Honda Mower Rear Wheels Will Not Roll Backwards THE REAL FIX
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- My Honda Mower HHR2169VLA rear wheels lock up when pulled backwards.
This video shows THE REAL FIX for this issue. Previous to THE REAL FIX I cleaned, oiled/lubricated the pinion gears, the shaft around the bushings and gearbox but this did not resolve the issue. My mower is still under warranty but last year I could not leave it at the repair center for 2 weeks just to have them look at it. This year I finally disassembled the parts until I found the issue. The shaft may get contaminated again due to the design of the bushings.
Disclaimer: Honda knows there is an issue and the repair in this video is not recommended by Honda. Honda say to take your mower to a service center where they have the proper tools to lubricate and resolve this issue.
If you have 2 to 4 weeks to leave your mower at an authorized service center then do so otherwise watch this video and do it yourself.
If you Dislike this video (Thumbs Down) Please leave a comment why you are displeased.
Video Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro CC
Sorry for the annoying Soundtrack “High In The Sky” Created and Licensed by Sonicfire Pro
This video is what UA-cam is all about. Having a neighbor that has been down this road before and simply saves me the time of figuring out what went wrong. I’ll give this a shot! Thanks for taking the time to record this fix!
Thank you for understanding my intentions trying to help people. Not everyone appreciates that. I really do not like having to pay for someone to repair my stuff. There is so much information on the internet you can DIY almost anything. Thanks for the comments!
Thanks for great video and so easy to understand!
I have bought many lawn mowers in my life. Most were in the $300 to $400 range and usually ran for 8 years plus. Paying $700 for Honda and now having the drive wheels fighting back when pulling backwards only after 3 years has an engineering design flaw and quality in question.
You paid 700 for your honda? I paid 499 for mine. Probably 10 years ago tho
@@jonathanritter7364 They are more than $1000.00 these days
This issue will definitely return. I had the dealer repair mine twice. First time it cost me $100. The second time, it was free. Both time "redesigned" bushings were used. Both times it worked fine for a few months. Now it's frozen up again. Clearly a design problem that Honda has had and known about for years. Other than the great engine, these mowers are total garbage.
Thanks for the heads up on this. So far my Honda has not locked up since this video. Hope it stays that way. Thanks for the comments!
I’ve had the same issue in the past. I use ‘Super Slick Stuff’ dry lube at Lowe’s as regular maintenance at least twice every mower season. Just lift the rear wheels and spray behind the wheels around the axle. Keeps corrosion from moisture under control. Cleaning the under side of the deck with a garden hose impacts adversely on this issue. Prevention maintenance is so easy and quick.
I'm going to have to disagree with the mowers being "total garbage" because the mowers are not that bad. However I think Troy bilt mowers in a similar price range, with the good honda Motor, are much better
This happened to my mower within 8 months of purchase. I know several others who have had the same problem. Bad on Honda for not making this a recall.
I agree. Honda should have sent a postcard to registered owners for the recall. Thanks for the comments!
All four of my Honda mowers over the years suffer the same problem. They are just too lazy to redesign.
maintenance!
This was a recall in the USA. Can't find any reference to the recall for my French purchased version though.
Should of been a sealed roller bearing in there NOT a bushing on mild steel
Was always a Craftsman man and had this problem. Decided to "step up to the Honda" and the first season I was in heaven. First time out this year I had this very issue. Went thru the manual fix by adjusting the cable from one extreme to the other with no help. Called Honda and a very friendly attentive operator was absolutely no help. I refuse to believe I have to disassemble a 1 year old Honda mower so I don't have to literally drag it out of any corner I mow into. BTW: DO NOT open the gearbox unless the mower is upside down or you can get under it. Has gear oil in there. Fortunately I had some to refill it.
I have the same model and my lawn mower is only 2 years and 7 months new. Honda mower comes with a 3 years warranty so i hope the Honda authorize dealer can fix it at no cost. I will have them do an oil change and sharpen the blades. If Honda don't cover it than will bring it home and fix it my self. Thank you for the Video.
