9
SERVICING YOUR LAWN MOWER
Good maintenance is essential for safe, economical, trouble-free
operation. It will also help reduce air pollution.
To help you properly care for your mower, the following pages include
a maintenance schedule, routine inspection procedures, and simple
maintenance procedures using basic hand tools. Other service tasks
that are more difficult, or require special tools, are best handled by
professionals and are normally performed by a Honda technician or
other qualified mechanic.
The maintenance schedule applies to normal operating conditions. If
you operate your mower under severe conditions, such as sustained
high-load or high-temperature operation, or use in unusually wet or
dusty conditions, consult your servicing dealer for recommendations
applicable to your individual needs and use.
Remember that an authorized Honda servicing dealer knows your
mower best and is fully equipped to maintain and repair it.
To ensure the best quality and reliability, use only new, Honda
Genuine parts or their equivalents for repair and replacement.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed by any engine repair
establishment or individual, using parts that are “certified” to
EPA standards.

MAINTENANCE SAFETY

Some of the most important safety precautions follow. However, we
cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.

Safety Precautions

• Make sure the engine is off before you begin any maintenance or
repairs. This will eliminate several potential hazards:
–Carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust
Be sure there is adequate ventilation whenever you operate
the engine.
–Burns from hot parts
Let the engine and exhaust system cool before touching.
–Injury from moving parts
Do not run the engine unless instructed to do so.
• Read the instructions before you begin and make sure you have
the tools and skills required.
• To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, be careful when
working around gasoline. Use only a nonflammable solvent, not
gasoline, to clean parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and flames away
from all fuel-related parts.

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

1. For commercial use, log hours of operation to determine the proper
maintenance intervals.
2. Service more frequently when used in dusty areas.
3. These items should be serviced by an authorized Honda servicing
dealer unless you have the proper tools and are mechanically
proficient. Refer to the Honda shop manual for service procedures.
Failure to follow this maintenance schedule could result in
non-warrantable failures.
B WARNING
Improper maintenance or failure to correct a problem
before operation can cause a malfunction in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance
recommendations and schedules in this owner’s manual.
B WARNING
Failure to properly follow maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in this
owner’s manual.

Interval1Item

Before each
use Inspect the blades (page 10)
Check the blade torque (page 10)
Check the rear shield (page 6)
Check the grass bag (page 11)
Check the engine oil level (page 12)
Check the air cleaner (page 12)
First month or
5 hours Change the engine oil (page 12) 2
First 25 hours Clean the air filter element (page 12)
Adjust the blade control cable (page 13)
Every
50 hours Change the engine oil (page 12) 2
Clean the air filter element (page 12) 2
Every
100 hours Perform the 50-hour service items plus:
Check-adjust the spark plug (page 13)
Clean the spark arrester (page 13)
Check operation of the blade control (page 13)
Adjust the blade control cable (page 13)
Adjust the throttle cable 3
After every
250 hours Clean the combustion chamber 3
Every
300 hours Perform the 100-hour service items plus:
Replace the air cleaner filter (page 12)
Replace the spark plug (page 13)
Adjust the valve clearance 3
Adjust the idle speed 3
Clean the fuel tank 3
Every 2 years Check the fuel line and replace if necessary 3