Honda HRX 476 HY Hydrostatic Petrol Lawn Mower

Honda HRX 476 HY hydrostatic petrol lawn mower

The Honda HRX 476 HY is a premium self-propelled petrol lawn mower for medium-to-large domestic lawns where precise speed control, flexible grass management and long-term durability are priorities.

Its 47cm Polystrong® cutter deck provides a useful balance between productive coverage and manoeuvrability. The hydrostatic transmission allows the forward speed to be adjusted smoothly from a standstill to approximately 1.4m/s, while the Honda GCVX170 engine maintains the blade speed required for consistent cutting and collection.

The integrated Versamow™ system lets you collect the clippings, mulch them back into the lawn or use an intermediate setting that returns some material while collecting the remainder. Honda Roto-Stop® also allows the blades to be disengaged while the engine continues running.

Honda HRX 476 HY at a glance

• Manufacturer: Honda
• Model: HRX 476 HY
• Product type: hydrostatic self-propelled petrol lawn mower
• Best suited to: medium-to-large domestic lawns
• Recommended lawn area: up to approximately 1,200m²
• Cutting width: 47cm / 19in
• Engine: Honda GCVX170 OHC four-stroke
• Engine displacement: 167cc
• Rated engine output: approximately 3.6kW at 3,600rpm
• Transmission: hydrostatic variable speed
• Forward-speed range: 0–1.4m/s
• Cutting methods: collection, mulching or a combination of both
• Blade control: Honda Roto-Stop
• Cutter deck: Polystrong
• Cutting heights: seven positions from 25–79mm
• Grass collector: 70 litres
• Dry weight: approximately 44kg
• Rear roller: no
• Electric start: no

 

Is the Honda HRX 476 HY right for you?

Choose the HRX 476 HY if:

• You have a medium-to-large lawn of up to approximately 1,200m²
• You want to adjust the mowing speed continuously rather than selecting one fixed pace
• Your garden contains borders, trees or obstacles that require frequent speed changes
• You want to switch between grass collection and mulching
• You want to stop the blades without repeatedly stopping and restarting the engine
• You prefer a corrosion-resistant polymer cutter deck
• You want a premium domestic Honda mower with dealer workshop support
• You have suitable storage and can accommodate a mower weighing approximately 44kg

 

Consider another mower if:

• You want a pronounced striped finish from a rear roller
• You only maintain a small lawn where the HRX specification would be unnecessary
• You want the lowest possible purchase price
• You require push-button electric starting
• You need a lightweight mower that is regularly lifted into a vehicle
• You mainly maintain very large, open areas where a 53cm deck would reduce mowing time
• You require a machine designed specifically for daily commercial contracting

 

Why Masseys recommends the Honda HRX 476 HY

Masseys recommends the HRX 476 HY to customers who want more control and cutting flexibility than a conventional fixed-speed petrol mower provides.

The hydrostatic transmission is particularly useful in gardens with a mixture of open mowing runs, tighter sections and obstacles. The operator can slow the mower around trees, beds and corners and then increase the speed across unobstructed sections without changing gears or affecting the cutting-blade speed.

Versamow is the other major reason to choose this model. You can collect during periods of heavier growth, mulch during regular summer maintenance or choose an intermediate setting when you want to reduce the amount of material entering the grass bag.

Roto-Stop adds further convenience when a garden is divided by paths or when the collector must be emptied frequently. The blades can be stopped while the engine remains running, reducing repeated restarting during the mowing session.

The HRX 476 HY is not automatically the best Honda mower for every customer. Masseys would normally recommend the Honda HRX 476 QY where lawn stripes are the priority, or the wider Honda HRX 537 HY where maximum productivity on a large open lawn matters more than compact manoeuvrability.

Hydrostatic variable-speed drive

The HRX 476 HY uses a hydrostatic transmission rather than a fixed-speed mechanical drive. A control on the handle allows the forward speed to be adjusted smoothly between zero and approximately 1.4m/s.

This means the mower can move at a pace that suits the operator and the part of the garden being cut. A lower speed gives greater control around obstacles and can improve collection in longer or heavier grass. A higher speed can reduce mowing time across open, regularly maintained areas.

The blade speed remains stable as the forward speed is changed. This separates the mowing pace from the cutting performance and is the main practical advantage of the hydrostatic transmission.

Variable speed can also help on gentle changes in level because the operator can reduce the pace as required. Always follow Honda’s operating instructions and do not treat the HRX 476 HY as a specialist mower for steep slopes or unstable ground.

Versamow variable mulching system

Honda’s Versamow system lets you determine how the cut grass is handled without installing or removing a separate mulching plug.

The selector can be adjusted between collection and mulching:

• Collection: directs the clippings into the 70-litre grass bag for a clean finish
• Mulching: recuts the clippings and returns them to the lawn
• Intermediate settings: return part of the material while collecting the remainder

Mulching works best when the lawn is reasonably dry, mown regularly and only a modest amount of grass is removed in one pass. The fine clippings break down naturally and return moisture and nutrients to the soil.

Collection will normally produce a cleaner result when the grass is long, wet or being cut after a period of rapid growth. Versamow allows the mowing method to be changed according to the current conditions.

Honda Roto-Stop blade control

Roto-Stop is Honda’s blade-brake clutch system. Releasing the blade control stops the cutting blades while allowing the engine to continue running.

This is useful when:

• Emptying the grass collector
• Crossing a path or gravel area
• Moving between separate lawn sections
• Pausing briefly without restarting the engine

The blades must always be disengaged when crossing non-grass surfaces. Follow the operator manual and never approach the underside of the cutter deck while the engine is running.

