Honda HRB217TDA Harmony 6.5hp Review

Overall Rating

Excellent mower for 2 years.
Starts on first pull.

Engine lasted only 2 years 4 months.
Warranty is only 2 years.
Few mechanics handle Honda mowers.
Expensive.
Troublesome self-propulsion system.
Poor long-term quality.

This Honda Harmony 6.5 hp mower was a nice walk behind rear wheel drive 3 speed mower while it lasted. Purchased new from Northern Hydraulic in Florida for 599 plus tax. Oil changed annually. and mower always started on first pull. 28 months into ownership. the engine just stopped running in the middle of cutting our lawn. Mechanic got it going. but said it was shooting flames out the exhaust a foot long and shut it down. Then said it would be at least 200 dollars to tear down the engine and replace the valves.
Previous Honda harmony lasted 7 and a 1/2 years, but had many problems with self-propelled drive system. Finally gave up with the expensive fixes, and bought a new upgraded Harmony, since the old one had such a nice starting engine.
I'll keep buying Honda cars but am done with the poor long term quality of their mowers, especially for such light duty mowing, only being used for a single family 1/4 acre yard weekly, during the mowing season. Interestingly, the lawn mower shop said they have numerous Hondas in every week for self-propulsion problems.