Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I just picked up a 2012 Honda HS928K1WA. I just replaced my Yamaha YS828 and am clueless  on Honda's Hydro-static trans..

How do you use it?? If I put it is what would be speed 3 and engage the clutch it clunks and does an instant engagement. There is no slipping the clutch so to speak no matter how slow I engage it or how fast.  OR do I have to always have to have it in neutral and ease it up to speed every time I have to start out. If so, that would suck. HELP!!

Whoha wrote:

No  hybrostatic transmissions should not act as yours is doing.   When you squeeze down the clutch, you are just sending the power to your hydrostatic transmission .

   The lever is your drive speed selector. You use this lever to go forward or reverse at any speed that you select without releasing the clutch. 

Engagement should be  smooth .

Not sure but sounds like you have the lever in forward position maybe 3/4 the way and then squeeze the lever? And if this is what you are saying then you will have a quick jerk.  You should have it  close to the center position when you start out. Without releasing the clutch move it to the speed you like.

MN_Runner wrote:
I PM you.

Knee_Biter wrote:
Yes, 1/2 to 1/2 plus. That is what I was saying in my first posts.  I was saying  why not design it the right way the first time.  All it would of taken is another or added bleeder valve to send the pressure from zero to 100% in 1 to 2 seconds. and you could be at full open speed setting with a VERY smooth transition to speed if done right.  That would completely fix the issue of "double handing"  the speed on every turn.  I have  two short driveways and I am always turning 180 degs.  What a  totally illogical way of design. I am going to have to live with it  and it will become a way of life like driving a clutched car.

 I am a guy who always looks at design and implementation of design into  products. So this is a big time fail for my way of thinking. I know many of you are fine with it. Kind of like so many people are fine with plastic PC's, I want an Apple machined out of billet aluminum.  I expected more  of design polish then that tranny, it is incomplete and not fully thought out and implemented if you have to always pull back the speed lever before restarting.   No need for people to get pissed off at me, it is my opinion and I feel I am right to expect a fully functioning tranny when paying high dollar from a premium manufacture. It is just  so easy to see that "adding a step" that is a pain in the  rear  to start out makes zero sense. It seems you all have adapted as will I, but why should we have to add a step because of bad design?

This is the first time I have heard this complaint.  I use My Honda's more than my Ariens with 6 speed because I like the way the Hydro works.  Next time try it before buying it.  Wouldnt buy a car without driving it.  Maybe you can add the valve you mention and make it the way you want.  Many of us modify our machines.

I will get use to it. Just like all of you guys.  I already cut in new gear notches into the shoot to get 230+ deg turning radius.

Do you have any pictures?

Pictures of what? The shoot gear cutting?

YES.  Would like to see how you modified it.

I think Honda hydrostatic drive is the most user friendly.  It has very fine adjustability and ability to go from forward to reverse without declutching is great.  Plus, there's no stiff gates to wiggle the lever in and out of.  Its so smooth I can change the speed while turning.

They have the crispness of the engagement just right, for me.  There is two things that I think they could improve or change.  Forward and reverse maximum speeds.  Reverse is really slow, especially on tracked models, for liability reasons.