Pramod Kotwal
I benefited from the video and managed to clean the rust from both ends of the shaft without actually removing the transmission from the lawn mower. Once you remove the gears and the clips from both ends, the transmission slides through the bushings enough to expose the area that is normally in the bushing. I had to use a wooden block and some tapping with a hammer to free up the shaft. Once it is clean and lubricated, it is amazing how freely it moves. Now assemble everything and the problem is solved. Thanks for the video and all the comments.
Wonderful! Glad this helped. What you did was much easier than the disassembly I did in this video to find the problem. Happy mowing and thanks for the comments!
Although the engine performance & quick start of this Honda model is outstanding, my rear wheels also lock up when attempting to back up the mower in just 1 1/2 seasons since purchase. I'm planning on using this excellent video you've posted as the probable resolve but given my many years with Honda products... wouldn't you think the Honda engineers would have gone back to the drawing boards & corrected this obvious fault in product material design... like a stainless steel wheel shaft ? This is a real safety issue as one has to actually lift the rear wheels to back up the mower when the mower blades are rotating when a forward directional change is limited or not feasible.
Hi Gary,I can only assume that Honda knows about this issue of the wheel lock up but no recall has been issued. My experience was Honda wants you to take the mower to an authorized service center and leave it there for 2 or more weeks until they can look at it. The service guy saw the wheels locked up but found nothing in their factory documents as to the problem or solution. I finally tore the mower down and found the issue in this video and have had no problem since other than all 4 wheels are completely slick and I had to replace them. A design with a SS shaft and a real bearing would fix this issue but would decrease profits on this product. It’s amazing how saving just 99 cents per product has caused such a headache (and backache) for the consumer. Other than that, it’s not a bad mower, just aggravating. Thanks for the comments!
@@CarveTools yes, the wait time for Honda service are insane... All year. It's almost better to resign to the fact that it's not going to be self propelled after a couple months.
I found out recently that in other markets outside the US Honda coats the shaft with a heavy zinc plating. They don't have this issue.
a stainless steel bushing would be much cheaper
Thanks Dave, I just received a free 160 GVC lawnmower real wheel self propelled and it wouldn’t start.
Finally got it going by cleaning out Emulsion tube while it was in carburetor with a bent plastic tube spraying Carburetor cleaning Spray
I will try your fix in a few.
Houli.
Dave, first off, fantastic video! I removed the wheels and the pinion gears then sprayed Motorkote spray lube into the bushing. I also removed the circlip and washer on the inside of the deck and did the same. Wow what a difference! My mower is fun to use again. I intend on doing a complete removal of the gearbox off season, but for now this is working great. Thanks again!
Hi Alan, So glad this worked for you! I took the gearbox completely out in this video to see what was causing the problem but I think it is possible to polish the shaft that goes into the bushing without complete removal. Thanks for the comments!
I had my HRX mower back at the dealer to fix this problem a little over a year ago. Well, the same problem is back already! Ridiculous on a nearly $800.00 mower! I’ve had mine back to the dealer four times for various issues. I will never ever buy another Honda built mower. My next mower(hard to believe I’m saying that) will be a Toro with a Honda engine. Thanks for posting this fix. I still have a year left on the warranty so it’s back to the dealer AGAIN!!
Sorry to hear that. Too bad Honda will not make this defect good.
thank you for the video. my lawnmower was doing this, and I worked on it as you said, and now it's going backward like normal again.
Glad it helped and thanks for the comments.
Thanks for the fix, I just thought this was the way this was supposed to be from the factory, it's been driving me nuts.
Great video thanks for sharing I almost bought another mower thinking the transmission was about to go out. After seeing your video I went online and ordered the bushings and did as you did in the video saved me some cash great video 👍
Mine has been doing this for quite a while, just had a tune up and new rear wheels. It seems to be worse than ever, thanks for your explanation, think I will have to take it back in.
Thanks for making this video, been putting up with this for the last two years. I saw in one of the other videos on this topic , that you can get the (supposedly) upgraded part to fix it once and for all, it cost me about $13 per side, seems to work well, some resistance pulling back but at least they turn now and don't lock up anymore. My axle didn't seem to be rusted or pitted at all so I just put the new part on. Like one of your other subscribers below, I wish there was a little less resistance when pulling back, but didn't want to put grease in there as I'm sure that would attract dirt and eventually gum up.
