Storing Your Honda Mower

Posted on December 26, 2018 by leapgo

Fall is over, and that means it’s finally time to stop mowing. Before you put your Honda mower into storage, there are a few things you should do to protect your machine and make it easier to put back to work next spring.

Fuel

All gasoline, even if it’s treated with a stabilizer, will turn stale during long-term storage, leading to problems with lacquering and corrosion. Honda recommends draining the fuel system if the mower will be stored for longer than three months.

If your engine has a sediment cup, removing this cup and turning the fuel valve on will let the tank and fuel system drain out. GCV engines don’t have this cup, but the fuel tank can be drained by removing the gas cap and tipping the mower on its side. Collected fuel can be used in your car’s fuel tank.

Once the tank is empty, start the engine and let it run until it stalls. This removes any remaining fuel in the lines and carburetor.

Oil and Lubrication

Even slightly used oil contains acidic compounds left over from combustion that can damage your mower during storage. Changing the oil now will protect your engine. As long as you don’t start the engine when it’s cold, it’s fine to use oil recommended for summer temperatures. For most engines, that’s 10W30 motor oil.

HRC mowers come with sealed cables that don’t require maintenance. Cables on all other models should be covered in a light oil or silicone spray to prevent rust. Water displacers and penetrating oils like WD-40 and Liquid Wrench will eventually drip off of the cables, leaving them unprotected.

Honda recommends lubricating the cylinder with oil. To do this, remove the spark plug, pour one teaspoon of oil through the plug hole, Pull the recoil starter several times: this will spread the oil across the cylinder wall and push out any excess. Reinstall the plug. When you start your mower next year, don’t be surprised if it smokes for a few seconds: that’s just the oil burning off.

Cleaning

Now is a good time to clean the grass bag. Rinse off the fabric with a garden hose to remove trapped dirt and debris. Let the bag drip dry before storage.

Do not use a pressure washer or garden hose to clean the rest of your mower. This can force water into the engine where it can mix with the oil and seep through bearings, damaging components. Use a brush to remove dirt and debris collected around the engine, particularly around the cooling fins. A putty knife can be used to remove grass cakes onto the mowing chamber.

Use touch-up paint to cover up areas where the original paint has chipped off. Exposed metal parts can be protected from rust by applying a light coating of oil.

Battery

Electric start models have a small battery inside the box that houses the start button. This battery should be removed and charged both before and after long-term storage.

An automotive battery charger is too powerful for this battery. Honda makes a low amperage charger specifically for these batteries. The battery can be attached to this charger for up to 24 hours. Charging longer can cause overheating, damaging the battery.

Storing

Your mower should be stored in a clean, dry place. Keep the mower away from sources of ignition, including power tools, heaters and electric motors: even with the tank and carburetor drained, there may be enough fuel residue to release flammable vapors.

Don’t cover the mower with a tarp. This can trap moisture, promoting rust.

The handle can be folded down to save space:
1. Remove the grass bag and frame. These can be stored separately or placed on top of the mower.
2. Loosen the knobs on the handle joints.
3. Tilt the top of the handle forward, making sure that the cables aren’t being kinked.

Get the Quality Parts You Need for Your Honda

Want to get a few things fixed before the next mowing season? Hondalawnparts.com is a certified Honda Power Equipment and Honda Engines dealer, so we carry everything you need for your mower from bags to blades. Finding parts is easy: just select your model and serial number, and our site will show you parts listings and factory information specific to your mower or engine. We can ship your order to any address in the United States or Canada.

The Last Mow: Preparing Your Lawn for Winter

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Admin

Fall and winter are on their way, which means it’s time to think about last minute lawn care tasks that will help the grass come back to life in the spring. These tips will help you prepare your lawn for the winter from fall lawn care tasks to the final mow of the season.

Things to Do Before the Last Mow

To get the best lawn next spring, there are several tasks that should be completed before the grass goes into hibernation:

Aerating and dethatching – Dethatching removes the layer of grass stems and tough plant material that gathers on the surface of the soil while aerating loosens the top soil. Together, these increase the grass’ access to water and oxygen.

