A month ago I bought a new Honda self-propelled walk-behind lawnmower, model HRX217 with Easy Start Auto choke system. It cost $550, which is not cheap.
It shuts down automatically when the bail on the handle is released, which is a safety feature. It starts fine when the engine is cold, but would not start again after having been off for a minute such as when the grass catcher is being emptied. I took it to the mechanic and he replaced a spring on the automatic choke. Now it will start again after a minute or two, but will not start normally after 5 or 10 minutes. This is a serious problem since I use it in my business. It will start if I remove the air cleaner and stick something stiff into the carburetor to open the butterfly valve. That is a Very Bad Thing to do, since dust and so on will get into the carburetor, shortening the life of the engine.
The mechanic says the Honda company “is aware of the problem” and is working on a fix. That doesn’t help me (or other customers!) presently. I’ve been very pleased with Honda products in the past. This is a bad omen, though.