Honda GCVX170 four-stroke engine

The mower is powered by Honda’s 167cc GCVX170 OHC four-stroke petrol engine, with a rated output of approximately 3.6kW at 3,600rpm.

The engine uses an automatic starting system, removing the need for a separate manual choke control during normal operation. It is started using a conventional recoil cord.

The fuel tank holds approximately 0.95 litres, while the engine-oil capacity is approximately 0.55 litres.

Fresh fuel, the correct engine oil and scheduled servicing are essential for reliable operation. Follow the Honda owner’s manual for starting, refuelling, maintenance, transport and seasonal storage.

47cm Polystrong cutter deck

The 47cm Polystrong cutter deck is manufactured from a strong polymer material designed to resist corrosion, ultraviolet degradation and dents.

The material helps keep the mower lighter than an equivalent heavy steel-deck machine while avoiding the corrosion concerns associated with untreated metal. The complete mower still weighs approximately 44kg because of its engine, hydrostatic transmission, Roto-Stop system and overall construction.

The 47cm width balances coverage and manoeuvrability. It is productive enough for a substantial domestic lawn while remaining more manageable around garden features than a wider 53cm machine.

Seven cutting heights from 25–79mm

The cutting height can be adjusted through seven positions between approximately 25mm and 79mm.

Lower settings are appropriate for level, regularly maintained lawns in suitable growing conditions. Higher settings can be useful during dry weather, at the beginning of the mowing season or where the grass has been allowed to grow longer.

Avoid removing an excessive proportion of the grass blade in a single cut. Where the lawn is overgrown, begin with a higher setting and reduce the height gradually during later mowing sessions.

70-litre grass collector

The large 70-litre grass collector reduces the frequency of emptying stops on medium-to-large lawns.

Collection performance will depend on grass length, moisture, blade condition, cutting height and forward speed. Slowing the hydrostatic drive and using a higher initial cut can improve results in heavier grass.

Keep the collector fabric clean and unobstructed. Dried clippings and dust can restrict airflow and reduce the mower’s ability to fill the bag efficiently.

Important limitations to consider

• The mower weighs approximately 44kg
• It does not have a rear roller and is not designed to create pronounced formal stripes
• It uses recoil starting rather than push-button electric start
• A 47cm deck is less productive than a 53cm mower on very large open lawns
• Hydrostatic drive adds cost compared with a simpler single-speed transmission
• It is a premium domestic mower rather than a dedicated commercial HRH machine
• Regular engine, drive and blade servicing remains necessary

 

Compare Honda lawn mowers

Read the Masseys guide to Honda HRX, HRD and HRH lawn mowers, browse the complete Honda lawn mower range, or compare other petrol lawn mowers.

Honda HRX 476 HY technical specifications

Warranty, setup and aftersales support

Honda currently advertises seven-year domestic-use and one-year professional-use warranty cover for the HRX 476 HY. Registration, servicing, usage and other eligibility conditions apply, so confirm the current warranty documentation supplied with the mower.

Masseys will assemble this mower and add the correct engine oil and fuel free of charge on the current offer. Confirm the setup arrangement when ordering.

Ongoing support is available through the Masseys garden-machinery workshop. Learn more about lawn mower servicing and garden machinery repairs.

Masseys also supplies Aspen four-stroke alkylate fuel for suitable petrol garden machinery. Always follow the engine handbook and current fuel-storage guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Honda HRX 476 HY self-propelled?

Yes. It uses a hydrostatic transmission that provides smooth variable speed from a standstill to approximately 1.4m/s.

What is hydrostatic drive?

A hydrostatic transmission allows the mower’s forward speed to be changed continuously rather than choosing from a small number of fixed gears. The blade speed remains stable while the mowing pace is adjusted.

What size lawn is the HRX 476 HY suitable for?

Honda recommends it for medium-to-large lawns of up to approximately 1,200m². Practical suitability also depends on access, lawn layout, obstacles, slopes and mowing frequency.

Does the HRX 476 HY mulch grass?

Yes. The Versamow selector allows you to collect the clippings, mulch them back into the lawn or use a mixture of collection and mulching.

What is Honda Roto-Stop?

Roto-Stop is a blade-brake clutch. It lets you stop the cutting blades while the engine continues running, which is useful when emptying the collector or crossing paths.

Does the mower create lawn stripes?

It may leave light wheel marks, but it does not have a rear roller and is not intended to create the pronounced stripes produced by a dedicated roller mower.

What is the difference between the HRX 476 HY and HRX 476 QY?

The HRX 476 HY has hydrostatic variable speed, four wheels and Versamow mulching. The HRX 476 QY has a rear roller for stripes and a single-speed transmission but does not provide the same variable mulching system.

What is the difference between the HRX 476 HY and HRX 537 HY?

Both have hydrostatic speed control, Versamow and Roto-Stop. The HRX 537 HY has a wider 53cm cutter deck, making it more productive on larger open lawns, while the 47cm HRX 476 HY is easier to manoeuvre around typical garden features.

How heavy is the HRX 476 HY?

The mower has a dry weight of approximately 44kg. The self-propelled transmission reduces effort while mowing, but the weight should be considered when lifting or transporting the machine.

Does it have electric start?

No. The HRX 476 HY uses a recoil pull starter with Honda’s automatic starting system.

Can Masseys assemble and service the mower?

Yes. Masseys currently provides free assembly, oil and fuel setup on this model and operates an in-house workshop for servicing, repairs and warranty support.

Product advice reviewed by the Masseys Garden Machinery Team. Specifications last checked July 2026. Verify the physical barcode and manufacturer product code before publishing them in Product schema or Merchant Center.