Fertilizing -While high nitrogen content mixes are usually recommended, your lawn will do a lot better if you match the fertilizer’s nutrient mix to the results of a soil test.

Overseeding – Planting seeds now can help fill in bald spots and increase the thickness across the lawn, while planting cool weather grasses can keep your lawn green longer.

Leaf control – Leaves should be mulched into the soil when possible. Excess leaves should be raked up and removed, by adding them to a mulch pile or sending them to a yard waste facility. Leaving them in place can create a mat of wet organic material that will increase the chance of snow mold and choke the grass when it comes out of dormancy in the spring.

When Should I Stop Mowing?

The final mow can come at any time between early October and early December depending on your local climate, weather and the type of grass on your lawn. Warm season grasses will go into dormancy early into the fall, while cool season grasses will keep growing into early winter. Growth rates should slow down as soon as leaves start falling off of the trees. If there is an early frost, it should halt the growth of warm season grasses, but some cool season grasses may bounce back. Freezing aside, expect to mow your lawn for the last time once temperatures are consistently below 40°F (4-5°C.)

What Height should the Grass Be After I Mow?

The final cut should leave the grass at a height of two inches, regardless of variety. This provides enough ground coverage to resist freezing without trapping moisture that can encourage mold growth. Long grass can also bend, reducing light contact. This slows down photosynthesis, which can keep the grass from building up the sugar stores it needs to last through the winter.

As always, only one-third of the grass should be cut at a time. If you have a normally tall-cut grass like Kentucky Bluegrass that will take more than one cut to get to that height, wait at least a week between each mow. This shouldn’t be a challenge since growth rates at the end of the season should slow to a point that mowing is only needed every two to four weeks.

What Should I Do After the Last Mow?

Get your mower ready for storage: Instructions for storing your mower can be found in the owner’s manual, and we have guides for storing many of Honda’s mowers on this blog. It’s also a good time to address issues like worn blades and sticky cables so your mower will be ready to go in the spring.

Shut off the sprinklers and drain the water lines so they won’t burst in freezing temperatures.

Cover perennials in mulch after the first hard freeze, taking care not to cover the crown. The freeze will put the plant into hibernation, while the added dirt will shield it from winter weather.

Get Your Mower Ready for Winter

When you’re ready to put your mower in storage for the season, visit www.hondalawnparts.com. We have everything you need for your Honda mower and Honda-powered equipment from maintenance items to major components. Our site has original factory diagrams and descriptions built in, making it easy to identify what you need, and we can ship your order to any location in the U.S. or Canada.

Honda HRS Series Lawn Mower

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Admin

The HRS lawnmower series is a part of Honda’s overall line of products known for their quality and reliability. Benefit from Honda’s superior engineering and use of high quality Honda parts, when selecting a mower from the HRS series. Honda has developed more groundbreaking innovations than any other company in the industry. The Honda brand is synonymous with dependability and durability. Your investment in a Honda mower will pay off for many years.

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Honda HRR Series Residential Lawn Mowers

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Admin

Lawnmowers are an important part of yard maintenance, and the options available are limitless. Take the time to research the different push mowers from Honda and you can be guaranteed to find the lawnmower that is right for your yard’s needs. One of the series that Honda is extremely proud of is the Honda HRR Series. Below is an introduction to one of Honda’s most successful lawnmower lines and the preferred provider of genuine Honda mower parts. Continue reading →

How to Find Honda Mower Part Numbers

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Admin

To find Honda Lawn Mower part numbers, use the online Honda Lawn Mower Lookup Tool. The tool may be accessed and used from any standard web browser. You can use the tool from a mobile device, too. Any Internet connected device with a web browser will enable you to look up a Honda mower part number.

The Honda Lawn Mower Lookup Tool is completely free to use and easy to learn. Continue reading →

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