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Owner’s Manual
Rotary Mower
HRB217HXA
M
See page 54 for instructions on
setting up your Lawn Mower.
®
EM3
POM53497
IPC
31VE1000 20000.2002.11
Printed on
PRINTED IN U.S.A. © 1997, 2000–2002 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.—All Rights Reserved
00X31-VE1-0000 Recycled Paper
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Keep this owner’s manual handy, so you can refer to it at any time. This owner’s manual is considered a permanent part of the lawn mower and should remain with the lawn mower if resold. The information and specifications included in this publication were in effect at the time of approval for printing. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications or design at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation whatever. No part
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INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your selection of a Honda lawn mower! We are certain you will be pleased with your purchase of one of the finest lawn mowers on the market. We want to help you get the best results from your new mower and to operate it safely. This manual contains the information on how to do that; please read it carefully. As you read this manual, you will find information preceded by a NOTICE symbol. That information is intended to help you avoid damage to your mower, ot
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INTRODUCTION A FEW WORDS ABOUT SAFETY Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And using this lawn mower safely is an important responsibility. To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others. Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintai
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CONTENTS LAWN MOWER SAFETY ................................................................... 4 IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ...................................................4 SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS .................................................................6 CONTROLS & FEATURES ................................................................ 7 COMPONENT & CONTROL LOCATIONS ............................................7 BEFORE OPERATION .................................................
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LAWN MOWER SAFETY IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Most accidents with walk-behind mowers can be prevented if you follow all instructions in this manual and on the mower. The most common hazards, according to accident statistics, are discussed below, along with the best way to protect yourself and others. Avoid Rotating Blades Rotating blades can cause serious cuts and even amputate fingers, hands, toes, or feet. Keep away from the mower deck whenever the engine is running. If you need to adjus
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LAWN MOWER SAFETY IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS YOUR CHILDREN’S SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT to Honda. That’s why we urge you to read this message before letting your youngster operate this lawn mower. Lawn mowers are tools, not toys. As with any equipment, bad judgments can result in serious injuries. You can help prevent accidents by making good decisions about if, when, and how your youngster operates this equipment. The first question you’ll need to ask is whether your youngster is capable
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LAWN MOWER SAFETY SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS These labels warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury. Read them carefully. If a label comes off or becomes hard to read, contact an authorized Honda servicing dealer for a replacement. 6
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CONTROLS & FEATURES COMPONENT & CONTROL LOCATIONS HANDLEBAR SHIFT LEVER THROTTLE LEVER DISCHARGE GUARD FUEL TANK CAP BLADE CONTROL LEVER BLADE CONTROL BUTTON GRASS BAG CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER OIL FILLER CAP MUFFLER DRIVE CLUTCH LEVER RECOIL STARTER GRIP SPARK PLUG CAP CARBURETOR HANDLEBAR LOCKING KNOB (2) FUEL VALVE CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVERS AIR CLEANER 7
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CONTROLS & FEATURES Fuel Valve The fuel valve opens and closes the fuel passage from the fuel tank to the carburetor. OFF FUEL VALVE ON Throttle Lever The throttle lever controls engine speed and opens and closes the choke. THROTTLE LEVER CHOKE Closes the choke; use when starting a cold engine. FAST For restarting a warm engine and for mowing. SLOW For idling the engine. STOP To stop the engine. 8
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CONTROLS & FEATURES Blade Control Lever The blade control lever starts BLADE CONTROL LEVER and stops blade rotation. To start blade rotation, the button must be pressed and held down before pushing the blade control lever forward. Once the blade control lever has been moved forward, the button may be released. BUTTON Drive Clutch Lever BLADE CONTROL LEVER The drive clutch lever engages BUTTON and disengages the transmission. Speed is selected by the shift lever (page 10). The driv
