front and rear up to first notch or it wont drive wheels.then your lawn looks like it needs mowing when your finished as it's still high.catcher is a joke it doesn't catch half the grass.motor is strong and it starts first pull,but the whole engineering from cutting blades to grass catcher… Read more
needs overhaul,there engineers should by a victa and study how to build a proper lawn mower that works.flat lawn no slope,dry lawn and it still struggles to drive wheels,buffalo lawn.glad to swap it for a self proppelled victa.
Worst Lawn Mower ever & terrible service from Honda- Dont buy it – This mower started giving me trouble 9 months into warranty. Honda & Bunnings Castlehill have offered no support and don't care after several follow ups. Not worth $899. Escalated to ACCC. Show details
Poor quality mower, with service to match from GYC and Honda AU – I purchased this mower from GYC, a Honda dealer. When I got it home, the mower would not stop blowing blue smoke, even after a long run-time. The mower was kept level in transport. The dealer had significantly overfilled it with oil. Following up with GYC via email, two months later I still have received no response. I addressed my concerns with… Read more
Honda head-office, who were disinterested and unhelpful. Eventually after draining excess oil and a long run-time, the mower was operating normally.
The mower is bulky, heavy and having to depress the handle to keep the mower running is cumbersome, if you need to move a stick or something out of the way, it must be started again.
This is my second Honda mower, quality and service is severely lacking. Avoid GYC and Honda equipment.
Find out how Honda HRU216 compares to other Petrol Lawn Mowers
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Recent reviews
My late partners mother bought this for him for his mowing business. I was too scared to use it and preferred a smaller mower. I tried it one day and got the hang of it and loved it. Partner passed away last year and its the one thing I have left from him and I just love mowing my lawns with it. So easy to use. Just need help to lift it into my… Read more
car to get it serviced. A great mower! I can see it will last for years! Those saying its too slow are kidding themselves. On the fast setting its pretty fast for me but i prefer to take my time mowing properly and go slowly.
So far, so good after 15 years of use on my lifestyle block. Not much use though- only 1/2 acre run each month. Changed oil every two years. Cleaned carburettor once. Changed blade control lever cable last year ($18). Broke the starter cord once. Tip : (copied from another post, but the dealer told me exatly the same) : ' give the machine a slight push being engaging the self propelled lever as this takes the load off the gearbox.' Show details
Lack of grip on drive wheels – After 6 month of use the rear drive wheels are almost useless spinning as soon as you hit longer grass I purchased this mower as a self propelled not a push mower Obviously an issue Show details
Honda Lawn Mower – Starts first time every time. No issues what so ever. Level setting is easy and checking filter and oil as well. The catcher is the right size, so you don;t have to stop to soon. Mulcher is a great feature. Show details
Great Mower Very Happy with it Fantastic Replacement for the John Deere Self Propelled Mower – This Honda Self Propelled Mower is fantastic mower this mower starts first time very reliable Doesnt constantly drop the height as my John Deere Self Propelled Mower used to drop the height the Honda Self Propelled Mower does not drop the height I love this Honda Self Propelled Mower Show details
I love my Honda mower – I love my Honda mower. It's self propelling. Starts every time first pull. Makes my lawn look beautiful. Only thing is catcher can get heavy, so I empty before full. I've had it for years and it's never given me any trouble. Very durable. Doesn't like wet grass. Clumps up underneath. Can be pushed to it's side (the oil side) and cleaned from… Read more
underneath easily enough. Perhaps because I've had it a long time, and not more recently, that there's a change of where it's made or something that others are having problems. Was $500 when I first bought it years ago.
Worst Mower I Have Owned – This Mower is not suited to Slight Rise or slopes in your lawn, it seems the rotor blade plate drags on the ground and is so hard to push. if you set it to the level where its easy to push it cuts no grass and waste of time. Very poor design runs fine nice and quiet but useless. Show details
Poor quality, plagued with gearbox problems – I have been using commercial Honda mowers for 28 years, Bought a new self-propelled 216D in March 2020 and the gearbox starting clicking and not engaging after about 5 mows. Took it back to the dealer and complained and they agreed to install a new gearbox under warranty. It was two weeks old! Waited 4 weeks for gearbox and fitment only to have… Read more
the same problem starting again. The quality of their new self-propelled mowers has gone to the lowest point of their career. I am devasted that paying nearly 2 grand for a mower that I am experiencing these lemon characteristics. I am not the only one either. I am going to complain about and expose this manufacturing failure and fiasco of lack of transparency and help to assist. We all should demand new replacement mowers until somebody takes notice!!! Honda the power of nightmares!!!!!!!
