Is your Honda lawnmower facing difficulties while cutting and driving? Even the best of the machines may give these issues especially if the lawnmower is poorly maintained, excessively used, or simply old. However, that doesn’t warrant purchasing a new lawnmower.

Honda Lawnmower Drive & Cutting Problems:

If your Honda lawnmower produces uneven cutting patterns, ensure the cutting blades are not dull, and the mowing deck is leveled. Additionally, unequal tire pressure or fast mowing speed can cause these problems. In cases when a lawnmower doesn’t move forward, always begin checking with the drive belt assembly and search for broken pulleys or missing idler springs. You should check if the axle key isn’t missing and if the drive lever is engaged for riding lawnmowers.

This article is an easy-to-follow guide that details the most common problems (and their troubleshooting steps) causing cutting and driving troubles in your Honda lawnmower. Hence, make sure you keep reading to discover how to fix your Honda Lawnmower problems.

Honda Riding Lawnmowers: Troubleshooting Cutting Problems

It is not uncommon to find that your lawnmower is suddenly not cutting straight or cutting uneven patterns in your lawn. What’s more, it could have stopped cutting completely. However, these issues are easily fixable once you figure out the underlying faults.

1. Lawnmower doesn’t cut straight:

Some prominent reasons that are most likely causing your lawnmower not to cut straight include a dull or damaged blade, uneven terrain, wheel issues, or the mower being tilted.

Troubleshooting Steps

• Dull or Damaged Blade: A dull or damaged blade fails to cut through the grass effectively. Instead of making a clean cut, it will instead rip or tear the grass.
• Bent Blade: A bent blade can throw off the mower’s balance by coming in the way as the mower cuts. It creates an uneven surface, resulting in a cut that’s not leveled.
• Uneven Terrain: An uneven terrain will make it difficult for the mower to operate in a straight line. As it jerks and swerves, the cut does not remain straight.
• Misaligned Wheels: Sometimes, the wheels of the mower are not aligned. Misaligned wheels create equal pressure on the cutting blades. They can also cause the mower to tilt, causing an uneven cut.

How to Fix?

Once you have identified the problem, here are some steps you can perform to resolve the issue.  

• Sharpen or replace the cutting blade if it is dull or damaged.
• Check for any tilts or dents in the blade and replace them if needed.
• Level the lawnmower’s deck.
• Use a tape measure to check the wheel’s alignment and fix it if it is off. Tighten the bolts securely once the wheels are aligned to prevent any further alignment issues in the future.

2. Lawnmower cuts uneven grass patterns:

The reasons why your lawnmower is not cutting straight or cutting unevenly or mostly similar. However, other causes such as obstacles, uneven cutting height, mowing too quickly, clogged mower deck, unequal tire pressure, and a slow engine speed can also contribute to an uneven cut.

Troubleshooting Steps:

• Obstacles in the way: Going around obstacles can result in some parts of the grass is cut short and others even unevenly cut or not cut at all.
• Uneven Cutting Height: An uneven cutting height means your lawnmower will scalp some grass blades, rip some, and leave the other uncut or unevenly cut.
• Moving Too Quickly: When the lawnmower moves too quickly, it may miss some grass areas and not cut them altogether. While unevenly cutting the rest.
• Clogged Mower Deck: The cutting blades under the mower deck create air movement, allowing the lawnmower to create suction. This suction feature causes the grass blades to stand straight, allowing a neat cut. However, if the mower deck is stuck with too much grass, it will fail to produce the necessary resulting in an uneven cut.
• Unequal Tire Pressure: Unequal air pressure in the tires causes the lawnmower to become unbalanced, resulting in an uneven cutting pattern.
• Slow Engine Speed: If the mower deck does get adequate power, the speed of the cutting blades decreases, which may cause unevenly cut grass.

How to Fix?

Here is how you can take your first steps to fix issues regarding uneven grass patterns.

• Adjust the cutting height to an even level.
• Slowing down as you mow allows the blade to cut evenly.
• Remove any obstacles from the mowing terrain to prevent zigzag mowing tracks.
• Inspect the mower deck and clean it off grass debris if it is clogged.
• Check if all the wheels of the mower are at the same height. If not, in the manual, look for the appropriate tire pressure recommended for your lawnmower. Fill the tires with air accordingly.
• Check the throttle position on your Honda lawnmower. Make sure it is set to high.