Thanks again
Honda Part number is 42930 -VG3 - B01 (For the right side) and part number 42940 - VG3 - BO1 (For the left side). (you need a set of retaining ring pliers).c
Why didn't you submit a claim into Honda Power Equement for warranty services to have it repaired at no cost? I owned Honda mowers for years! Hands down, Honda mowers are the best, at least as far as I'm concerned.
@@captainfallsalotatppic2508 Meh, Honda mower engines are good, but their self propelled drive is a weak compromise. Snapper is much better in that respect.
I had a similar experience last year like the comment below where the authorized Honda repair shop had no clue to a fix. That’s why I tore it down myself and this year the wheels still turn freely when pulled backwards.
Got this comment;
noname Google commented: “Thank you. The local repair shop would not give me any information about the problem. They suggested that it might be the transmission, and would cost around $300! They probably sell a lot of new…”
thank you so much for this video, after spending close to 4 bills for a honda, I didn't think I would run into trouble on the 2nd year. I will be following the instructions on this video so I can free up my rear axle. Thanks again!
they are junk, I would never buy another one,
Had a Husqvarna 4wd mower with same issue. Removed rear wheel & found out the rubber should that keeps dirt & grass & rocks out of gear drive at the wheel had gotten chewed up thru the years. Part of it had gotten caught in the gears & locked up the wheel. Thank God was easy fix. Just FYI if your mower has wheel shrouds check these out first.
Great video! Although you didn't show the details on how to remove the transmission, there are other videos on youtube that do show the procedure. In my situation, simply lubricating the bushing resolved my issue. Thanks for sharing your abbreviated video on how to get your mower to roll backwards again!
I had this exact problem. It rears its ugly head after I rinse off the mower. The first time this happened I sprayed lubricant on the axle and it did the trick. This last time it did not help and I used your instructions to fix the issue. I purchase a new belt, bushings and rubber caps. The right side came off easy, but the left side would not budge. I had to use a propane torch to remove the left adjuster. (those snap rings are a bear to get off!)
Many thanks for doing this, it was exactly my problem, and your explanation for the fix was perfect, thanks again.
Hope this has helped. Thanks for the comments.
I’ve had the same issue in the past. I use ‘Super Slick Stuff’ dry lube at Lowe’s as regular maintenance at least twice every mower season. Just lift the rear wheels and spray behind the wheels around the axle. Keeps corrosion from moisture under control. Cleaning the under side of the deck with a garden hose impacts adversely on this issue. Prevention maintenance is so easy and quick.
Dave this is great helpful video.... Your explanation is clear and concise.... I have this problem with my Honda... It started looking up just 3 months after purchase .. I will check this out and follow your suggestion... It is easy to learn when the instructor is great.
I wish you would have show the process of removing the rear wheels and clips/bolts/etc
You can watch other videos that show this. I personally am glad he showed me this. I have one here with that issue that I want to sell. Now I can fix it right. I already have one and it did that too but works fine now. I honestly thought it was the gear nox.
Annoying music. does not show how to remove the rear wheels. too much video of Sanding and repeating himself
No. This video is not going to help because brand new mowers have wheels that lock up, the gear mechanism is very complex indeed. Sanding off the axles and making them smooth has nothing to do with the wheel lock.
@@keplermission4947 yet it did
I have a brand new mower 2 weeks old that has already done this. I will try to fix it
This is good info for a person that owns the machine and want to tackle the job . from a service provider aspect this repair could easily take over a hour to perform . witch in some shops could be over a $100. to $150 dollars . IF there is any thing else wrong with the unit and depending on the age of it you may want to consider a new machine .
Great job. I got lucky. I turned off the fuel supply, lifted the rear wheels off the ground by hooking the top bar to a support with a bungee, leaving the mower on its front wheels. Using good old WD40 Penetrant, I heavily sprayed into the axle area, after thoroughly cleaning the hell out of it. Turned the wheels by hand in both directions - difficult at first - and let it sit overnite. Did the same thing the next day, and haven't had a problem since. Crazy. Hope someone gets lucky with this method also.
