A different Honda trans failure!

[OH-ODY]

Well after only 6 years of service my Honda Harmony lawn mower bit the dust! Of all things the transmission went out! Thought I'd get longer service out of a Honda mower, but alas, it 'tis dead. The real kicker is to fix it would cost $325!!!! A new one is $399. I went with a new Craftsman this time with a Briggs and Stratton engine, hopefully this will last.

[Kscha41]

Originally posted by OH-ODY
Well after only 6 years of service my Honda Harmony lawn mower bit the dust! Of all things the transmission went out! Thought I'd get longer service out of a Honda mower, but alas, it 'tis dead. The real kicker is to fix it would cost $325!!!! A new one is $399. I went with a new Craftsman this time with a Briggs and Stratton engine, hopefully this will last.

Hopefully the new Crapesmen last longer than your old Honda.

[wild willy]

Never ever had a briggs engine fail.....and never changed the oil on any of them. The decks rust out....wheels fall off...handles break off..Cables break....But the motor keeps goin


Fock Honda

[WSY]

Originally posted by wild willy
[B]Never ever had a briggs engine fail.....and never changed the oil on any of them.

Glad to know I'm not the only one that hasn't changed the oil in the lawn mower. Our Craftsman is at least 9 years old, and I have never changed the oil, spark plug or the air filter. I check the oil every couple of uses and it seems really clean. Starts on the first pull after priming, too. The lawn mower doesn't get used more than twice a month usually, and we do have small yards.

[Kscha41]

Originally posted by WSY
Glad to know I'm not the only one that hasn't changed the oil in the lawn mower. Our Craftsman is at least 9 years old, and I have never changed the oil, spark plug or the air filter. I check the oil every couple of uses and it seems really clean. Starts on the first pull after priming, too. The lawn mower doesn't get used more than twice a month usually, and we do have small yards.

I have a 1965 simplicity garden tractor with the original Briggs and stratton motor. Starts up right away every time too. I do though change the oil at the beginning of each season.

[dvpatel]

Yup. Hondas suck. Even them lawn mowers.

[Kscha41]

Well my neighbor was cutting his grass with his tractor(Briggs motor) and the moter has been giving him problems. Well out of no where it make a loud clunk and shut off. Now when you go to start it, it spins freely. So I guess they have problems too.

[OH-ODY]

All of them have lemons, I just hope the Briggs engine last longer than 6 years. I am not anti Honda, our van has been flawless, but I found it peculiar that the tranny went out in my lawn mower with so many posts about tranny problems in odyssey's. Maybe that's Honda's week link.

[jimmf]

I guess I don't understand lawnmowers very well. It sounds like your transmission went out so I assume yours is a self-propelled mower and now the engine runs but the mower does not propel itself. But then some posters have mentioned Briggs and Stratten engines and you also say you hope the B and S engine lasts longer. What broke on the Honda? The engine or the tranny?

[wild willy]

Originally posted by WSY
Glad to know I'm not the only one that hasn't changed the oil in the lawn mower. Our Craftsman is at least 9 years old, and I have never changed the oil, spark plug or the air filter. I check the oil every couple of uses and it seems really clean. Starts on the first pull after priming, too. The lawn mower doesn't get used more than twice a month usually, and we do have small yards.

You do more than me as far as cking he oil...

I cut my grass , my neighbors grass, and sometimes a little league outfield by hand..My mower is at least 10 yrs old......Starts first pull every time and I have never touched anything on it motor related except throttle cable

[OH-ODY]

Originally posted by jimmf
I guess I don't understand lawnmowers very well. It sounds like your transmission went out so I assume yours is a self-propelled mower and now the engine runs but the mower does not propel itself. But then some posters have mentioned Briggs and Stratten engines and you also say you hope the B and S engine lasts longer. What broke on the Honda? The engine or the tranny?

The transmission went out, the engine runs, but with the gearing torn up it is very hard to use it as a push mower. I am not a mower mechanic either, but from what I am told; the engine and transmission are from the same manufacturer, so I guess what I really meant was that as a unit I hope the B&S outlasts the Honda. All-in-all, I am happy with Honda engines, my Husky power washer is Honda powered and starts every time.

[herrhaus]

I have to replace the rear tires on my Hausquavarna every 2 years or so. I have a rear wheel self propelled mower. I'm trying to recall, I believe the gear itself is metal, and it engages with teeth inside the rear rims (which are plastic). Duh, stupid design!!

Engine: Honda....and it runs fantastic.

[0dyfamily]

Originally posted by wild willy
Never ever had a briggs engine fail.....

You're in the minority. I hate these d@mned things. So does the local small engine repair shop in my burg (I get my Tygon lines from him for periodic maintenance on my chainsaw and hedgeclipper and other 2-stroke yard implements).

Got rid of that P.O.S. Briggs & Crappum on my Snapper, threw on a Honda GCV160...12 years ago. I'm a fan of changing oil on my yard equipment, but forgot in this case, because this Honda has run so much better. Quieter. I changed it after 11 years. Can't believe I went so blamed long without changing the oil on this thing.

Maybe I'd better do a trans oil change, too. It's probably due for another one to keep it running nicely.

OF

[manualman]

A Snapper from 12 years ago would have had a Tecumseh engine. Had one just like it. Lovely deck and self propell system. Terrible, noisy, smoky engine. Of course I got it second hand, maybe one of you slobs owned it first!

In any case, no fair dissing Briggs based on a Tecumseh mower!

For the record, I have a Honda powered Craftsman now. The engine is smooth, MUCH quieter than the Tecumseh and most of all, I don't feel like I have a film of oil in my throat when I'm done.

[0dyfamily]

Mine was a B&S, with a home-made exhaust shroud to keep from melting the bag. It was a bolt-in replacement for the original motor, all accomplished by the previous owner. Even had some DIY tabs to keep the control cables in place. Have no idea why the good ol' Tecumseh went by the wayside, except maybe he wanted more power. My loss.

No, manny, I didn't own your Snapper first...if I did, it wouldn't be smoking! Yes, I love the way it mows, and really like the propulsion. If I bag, it really cleans up the lawn nicely.

The B&S on my 3-wheel edger is actually doing okay after a teardown and removal/replacement of needed items. It is about 40 years old, got it from Dad...who used it twice. I have run it once after last year's DIY overhaul. Incredibly, the fuel tank did not rust out after he put it away for keeps. There is not much cast aluminum on this dinosaur!

Now I have to find a reason to use it.

OF