Honda Lawn mower won't start

I have a honda lawn mower that will not start. Here is what happened.

1. I was mowing the lawn and it began to sputter like it was running out of gas. Then, it died.
2. There is plenty of gas in the tank, but it is very old gas.
3. I sprayed high octane quick start fuel into the air intake.
4. The lawn mower fires up, but dies after the fuel burns out.
5. I replaced the fuel in the gas tank.
6. But, no improvement.

The lawn mower is fairly new...a couple of years old. It has always worked perfectly until now. In my opinion, it seems like the fuel isn't getting into the Carb. Is that likely? Is there an easy way to check this?

Thanks

 

first of all, dont even trip about the age of the gas. gas will always be explosive or flammable, whatever. chek ur spark plug, and make sure its "clean". and u can chec ur carb, clean it out, and then if it dosent work.............then im dumb

 

I've seen gas that was so old, wouldn't even light with a match.... if fuel stabilizer wasn't used, you probablly have a slightly gummed carb, you can most likely get it back right by taking it off, and taking the fuel bowl off, blowing every hole out you can see good. To see if gas is getting to the carb, does it have a fuel pump? You could take the fuel line off and the carb, crimping it with a pair of pliers, and let it go real quick to see if its flowing good. See, when gas gets older, it degrades more and more, octane goes down, and it varnishes and gums up, if left for a really long time it'll turn to dust.

 

Can someone give tell me if this makes sense?

I disconnected the fuel line to the carb to make sure the gas was getting to the carb. Yes, the fuel was flowing. Then, I removed the drain plug to drain out the existing fuel. Then, I tried to start a few times. After that, I again removed the drain plug, but no fuel comes out? So, the fuel isn't getting in the carb? Does this mean that the float is stuck? If so, do you have any advice?

 

Yes the float could be stuck in the closed position, take the bowl off and make sure the fuel inlet is clean and clear, and work the float up and down some.

 

I agree, your float is probably stuck and I imagine the carb needs cleaning.

Gas does get too old to combust properly.

 

Does anyone know how to get at the float? It looks like there is a screw at the very bottom of the carb. If I remove this screw, should the whole carb come apart? Is it normally held together by one screw?

Thanks!

 

No, if it has a just a nut at the bottom, this just holds the fuel bowl on, if it has a screw as well as the bolt together, that screw is the high speed screw.... take the nut off to take the bowl off, to get to the float.. btw, make sure the gas is turned off

 

I am just glad no one suggested to tap on the carb to free the float :-)

Crom

 

yep, forgot to say that..., little tap....

 

Ok you mowerheads, I have a question--------------------

I have the same thing, Honda that will not start, gas in all winter(and I know better but) and I know the carb needs to be cleaned. Where is the carb? Or which little thing is the carb?

Kind of a bowl shape? I don't have to take the cover off do I?
I have cleaned carbs on older machines and they were bigger.
HELP Everytime I take it into the shop it is $100.

I know you can help me. Thanks

 

The carb is behind the air filter. You'll need to remove the air filter and filter housing and the carb will be right behind it. You'll probably only need an 8mm and 10mm socket and ratchet.

 

A friend asked me to look at his newer honda walk behind that wont start. I checked for spark and saw a good one, then I placed my finger over the hole to see if it would suck me in, it didnt, then I went to remove the valve cover plate at the front to see inside for any damage as the cover is dented. Now that I removed the four bolts the cover wont budge. I figured I better stop to get more info. The shop manual for this is like 30 bucks. Is this cover glued on ?
Disregard this post, I took it off and banged out the dent, everything is fine. How much do I charge him for that ?

 

I have a Honda push mower with a 6.5 HP engine on it. I've had similar problems in the past due to the linkage between the throttle and the governor getting sticky. The first time it happened I noticed that the governor didn't seem to be moving like normal and when I rotated it manually I felt a little click and then it turned freely. After that it cranked and ran normally.

This year I had the same problem and sprayed down the linkage with WD40 and it's been working great ever since.

Hope that helps.

 

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