Push Mowers Buying Guide
Our buying guide will explain which type of push mower would suit you most, how much you can expect to pay for one, and which features are worth looking out for.
WillLismore NSW
I hate it, it always gets clogged!
I agree with all the disaffected Honda customers who have expressed their frustration and disappointment with this terrible mower. I live in Northern NSW and the grass grows quickly with a lot of kikuyu. No, the Honda will not cut long or wet grass, but it also won't cut luscious, juicy grass without getting clogged either, no matter how dry it is, and you certainly cannot pull it backwards without it immediately getting clogged. An old Victa can do all these things.
I will definitely take legal action against Honda if ever I injure myself try...Read more
3 comments
So I took Sarah's advice and got in touch with customer service on the email address supplied above on the 14th of December. On the 15th of December I received a customer reference number by email wit... Read more
h the advice that "we will contact you shortly". As of the 4th of February nobody has been in touch.
I would like to offer a correction. I paid $750 for the mower according to my receipt. I would also add that if you overfill the catcher (there is no gauge to tell you how full it is, unlike a Victa a... Read more
t almost half the price) even when the grass is short and dry the chute will clog. The mower will not blow the clogged cuttings through leaving sticking your hand down the chute as the only method of clearing the blockage. Any positive aspects of this mower have all been negated by flawed engineering. Honda should own-up to this and get it resolved.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Mia FrancisBrisbane, Queensland
I Wish I Had Read These Reviews Before Buying The Honda HRU19 Buck - Bucking Terrible
I love mowing and like to see a well maintained lawn. We have a biggish lawn - mostly just grass, but also lawn under trees which shed these leaves and seeds. I have always had a cheap hardware store mower but thought I'd invest in a really good mower - everyone from my mother to the local vet advised on buying a Honda (they obviously have an older model).
I brought home my new mower excitedly and mowed for about 10 minutes before it started surging. Emptied the catcher and started again, didn't start for at least an hour. Started surging ag...Read more
ain straight away. Took it back to the retail Honda dealer who agreed to test it out himself. He found the same issue and called Honda - "oh yeah, we know there is a design fault, just empty it more often." They sent a different chute/big bag catcher to try out. I just have and although it improved slightly (after lifting the height adjuster and emptying every couple of minutes), the motor started surging again. Stopped, couldn't start again. Tried it without the bag, no difference. Still surging. I give up - the thing is not fit for purpose. You pay good money ($799) for what you think will be a great mower, and expect that it will mow the lawn - wrong. I want my money back Honda - not the dealer, who are great local people trying to give good customer service, but Honda! This mower is ridiculous and does not do the good it is meant to do. I will also be going down the office of fair trading road if they don't refund the money.
1 comment
James H.Honda
Dear Mia,
Thank you for your feedback.... Read more
My name is Paula and I work in the marketing department at Honda Power Equipment. When mowing your lawn, prior to engaging the blade brake (letting go of the bar) pull the lawnmower back a foot, by doing this you will clear the underside of the mower of any grass build up around the cutting chute. Additionally, do not over fill the grass catcher. If you overfill the grass catcher some grass may get caught in the cutting chute. Also washing your grass catcher can improve the air flow. If you have any concerns about the function of your mower, ie. surging, please contact your local Honda Dealer to have your unit inspected. You can locate them via this link: http://dl.hondampe.com.au/Default.aspx?d=P/E If you would like to discuss this matter further please contact [email protected]. Many thanks, PaulaSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Other Petrol Lawn Mowers
Victa Classic Cut VCS467
3.9(93)Masport Bunnings 490 4'n1
4.3(44)Ryobi RLM4619SMB
3.6(138)Honda HRU196
3.5(98)The Biggest Lemon HRU19
Bought my original HRU19 at Hervey Bay around ten years back, what a great piece of engineering, thought it was about time to update it sold it on Gum-tree, and proudly walked into my local mower shop and was treated fairly well as I spoke praise for the old mower. What a disgrace the new Buck turned out to be the first fault wouldn't pick up damp grass completely clogged the exit chute, then it would not start for love nor money, took it back to service center who immediately blamed me for cleaning too much with a hose, well what is the water ...Read more
