Can't pull Honda HRR216VKA lawn mower backwards anymore

[Rebel1]

It's a walk-behind with a variable speed transmission that powers the
rear wheels. Works okay forward, but can no longer pull it backwards. If
I turn it on its side, I can turn both rear wheels in the forward
direction only, and I hear a ratcheting sound from each wheel. Try the
reverse direction, and they lock firmly, without even the slightest
movement in the reverse direction of the drive axle.

Thanks for you suggestions.

R1

 

[DerbyDad03]

It's a walk-behind with a variable speed transmission that powers the
rear wheels. Works okay forward, but can no longer pull it backwards. If
I turn it on its side, I can turn both rear wheels in the forward
direction only, and I hear a ratcheting sound from each wheel. Try the
reverse direction, and they lock firmly, without even the slightest
movement in the reverse direction of the drive axle.

Thanks for you suggestions.

R1

For what it's worth, you are not alone.

This thread mentions "tranny replacement" for the symptoms that you
describe.

http://www.lawn-mowers-review.com/honda-hrr216-lawn-mower.html

 

[Stormin Mormon]

It's mandated by the government, for your own good.
Certainly, you don't want Jones to come back? And, Squealer
pranced back and forth, his tail wagging in a most
convincing manner. (Animal Farm, by George Orwell.)

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


It's a walk-behind with a variable speed transmission that
powers the
rear wheels. Works okay forward, but can no longer pull it
backwards. If
I turn it on its side, I can turn both rear wheels in the
forward
direction only, and I hear a ratcheting sound from each
wheel. Try the
reverse direction, and they lock firmly, without even the
slightest
movement in the reverse direction of the drive axle.

Thanks for you suggestions.

R1

 

[Rebel1]

It's a walk-behind with a variable speed transmission that powers the
rear wheels. Works okay forward, but can no longer pull it backwards. If
I turn it on its side, I can turn both rear wheels in the forward
direction only, and I hear a ratcheting sound from each wheel. Try the
reverse direction, and they lock firmly, without even the slightest
movement in the reverse direction of the drive axle.

Thanks for you suggestions.

R1

Since posting my initial message, I spend 50 minutes cutting the lawn.
For whatever reason, most of the time I was able to pull it backwards. I
couldn't find a pattern (eg. pulling while on a slight up slope vs. a
down slope).

After finishing, I turned the mower on its side and turned the rear
wheels. The axle between each wheel and the transmission in the middle
of the mower now turned. Suggests something in the gear box.

Caution: The gear box is filled with oil, not grease, and it will come
running out unless the mower is completely inverted. Before inverting,
drain the engine oil. If there is a little gasoline in the tank, the
tight-fitting cap will probably prevent it from leaking out. But be
prepared, and work outside.

R1

 

[G Mulcaster]

It's a walk-behind with a variable speed transmission that powers the
rear wheels. Works okay forward, but can no longer pull it backwards. If
I turn it on its side, I can turn both rear wheels in the forward
direction only, and I hear a ratcheting sound from each wheel. Try the
reverse direction, and they lock firmly, without even the slightest
movement in the reverse direction of the drive axle.

Thanks for you suggestions.

R1

On my Honda HHR217HXX there was a black plastic flap that hung down
and dragged behind the rear wheels. When the mower was pulled
backward, the flap would dig in to prevent such action.

The flap was removed. Now, pulling backward is no problem.

Not what you describe; however, it might be worth a look should you
have a similar flap.

Gary

 

[Rebel1]

On my Honda HHR217HXX there was a black plastic flap that hung down
and dragged behind the rear wheels. When the mower was pulled
backward, the flap would dig in to prevent such action.

The flap was removed. Now, pulling backward is no problem.

Not what you describe; however, it might be worth a look should you
have a similar flap.

Gary

Gary,

I do have that flap. And often times it does fight me when pulling back,
because it folds under the mower. But I had the problem on a concrete
garage floor and with the mower on its side, as I manually tried turning
the wheels backward.

R1

 

[hr(bob) hofmann]

Gary,

I do have that flap. And often times it does fight me when pulling back,
because it folds under the mower. But I had the problem on a concrete
garage floor and with the mower on its side, as I manually tried turning
the wheels backward.

R1- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I find on my Craftsman mower, after I release the drive handle, that
if I move the mower forward a couple of inches, and then pull
backwards that it always allows me to go backwards. If I just release
the drive handle and try to pull it backwards, sometimes it will not
go backwards. I then push it forward a couple of inches and find that
it goes backwards just fine. This is not due to the rear mower
protection flap as I have already shortened that so that it does not
hang up on the lawn when pulling backwards. Less protection, but a
LOT easier to use the mower as I do have a lot of pulling to get
around a lot of plants that my wife loves scattered around the yard,

 

[notbob]

at least, it violates the KISS principle. The closer I can get to an
anvil, the better.

