1. Honda Shop Manual Pdf

I just bought a Honda HRR216VKA with the autochoke. Out of the box it took 5 pulls to start, i figured a breakin period, it got progressivly worse, with the last time taking over 12 pulls, i took it back and exchanged it for another, this one is doing the same thing. Is the autochoke a problem on all of these, is there something that i am doing wrong, i don't think there are any adjustments anywhere. My 20 year old Honda still starts on the first pull everytime. I have another 10 days for my 30 day return and just might get the VXA model. Any opinions in the VKA and the VXA, is the VXA worth the extra money? If i do exchange it for the VXA, i have to do it before the 31st to get the extra year of warranty from Honda.

Outside the starting problem i love the mower and want to stick with Honda. Canguy, I was thinking the same as Bill about the auto-choke. The ones I'm familiar with are set manually at the engine and as soon as the dead man control is pulled down it activates the release of the choke. Waiting to long to pull the rope or if the operater has the dead man bale wired down the full position of the choke would be lost by the time the first pull is made. I've been gone from the shop since Sept and haven't seen this years models. Has Honda come out with a fully automatic choke that doesn't need that initial set? I also experienced a similar problem with the HRX217K2VKA and the Troybilt with the Honda 160cc motor.

Both of these motors have the auto choke. The machines would run fine for a few minutes of mowing, but they would sputter and then stop. It would take more than 5 pulls to restart the engine, but it would sputter and stop again. I used fresh gas, checked the oil level and air filter for debris, and all were fine.

I've returned both units to the store and received full refunds. I'm still in the market for a lawn mower. Any suggestions on a good model? Had exactly the same problem with my HRC216. The choke was simply not fully engaging.

After unsuccessfully looking for ways to adjust it, I came up with the temporary fix of attatching a light piece of nylon cord to the linkage and a small carbiner to the other end of about 8' of cord. By holding the choke properly closed, starting was vastly improved.

After starting I simply drop the carbiner over the front wheel adjuster to keep it out of the way. Although this was intended as a temporary fix, it has proven so effective and convienient that I have not got around to anything prettier. This is my forth Honda, and I am sad to say it may be the last. Quality has dropped off noticeably since production has switched to the U.S. After waiting for Home Depot to get their new stock of HRX217VKA's with the revised, adjustable SmartDrive handle, I was just about to buy one this past weekend.

Then I read this thread. So instead, I bought a new blade and new front wheels for my 10-year old Lawn Boy and gave it a good clean-up. The machine is kinda falling apart but the DuraForce engine generally starts on the first pull, cold or hot. I like the Honda features, including the 9' wheels (the little 6' front wheels on the Lawn Boy take a real beating on my less-than-perfectly-level lawn,) but if it doesn't start reliably, not much else matters.

Honda Shop Manual Pdf

If Honda comes up with a fix for this as they did with the SmartDrive (actually a manual choke would be fine) I'll reconsider one for next season. Meanwhile I'd like to thank you folks for helping me avoid making a big mistake.