Nice B'day present!, Art.
That Honda is a great mulching mower (mulch plug installed). You'll love it for that.
Beautiful green lawns in your neighborhood - rain does that.
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I have a several yr. old commercial HRC216 - it mows flawlessly.
Well, it's a Honda mower, that's what they do...mow flawlessly.
I owned a commercial landscape maintenance company for 20+ years. Rarely bought any other 21" mower.
Ran 6 commercial 21" Toros w/Suzuki 2 strokes for a while, they did well...but I always returned to the Hondas.
I still have my original '79 Honda HR21 (side valve/flathead, 3 hp) out in the garage. I rebuilt the engine and basically restored the rig one winter - sentimental sort, I am. I still use it here now/then. Mostly use one of my remaining Exmark or Kees 36" dual blade platform walk-behind mowers to make short work of the 1/2 acre.
Call me crazy...but I love to mow grass - especially w/a good mower.
It's therapeutic for me...a "smooth mow" and the smell of fresh-cut grass.
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Mowing tip #1. Super sharp blades will cut grass and not tear it...grass tips then won't turn brown.
I use a grinder, then finish with a file.
Mowing tip #2. Always mow counterclockwise.
Mowing tip #3. Hose down/clean the bag (catcher) now/then.
The machine likes a porous bag in order to breathe > have good suction.
Happy Mowing, all.
