Honda Buffalo Buck HRU19D

Long time owner. Does the job. Reliable and very little issues with it over the history of owning this machine, providing it is well maintained and serviced when needed. May replace in the future with another brand or option that is better suited to needs but it has been a successful over 10 years with this mower. Used in a regular backyard.

Long term review – Have owned this mower for 19 yrs and in that time only thing needing replacement has been the starter housing which bolts on top of the mower $56:00 and took 5mins to change over and was in stock to my surprise has been the best mower ever over the year's and still runs great with original plastic grass catcher.

Honda HRU19. Hate it!!! – Worst mower I have every owned. Have had this nasty, overpriced pile of junk for just under 3 years. Blows smoke every cold start and takes quite a few pulls to get it to go. When it does go is extremely thirsty on fuel for what it is. Pull cord has started not retracting properly of which my old mower had this problem at 12 years old. Only goes… Read more

back in a quarter of the way. Absolutely gutless especially considering you cannot increase the revs as it only has one throttle position. The rear chute always clogs when cutting grass any longer than 4 inches. And cutting damp grass with dew etc of any length. And this mower stops every time you have to empty the catcher. And many time I have to unclog the chute because it cloggs very often. I hate this thing with a passion and I wish I had not bought it. I only bought it because I had heard that Honda mowers would last a very long time and upon advise it would be easy for my smaller wife to start and use and also for myself as my health is declining. Well I doubt this. I had an old Rover before this mower and it would have run rings around this piece of garbage

The best there is – I’ve owned my hr19d for well over 13 years it is regularly used still has original blades and i just finished a full service on it this mower is by far better than everything else out there and it’s never missed a beat Show details

Great mower. Zero problems after 5 years – I bought a Honda HRU19 in 2017. I have never had an issue with it. Will start first go every time except twice in 5 years, then it started on the second rip. Starts and runs better than any other small engine I have ever used. I use it for residential mowing only and it has always done it’s job well. I recommend the Honda and it’s worth the extra money in my view. Show details

So easy! Get the one that drives itself! – I love this lawnmower! It actually drives itself and goes uphill on incline which makes lawn moving so much easier. I actually am glad I got the petrol mower as I have only had the cord electric movers before. Show details

A great mower and very reliable – I've had this mower for 17 years. It's been serviced once by a professional in 17 years, although I have changed the oil and air filter about 3 times myself and cleaned and reset the spark plug about 3 times. It starts reliably 1st pull every time and doesn't miss a beat. I had a period where I had a contractor mowing my lawns and didn't start… Read more

it for almost 3 years. It started 2nd pull after not having been started in 3 years.

It can be a little finicky picking up long and wet grass into the catcher, which is a problem shared with countless other mowers cheap and expensive alike. New / Sharp blades help a lot in both cutting the grass and picking up grass into the catcher. The other thing that helps a lot with picking up the grass is not to try cutting long grass in one pass. I have found that if the grass is long, cut it high first then run over it again a couple of days later knocking it down another 3 notches and it picks the grass up fine.

The other regret I have is that I did not buy a self propelled mower. 17 years on from new and it seems a lot heavier than it was when it was new and that will be all down to the older operator and not the mower.

Overall its been an exceptionally good mower and when I get too old to push it, I will buy a Honda self propelled mower.

Fantastic – Fantastic domestic mower, mulching plug works well. small rear opening can get blocked if grass is moist but still ok. clippings fertilize grass and grass appears greener after mulching. start first time everytime!! Show details

Perfect for 27 years – Purchase 27 years ago finally wore out. It mowed large blocks of grass, with lots rocks. A great mower to have and I am about to purchase another one. I will not have to buy another after this. Show details

Mower for Life – I bought this mower in the 80’s so it close to 35 years old! I love my Honda because it cuts grass time and time again without fail, starting easily and strong enough to cut the thickest buffalo or kikuyu lawn. Simply designed, rugged, made of real metal, big ball bearing wheels. I doubt you could buy such quality in the 21st century. I paid… Read more

$350 recently on it to overhaul the wheels,starting coil unit, etc, and it is like new again. I figure it will go another 35 years.

My only complaint is it’s inability to pick grass up effectively. Not really a concern anymore as I don’t use the catcher but mulchthe clippings back into the soil. This greatly improves the quality of my lawn. I didn’t purchase the mower in 1998 - I purchased it in 1983 from a mower place in Wagga NSW.

6 months under water and still goes – I service and repair garden equipment as a bit of a hoppy. Not a fan of the new long range buffalo. The only mower I have ever paid money for $1100 only to sell it 12 months later at a big loss. Far to heavy and the reduced discharge Shute it clogged and bogged very easy. They don’t build em like the used to. I’m currently working on the older ohc… Read more

19D 6 months under water and then a few years sitting in a paddock. I have had to replace is the governor springs and throttle cable for obvious reasons. I gave it a major clean up and I was amazed when second pull she fired up. It ran a little rough but with a tune and some further running it runs like a charm. I’m gonna keep this old girl as an experiment and see how long she will run for

Fairly decent mower – This mower cuts well when the grass is dry and not too thick. The less than perfect design flaw of having only a half a chute means it struggles with thick and/or wet grass and constantly clogs up, requiring the user to stop and unclog it. I also find the engine brake a pain, as every time you take hand of the holder, the mower stops. However,… Read more

the mower like most Hondas, is a reliable starter, starting first pull every time. It does actually cut the grass really well when my lawn is not thick or wet.