Terrible clicking – Purchased March 2020 hru216 m3 Nothing but same problems with it After the 3rd property I get to its struggles to self propelled you can here the click and clunk noise from the drive shaft to the gear box It’s been in 6 times and these clowns can not fix it Plus gear box was replaced brand new after one week same issue keeps happening Honda headquarters don’t give a damn and the dealer doesn’t know what to do Show details
Find out how Honda HRU216 compares to other Petrol Lawn Mowers
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Honda quality is nose diving – Purchased a mower - under powered with twisted chassis. Made in Melbourne - not good. The Honda customer service are rude - Ash. They have undertrained staff who seem not to like their job - would not employ them. The problem must stem from the top which is unfortunate. Show details
No good in damp grass – When the grass is damp it clogs up the shoot all the time ,requiring you to remove clogged grass . Has done about 40 hours work and smokes on start up . wont go back to honda again. Show details
Very Happy Customer – Bought this lawnmower 2 weeks ago and i am really impressed, it cuts the grass super fine and holds sooooo much in the catcher. Our lawns are looking perfectly cut and my husband likes that it has a range of gears and the self propelled option drives nicely. definitely worth your money, we bought this from mower world and received perfect customer service! Show details
My Mowers better than yours – One thing I love to own is a great lawn mower. Can’t go past Honda mine is not for commercial use this is my second only due to moving states and couldn’t take my other one. Starts first time every time I have it serviced regularly and love how it’s self mulching as I can’t lift the catcher so I don’t use it. This one’s going to outlast me I… Read more
think. The only downside for me was price $1600 is pretty overwhelming but one the other hand it’s there for the long haul.
Overacted for the price – Very disappointed with this product as a commercial product it fails to cut slight moist buffalo lawn or thick I replaced a masport briggs and Stratton a 4in1 that I had for nearly 20 years and never missed a beat started first go all the time very bad mistake I made buying this Commercial product for money not worth it Show details
Very Good – I have been mowing lawns for a living over thirty years this is the only mower on the market that will stand up to constant commercial use . The mower is quite expensive compared to other brands but the the long life makes it well worth the extra money . Show details
Great mower, pity about the service techs and mistruths that come with the mower – I have had a number of 216's over the past 11 years. They are a good mower, although I now do all my own repairs and that of my fellow contractors due to the poor knowledge of the service staff at selling/servicing dealers. Bent axles, broken gearboxes and low HP are all common problems with these mowers. In the latest generations, broken cables… Read more
seem to be the new trend. This will be my last lot of HRU216's, I will be moving to a different brand. Warranties are often denied on broken parts, even when it's proven to be manufacturing faults. Sorry Honda, your day has passed.
Great Mower!!!! – I got sick of buying a cheap lawn mower every couple of years. This starts 2nd pull every time. Only down side is the weight of it. Its very heavy and makes it difficult lifting in and out of the back of the ute. Thats the only down side even has the water wash point to clean the deck without flipping it over. Show details
One of the best things I own – This works a treat after 5 years and I expect it will keep going that way for another 5 at least. I purchased to mow our 1/2 acre block that has some sloping parts and it does it with ease. At first it seemed a bit heavy and clunky to use but it a short time I figured out when and how to use the self propelling feature to my advantage. I have it… Read more
serviced once a year but it could easily be done by someone at home who has the time and inclination to do it. I have since purchased a small ride on to cut the mowing time down even more but there are still some areas that the Honda can only do so I cannot part with it.
This mower is a Tank and too heavy for parts to handle – Hands down that this mower is the pinnacle of mowers, it has the right sounds, a beautiful cut, the beefiness and a great air filter system. The bad...This mower weighs at a whopping 70 kilos if not more with the catcher full. During my 2 years of owning it as a contractor it worked great. Had some issues with the drive cable stretching and… Read more
that's about it.
This mower was not used much in all honesty, maybe had 100 hours of use since most of my yards are done with a normal push mower.
The gearbox stopped catching and had no drive. Upon further investigation, I pulled out the gearbox, split it open and noticed 3 broken teeth in the cogs. My theory is the weight of the thing is just too much for that tiny transmission. I called the service centre for a replacement and they wanted $550 for this part. In dismay I went and bought another mower, a cheap Chinese black eagle that's self propelled and I am going to test with my work for 1/5th of the price. I bet this will last me a year at least and I'll still be on top 4 years :) I'm not bashing honda, I have a cbr 1000rr and love it, but Honda, please ditch the transmission and go back to a pulley system for drive.
Great self-propelling mower – Great mower especially the self-propelling part for our steep block. Easy to use and once the initial throttle cable hiccup was sorted it starts on the first pull. Nice big catcher and great mulching function. On the heavy side weight wise but. Very solid build so it should last well. Show details
Dream mower! – Heavy going without being too heavy this is fantastic to work with. Such an easy to use marvel that I'm mowing the lawns of less fortunate neighbours because it's just made so easy! Very easy to start and maintain, well worth the cost even on a pretty small surburban block. Show details
This is the second Honda mower I have purchased in 15 years also have a Honda wiper snipper love the product Show details
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Happy to swap it for self proppeled victa