I didn't see your post until after I did the same exact thing you did and it also worked for me. Hope people see your comment before the start ripping the axle out
Same thing for me. I had hosed off the whole mower - from the top and bottom - and left it outside to dry for an afternoon. I suspect water ended up in the axle and left dried crud in there. Maybe it made some existing rust worse. A bunch of WD40 loosened it up and I could pull it backward in a minute. I'm ready to take things apart and clean them if I have to, but it seemed like a good idea to try WD40 as a first approach.
Lol
How did you thoroughly clean the axle area before spraying the WD40.
@@rob12468 I dry cleaned it using an assortment of scrapers, red Scotch pads, and wire brushes, followed by compressed air.. This mower was here when I bought the house. I think the owners just gave up on it. Best of luck.
Thanks. Watched a different video that just changed out the transmission. It was a waste of my time. Thanks FOR THE REAL FIX!
Glad it helped and thanks for the comments.
Thank you for your video. Maybe simple to some, but something I never knew. Helped a lot!!! Got my wheels moving backwards by living the area up without removing it. Will do this better at the end of the season in a month.
Wished I had watched your video before I fixed my Honda lawn mower that used to have the same problem. I had a small engine mechanic to fix it twice; but the problem never really fixed. I also cleaned the "half moon key" inside the wheel assembly; but that didn't help. I cleaned the area on top of the transmission housing where the trigger to engage the transmission is located to remove any debris stuck in that area (the debris prevented the transmission to be fully disengaged); this helped for months. But eventually the problem came back. I tried all the steps one more time. This time nothing helped. I ended up have to replace the entire transmission assembly; but I still didn't know why the old transmission didn't work. Now that I have watched your video, I realize that I should have tried cleaning the shaft. Having said this, I wonder why the rust in the shaft can prevent the wheel from rolling backward but Not prevent the wheel from rolling forward. I think if the rust on the shaft is the problem, it should prevent the wheel from rolling forward and backward, right? I am confused.
The issue on my mower was the rust and dirt on the shaft. Once cleaned I have had no problems since. The reason it rolls forward easily is the half moon key you mentioned acts like a ratchet wrench allowing one direction. Thanks for the comments!
Wow great video I was having the same problem👌🏼👌🏼
Thank you for the comments and I hope you were able to fix you mower also.
mine is a 2169 vka that just started doing this. a nice excuse for me to buy a good set of snap ring pliers!
External snap ring pliers are essential to get this thing apart. I have a cheap set I bought 20 something years ago. Thanks for the comments!
did the job this morning and the mower now pulls backward smooth as silk.
when its time to service the wheels its HELL getting the snap rigs off! Replace w other type snap ring!
I've had my mower for about 3 years now and never had this problem until one day I thoroughly washed it with a hose and the following week the wheels wouldn't roll backwards. I assume water got onto the shaft and caused surface rust and locked up the wheels. I will now have to try this fix and hope it works.
This should work. As of yesterday it still pulls backwards with no issue. Thanks for the comments!
Thank you, the other fixes out there did not seem right. I appreciate it.
Glad it helped and check out my newer video of The Real Fix Part 2. It has more details. Thanks for the comments.
Thanks! This will save me the Hassle of investigating the cause of this issue, been driving me nuts! I noticed it gets better when i rinse the thing off so im assuming this is likely the issue.
Glad it helped!
Thank you for the video. I did the fix, but the problem returned. I checked the honda service bulletin but it doesn't apply to my model. I guess I can repeatedly do this fix, and also try lubricants frequently. Will do so until I buy a Toro. Sad, as I like everything else about this mower.
Great video. I mistakenly opened the gear housing, and oil came out. I didn't see anything obvious, andnothingin the manual. Do you know how the gears get lube? lubed
Just had this happen to me today. I spray both side of the wheel bushing with WD40 and force turned it in reverse by hand and no it’s free to roll back again. It’s quicker fix if you don’t want to disassemble it.
Thanks for the share. My is starting to be harder to roll. I might have to deal with it soon.
I loved the video . Did exactly what you suggested worked like a charm the second time I took it apart.
Wow this is very helpful and easy to fix! Thank You!
Glad it helped!
Hi Dave, Very quick, concise and informative. Thank you.
Thank you! I have a newer video with a more detailed disassembly and without the annoying soundtrack.
