Lawn Mower Honda HRT216 Problems

D

David_Parker03

Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
264
Hey guys, so I've got this Honda HRT216 Lawn Mower that was sitting for about a year, and won't start. Lemme go over what I've done:

Changed the spark plug.
Cleaned the carburetor.
Sharpened the blade and balanced.
Drained Oil and replaced oil.
Changed fuel filter.
Changed Air filter.
Added high-octane gas (per lawn mower repair facility).
Replaced carburetor gaskets and seals.
Found out the belt connecting the blade was disconnected, RE-connected it.

SO WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?

I've got good spark ignition, fuel is flowing, no hose-lines are blocked. Valves are freely moving.....any ideas?

I guess I should also state that I'm not getting any turn over. As in, it almost seems as if NO GAS is getting into the cylinder, simply because even if gas was going in and at the wrong ratios, it would still fire and ignite, and then die...but I'm not getting any of that.

I keep at this and I'm not going to have any more brain cells due to the constant head banging I'm doing.
 
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What about the air filter? My Grandmother's Toro had a very dirty air filter, it kept it from starting. Take it out, try to start it, then you'll know.
At the end of each season, drain the gas, then let it run till it dies. This will allow the carb to be clear of gas, because gas will turn to varnish and gum up the carb. This is the case with power washers, chainsaws, weed trimmers, leaf blowers, etc. etc....
 
This new ethanol gas is notorious for this problem. I don't know how your Honda carb is set up but my Briggs has a fuel bowl that's held on with a hollow screw that comes up from the bottom. When I have the same problem you're having, I take that hollow screw out and there's a very small galley in that screw. It goes thru it, and up into it. The hole is so small that a paper clip is too large. You have to straighten a staple and run it thru those galley ways. The white crusty stuff will push out and when that passage is clear, the Briggs will run. Honda will be different but it will be the same principle. Corn gas has stopped up a jet passage somewhere in that carb.

Good luck.
 
But I've already cleaned the carburetor a dozen times....my guess is the valves aren't allowing the gasoline to flow properly in...I think I may be beaten and just have to take it in.

Air filter is new, and is seated properly. I've also tried starting it without the filter, and nothing occurs. I read to try adding a teaspoon of gasoline to the sparkplug hole, and I can get it to fire, however, it will not continue and will just die....I'm at a complete loss of thought.

Thanks for the reply guys!
 
Is the valve on the gas line open?

Hondas have a valve going into the carburetor that shuts off the gas, make sure it is open.
 
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Did you check the compression already? When you reassembled the carb, were you sure to properly set the mix screw? Did you try starting it a few times and then pull the spark plug to see if it was wet? Did you try a shot of ether on the filter to see if it would fire?
 
^ yupp you need to see if you're getting gas at all, after a few cranks check and see if the end of the spark plug is wet. If it is firing but doing so improperly the plug will be dry but very blackened and covered with heavy carbon buildup. Did this thing run before sitting for this long?
 
So the spark plug is bone dry. No fuel is flowing past the carburetor.....I've rebuilt the thing a few times, but can't figure out how I'm assembling it incorrectly. I've used Honda's diagrams, and made sure my gaskets are properly aligned and the like.....I'm thinking I might have to post some photos/video of how I assemble the thing for ya'll to correct me.


Thanks for the replies!
 
David_Parker03 said:
So the spark plug is bone dry. No fuel is flowing past the carburetor.....I've rebuilt the thing a few times, but can't figure out how I'm assembling it incorrectly. I've used Honda's diagrams, and made sure my gaskets are properly aligned and the like.....I'm thinking I might have to post some photos/video of how I assemble the thing for ya'll to correct me.


Thanks for the replies!
Click to expand...

You may not be reassembling it incorrectly, it only takes one tiny passage to be clogged for it to block fuel. Soaking it doesn't always work so you might need to buy a new carburetor unless you really want to work with what you have. The carb for that machine ought to be very reasonably priced but if you want to work with what you have, I've got more options for you to try.
 
Everything that everyone has said about the carb is correct,the main metering jet is very small and it's doesn't take much of anything to clog it but if your sure that the carb is clean and it still won't start the next thing that I would check is to make sure the valves are working properly.I've had a few engines that,if they set for a few months the gas will cause a varnish to form on the valve stem and it will stick open,if the valves aren't opening and closing properly,it's not going to start.
 
Wow, long time since I've gotten around to this. Anyways, shot a video of my carburetor. Let me know what else you guys need.

[video=youtube;VZknK-WZWhk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZknK-WZWhk&feature=youtu.be[/video]

By the way, I actually had all the gaskets, I was just an idiot.
 
If the metering jets are removable do so and soak them in carb cleaner. After a long soak verify they are open by blowing air through them. You might need to go as far as running a jet drill through them.
 
A tip cleaner set used for cleaning acetylene torch tips can be used to clean out the jets. They come in a set with different sizes.--KV
 
kvaughn said:
A tip cleaner set used for cleaning acetylene torch tips can be used to clean out the jets. They come in a set with different sizes.--KV
Click to expand...
If you go this route, just be careful to start with the small tip cleaner and work your way up. If one size goes hard, don't force it or you may end up honing out the jet. For clogged jets, I use electric guitar strings since they lack the abrasive at the tip that the torch cleaners have. Be sure to soak the jets in a strong cleaner for a good long time before trying to poke the gunk out. I find compressed air helps a lot too and you might look into soda blasting:
http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/
Soda blasting is great because it won't remove any metal and you can simply soak the blasted parts in hot water to dissolve the medium.
 
Put it back together.

Leave the air filter off, and shoot a quick burst of carburetor cleaner in the carb, and quickly crank it over.

If it starts, and dies, then you know for sure you have a fuel problem.

Next thing to check is the flywheel shear key. If it has sheared, the flywheel will be off, and it will be out of time. Sheared flywheel keys are the result of hitting something whil mowing. The key either shears completely in half, or it partially shears. Either one will cause a no start even if you are getting spark and fuel.
 
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