Best I ever had – I got my Honda hru 19d from the metal recycling yard for $20 so in other words i gave it a new life did some maintaince on and it put some fresh fuel in it pulled it over and it runs like a horse even tho the blades have no lift it still cuts the grass very well i don't even have it's catcher or mulch plug  Show details

They don't make them like this anymore – This was the first new mower I have ever bought. That was 15 years ago, and its still going strong. It does an extremely good job, has a full width shoot so doesn't get clogged up with wet grass. It's nice and light so very manuverable. Another high quality Honda mower.  Show details

Don't muck around with mowers, buy a Honda – I asked the Father-in-law's colleague who ownd a mower store and then sold it but still worked there, what should I buy? He said "Don't muck around with mowers, buy a Honda!" I wasn't buying off him as I was interstate but following his advice I bought the HRU 19D in Dec 2008. I run it on 98 unleaded and it starts first go whether it me or my wife… Read more

starting it. For maintenance I've only had to change oil, spark plugs and blades and it's 8 years old.

I also bought a Honda trimmer (UMS425U) and I look forward to yard maintenance day as once again it is reliable and easy to start.

Easy Start doesn't always – I've had this mower for a few years. Thought I would go upmarket after my 30 year old Rover finally gave up. Both the mulching and catching function work well. The "safety bar" throttle took a little getting used to but works fine... the mower runs at a pre-set speed. However the "Easy Start" function doesn't always. The dealer is an hours drive… Read more

away (we are in the country) and although they fix it, I haven't been able to find out what the problem is. Poor starting is my biggest complaint, apart from that it is tough, well built and does the job.

heap of rubbish – have a hru 19 d here in nth qld gets used for 3 months a year during the wet for 2 hrs or so at a time no more than 20 hrs a year attempting to use it , to cut the grass i cant reach on the ride on ie round trees etc am so sick of it machine has to be serviced every year at over $180 a pop , still looks like brand new just never works… Read more

or starts !! empty fuel out when packing it away always put fresh fuel into it i bought with the idea that it was a good brand and would keep going like my old victa 2 stroke for 20 years with the little use that it gets

so am back to using a $50 second hand victa again which starts when i pull the cord contacted honda head office and got a automated reply from them and that was the total honda interest

honda has no quality any more and will never buy another honda product ever !! or recommend it to anyone and will go out of my way to discourage anyone from buying one

Honda You Can't Beat Them, Had For 5 Years Now Awesome Product Hru19d – I hope this model lasts a long time, it seems the new Honda's don't cut, why Honda just do the maintenance and everything is good, can be heavy when loading, etc. catcher good size and fuel economy. Very good, use 98 octane fuel grade lasts longer. Don't buy cheap rubbish from big stores not worth the dramas even wifey can start this one lol,… Read more ·  1

just remember cheap expensive, expensive cheap for product like these

ps: I'm not shouting caps stuck.

Very Good – Had one for 15 years, it starts easily except when I have not used it for a year or so, then the carby gums up. Easy fixed, just blow down fuel line with a compressor to clear. Does a nice neat job too.  Show reply

Excellent – I have had the mower since Jun 08. Previous was a Rover and it lasted 27 yrs mowing 3 residential properties each fortnight Spring to Autumn. This new mower is just great. I only use the mulch attachment if the grass is short. It is so reliable and cuts really well. While I considered many mowers, in the end it was between the Honda and Massport.… Read more ·  1

Rover was more expensive when compared to the Massport. Honda won on reputation. So So easy to start, first time every time. My Wife could never start our old mower. Big Catcher, Big fuel tank and it doesn't evaporate from week to week. Heavy to push especially as the big catcher fills up.

Good mower – I've had this mower for four years, and the other reviews sum up its good points well (easy start, good fuel economy, reliability). I use it with the mulcher attachment, which is great, as there are no clippings to dispose of, and it makes the lawn healthier, as it eats itself. The only trouble I've experienced with the mower is when I lived… Read more ·  1

in a very dusty area and dust got in the carby, necessitating a professional service. I also got a snorkel fitted to prevent the problem in future by raising the air intake above most of the dust. All mowers should come standard with these, in my opinion.

It's more expensive that the average domestic mower, but worth it in the long run. Great engine and body No snorkel

Excellent – Fantastic mower. In my opinion the best mower on the market for domestic use. Buy the "D" model with the mulching option, it's great for your lawn. Don't pay more than $680 if it's a cash sale. Use premium fuel I find I can tell the difference. Try and change the oil once a year. If it's in your price range just buy it, don't even look at the… Read more ·  1

others. The only thing I would change is that I would like a higher handle. I'm only 5 10 and it's still a bit low for me. I look forwrd to mowing. Now I just need a 4 stroke Honda line trimmer and I'll be in gardening heaven. Reliability, build quality, low noise, low maintenance, powerful, easy to start, powerful. Handle is too low, can feel heavy.