hose connection for in the disc body cover. Starting no better you could not even get a noise of any sort, took it back and it started first pull by mechanic, not holding my mouth right hey! This mower is a LEMON of a model probably manufactured in China to cut costs, well HONDA cheep production is the downfall of all things great or small.4 comments
James H.Honda
Hi John,
My name's Sarah and I work in the Marketing department here at Honda Power Equipment. I'm very sorry to hear that you've had a poorer-than-expected experience with your Buffalo Buck Mower. ... Read more
Unfortunately if you are mowing damp/wet grass then the chute may clog and will need to be manually emptied. The Buffalo Buck was not designed to cut excessively long grass or damp/wet grass; it is designed to be part of a well maintained garden regime. If mowing longer grass you must mow twice, first at a higher setting and then at a lower setting. You should also empty the catcher before the unit clogs, otherwise it can cause the unit to become overfilled and may clog. With regard to the production, the units are actually assembled in Australia, keeping jobs in Australia and assisting to support our economy. If you would like to discuss this matter further please contact [email protected]. Many thanks, SarahThanks for taking the time to answer, you are correct in what you are saying about wet long grass, I simply meant with a small dew, moreover I am 70 years old and have been mowing with a previous HRU1... Read more
9 for around fifteen years my lawns have renown in my area and are blue/green couch mixture never any longer than cut position number four. The old HRU19 just simply never clogged, the new chute is just to narrow, and in my opinion a really bad design fault moving away from the full mouthed chute. The sales were told at the time of purchase the type of lawn (not grass) I mow. After writing the comment it took my neighbour sixteen pulls to start the wretched thing, and to-day it started first pull. Not at all happy Sarah. Cheers.James H.Honda
Hi John, sorry to hear that you had this issue!
If you would like to discuss this further or have any questions or queries please contact [email protected]. Many thanks, Sarah
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Find out how Honda HRU19 compares to other Petrol Lawn Mowers
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SMARTY1968sydney
Honda You Can't Beat Them, Had For 5 Years Now Awesome Product Hru19d
I hope this model lasts a long time, it seems the new Honda's don't cut, why Honda just do the maintenance and everything is good, can be heavy when loading, etc. catcher good size and fuel economy. Very good, use 98 octane fuel grade lasts longer.
Don't buy cheap rubbish from big stores not worth the dramas even wifey can start this one lol, just remember cheap expensive, expensive cheap for product like these
ps: I'm not shouting caps stuck.
1 comment
James H.Honda
Thanks for the review SMARTY1968, great to hear that you have the wife on the job as well. - Sarah
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NahazMid North Coast, NSW
- 7 reviews
Works Well But Has a Few Issues
After buying several cheap Lawn Mowers that failed over time, I was excited to finally buy my Honda Buffalo Buck. I chose the HRU19M because of the mulching plug option.
Pros
- Strong body
- Strong handlebars
- Quiet
- Very easy to start. The easiest mower I have ever started in fact.
Cons ...Read more
- It's Heavy. A normal person will struggle to lift this mower to put it into a vehicle for service or repair. - Large handle bar folding configuration is badly designed and will not fold low enough to fit into the boot of some sedans or smaller cars easily. The weight just compounds the issue. - The mower does not eject lawn into the catcher well due to the small opening at the rear. Not much of a problem if you live in a dry area of Australia, and you mow maybe twice a week. Any moisture in the grass will cause it to clump up at the chute leaving your catcher half empty. The only other thing you need to know about this mower is to make sure your spark plug and air filter are clean. These mowers will surge if they have a dirty plug or filter.1 comment
James H.Honda
Hi Nahaz, thank you for taking the time to review the HRU19M1. It is great to hear that this is the easiest mower that you have ever started! If you have any other questions or would like to discuss t... Read more
his matter further please email [email protected] - SarahSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Just buy one.....
Had my HRU 196D now for 5 years.....Only prob when full throttle tends to surge motor wise.Back it off ever so slightly and problem solved.Service staff count fix original prob...(One ot those wouldn't surge when under their monitoring)...done some heavy work, but with care....Easy to self service and change blades....
