Honda Mower Self Propelled Slow (Why + How to Fix)

Since Honda self-propelled mowers are meant to save you time and energy, it can be pretty annoying when you're forced to push them to get the work done quickly. So, is your Honda mower running sluggishly? Read this article to learn how to fix the Honda mower's self-propelled slow problem.

A Honda self-propelled mower allows you to conveniently mow your lawn without expending extra effort. You won't have to push the mower, but rather, just walk behind it and guide it around the yard.

Therefore, a Honda self-drive offers ease and convenience irrespective of whether you're cutting a large-sized property or a small-sized yard. While that may be the case, your Honda mower may experience issues like any other mechanical equipment. You may realize that your mower is moving slower than usual, and you're forced to give it an extra push. So, what might be the problem? In this guide, we'll show you how to fix a Honda lawn mower that moves slowly.

Table Of Contents

Why is My Honda Mower Self Propelled Slow?

A misadjusted or stretched slack drive cable is the most common cause of a slow-moving Honda mower. Other reasons why your Honda Self-propelled mower is moving slowly may include the following:

Worn-out or loose drive belt
Worn or faulty transmission
There is an engine issue
Worn drive gears on the axle
An old drive pulley that needs adjusting

Technically, a defect in any of the components within the mower's self-propel system can cause it to lose speed and eventually stop. Therefore, when the Honda lawn mower starts moving slowly, the problem is usually within the self-drive system components, which include the belt, drive cable, gears, drive pins, and wheels.

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How to Fix a Slow-Moving Honda Self Propelled Mower?

The steps you'll take to fix your slow-moving Honda lawn mower depend on the cause of the problem. Here is a step-by-step guide to getting your mower back in shape.

Diagnose the drive system

You should first diagnose the drive system before fixing your slow-moving Honda mower. Pinpointing the individual component causing your mower to move slowly will save you time and prevent you from making expensive mistakes. Diagnosing a Honda self-propelled mower is simple, with many online resources guiding you through each step. It's also important to take precautionary steps to keep yourself safe while repairing your Honda lawn mower. This includes wearing protective wear and minding hot and sharp surfaces.

Adjust the Drive Cable

The drive cable is the most probable culprit whenever your Honda mower starts moving slowly. The drive cable connects the drive control to the transmission. This cable can snap or become overstretched. The Honda mowers have different drive cable setups that are easy to adjust. The steps will vary slightly depending on whether your mower uses the HRX setup or the Smart Drive.

Adjusting the HRX model

The HRX model has a bail and speed adjustment lever beside the throttle. For this model, the drive cable has an adjusting screw for adjusting the drive cable. However, you should be careful not to over-tighten the cable as it will bind the wheels, preventing your mower from moving backward. Take the following steps to adjust the drive cable of your HRX model:

Turn off your mower and tilt it
Set the speed to high
Loosen the lock nut on the adjusting screw
Pull the cable to adjust it
Pull out the slack and tighten
Remember to test reverse to ensure it's free to reverse

Adjusting the Smart Drive

Unlike the other model, the Honda Smart Drive uses a single control on the handlebar. Therefore, adjusting the drive cable is more straightforward. It has an adjuster halfway down the cable, which you can use to adjust the cable by taking the following steps:

Open the lock nut
You can then loosen the adjusting nut to take the slack out of the cable
Test to check whether you can easily pull the mower backward
Adjust accordingly until you find the desired spot
You can then tighten the lock nut

Check the Drive Belt

While drive belts are tough and could last for years, they work in a hostile location and will inevitably wear out and stretch out over time. When that happens, it slips out, preventing the transfer of engine power to the wheels and causing your mower to move slowly. Your mower will struggle going up hills or cutting heavy grass. You can find the drive belt by tilting the mower and looking under it. Take the following steps to fix a loose or worn-out drive belt:

Remove the plug wore and ensure the gas is off
Tilt your mower with the air filter cover facing the sky. The oil will leak, and you'll have to replace the air filters if you turn it the other way.
Once you find the drive belt, check whether it doesn't deflect by more than half an inch. Alternatively, you can pull the control lever and check whether it tightens.
If the belt is loose, you'll need to replace it with a new one.

Remember also to turn the drive belt and check for wear. A worn-out drive belt also needs replacing. You can turn the drive belt by turning the blade. Some models have a blade engage lever that you'll have to hold before turning the belt.

Replace the Drive wheel

When your Honda self-propelled mower slows down or stops to move, the problem could be with your drive wheels. The rear drive wheels of the Honda mower are made of plastic and have metal gears driven by the axle. When they wear out, you'll be required to replace them with new wheels.

Check the drive axle

The drive axle works hand in hand with the transmission to make the mower move. Therefore, when your mower slows down, check whether the drive axle is worn out. You should also check whether the axle drive pins are worn out. This is crucial in transferring power from the transmission to the wheel. It works hand in hand with the drive gear to move the mower backward by reversing the drive wheels.

Therefore, it's under constant pressure that may wear it out. In Honda mowers, the drive axle and the transmission are one unit (trans-axle) and will be replaced as a whole in case they break down.

Fix the transmission

The transmission of your Honda mower could also wear down, slowing it down. A worn-out transmission is difficult to turn, forcing the drive belt to lose speed and power. If so, you'll have to replace the self-drive transmission. The mower's transmission is a solid-state unit that comes complete with axles and a pulley.

Therefore, replacing it with a new one is not as complex as it sounds. All you have to do is pull out the old one and replace it with another one. You'll need a wide range of tools, including C clip pliers and a wrench, to do this. You can then take the following steps to replace the transmission of your Honda lawn mower:

Tilt over the mower the right way
Remove the belt cover and the belt guards
Remove the belt drive
Carefully remove the drive cable from the transmission
You can then remove both of the drive wheels
Remove any other parts attached to the transmission
You can then slide out the old self0propelled transmission
Install the new transmission and cover up your mower.

Remember to test the new transmission first before covering up the mower. After trying the steps above, your mower should be working as expected.

Conclusion

While the Honda self-drive mower is known for durability and quality, your mower may run into issues making it move slowly. This problem is usually caused by a slack drive cable that needs adjusting. After reading this article, we hope you found a solution that works for you. Technically, it's important to regularly maintain your mower to keep it in good condition from year to year. This will help identify problems early and solve them on time.