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I am considering purchasing a Honda HRX but I'm worried about the reports of poor suction and lifting the blades up from the tire tracks and stragglers left behind as well as twigs and other debris not getting picked up while mowing. I've read numerous threads from several forums. However, a lot of the threads are a couple years old or older. I wonder if people have figured a permanent fix for it or if newer models don't have this issue. I would be getting a 2019 model if I ended up buying one. So those of you have have an HRX, or even a HRR, I would love to hear your experiences, either bad or good. Would love to hear from people that never had this issue either because the nature of forums is that only the ones that had issues post about it and those that are happy don't feel a need to talk about it because everything is working well for them.

I have an HRX217 (3 seasons) and I’ve read the same negative feedback regarding suction, specifically at the tire track area and the mulch/bag door not creating a good seal. I have never had a problem. I do narrow passes to ensure good blade coverage and I use the genuine Honda blades as well as the knockoff blades; both draw well. I usually mulch mow but when I do bag mow the suction works great.

I've had an HRX-217 for a decade, without any issues.

Oldschool - what's your grass type and HOC?

Andy - yes I know you're very happy with yours. It is interesting to note that yours is 10 years old and most of the posters complaining seem to have a model from 2015 - 2017. One theory being put out was the deck design causing issues. Do you know if the deck on yours is different from those years?

Thanks for the info thus far guys.

Not that I'm aware of.

My son bought a (loaded) HRX-217 2015 model, and has had no problems with it.

Good to know. What's a loaded model? Like the top of the line one with the electric start etc?

Yes. All the bells and whistles.

IIO0DQLE,

My grass is 100% KBG and my height of cut in summer is 3.5 inches.

Oldschool wrote: ↑

April 26th, 2019, 8:25 am

IIO0DQLE,

My grass is 100% KBG and my height of cut in summer is 3.5 inches.

Thanks!

andy10917 wrote: ↑

April 26th, 2019, 7:00 am

Yes. All the bells and whistles.

Nice! Yeah that's the one I would like to get too but it's $1,100 Canucks here. Ouch. Now, the top of the line HRR is ~$300 less but only 160cc. Is that worth considering or would you strongly advice to get the HRX if money wasn't an issue? I mean, I can afford the HRX but I wonder if the HRR is good enough. My current mower is a Craftsman with Briggs and Stratton 190cc engine and I don't have issues cutting my grass. But then again, my lawn is only a year old Bewitched and hasn't reached its potential yet. There are times that I can hear the engine change pitch (sometimes I could bog it down if I don't slow down) when I let the grass grow a bit too long or when cutting grass and mulching leaves at the same time but I just slow down and it works well enough. My total sq ft is only 1800 and I don't have any slopes.

A couple of weeks late here but I can give a little bit of info into this question. I recently upgraded from a 12 year old Honda HRR216 to a 2019 HRX217VKA, which does not have all of the bells and whistles and is a good comparison to my old HRR. The old HRR would probably be in that category of a bit of poorer lift at 3"+ height. It sometimes took an extra pass to really clean up the lawn at higher heights and an extra pass or two when mulching leaves. The other issue with the HRR was that the grass clippings when mulching would stick to the underside of the metal deck resulting in a good scrape down with a putty knife after or before every mowing.

The HRX having the plastic deck does not have that same problem and clean-up is much easier and much less time consuming. As far as lift of the two, where as the HRR would start to lose lift at anything past 2.5" the HRX has very good suction so far at 3.5" but I haven't gone higher yet. The deck design seems to be the big difference between the two, where the HRX deck looks to be much closer to the grass than the HRR at similar heights.

The 2019 now has larger 9" wheels compared to 8" in the last model and the engine size has been upgraded to 200cc now for more power. For me the cut quality is the biggest difference, the lawn looks so much smoother and cleaner after cutting with the HRX.

I still haven't pulled the trigger due to a bunch of unforeseen circumstances and expenses. I'm not sure when I will end up buying one. Thanks for your feedback, it is reassuring!

I had a 2006 HRX and loved it. Moved to a bigger yard and got a zero turn. Moved to a smaller yard last year and bought a 2018 HRX. I'm VERY disappointed with cut quality. I've done several experiments to try to fix it with no luck. I'm seriously considering selling it and getting a Toro. So... if your interested, I have an HRX217VKA for sale.

See my recent dealings with my dealer and Honda Customer Relations. 1:46pm today 10/8/19

viewtopic.php?t=22616&start=40

Hammbone81 wrote: ↑

October 8th, 2019, 8:40 pm

See my recent dealings with my dealer and Honda Customer Relations. 1:46pm today 10/8/19

viewtopic.php?t=22616&start=40

Wow, that is crazy! Hmm... I will have to make sure the dealer will be willing to take it back if I am unsatisfied when I do decide to buy one.

The only issue I have is with the amount of grass and dirt that gets caked on the underneath of the deck. Has anyone found a solution to this?