1 comment
James H.Honda
Thanks for your review Will. Its great to hear your evaluation. If you would like to discuss this further or have any questions or queries please contact [email protected]. Many thanks, Sarah
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Doug B
- 3 reviews
- 5 likes
Honda - so disappointing!
I was extremely excited to buy a Honda Lawnmower after so many people recommended them to me. I chose the HRU19M1 due to the mulching capability.
Unfortunately, there are several disappointing features I need to warn potential consumers about. I will outline the pros and the cons because there are both.
Pros
- Strong body
- Strong handlebars
- Quiet
- Very easy to start
...Read more
1 comment
James H.Honda
Hi Doug B, Thanks for taking the time to review the Honda HRU19M1. We are glad to see that you have many reasons to love your Honda. Please feel free to contact [email protected] to discuss your suggestions further.
Many thanks,
Sarah
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Absolutely happy with this machine
I've had my Honda for a few years now and have been very happy with it. It still starts first pull everytime and the motor has enough grunt to get through thick, long turf that other mowers I use at work have no chance at pushing through.
I've never had to take it in for repair, but I do my own service at the beginning of each mowing season. I also like to run it on 98RON fuel (I think this is a good idea, especially given the Honda is a fuel miser).
When it comes time to replace my other garden machinery (which is too soon-husqvarna) I will take a closer look at the Honda gear because of my positive experience with this Honda.
1 comment
James H.Honda
Great to hear your fantastic experience with your mower Nathan, thanks for taking the time to review the product. - Sarah
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Paint
I find with Most Honda products that paint is only on surfaces that you can see.
If you can not see it then its a very thin layer of paint that i have found ends up rusting.
I have the HRU196K1 that is 8 months old.
The handle is rusting under the paint plus paint is falling off the base.
Working with powder coating i would say very little prep is done before painting
A whip blast would help the paint problem on the base and a good
pre-treatment on the paint line.
1 comment
James H.Honda
Hi Dazza,
My name is Sarah and I work in the marketing department here at Honda Power Equipment. Sorry to hear that you had this issue!
Powder coating on Honda Alloy Cutter decks are are extensively d... Read more
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Find out how Honda HRU19 compares to other Petrol Lawn Mowers
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JimboPerth, WA
- 49 reviews
- 1 like
Very Good
Had one for 15 years, it starts easily except when I have not used it for a year or so, then the carby gums up. Easy fixed, just blow down fuel line with a compressor to clear. Does a nice neat job too.
1 comment
James H.Honda
Great to hear how reliable your HRU19D is. Thank you for taking the time to review this. - Sarah
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jeremy.ieraciDarwin, NT
- 29 reviews
Love it
mow commercial and bought this for it's ease of starting (extremely easy it's ridiculous) and legendary reliability. It hasn't disappointed. I love mowing with this thing! Love the catcher, it's better than the 196 commercial mowers because the catch flap can't wear out. My old 196 spews clippings at my legs, this one has eliminated that problem. LOVE it. and the cut and cutting options? Unreal.
9 comments
UPDATE* Just bought a 4 blade Honda kit (mower only comes with 2x high lift blades) the kit includes 2x hi lift and 2x flatter cut blades. Can't wait to see how it goes! But if it's anything like my c... Read more
ommercial Honda 19" then there's no comparison. I'm hoping the extra 2x blades will help with bagging because I've found the small chute can get clogged rather easily in wetter conditionsUPDATE** Yes it mows really well with the 4 blade kit. No surprises there
UPDATE* my complaints of flooding the engine or rather spilling oil throughout the engine by tilting even just slightly the wrong way I have come to think is my fault.. I think I've over filled the en... Read more
gine with oil so have gotten rid of some. Will monitor now but I'm pretty sure this complaint of hard starting and white smoke is all my faultSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
HoffmanMetropolitan Adelaide, SA
- 8 reviews
Best mower I have ever had
Easy on the fuel
First time start and not too noisy
Classy piece of equipment if I can say that about a Mower.