My HRR started locking up sporadically almost immediately. Came to the web searching for solutions, but wasn't too fond of them because they all have you taking the mower apart to some degree. Based on a comment below, I decided to just give everything anywhere near the rear axel a good spraying with WD40. For two mowings since, I've had no issues. So, for those who are also out here looking for a solution, perhaps a frequent wd40 application is all that is needed. Obviously, that shouldn't have to occur, but I like the mower otherwise, so a small investment in WD40 to keep it working well (hopefully) is worth it to me.
My Honda mower would do this about 40% of the time during the first 4 years, now it has become locked completely and won't roll back. What would happen if I left those plastic bushings out and not put them back ?
It is designed to work with the bushings. I’ve had the same issue in the past. I use ‘Super Slick Stuff’ dry lube at Lowe’s as regular maintenance at least twice every mower season. Just lift the rear wheels and spray behind the wheels around the axle. Keeps corrosion from moisture under control. Cleaning the under side of the deck with a garden hose impacts adversely on this issue. Prevention maintenance is so easy and quick.
Excellent. Thank you for your time and effort.
Also I found that cleaning those grooves in the shaft and pinion gears of grit and debris worked.
Unfortunately that did not work in my case. I took the pinion gears off at least 3 times and cleaned everything in sight, applied some light grease and had the same problem. Honda knows about this issue and they have some type of special tool to force grease in the axle bushings. Thanks for you comments!
Will be applying the fix this weekend. Thanks!
Hi Bert, Honda has a service bulletin on this issues and they are replacing the bushings with the correct size ones. Apparently many Honda service centers are not getting this information.
Thanks for the comments!
I read somewhere that tilting the mower each side and spraying the heck out of both axle/wheel assemblies with WD40 might work. Well, it did, and I might have to rinse and repeat every couple of mowings, but beats taking things apart.
Fantastic! Hope that works and thanks for the information.
Thankyou! All the tips I got were BS. I know which way the cams go and know about the key and spring. So its the bushing! Its a simple fix but involved. I saw one guy put his together but it didnt work after he was done! I broke the 3 speed shifter on mine so had to order one. They are awesome lawn mowers and I wouldnt buy any other mower. The Snapper is a good mower but they use a crappy Briggs motor that viberates. I have issues with my hands so if I can avoid viberation , I do.Thankyou for the REAL fix!
Thanks for the comments! I never found any tips on how to fix this problem so I decided to disassemble it until I found the culprit. Good engine but the rest of this mower is lacking in engineering. I'm trying to be nice.
RC Hobbyist Extreme -- Sounds like you have been in that fix a few times, as have I, because I like to scoot it over sideways to mow the next line, it sometimes moves the big C-clip underneath that holds that entire right rear assembly together. So then the height adjustment goes to the ground..
Soooo, I pull out my 18-year-old Snapper, and finish the lawns.. :)
Yeah, I guess the B&S engine vibrates more but I dont notice it or need it not vibrate..
The Snapper absolutely kills any mower with its great vacuum and straight, even cut!! No other mower does it like an old snapper that has the big rotating disk with the rubber drive disk over it..
And if you really want to make your lawn look like any golf green or baseball infield grass, try cutting it in 2 directions... Nothing compares.. :)
I too had hand, arm, carpal issues years ago and after trying everything, the ONLY true relief I ever got was when I went to a hand surgeon, and he using micro technology, to go into the carpal tunnel block near my wrists and all the other carpal tunnel places in each finger, and after that, it was unbelievable !!! No more of those hand arm issues, been going strong for almost 20 years..
Good luck with your projects! I hope all you guys are safe from that dang virus..
Thanks for that! Wouldn't you put grease on the shaft?
I appreciate this! About to go repair my mower!
Glad to help
Sweet I'll give this a try! I just picked one up for 30 bucks and every little doohickey didnt work except starting it. Couldn't stop the motor without pulling the plug in the parking lot when I bought it( didnt know where the throttle link was then), the blade didnt engage because the plastic button wasn't positioned correctly, and now I'm tackling this and the drive in general doesnt go forward. I hear it squeal and I can feel it get right but maybe it just needs to be adjusted. Only problem is the the thing didnt come with a clippings bag.
yea I have this problem would like more detail on parts removal. Thanks for the video.
I have the same problem thank you !
Thank you. Local shops will not give out any information.