3. Lawnmower doesn’t cut at all

There are several reasons why your lawnmower is probably not cutting grass at all. From a clogged deck and unbalanced wheels to damaged or blunt blades and a broken belt, all can prevent the lawnmower from cutting at all. Let’s see how.

• Clogged Deck: A deck clogged with dust or grass prevents the lawnmower from creating air movement and suction that lifts grass blades for effective cutting. In such a case, the mower will fail to cut the grass.
• Unbalanced wheels: Unbalanced wheels could mean that the blades are not slicing the grass at all but rather making sweeps above the grass blade height. As such, no grass will get cut.
• Damaged or Blunt Blades: A blunt or damaged blade cannot be expected to make neat and sharp cuts to the grass blades. It will prevent the lawnmower from cutting at all
• Broken Belt: A belt is used to drive the blades in a particular motion and speed that makes them cut grass. If that belt is broken, the blades will be unable to make any cuts at all.

How to Fix?

• Keep a constant check on the mower deck and frequently clean it. The best routine is to check and clean it after or before every use.
• Check the air pressure in the tires if they are unbalanced. Fill them up to the optimal level (suggested in the manual) to balance them.
• Check to see if the blades are damaged or blunt. You can sharpen them up. However, if they are beyond repairs and sharpening, replace them quickly.
• Inspect the belt and replace it if it has been damaged or broken.

Honda Riding Lawnmowers: Troubleshooting Drive Problems

Riding lawnmowers frequently get into trouble and face driving problems. These can include the mower’s inability to go forward or having a damaged drive belt. 

1. Lawnmower doesn’t move forward?

A damaged or broken drive belt, a missing axle key, a missing idler arm spring, and even the improper position of the release handle can prevent your lawnmower from moving forward.

• Drive Belt Damaged or Broken: If the drive belt looks worn-out, cracked, ripped, or is in the wrong position, it will fail to drive the mower drive forward.
• Missing Axle Key: A small key in the axle is important to make the wheel move. If the key gets broken or sheared off during operation, the wheels aren’t engaged, and the mower fails to move forward.
• Position of the Drive Release Handle: The lawnmower will not move forward if the drive release handle is not in the ‘operating’ position.

How to Fix?

• The drive release can be a switch, a handle, or a lever. Identify it and position it for operation. You can check the manual for assistance.
• Check the drive belt. Fix its position or replace it in case of damage.
• Check if you’re missing the idler arm spring and replace it.
• In case of a missing axle key, you should buy a new one based on the make and model of your lawnmower engine.

2 Lawnmower vibrates excessively?

Excessive vibrations in the lawnmower are often the result of loose or missing bolts, unbalanced mower blades, bent crankshafts, and lodged debris.

• Loose or missing bolts: When the engine is running and its mounting bolts are not tightened or are missing, the lawnmower can vibrate excessively.
• Unbalanced Mower Blades: Lawnmower blades tilting towards one side may cause a dynamic imbalance at the spindle, sending excessive vibrations throughout the mower as the blades rotate at high RPMs.
• Bent Crankshaft: If the engine crankshaft has become bent, it may generate vibrations.

How to Fix?

• Check the engine bolts. Tighten them if loose or replace them if missing.
• Inspect the blade height and make sure they are balanced at their pivot. If they seem damaged or bent, you should buy a new set of blades instead.
• To replace or fix the crankshaft, the engine will have to be removed. This is a task that your Honda service center or a professional mechanic should perform.
• Check the mower deck for any stuck dirt or debris that might be lodged. Make sure you clean all the rotating components frequently, such as the blades and spindles, as they are more subjected to external conditions.

3 Lawnmower has loose steering?

Several things could be causing the loose steering on your lawnmower. Damaged or dirty steering linkage, loose tie rods, as well as damaged wheel bearings could be the culprits. Here’s how you can fix this.

How to Fix?