While I tend to agree, no anvil at all is even better. I think
Honda has turned the power mower into an overly complex system, but no
more complex than the absurd lengths homeowners will go to for their
precious lawns. I personally prefer my natural wooded landscape with
no lawn or lawnmowers

nb

 

[DerbyDad03]

I find on my Craftsman mower, after I release the drive handle, that
if I move the mower forward a couple of inches, and then pull
backwards that it always allows me to go backwards.  If I just release
the drive handle and try to pull it backwards, sometimes it will not
go backwards.  I then push it forward a couple of inches and find that
it goes backwards just fine.  This is not due to the rear mower
protection flap as I have already shortened that so that it does not
hang up on the lawn when pulling backwards.  Less protection, but a
LOT easier to use the mower as I do have a lot of pulling to get
around a lot of plants that my wife loves scattered around the yard,- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

re: "Less protection due to shortened flap."

My wifs buys our dogs these hooves to chew on:

http://images.petfooddirect.com/2031411111_lg.jpg

I usually scan the yard before mowing, but I missed one the other day.

My Honda, with full flap still intact, shot one those hooves out from
under the mower at such a high speed that I have no idea where it came
out.

All I know is I heard a loud BANG! as it hit the house and then landed
in driveway about 20 feet from where I was mowing. There was a mark on
the house in the 5' area between the glass storm door and the glass on
the garage door, right level with the middle of the garage door
windows. A few feet in either direction and I'd be replacing at least
a pane of glass.

The height was about face level of most of the people that live in my
house. I'm sure glad no one standing anywhere near the area.

 

[Frank]

For what it's worth, you are not alone.

This thread mentions "tranny replacement" for the symptoms that you
describe.

http://www.lawn-mowers-review.com/honda-hrr216-lawn-mower.html

Mine's OK. Is nice to be reminded/know that there is 4 year warranty.
I think manual says there should be cable adjustments and the like done
at dealer after a year, but who pays attention to these things?

If this is a known problem, maybe Honda can be persuaded to do it under
warranty even after warranty period. I had a similar situation with my
car and manufacturer rebated about a third of cost.

 

[trader4]

Mine's OK.  Is nice to be reminded/know that there is 4 year warranty.
I think manual says there should be cable adjustments and the like done
at dealer after a year, but who pays attention to these things?

If this is a known problem, maybe Honda can be persuaded to do it under
warranty even after warranty period.  I had a similar situation with my
car and manufacturer rebated about a third of cost.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I had a Honda Harmony and the transmission failed after
not too many years and not all that much use. The tranny
is a real bitch to replace. Lot of little parts to take off and
hopefully get back together again if you put a new one in.
Took it apart and found that the main drive bearing just
wore out and fell apart. It sounds like the tranny on this
one is shot too.

I even bought the service manual, and I'm good at doing
all kinds of mechanical work, but given how complicated
it was and the cost, $135, I never did put one in. Mower is
still here in pieces.
I bought a Sears for $175 instead. The Honda does the
best, neatest cut and the twin blade design is the best
mulcher I've seen. But at $600 I expected it to last longer
than it did. The Sears has significantly more power and
uses a belt slip system to give infinite speed control. And
there is no transmission to crap out.

 

[Rebel1]

Thanks, Bob, for the excellent tip. I'll try it the next time I have the
problem.

On 10/11/2011 12:34 AM, hr(bob) (e-mail address removed) wrote:
-

 

[Rebel1]

Your problem has nothing to do with the transmission. Each wheel has a
ratchet. The reason for the ratchet is to allow free wheel movement when
pulling backwards. That is the only reason for a ratchet assembly in the
first place.

Within the ratchet assembly the woodruff key catches the perpendicular
slope of the ratchet when the mower is being driven. When pulling the mower
backwards the inclined slope of the ratchet pushes the woodruff key back
into the key seat of the shaft to allow for free wheeling.

Inspect the shaft key seats, springs, internal ratchet teeth, and replace
the woodruff drive keys. Use grease on everything.

As you can see from my October 10, 4:17 pm post, all of a sudden I was
able to pull in backwards, for unknown reasons.

The mower is only 13 months old, so it's not likely to need grease or
have broken parts in the wheels. The key thing is that with the mower on
its side, I couldn't turn either wheel backwards. All I could do is turn
the forward (and hear the ratcheting as I did so). Since both wheels
were affected equally, the problem had to be in the transmission.

 

[DIYmeister]

It's a walk-behind with a variable speed transmission that powers the
rear wheels. Works okay forward, but can no longer pull it backwards. If
I turn it on its side, I can turn both rear wheels in the forward
direction only, and I hear a ratcheting sound from each wheel. Try the
reverse direction, and they lock firmly, without even the slightest
movement in the reverse direction of the drive axle.

Thanks for you suggestions.

R1

Besides cleaning and lubricating the axle and adjusting the drive cable, clean the transmission pulley and belt. The belt should not grab the pulley when not in drive, otherwise the rear wheels will not turn in reverse.

 

[DIYmeister]

Besides cleaning and lubricating the axle and adjusting the drive cable, clean the transmission pulley and belt. The belt should not grab the pulley when not in drive, otherwise the rear wheels will not turn in reverse.

I found aftermarket belts to also cause non-reversing. Always use OE Honda belts as aftermarket belts aren't manufactured to work with the Honda slip clutch transmission. After adjusting the transmission cable, turn the mower over and without the transmission lever engaged, turn a rear wheel in reverse and confirm the transmission pulley spins freely under the loose belt. If the belt prevents the pulley from turning even occasionally, it will lock up in forward gear and not reverse. Honda OE belts allow the slip clutch function to work.