I had a similar experience last year like the comment below where the authorized Honda repair shop had no clue to a fix. That’s why I tore it down myself and this year the wheels still turn freely when pulled backwards.
If you want a quick “fix” try this:
First clean it, preferably with a pressure washer, there’s probably a lot of crud everywhere. If this quick fix doesn’t work at least you’ll have a clean mower to work on.
If you slowly push forward until just BEFORE you hear the click from the wheels and then are able to roll backwards about an inch or two before the wheels lock then it’s NOT the transmission; the problem is a catch in the wheels.
After cleaning it up get it on a hard surface (concrete). Start the mower and lift the rear so that the wheels spin in the air when they should be going forward (approx 5 inch in the air) then let it drop. The idea is to unstick the catch that’s preventing the wheels from rolling backwards. Repeat this a few times.
Did that same fix and mower still does same thing every year. It’s a constant take apart and fix and I will never buy another Honda again!
This is definitely my problem. I have an HRR2165VKA. Unfortunately, I can't get the height adjuster off the axle on the transmission side. I can turn the height adjuster left or right and it turns the axle both ways which it definitely shouldn't be doing as there should turn freely without also turning the axle in the transmission. The height adjuster on the other side came off with some wiggling pretty easily. So, I'm going to have to take it somewhere that can fix it for me.
EDIT::
I ended up using an axle puller to get the height adjuster off. It left the bearing on the axle. Once I got the transmission out I was able to use a hammer and punch tool to get the bearing off. The axle wasn't really marred up. I think the rubber seal on the inside bearing broke down and let dirt/grime in and just froze it up, or broke apart, depositing its pieces inside the bearing. I sanded the axle down regardless, used some DuPont Teflon non-stick dry film lubricant on the axle where the bearing would be and installed new height adjusters with bearings in them already. Everything seems to be working ok now, just need to adjust the transmission a cable for the self propel.
Hi Greg, Yikes! Sounds like your mower was in worse shape than mine. I do hope this video helped and everything is good now. Thanks for the comments!
Have the same issue, haven't grease the bushings or clean the axle yet but is there a reason both wheels lock up? I would think if it's The bushings one wheel might spin free while the other is stuck. Trying to determine if it's a transmission or not...
Thanks for a great video, my wheels are freed. I have had this mower for 7 years now & I cannot get the electric start to work. I brought it to a repair center in late summer of 2019 & for $100 they got it working. The next spring 2020. It started with a freshly charged battery & that was the last time the electric start worked. The started does not crank at all. Do you have any suggestions on this issue?......... John
Has worked great for me, would recommend.
Great to hear and thanks for the comments!
I have a Honda HRR21PDC with no adjustment on the drive bar cable, The problem with mine was that the drive release at the gear box was rusted up and wouldn't return far enough to release the drive component. It was tough to get at but I took the cover flanges off and was able lubricated the shite our of it and kept working the cabel back and forth until it returned far enough to releas the wheels. There didnt seem to be any spring to pull this lever back all the way, but with the light oil and working the cabel it returned far enough so I the wneels would roll back.
Hello Dave
First time listener, I had the same issue summer of 2018. I wish, I would have known about your channel. I had followed some incorrect advice. But my fix did not go as far as yours did! I had to clean out old grass clippings from the rear axles. And I, was up and running.
After watching your video, I am wondering how to keep this from happening. My Lawnmower is about fourteen years old plus. Do you have any suggestions?
This seems like a defect or poor product design. I have the same problem with a similar 3 year old Honda model. I will not buy a self-propelled mower again. I doubt I'll buy a Honda again.
Plumbers grease is a good lube here as it resists water for a very long time.
mine has the same issue !! but also the mower is self propelling by itself it's dragging me along
Adjust the cable!
Mine did this same thing after only 1 season. I ended up taking it back. Also i noticed your right front wheel doesn't always touch the ground, the same as mine does once again on my 2nd mower. Also has a tendency to pop a wheelie when taking off.
My right front wheel often skips the ground but I haven't noticed any unusual cuts in the lawn. Hope your 2nd mower is better. Thanks for the comments.
CarveTools unfortunately everything is the same. Thinking about the Toro super recycler.
Very helpful. Thank you.
