Press Releases

Honda Mower Still Going Strong After 24 Years

January 30, 2009 - Gene Butt, a North Queenslander who has to mow 700 square metres of lawn every week in the wet season, says his Honda mower has never missed a beat despite being discontinued a long time ago.

Gene’s Honda HR173 mower is 24 years old and was built overseas.

When the local HRU 173 version was introduced to Australia it became the first model to be assembled locally with a durable polymer base, which survived gunshots during testing to prove its strength.

Gene is a mechanic at Tableland Honda in Mareeba, and although he deals with new lawnmowers on a daily basis, amazingly he still hasn’t needed to upgrade from his original Honda.

Inheriting his current mower from an old friend who’d passed on, Gene has kept it running for over seven years as a tribute, and having owned a similar Honda mower previously, he knew how tough they were.

According to Gene the 2.2 horsepower engine is as powerful as any current 3.5 horsepower engine made by other manufacturers.

“The mower still looks like it’s six months old, and the way it’s going it will probably be running for another 10 or 20 years!”

“When people come into Tableland Honda and ask about the four year domestic warranty, I tell them that they can expect 20 good years from their Honda mower! The warranty really reflects Honda’s confidence in the quality of their product.”

Greg Snart, Honda’s Service Manager at the time, was involved in testing the HRU 173 to combat the initial perception that the base wouldn’t be as strong as previous aluminium models.

“We shot at the base with three different guns and none of them managed to penetrate the inner deck, not even a .45 calibre.”

Honda stopped importing the HR173 in the early 1990’s and began local manufacture of an Australianised HRU 173 version in the mid 90's, eventually shifting focus to developing larger and more fuel efficient models, and is one of only three manufacturers still producing walk behind rotary mowers in Australia.

Honda’s latest commercial mower, the HRC216, is self propelled with a three speed gear box, and mulches cuttings as it goes to be returned to the ground or collected in its 83 litre catcher.

“Our technology and designs have come a long way in the last 24 years, but the HR173 is still a testament to Honda’s proud history of quality and reliability,” said Ray Briffa, National Sales Manager of Honda Power Equipment.

“While it was sad when we stopped selling these mowers, Honda’s success is driven by innovation and its focus on making environmentally sound products. Leaving blue skies for our children is now of paramount concern,” said Mr Briffa.