Honda’s lawn mowers are some of the most powerful and easiest to use on the market, but that doesn’t mean equipment owners don’t have a few important questions about them. Before getting started with one of the company’s riding mowers or push mowers, be sure to review commonly asked questions regarding regular maintenance, mower adjustment, and lawn quality.
What is a spark arrester? Do I need one?
A spark arrester acts as an added safety options in some mowers, but it’s not installed as standard. Generally, customers won’t need to install or worry about a spark arrester at all. The only exception applies to customers in states where this part is explicitly required by the law. Check with an authorized dealer to learn more about this potential requirement.
How can the spark arrester be adjusted or cleaned?
If a spark arrester is installed, it should be checked and adjusted after every 100 hours of use. Remove the screws holding the park in place, clear away any carbon deposits with a stuff brush, and then reattach the part to the mower.
How can I adjust the drive clutch cable?
Position the drive clutch cable tight to the handle, as indicated in the diagram seen in the instruction manual. Next, put the shift lever into the neutral position and engage the clutch lever. At this point, check that the self-propelled drive system still works. If it does, the adjustment succeeded without incident.
How can I adjust the Blade Control cable?
Press the yellow button on the blade control lever and hold it in. Measure free play, ensuring that it measures between 3/8 and 9/16 inches. If free play measures outside this range, turn the lock nuts to adjust the cable until it is within Honda’s recommended range for the mower.
How will I know when it’s time to mow the grass?
Each type of grass has a different recommended height, so be sure to find this ideal height before getting started. With that said, the general recommendation is to mow the lawn after it has grown an about an inch above its recommended height. In many cases, this means mowing the lawn once every one or two weeks.
How do I know if my mower’s cutting deck is set to the right height?
A close examination of the lawn can reveal if the cutting deck’s height is too low. Blades of grass should have small leaves near the surface of the lawn. If these have been cut off, then the deck is too low to properly maintain the lawn.
How do I know if my mower’s blade needs to be sharpened?
Sharp blades produce a clean cut, while dull blades tear the grass with each pass. Look at the blades of grass and determine whether or not they’ve been torn. If so, the blade should be removed and sharpened before the next pass through the lawn.
How should I handle wet grass? What about very dry grass?
For a very dry lawn, water the grass shortly before mowing. This will cut down on dust. A wet lawn should not be mowed until the grass is dry to the touch. Otherwise, operators could risk slipping and inflicting serious injury upon themselves.
How can I safely clear away a clog in the cutting deck?
The best way to ensure safety during this procedure is to make sure the mower cannot turn on for any reason while the task is ongoing. To that end, the mower’s fuel valve should be turned off and its spark plug should be disconnected. Tilt the mower so that its air cleaner faces up, and use protective gloves to avoid getting cut when handling the blade.
Is the engine speed supposed to be adjusted during mowing?
Generally, no. The best results are produced when the engine’s throttle speed is set to “fast.” If the engine is losing power or operating inconsistently, it may be due to wet grass, very tall grass, or a clog in the cutting deck. For best results, any such issue should be resolved immediately.
Does direction matter when I mow the lawn?
Direction itself does not matter. What’s important in most cases is simply that the mower overlaps each previous pass by a few inches. This ensures a consistent, professional finished product that will grow and mature evenly. For best results, some homeowners may wish to mow in a counter-clockwise direction when using a side discharge mower, or in a clockwise motion with a rear-discharge mower.
How should I handle mowing through fall foliage?
To pick up leaves and store them in the clipping bag, adjust the front of the mower so that it’s a setting or two higher than the rear. This will allow for easier intake and storage. To mulch the leaves, keep the mower in its standard configuration with slightly longer grass and lighter leaf cover. This will allow for easier mulching and distribution throughout the lawn.
Where can I find OEM Honda mower parts?
HondaLawnParts.com has an excellent selection of OEM parts and accessories for the full Honda lawn mower lineup. With an easy parts search tool, even new equipment owners will be able to find what they need quickly and effortlessly.