Would the same apply for a Briggs & Stratton push mower on one back wheel dragging
Do the HRN mowers have this problem also or did they fix the problem
at 2:00 you state the axle spins freely. but I noticed the pulley was spinning as well. with it installed it would need to turn the engine shaft. am I missing something?
Yes you are correct, when the axle rotates either direction it spins the pulley. I have a new video coming out hopefully this week with a detailed disassembly and repair of the bushing issue that causes the wheels to lock up.
Thanks for the comments!
@@CarveTools sorry, what is the clutch bar for then? I would expect the axle to rotate without the drive pulley.
I also wanted to add. I would be careful on what grease you use with the bearing. The bearing is two pieces, the inside piece has a rubber gasket to seal out dust/grit/dirt. I wouldn't use anything bad for plastic/rubber, this includes WD-40. I ended up using some DuPont Teflon non-stick dry film lubricant, applied to the inside of the bearing and on the axle where the bearing would be located. It's supposed to repel dirt/dust/grime as well. So we'll see how long it lasts.
Thanks for the advice on the lubricant! So far after this video it still pulls back easy without locking up. Have a great day!
I thought ratchets inside each driving wheel stopped them turning backwards?
replace plastic bushing! & grease them! 👍👍👌👌
This bad design will still get more dirt, moisture, etc., in there and after a while it will be back...
When the mower is working properly, how much resistance should I be feeling when I pull backwards? Because right now I can pull the mower backwards with one arm and its rolling backwards, but their is a bit of resistance, probably a little more than I would like, compared to some mowers that have no resistance when pulling backwards. But at this point I cant say with certainty that it still has this issue. Like I said I can pull it back with one arm and the wheels will turn without stopping or slipping or tearing up the lawn and I can hear what sounds like proper drag from the trans pulling back, but it still seems like its a bit too much, should their be very little resistance, could the mower roll back by itself when working properly or should I be feeling just a little bit of resistance or is the amount of resistance I'm getting acceptable?
Pulling backwards with one arm is a good sign. What I have experienced is there should be only a small amount of resistance when pulling backwards, one arm. The wheels are gear driven so when the forward drive is released and you pull reverse the wheels are having to turn the small ratcheting gear. This is where the resistance comes from especially if there dirt build up between the transmission shaft and plastic bearing. When pushed forward you should hear the clicking of the ratchet gears. Thanks for the comments!
I'm trying to raise the mowing height on my HHR216 lawnmower. I was able to raise the front fine. But I can't seem to remove the adjuster parts from the rear. I see you removed them on your video but I don't see enough to describe how to remove the adjusters.
The adjusters are held in place by the snap rings on the shaft. Try a Google search for "hhr2169vla parts diagram" and you will see them. Hope that helps and thanks for the comments!
Ok i searched for videos on transmision replacement for my mower and found a video which describes the one big snap ring behind the adjusters. Thanks
Thanks man! Was there any need to grease the shaft where the bushing is?
The grease probably not necessary but it is still working with no issues after doing this. Thanks for the comments!
Thank you
should I grease the rear axle
For Model HRR216VKA It's Definitely The Drive Pinion Gear Or Ratchet Key... Great Video For The Newer Model.
Thanks for the comments!
It all depends, I've replaced everything now, I'm doing this video's suggestion next.
This is such a problem. I have had two of these mowers. The stuck wheel issue has been there on both mowers. I bought them from a Honda dealer and have had them in for service many times. The wheels are always needing to be replaced too. The replacement wheels I had the dealer put on dont even last as long as the originals. Between this problem and the need to replace the carburetor several times, I am never going to buy a Honda mower again. They dont deserve our business if they cant even fix their own design failures. This is planned obsolescence at its worst.
I have the same Honda model as yours. The problem I am having is that only one side engaged. I replaced both rear wheels but the problem persists. Do you have any recommendation?
Thanks,
Hi Son Truong, If you removed the ratcheting sprocket it my have been reversed causing it to not engage. Hope that helps!
@@CarveTools Thank you for your response and it is exactly what I found and fixed it.
The real fix ?
You certainly did it the proper way
I would just shoot a bit of oil on it and let it roll
Quick and nasty but likely a long time before it wears out
Might be a awful long time
I tried WD-40 and a bunch of other oils, but it did not last. Check out my newer video of The Real Fix Part 2. It has more details on my repair. Thanks for the comments.
wd 40 is not oil@@CarveTools
Tks for the tip.
