Anyone familiar with this mower? I picked this one up for free off the curb, don't need it, and hoped fix it up either to resell or give to charity. Looks like the mower set for a long time full of ethanol gas - ugh. A new ($22) carb, oil change, and blade sharpened has it running fine. All looked great except that the self-propel did not work. Removing the rear drive wheels revealed that the aluminum woodruff keys for the axle-to-wheel drive gears were powdered. I got a new drive gear set ($18) off Amazon but have had to guess how to reassemble. Now I cannot easily push the mower around and there is a ratcheting sound out of the drive wheels. Once running, the mower will sort of propel itself around. I thought I put those drive gears on correctly, my best guess, but will try flipping them over. 'Course I think this rear wheel drive system is one horrible design. Again, any one else fight one of these.
It should click when pulled backwards. If it's clicking while pushing you probably put the gears on wrong.
Finally got it right. This stupid design comes with aluminum woodruff keys which easily disintegrate. Took me forever to get steel replacements - 3 mm x 5 mm woodruff keys. Apparently some Honda used those keys for the alternator pulley BUT I didn't know which Hondo. Now back on Craigslist.
