Honda HRN216VKU - User Manual

This document is the Owner's Manual for the Honda HRN216VKU Lawn Mower, providing comprehensive information on its operation, maintenance, and safety. The manual emphasizes the importance of reading it thoroughly before initial use, even for experienced operators, to ensure familiarity with the mower's specific features and safe handling practices.

Function Description

The Honda HRN216VKU is a rotary lawn mower designed for cutting grass. It features a 21-inch mower deck and a 3-in-1 Clip Director® system, allowing for mulching, bagging, or rear discharge of grass clippings. The mower is equipped with a Smart Drive variable speed transmission, a flywheel brake for quick blade stops, and a fixed throttle with an Auto Choke System for easy starting. Its primary function is to efficiently and safely maintain lawns by cutting grass to desired heights and managing clippings.

Usage Features

The manual details various usage features to optimize the mowing experience:

Handlebar Adjustment: The handlebar can be adjusted to five different positions for operator comfort. It can also be folded forward for compact storage, with specific instructions to avoid pinching or kinking cables.
Starting and Stopping the Engine: To start, the blade control lever must be pulled back against the handlebar, and the starter grip pulled briskly. The engine stops when the blade control lever is released. For cold starts, the Auto Choke System ensures easy ignition, but the engine should run for at least three minutes before stopping to ensure optimal performance.
Fuel System: The mower operates on regular unleaded petrol with an octane rating of 86 or higher, containing no more than 10% ethanol or 5% methanol. Users are cautioned against overfilling the fuel tank and advised to use fresh fuel. A fuel valve allows users to turn the fuel ON or OFF, which is crucial for storage and maintenance.
Cutting Height Adjustment: The mower offers seven cutting height settings, adjusted via levers on the left front and rear wheels. Users are advised to start with a high setting and adjust as needed, ensuring the engine is off during adjustments.
Clip Director® System: This innovative feature allows users to easily switch between BAG and MULCH positions. In the BAG position, the shutter door is fully open, collecting clippings in the grass bag. In the MULCH position, the shutter door is closed, finely cutting and redistributing clippings back onto the lawn. For rear discharge, the grass bag is removed, and the Clip Director® lever is left in the BAG position.
Grass Bag: The grass bag collects clippings and should be emptied before it's 90% full to maintain bagging performance. It can remain on the mower even when mulching.
Smart Drive Control: This feature allows users to control the mower's ground speed by pushing the Smart Drive control. Increased pressure results in higher speed. Releasing the control disengages the drive, allowing for manual pushing around obstacles.
Mowing Tips: The manual provides advice on optimal mowing practices, including when to mow (grass grown 12-25mm above recommended height), cutting width (overlapping swaths), blade speed (maintaining high engine RPM), and blade sharpness. It also offers guidance for mowing dry grass (water the lawn the day before), wet grass (wait for it to dry), and fallen leaves (bagging or mulching based on quantity).
Mowing Patterns: Specific patterns are recommended for mulching (anticlockwise) and bagging (clockwise) to achieve the best results.
High Altitude Operation: For operation at altitudes above 610 meters (2,000 feet), carburetor modifications are recommended to improve performance and reduce emissions. Conversely, a modified carburetor should be returned to original factory specifications for low altitude use to prevent engine damage.

Maintenance Features

Regular maintenance is crucial for the mower's safe, economical, and trouble-free operation, as well as for reducing air pollution. The manual provides a detailed maintenance schedule and instructions for various tasks:

Pre-Operation Inspection: Before each use, users should visually inspect the mower for oil/petrol leaks, damage, proper control operation, and blade condition. Worn or damaged blades and bolts are major hazards and must be replaced.
Oil Change: The engine oil should be changed after the first month or 5 hours of use, and then every 6 months or 50 hours. Instructions include draining warm oil by tilting the mower and refilling with SAE 10W-30 API service category SJ or later oil to the upper limit mark on the dipstick. Overfilling can cause white or blue smoke from the muffler.
Air Filter Cleaning/Replacement: The air filter should be cleaned after the first 25 hours, then every 6 months or 50 hours, or more frequently in dusty conditions. Replacement is recommended every 2 years or 150 hours. Cleaning involves tapping out dirt or blowing compressed air from the inside, never brushing.
Spark Plug Inspection/Replacement: The spark plug should be replaced every 2 years or after 150 hours. Inspection involves checking electrodes for wear and insulator for cracks. The gap should be 0.7-0.8 mm.
Blade Inspection/Replacement: Blades should be inspected regularly for damage, cracks, excessive rust, or looseness. Worn, bent, cracked, or damaged blades must be replaced as a set. Blade bolts also need inspection for damage or looseness and should be tightened to a specific torque (49-59 N-m) using a torque wrench.
Spark Arrester Service (Optional): If equipped, the spark arrester needs servicing every 100 hours to remove carbon deposits.
Cleaning: The mower deck should be cleaned after each mowing, especially around the Clip Director shutter lever. The engine should be cool before washing, and care taken to prevent water from entering the air cleaner or exhaust. The grass bag should be removed and washed, then dried completely before storage.
Storage Preparation: For long-term storage, the manual advises draining or treating the fuel, changing the oil, coating the engine cylinder with oil, and thoroughly cleaning the mower. The fuel valve should be OFF to prevent leakage. The mower should be stored in a well-ventilated area away from ignition sources.
Troubleshooting: A dedicated section helps diagnose and resolve common issues such as the engine not starting, loss of power, vibration, and mowing/bagging problems, offering possible causes and corrections.

The manual also includes customer information, such as how to contact Honda for parts, accessories, service, and warranty inquiries, and emphasizes the importance of using Honda Genuine parts for repairs and replacements to ensure quality and reliability. The warranty information details coverage and exclusions, including damage from improper maintenance or fuel-related problems.

Honda HRN216VKU Specifications

General

Engine Displacement	160 cc
Cutting Width	21 inches
Cutting Height Adjustment	6 Positions
Drive Type	Self-Propelled
Deck Material	Steel
Warranty	3 Years
Starting System	Recoil
Cutting Height	1 - 4 inches
Fuel Tank Capacity	0.24 gal
Wheel Size (Front)	8 in