Excellent – I love moweing my lawn so easy to push.Just a lovely smooth machine.I wash my mower after use and spray a little wd40 after use very very happy retired gent. Hi i have owned a HRU19D honda for 9mths now.Approx 50hrs use.Runs very well,but you must use 95 grade petrol or more to get it to run smoothly.I like the hole on the deck for a hose cleans… Read more ·  1

under neath really well and fast to.Mulches very good to.Very easy to adjust height aswell Nothing to date.

Excellent – After many years of cursing & swearing at old victa 2 strokes and similar while trying to start them, and then having a poor result at the end of the mowing session I decided it was time for a change. When we purchased a 1/4 acre property after years in a small unit, I needed a reliable mower. I had noticed that whenever I saw a contractor/… Read more ·  1

gardener mowing, they always seemed to be using a Honda. Sure, they are a little more expensive than the average mower, but I was after a RELIABLE machine. This Mower starts first time EVERY time! I can mow twice on a tank of fuel, (try doing that on an old Victa 2 stroke) it is very easy to handle and the mulching feature is great. I couldn't believe how good the result was. Why didn't I buy one of these years ago??? I can't recommend one of these highly enough!! Very easy to start, ease of use, fuel efficient. Honda's proven reliability. Absolutely nothing......

Excellent – This is my first mower and after tossing up between Talon (Dont you ever buy one - reports are shocking) and decided to spend the extra $ on a mower. What got me was that the salesman stacked his reputation on 99% of all professional gardeners using Honda and you know what he's right. Driving to work everyday seeing different gardeners at it, they… Read more ·  1

all use Honda !

Enjoy it you wont regret it. Amazing easy to start. In fact every time and its easy to clean and has incredible power. Only very minor is the steel push handle and don't like the feel of steel after an hour mowing. So if you do buy it get some foam/rubber tube from Clark Rubber and slide it on. Works a treat !

Excellent – Excellent. I upgraded to this from a 20-year old Victa Mustan, and it was like going from my Torana to a Camry. Huge difference. Spend the little extra and get the mulching version -- it saves time and having to dispose of grass clippings, and helps put nutrients back into the lawn and keep a bit of moisture there. Very helpful for us Victorians… Read more ·  1

who are still on water restrictions.

Compared to a two-stroke, it's quiet -- not quite whisper quiet, but not as ear-splitting as my old Mustang -- and definitely a lot less smokier, easier to start and to push.

Next time you pass someone from Jim's Mowing or some other pro, check out what they use. Since buying a Honda, I've noticed it's also the mower of choice for most professional mowers. That's gotta say something about it too! I bought the HRU19D -- the model that can mulch as well as use the catcher. What a great idea. Because the engine is a four-stroke, it can handle quite thick and long grass comfortably. However, it doesn't mulch well when grass gets past 6 or 7 cm. Mind you, that's pretty tall, and the catcher works just fine even with long grass.Wider body = more grass cut in a single pass and less mowingBigger wheels than most other mowers = easier to push on uneven groundAlloy chasis = no rust (very important with the mulch option, because grass is very abrasive, and combined with moisture rusts out a steel chassis very quickly). Also means AFTER it's cooled down, it can be cleaned with a high-pressure cleaner, and the alloy engine won't mind a little water splash (though it's not made to be hosed down directly -- and just make sure you take the paper-based air filter out before you do this!)Honda have a good support network, though it seems to be only through specialist mower retailers. That's probably not a bad thing though. And it compares favourably with some other companies who no longer have Australian support, but keep quiet about that. Oh, and it's got a two-year warranty.Huge catcher (55 litres!) = less stops while mowingRequires half the revs of every other engine on the market to fire a spark from the plug = easy easy EASY to start! Without fail, every single time, it starts with a *gentle* pull of the cord no more than around 45 cm. With the longer cord and toggle mounted on halfway up the handle, I don't even have to bend over to start it.Easy height adjustment, and good clearance.Unlike some other mulch mowers, the cutting system is four pivot-blades mounted on a disc, rather than a solid single blade. This means it cuts just as well at half the revolutions, and if you hit something solid with the blades they can 'give' on their pivot point. A solid blade like the Masports have can give, and because it's fixed to the crankshaft, you run the risk of bending the crank! Not so the Honda. Can be pricier than comparable mowers. Honda lists RRP as $739 for the HRU19R and $769 for the HRU19D. I bought my mower (HRU19D remember) from a really helpful and knowledgable mower shop in Keilor, Victoria for $695, and then got another $30 off for cash! At $665, the thing was cheaper than the equivalent steel-chassis Victa's and Masports available at places like K-Mart Garden and other retailers.The extra width can be a handicap in some tight corners -- if you have a little yard or lots of square corners with raised brick or timer borders you might find it a little harder to use.The downside of the alloy chassis is it could crack and fracture from stone-strike, where steel would just get a dent. This is not the mower for bush paddocks!Because it's 4-stroke, preventative maintenance is important. Need to get into a routine of checking air filter and oil for each use, and have separate supply of oil available.