All good
1 comment
James H.Honda
Thanks for the review Hoffman. - Sarah
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Country boyLitchfield, NT
- 6 reviews
- 1 like
Love the easy start! but that's about it
I've used the mower about 4 times now. Piece of stick out metal from the disengage bar does annoy you and stab sometimes. I don't like how difficult the handle is to fold down, you basically have to take the screws completely off to do this. Engine seems strong though and shutoff is very fast. Blades are shot on mine already with about 1.5hrs use, sharpened yesterday but that's most small mowers I think. Grass chute on these newer Honda models has halved compared to the previous models which doesn't seem to matter much. Chassis seems fairly sturdy. All in all a decent piece of kit. Hopefully it holds up well.
4 comments
Update. I've noticed that longer grass (especially damp ) will clog the chute all the time with this mower.. you get sick of clearing it out but other than that, good
Oh, the other thing I notice is that I seem to flood tge carb easily. I try to take care by lifting the mower out of my car and tilt only with the carb side up but sometimes it just won't start. Takes... Read more
a good 5-10 minutes of pulling the start cord while idlind extremely slow, mostly stalling and smsmoking until it slowly gets faster and runs. I've tried leaving it for 10 mins but doesn't seem to dry the carb out. Maybe I'm accidentally tipping it slightly too much to a bad angle but I'm just not sureJames H.Honda
Hi Country Boy, Thanks for taking the time to review this product. Please be assured that you comments are not going unheard. In regards to the starting issue, this could be due to oil entering the co... Read more
mbustion chamber from tipping it slightly to much in the front down position. If you need more information, would like to discuss this further or have any questions or queries please contact [email protected]. Many thanks, SarahSimilar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
consumerxMelbourne
- 3 reviews
- 1 like
Reasonably Pleased
After just buying our first house, I was keen to purchase my first mower and start cutting the lawns myself. Had read a number of reviews, and after talking to a few people realised that getting a Honda was the best option. Our lawn isn't large, but it has been there 20-25 years so is quite thick and tuff.
Not wanting to spend a fortune, went for the HRU19R1K which is the lower end of their range but more than suitable. 1st mow and I have some criticism;
Good points -
*Easy Start, first pull
*Not overly loud
*Cuts well, motor speeds up through heavier grass
Bad points - ...Read more
*Heavier than I expected, for a 19" I thought i would be easier to push around *Catcher has a small-ish volume, didn't take long to fill up *Small chute, doesn't clear out very well if fill. Even if catcher has been emptied. Overall for the money 8.5/10 - What bad points it has, make up in good points and in 15-20 years when it's still starting first pull, I'll have overlooked the bad points and moved on.1 comment
James H.Honda
Hi consumerx,
Thank you for taking the time to review the HRU19R1K, it is fantastic to hear that the mower is easy for you to start and cuts your grass well. Please know that we have taken all of your feedback on board. Happy mowing. - Sarah
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4.2(13)Worth The Wait!
Took A While To Save Up For, But Was Worth The Wait.The Wife Mows When She Wants Because It Starts Every Time Without Fail,Thank You" Honda "!!!!!!
1 comment
James H.Honda
Thanks for the great feedback Karlis.M. - Sarah
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Find out how Honda HRU19 compares to other Petrol Lawn Mowers
Know better, choose better.
Jason
- 12 reviews
Great Mower but you pay for the Honda Motor compared to others
Pretty good Motor, smooth, bit heavy but thats due to the very reliable and sturdy rustproof deck. I didn't understand it at first but once you start *bumping* into things such as trees and stumps you realise it doesn't dent and rust like other cheap ones from bunnings. Smooth, handy, don't really like the soft catcher but does its job definitely. Reliable with plenty of support and service centres. Lost one of my tightening triangle handles and easily replaced at the many honda centres around. Hope it lasts 2x as long as you do pay 2x as much as a basic lawnmower
1 comment
James H.Honda
Thank you for your review Jason, great to hear your evaluation. - Sarah
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My experience isn't that great
Had this mower 7-years. Had it serviced often and from the selling dealer. It is stored in a clean and dry shed.
Doesn't start every time. Can take more than a few pulls to get going. Did start well the first few years but over time is now a pain to start. It eventually always does - but takes effort. My neighbours $400 Victa - by contrast - starts every time - first pull. And his mower has a much rougher life than mine.
Leaks oil from a small lever near the back. Shop says its common for this engine to do this. Over time the leaked oil get...Read more
1 comment
James H.Honda
Hi Tony, great to hear that your brushcutter and blower run fantastically and are incredible reliable.
