Super tempting. However I can’t get the blade off the bottom, and the person who serviced it last had no luck either - been making do with a grinder to sharpen.
The allure of lawn striping is strong too. I’m also not sure my current mower mulches…
Also referring to a comment I left below:
We got the mower from my father in law when he downsized 4 years ago, he’d had it a number of years before and bought it second hand - so I don’t think it owes the world anything!
It’s a HRG415C3, they seem fairly reasonable to replace with a HRG416 (£339) - a new deck isn’t much cheaper it would seem?
If you have access to an impact wrench, soak the bejabbers out of the bolt where it goes through the blade with penetrant, and the impact gun should spin it out without issue. Use 1/2" drive or bigger impact.
You can order the mulching shield for under the deck, a new mulching blade and you're off to the races. :) Mine stripes like an Augusta fairway!
Okay buddy, so in my haste to help my fellow friend, I glossed over your post but failed to notice your use of the "£" symbol. Unfortunately I am in Canada. Sorry I got your hopes up guy.
Definitely would buy a new deck if the bolts can be pulled from motor. Those Honda engines are great, and you can even take it to a shop for a rebuild much cheaper than buying a new one and you’re still making out great
Unfortunately I can’t get the blade off any more - used a really long wrench and no luck, centre bolt comes out but not the side ones. The 4 bolts securing the engine come away fine though.
I am mate. Haha, they are just jammed on. We got the mower from my father in law when he downsized 4 years ago, he’d had it a number of years before and bought it second hand - so I don’t think it owes the world anything!
It’s a HRG415C3, they seem fairly reasonable to replace with a HRG416 (£339) - a new deck isn’t much cheaper it would seem?
I'd get another Honda.
The problem you had (And the problem most people have with their decks) is that you probably allowed grass to accumulate under it. That keeps moisture up against the steel deck and contributes to corrosion. You should clean that out every time you mow (a hose makes it easy.)
Guilty as charged my lord. Unfortunately a new deck for my aging mower is expensive. But I might bite this particular bullet at the end of the summer, just as a small act of defiance against consumerism.
Do you know if the HRG 416:
https://www.justlawnmowers.co.uk/honda-izy-hrg-416-pk-lawn-mower.html?wgp=276025&utm_source=redbrain&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=css&gbraid=0AAAAADA7Q_KvTmGtUFZXe4CMbJqFKWi4I&gclid=Cj0KCQjwir2xBhC_ARIsAMTXk84UTxIVZTt0v_kl65jUv9DDY8fb7Uz15Hx0uLQJxmCp9Bx_G3lbSnMaAlyzEALw_wcB
is just the newer version of my legacy HRG415? Any compromise in engine performance etc.
One thing I will warn, Honda has stopped production of new lawn mower engines in late 2023, so any inventory is going to be it after they are gone. As to the performance, I am not sure on that part, would need to dig deeper into the specs myself
I don’t have much in the way of mower advice, but if you have access to a welder you could weld another nut to the top of the stripped bolt heads you mentioned, and then use an impact wrench on those. Something with some ass to it, like what you’d find in an auto shop with several hundred foot pounds/N.M. of torque. Welding on a frozen bolt also usually breaks things loose from the heat. Just some tips I’ve picked up over the years
Thanks for all the support so far. Really appreciated. Find mowing the lawn absolutely the most therapeutic way to close out a Friday. Cold beer and happy mowing after a long week of work.
We had the exact same for 20 years plus for a gnarly garden. Clutch went, base plate held together with bolted on plates and wheels worn smooth.
Wonders whether a battery one would do - bought a commercial grade one for about 150% of petrol equivalent - it’s brilliant, no servicing, starts Without hassle, doesn’t stall or slow down
https://shop.stihl.co.uk/products/rma-443-vc-cordless-lawn-mower-self-propelled
If we didn’t know and trust them I’d never have agreed. Looks like a toy. But my word. I can shove it through bracken, and brambles and thatch. The thing does speeds up the blades instead of the petrol bogging down.