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THROTTLE CONTROLS & FEATURES Shift Lever The shift lever selects and controls the self-propelled drive speed. STOP OR SLOW STOP With the shift lever all the way back and the drive clutch lever fully engaged, the mower will move very slowly or not at all. FAST SLOW Use a slow speed for mowing thick grass or maneuvering in small areas. FAST For maximum self-propelled speed in large, open areas, and for transport. Cutting Height Adjustment Levers Each wheel of the mower can be adjusted to on
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BEFORE OPERATION ARE YOU READY TO GET STARTED? Your safety is your responsibility. A little time spent in preparation will significantly reduce your risk of injury. Knowledge Read and understand this manual. Know what the controls do and how to operate them. Familiarize yourself with the lawn mower and its operation before you begin using it. Know how to quickly shut off the lawn mower in case of an emergency. IS YOUR LAWN MOWER READY TO GO? For your safety, and to maximize the service life
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BEFORE OPERATION Check the General Condition of the Lawn Mower: • Look around and underneath the lawn mower for signs of oil or gasoline leaks. • Look for signs of damage. • Check each control for proper operation. • Check the blades for wear. Replace as necessary (page 31). Check that the blade bolts are tight (page 32). • Check that all nuts, bolts, screws are tightened. Check the Engine • Check the air cleaner (page 36) and oil level (page 34). • Check the fuel level (page 43). Starting wit
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BEFORE OPERATION GET THE MOWER READY Handlebar Height Adjustment 1. Adjust handlebar height for a comfortable operating position. 2. Loosen the handlebar locking knobs. Spread the lower ends of the handlebar to release the locating pins. 3. Move the handlebar up or down, so the locating pins engage other holes on the handlebar mounting brackets. 4. Tighten the handlebar locking knobs securely. HIGH MID LOW HANDLEBAR LOCKING KNOB Mulching Plug DISCHARGE GUARD The mulching plug contours the mow
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BEFORE OPERATION Grass Bag A lawn mower works like a vacuum cleaner; it blows air through the bag, which traps the grass clippings. Always empty the grass bag before it becomes filled to the limit of its capacity. Bagging performance will diminish after the bag becomes about 90% filled. Also, the bag is easier to empty when it is not packed full. Inspection Inspect the grass bag for tears, holes, and excessive wear. The grass bag wears during normal use and will eventually require replaceme
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BEFORE OPERATION Cutting Height Bagging/Side-Discharge ADJUSTMENT LEVERS Move all four adjustment levers to the same position. Mulching Move the front adjustment levers one position higher than the rear levers. To adjust cutting height, pull each ADJUSTMENT LEVER adjustment lever toward the wheel, and move it into another notch. If you are not sure what cutting height to select, start with a high setting and check the appearance of the lawn after mowing a small area. Then readjust cuttin
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OPERATION MOWING PRECAUTIONS Before operating the mower for the first time, please review IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION (page 4) and the previous chapter, BEFORE OPERATION (page 11). Even if you have operated other mowers, take time to become familiar with how this mower works and practice in a safe area until you build up your skills. For your safety, avoid starting or operating the engine in an enclosed area such as a garage. Your mower’s exhaust contains poisonous carbon monoxide gas wh
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OPERATION 3. Pull the starter grip lightly until you feel resistance, then pull briskly. Return the starter grip gently. 4. If the CHOKE position was THROTTLE LEVER used during starting, move the throttle lever away from the CHOKE position as soon as the engine warms up enough to run smoothly without use of FAST the choke. Set the throttle lever at FAST to mow or at SLOW to idle. CHOKE 17
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OPERATION OPERATING THE CONTROLS FOR MOWING Throttle Lever THROTTLE LEVER For best cut quality, always mow with the throttle lever in the FAST position. When the blades rotate at the preset fast speed, it creates FAST a strong fan action that lifts and cuts grass more efficiently. Do not try to increase the preset engine speed: the blade could fracture and come apart. Blade Control Lever BLADE CONTROL LEVER To start blade rotation, press the button on top of the blade control lever, t