Thanks for taking the time to voice your concerns with your unit.
Could you please email your con... Read more
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ilona29AU
- 2 reviews
At long last!
Finally bought a lawnmower that actually starts easily for a short petite lady! Tha lady at Mower Power let me start it before I bought it, so that I would be confident when I got home with it. I have had a few mowers in my time but this Honda is by far the best! In fact it is the only one I have not had to struggle with to start. The cord is so short and when you pull it, well you hardly have to put any effort into it at all. I was so surprised, especially after the horror of my Rover. So easy to use as well. It does have a safety bar that you hold down against the handle while it operates, but I find it easy enough even with my small hands. It' s a winner for me Honda!
Soooo easy to start.
1 comment
James H.Honda
Hi ilona29, thank you for taking the time to review this mower. We are glad that it works so well for you and makes mowing an easy task. - Sarah
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David
- 3 reviews
- 7 likes
Awesome mower, Kills any Briggs and Stratton motor
Compared Victa mustang (with honda motor) & honda HRU19 range of mower. Variable torque of honda motor is awesome (saves heaps of fuel too). Ironically some moron stole two of four blades and the mower still mows fantastically well on two blades
My old mower was a victa quadcut with B&S motor. Petrol tank would be empty half way through my mow, honda last twice as long. Honda is half the noise of the B&S engine
The engine stop is something I think honda had to do (assumable in response to some person getting their hand/fingers cut off). I th...Read more
4 comments
James H.Honda
Thanks for the review David. - Sarah
When is the next one coming out? want to upgrade my machine when it does
James H.Honda
Hi David, to keep posted on all Honda Power Equipment News, please 'like' our Facebook page ( ). Many thanks, Sarah
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mowermanWestern District, VIC
- 6 reviews
- 5 likes
A mower made by someone who has never mowed
So I only bought this mower a few days ago and really wish I did more research into it before hand. My main complaint is the ridiculous engine brake that requires the arm under the handle to be engaged to run the mower, if you let go then the mower will turn off within 3 seconds. It sounds ok on paper but start mowing and you see how unpractical this is. Say you are mowing and see a stick ahead that needs to be removed, you walk away to get it and the mower has turned off straight away. I really question the longevity of the mower for the c...Read more
onstant starting that will be required and all though its first start now I doubt it will be first start in 5-10 years as with other Honda's I have used. As a somewhat fix to this problem I have put a cable tie around the handle and the safety arm that I then move down when I want to turn the mower off. it does get somewhat annoying though to have a cable tie resting on your hand while you mow. The other issue I have is the auto choke, once again straight out of the box that's all good and well but in the future I want to be able to use the choke to diagnose problems and determine how well the mower is running, the absence of the choke also means the only way to shut the mower off is via the safety bar unless you pull the spark plug. If you like to fold the handle bars up for storage or transport your mower around then you wont like the mechanism for this. You practically need to remove the the screws off the thread to get enough room to pivot the handles over, this is more tedious than any mower I have used. The actual mower mows very well, its a strong motor and does a great job of mulching. It's sturdy and the wheels don't feel as though they will fall off. Others have mentioned the ease of emptying the catcher and I'll have to somewhat disagree, if you fill it to 90% capacity then the grass will easily tip out unless you hold it up at as your removing it but you'll still spill some. Until Honda remove this engine brake I cannot recommend this mower to anyone. Sturdy, strong engine, mulcher works well, cuts grass like a breeze. Engine break that must be engaged for the mower to be on (hands must be on at all times or it turns off), handle bars do not fold easily, auto choke will not be ideal in the long term.1 comment
James H.Honda
Hi Mowerman,
Thank you for taking the time to review the HRU19M1. It is great to hear that you find this model strong and sturdy as well as finding its mowing and mulching capabilities to be a breeze.... Read more
Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
Questions & Answers
malcolm p.asked
Type of oil and quantity
No answers
malcolm p.asked
Best engine oil
No answers
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James H.Honda
Hi Will,
Thank you for providing feedback on this product. If you can get in touch with our customer relations team on 1300 559 846 or email us at [email protected] we will have someone look into this issue for you.
Many thanks,
Sarah