• Inspect the steering linkage: Check the steering linkage for dirt and clean it thoroughly. If the steering linkage is damaged or broken, replace it.
• Check tie rod ends: Check for loose tie rods and tighten them.
• Replace the bearings: Damaged steering wheel bearings should also be replaced to fix the problem. It also helps to tighten the steering wheel itself.

4. Lawnmower has a flat tire?

Flat tires are not unusual in riding mowers. Any obstacle in the way or wear and tear on the tires can cause the lawnmower to have a flat tire. This can cause issues with the mower’s balance, cutting, and overall functioning. So, if you spot a flat tire, here’s what to do.

Troubleshooting Fixes!

• Check tire pressure: Use a pressure gauge to check the tire pressure.
• Fix the damage: Assess the damage. If the tire has been punctured with a sharp object or slipped off the rim, you should patch it up. Replace the tire if its treads have worn out and if the damage is much.
• Pump the air: Find an air compressor, attach the hose to the valve base, and pump air into the tire.

5. Lawnmower is leaking oil?

Oil leakage from the lawnmower could be stemming either in front of the crankcase or the oil reservoir. This can happen because of faulty seals, an overfilled oil reservoir, or a tipped lawnmower.

• Faulty Seals: These go through a lot of wear and tear, so if you see oil dripping onto the mower deck, it is likely because of the damaged seals.
• Overfilled Oil reservoir: If the oil reservoir is overfilled, oil can leak from the reservoir cap.
• Tipping the lawn mower: If the lawn mower is tipped with the carburetor facing down, it can cause leakage as the oil travels from the engine to the air filter and eventually out into the mower deck.

How to Fix?

• First, locate the oil leakage.
• Once the leakage is identified, drain the oil from the lawnmower. For some lawnmowers, there is a drain plug. For others, you will need to tilt the lawnmower to drain.
• Fix the faulty parts causing the leak.
• Re-fuel the lawnmower with a fuel-oil premix.

Honda Self-Propelled Lawnmowers: Troubleshooting Drive Problems

Self-propelled lawnmowers, despite needing less maintenance than riding mowers, are also subject to drive problems. Often you will see that the lawnmower is failing to move forward or the throttle isn’t working.

1. Lawnmower doesn’t go forward?

The reason your self-propelled lawnmower is not moving forward is because of the following reasons:

• Drive Belt Damaged: If the drive belt looks damaged, it won’t transfer power from the crankshaft to the drive shaft, and the mower will not drive forward.
• Idler Arm Spring is Missing: The idler arm controls the tension on the drive belt as it passes around the idler arm pulley through a spring. When the idler spring is lost, the drive belt doesn’t get enough tension, and the lawnmower won’t move forward.  
• Faulty V-Belt: In some models, the damaged V-belt prevents the mower from going forward.

Other issues that can be why the lawnmower is not moving forward include a faulty transmission pulley or a faulty drive pulley.

How to Fix?

• Inspect the drive belt and the V-belt. Replace them if they have broken teeth, are chipped, cracked, or punctured in any way.
• If the idler arm spring is missing, contact the service center and mention the missing part number. Reinstall the idler arm spring at the idler pulley and check if the mower starts moving forward.
• Inspect the drive pulley. If it appears worn out, replace it with a new one.

2. Lawn Mower throttle not working?

Your lawnmower’s throttle is not working is likely a broken throttle cable, which connects the throttle lever to the carburetor and allows speed adjustment, a damaged or dirty carburetor, or a damaged throttle lever itself.

Another reason could be a dirty air filter which impacts the throttle’s performance.

How to Fix?

• Fix the throttle cable: Check the throttle cable for damages. If it is only loose, adjust it. If it is badly damaged, consider replacing it.
• Check the throttle lever: Replace the throttle lever in case it is broken or damaged.
• Service the carburetor: Check the carburetor and thoroughly clean it using a carb-cleaning liquid or WD-40. Make sure all the air and fuel flow passages are cleaned from all gummy deposits of old fuel.
• Clean the air filter: Perform a timely cleaning of the air filter. You can use a soap-water solution for this.

Drive & Cutting Troubleshooting table

1. Lawnmower Cutting Problems

2. Lawnmower Drive Problems

Riding Lawnmowers

Self-Propelled Lawnmowers