You're welcome and I hope it helps.
Great video , did it and all good now
Glad this video helped. Honda recommends taking it to a dealer and let them do it. Thanks for the comments!
Excellent, thank you.
Thank You!
Good fix
I’ve had this problem on and off for years now. It’s become so frustrating that I’d considering selling it and buying something different
I cannot imagine how many thousands of these mowers are out there with this problem. Honda dropped the ball on this one.
I also have a Toro 22'' and it free wheels when pulling it back with no resistances. I don't get it why Honda have this issue. I went to Honda dealer and the new models are much easier to pull but i'm not buying another one for a while.
Luis Rivera - Yes, they are easy to pull until you mow a lot of grass and get wet grass water, dirt, etc., into that totally uncovered axle area and then this starts to happen..
What if it’s a brand new mower? The wheels do turn but are very tight?
Hi Tom, If the mower is brand new and they wheels pulling backwards that is a problem. I'm sure the dealer you purchased it from will repair it. Mine started acting up on the second season.
Something else to look for once you have the transmission out is the shield around the transmission's pulley. With the drive belt in place, there should just be enough gap around the pulley so the shield does not to touch. Too much gap might cause the drive belt to ride up and wedge thus locking up.
Same problem. But I have notice while mowing if I pick up the real wheels and let them spin forward using the drive, then I am able to go in reverse. Explain that one anyone.
Please recommend a good pair of snap ring pliers. This is the only thing making this job miserable for me.
Hi Eric, I've been using a cheap set for decades so I would recommend something like from Harbor Freight Item # 63845 cost $5 or at Amazon "4 pc Combination Circlip Snap Ring Plier Internal External ORing C-Clip" for $8. Both are identical except for the color. Hope that helps!
Channellock #927. $30 but one pair does internal and external and comes with various tips. Right angle tips are needed for some of the snap rings on these Hondas.
honda knew about this problem long ago but did nothing with their $465+. Usually it's the lousy transmission that go bad.
honda like husqvarna have so many mowers complaints that they are no longer in the business.
There is very little information for the recall and Honda service centers have no ideal either.
@@CarveTools Honda's TSB for buying the new parts are useless after 17 cuts.
What is wrong with Honda? Same problem with a fairly new mower. Nothing but problems. So difficult to start, forward power sometimes, sometimes not, rear wheel locks when pulling backward. And so heavy. I miss my Kenmore.
So far the engine is the only part on my mower not giving trouble. Lower quality same brand name equal more profit. Thanks for the comments!
This mower is not heavy... Try an all metal 20 year old Snapper Hi-Vac and you will see what heavy is like...
To fix the problem.Just sell it and call it the day.
My mower is only 2 months old and has this problem. I do wash it off because damp grass sticks to the mower. Real poor design by Honda. Always cost cutting and cheap.
Robert Kusek -- I know, I am there with you.. Glad you are keeping up on cleaning the underside, so that damp grass doesn't break down and start eating away the metal underside.. I have not tried it, but some people are saying to spray some WD-40 into the axles after cleaning, and that seems to help.. WD-40 IS designed to displace moisture, so that must be why it helps..
Good luck with this..
Awesome ! I hope that’s all that is wrong with mine !
I dont get why worn bushings would cause unidirectional seizure on the shaft...
The transmission/gear box is driving it forward and you might not notice it but reverse pulling it shows up. Thanks for the comments!
Because when not using the belt drive, pushing it forwards only the wheels turn, not the whole axle. But pulling it backwards, or engaging the belt drive to drive forwards, the wheels have ratchet spring things internally to lock to the axle.
My Honda has had the locked wheels issue for a couple of years also, it is only about 5 years old :(
I feel like the rear wheels are bad designed by Honda manufacture because I have watched many video for the same problem. I have owned this one too.
This was a bad design and a headache for customers. I had to tear it down to find the problem and so far so good. Thanks for the comments!
Should this be a warranty issue?
Hi Hankster64, Yes, this should be a warranty issue and one comment was to mention to your Honda repair shop "Honda Power Equipment Lawn Mower Service Bulletin #107."
Thank You!