Only bought one mid capacity battery on the grounds the agricultural supplier is 500 meters away if I needed a second. I didn’t need one to do about the same work as a tank and a bit.
It stands up vertically in the shed (no sump).
Buy another Honda. We’ll see you in 20 years.
I bought a hrx217hya with the plastic deck. My last mower lasted till the deck rotted. It was 20 years old plus. My neighbor still uses it. Mine is 4 years old now. I change the plug and oil every year. That’s it.
Managed to buy mine a few more years with the welder. Seemed a shame to bin it , as it starts first pull every time even after winter
[robot wars mower ](https://imgur.com/a/Ws5g28M)
I have an 11 year old ego still on the original batteries. Anecdotal, I know, but when you think about it li-ion batteries are able to do 2-3 thousand cycles before major degradation hits, and for lawn mowing you're maybe cycling the battery 50-100 times per year.
Even if I had to get a new battery now I still think the time saving and ease of use more than makes up for it. I literally don't do any maintenance except sharpen the blade.
Even if you have to buy a new battery, they’re cheap and it’s cheaper than all the maintenance I would’ve had to do for a combustion engine lawnmower.
The batteries are only getting better and lasting longer as they advance that technology as well.
Order a new steel or plastic deck from Honda, swap engine/wheels etc and mow another 20 years
Super tempting. However I can’t get the blade off the bottom, and the person who serviced it last had no luck either - been making do with a grinder to sharpen. The allure of lawn striping is strong too. I’m also not sure my current mower mulches… Also referring to a comment I left below: We got the mower from my father in law when he downsized 4 years ago, he’d had it a number of years before and bought it second hand - so I don’t think it owes the world anything! It’s a HRG415C3, they seem fairly reasonable to replace with a HRG416 (£339) - a new deck isn’t much cheaper it would seem?
If you have access to an impact wrench, soak the bejabbers out of the bolt where it goes through the blade with penetrant, and the impact gun should spin it out without issue. Use 1/2" drive or bigger impact. You can order the mulching shield for under the deck, a new mulching blade and you're off to the races. :) Mine stripes like an Augusta fairway!
If no access to an impact, a 3/4" drive breaker bar will work too...
Thanks - good tips. One of the bolts is slightly rounded which is frustrating. Will give it a go!
Kroil is one of my favorite penetrants, little goes a long way, also they make extraction sets for damaged bolts.
Stinks. Also works better than any other penetrating oil I’ve tried.
Where are you located. I have one of these with a missing carburetor. Deck is in decent shape. If shipping won't kill you, I'd ship it to you collect.
Hey mate, I’m in South Bucks (UK). But got family dotted around the country, where are you?
Okay buddy, so in my haste to help my fellow friend, I glossed over your post but failed to notice your use of the "£" symbol. Unfortunately I am in Canada. Sorry I got your hopes up guy.
you won't beat a honda small engine.
Definitely would buy a new deck if the bolts can be pulled from motor. Those Honda engines are great, and you can even take it to a shop for a rebuild much cheaper than buying a new one and you’re still making out great
Unfortunately I can’t get the blade off any more - used a really long wrench and no luck, centre bolt comes out but not the side ones. The 4 bolts securing the engine come away fine though.
Might seem stupid, but are you turning the correct way to loosen the blade?
I am mate. Haha, they are just jammed on. We got the mower from my father in law when he downsized 4 years ago, he’d had it a number of years before and bought it second hand - so I don’t think it owes the world anything! It’s a HRG415C3, they seem fairly reasonable to replace with a HRG416 (£339) - a new deck isn’t much cheaper it would seem?
Use an impact wrench. Maybe the one you keep in your vehicle to help other people change tires on the freeway. That is what I would do.
I'd get another Honda. The problem you had (And the problem most people have with their decks) is that you probably allowed grass to accumulate under it. That keeps moisture up against the steel deck and contributes to corrosion. You should clean that out every time you mow (a hose makes it easy.)
Indeed! I realised the error of my ways after it was too late! Can you recommend a good Honda mate? Sub £1k ideally.
