Honda manufactures approximately 500 thousand lawnmowers per year in the United States, France, Australia, China and Italy*, and supplies them to Australia and other countries in addition to the two largest markets: North America and Europe. Local production began at an early stage, starting in the United States in 1984 and in France in 1986, in accordance with our policy of "producing products where they are in demand." We currently also conduct research and development locally. The lawnmowers sold in Japan are produced in the United States and France.
All Honda lawnmowers incorporate the GXV or GCV engine that features high performance, low fuel consumption and clean exhaust gas emissions. The unique Honda Smart Drive transmission allows the speed to be freely controlled by incorporating a Hydrostatic Transmission (HST) mechanism and ergonomic control lever, enabling the optimum speed to be quickly and easily selected according to operating conditions. In addition, the unit incorporates the BBC safety mechanism that immediately stops rotation of the blade when the clutch is released, and the VMS mechanism that allows the processing method of the cut grass to be controlled. Honda lawnmowers receive a high level of satisfaction from users because of the diverse range of advanced mechanisms that they incorporate.
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- Riding Lawnmower Produced Under Contract by GCP Company
HST (Hydrostatic Transmission) Mechanism
This unique hydraulic stepless shifting mechanism developed by Honda allows forward and reverse motion, and acceleration and deceleration to be freely controlled with a single lever. Development of the ultra-compact HST facilitated installation of this type of shifting mechanism for the first time in the world. In addition to lawnmowers, the HST mechanism is used on snow throwers and transport equipment.
VMS (Variable Mowing System)
This mechanism can adjust the position of the shutter inside the lawnmower cover to multiple settings according to current needs between bagging where the cut grass is bagged to mulching for which the grass is cut into fine pieces and returned to the lawn. When the best looking cut possible is desired, 100% bagging is selected, while 100% mulching is selected for getting the work done easily and quickly. The user can easily set the desired percentage of bagging and mulching with the control lever.
Honda's First Lawnmower and BBC (Blade Brake Clutch) Mechanism
The high-performance high-quality HR21 (released in 1978) was developed as Honda's first lawnmower with the goal of becoming the No. 1 lawnmower in the world, featuring a low-noise low- vibration high-performance vertical engine, easy operation and a high level of safety and durability. The HR21 incorporated the BBC mechanism that stops the blade within three seconds in the event the clutch lever is released while the engine continues to operate. Current lawnmower safety regulations in the United States are based on this safety mechanism that was developed by Honda before any other company in the world.
