HONDA HRX217HXA - Manual (Page 10)

10
BLADES
Inspection
1. Move the fuel
valve to the OFF
position (page 6)
and disconnect
the spark plug
cap from the
spark plug
(page 12).
2. Tilt the mower to
the right so the air
cleaner side is up.
This will help
prevent fuel
leakage and hard starting.
3. Inspect the blades for wear and damage.
A dull blade can be sharpened, but a blade that is excessively
worn, bent, cracked, or otherwise damaged must be replaced. A
worn or damaged blade can break, causing blade pieces to be
thrown from the mower.
If a blade is bent, take the lawn mower to an authorized Honda
servicing dealer for inspection.
4. Always use a torque wrench when installing the blades. Check that
the blade bolts are tight.
Blade Removal and Installation
If you remove the blades for sharpening or replacement, you will need
a torque wrench for installation. Wear heavy gloves to protect your
hands.
BLADE SHARPENING: To avoid weakening the blades or causing
imbalance or poor cutting, the blades should be sharpened by trained
staff at an authorized Honda servicing dealer.
BLADE REPLACEMENT: Use genuine Honda replacement blades or
their equivalent (page 19).
Blade Removal
1. Turn the fuel valve OFF. Disconnect the spark plug cap (page 12),
then tilt the mower to the right side so the air cleaner side is up.
This will help prevent fuel leakage and hard starting due to
carburetor flooding.
2. Remove the two blade bolts with a 14 mm (6 point) socket wrench.
Use a wooden block to prevent the blades from turning when
removing the bolts. Remove the blades.
Blade Installation
1. Clean dirt and grass from around the blade mounting area.
2. Install the blades using the two blade bolts and special washers as
shown. Be sure to install the special washers with the concave side
toward the blades and the convex side toward the bolts.
The blade bolts and washers are specially designed for this
application. When replacing bolts and washers, use only genuine
Honda replacement parts.
3. Tighten the blade bolts with a torque wrench. Use a wooden block
to prevent the blades from turning when tightening the bolts.
Blade bolt torque: 36 ~ 43 ft-lb; 5.0 ~ 6.0 kg-m (49 ~ 59 N·m)
If you do not have a torque wrench, have an authorized Honda
servicing dealer tighten the blade bolts before you use the mower.
If the blade bolts are overtightened, they could break. If the blade
bolts are not tightened enough, they could loosen or come out. In
either case, it would be possible for the blades to fly off while you
are operating the mower.

WARNING
A worn, cracked, or damaged blade can break, and pieces
of the damaged blade can become dangerous projectiles.
Thrown objects can cause serious injury.
Inspect the blades regularly, and do not operate the mower
with a worn or damaged blade.
BLADE BOLTS
BLADES
NORMAL WORN BENT CRACKED
UPPER
BLADE
LOWER
BLADE
BLADE
BOLT (2)
SPECIAL
WASHER (2)
BLADES
SPECIAL
WASHER
BLADE
BOLT (2)
TORQUE
WRENCH
BLADES
WOODEN
BLOCK