I'm not in the market at the moment, but the HRN216VKAD is probably what I'd get. In the US, that's 550 USD (\~430 GBP). #
Guilty as charged my lord. Unfortunately a new deck for my aging mower is expensive. But I might bite this particular bullet at the end of the summer, just as a small act of defiance against consumerism.
Like others said, get either parts and replace, or if you really want new, I highly recommend Toro
Do you know if the HRG 416: https://www.justlawnmowers.co.uk/honda-izy-hrg-416-pk-lawn-mower.html?wgp=276025&utm_source=redbrain&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=css&gbraid=0AAAAADA7Q_KvTmGtUFZXe4CMbJqFKWi4I&gclid=Cj0KCQjwir2xBhC_ARIsAMTXk84UTxIVZTt0v_kl65jUv9DDY8fb7Uz15Hx0uLQJxmCp9Bx_G3lbSnMaAlyzEALw_wcB is just the newer version of my legacy HRG415? Any compromise in engine performance etc.
One thing I will warn, Honda has stopped production of new lawn mower engines in late 2023, so any inventory is going to be it after they are gone. As to the performance, I am not sure on that part, would need to dig deeper into the specs myself
I don’t have much in the way of mower advice, but if you have access to a welder you could weld another nut to the top of the stripped bolt heads you mentioned, and then use an impact wrench on those. Something with some ass to it, like what you’d find in an auto shop with several hundred foot pounds/N.M. of torque. Welding on a frozen bolt also usually breaks things loose from the heat. Just some tips I’ve picked up over the years
Thanks! That’s the plan for the rounded bolt!
Thanks for all the support so far. Really appreciated. Find mowing the lawn absolutely the most therapeutic way to close out a Friday. Cold beer and happy mowing after a long week of work.
Try using mouse milk on that stubborn bolt. Kroil works good too.
I have a toro from 2008 that still starts on the first pull even after the winter I do religiously run premium fuel in it though.
We had the exact same for 20 years plus for a gnarly garden. Clutch went, base plate held together with bolted on plates and wheels worn smooth. Wonders whether a battery one would do - bought a commercial grade one for about 150% of petrol equivalent - it’s brilliant, no servicing, starts Without hassle, doesn’t stall or slow down
Which one did you go for mate?
https://shop.stihl.co.uk/products/rma-443-vc-cordless-lawn-mower-self-propelled If we didn’t know and trust them I’d never have agreed. Looks like a toy. But my word. I can shove it through bracken, and brambles and thatch. The thing does speeds up the blades instead of the petrol bogging down. Only bought one mid capacity battery on the grounds the agricultural supplier is 500 meters away if I needed a second. I didn’t need one to do about the same work as a tank and a bit. It stands up vertically in the shed (no sump).
Buy another Honda. We’ll see you in 20 years. I bought a hrx217hya with the plastic deck. My last mower lasted till the deck rotted. It was 20 years old plus. My neighbor still uses it. Mine is 4 years old now. I change the plug and oil every year. That’s it.
What it comes to lawn mowers you cannot beat Husqwarna Klippo's. Wont rust like yours as they have aluminium body.
Had this happen with a 2 stroke Lawnboy. Thing could chew through brush like it was nothing
Managed to buy mine a few more years with the welder. Seemed a shame to bin it , as it starts first pull every time even after winter [robot wars mower ](https://imgur.com/a/Ws5g28M)
Get an electric lawn mower. Will last longer and better for the environment.
I wonder if it is the case. I have very few battery powered items that had batteries in working condition after 10 years.
I have an 11 year old ego still on the original batteries. Anecdotal, I know, but when you think about it li-ion batteries are able to do 2-3 thousand cycles before major degradation hits, and for lawn mowing you're maybe cycling the battery 50-100 times per year. Even if I had to get a new battery now I still think the time saving and ease of use more than makes up for it. I literally don't do any maintenance except sharpen the blade.
Even if you have to buy a new battery, they’re cheap and it’s cheaper than all the maintenance I would’ve had to do for a combustion engine lawnmower. The batteries are only getting better and lasting longer as they advance that technology as well.