Unplug the fuel line from the carburetor and check fuel flow from the tank. Also, loosen the cap to rule out a plugged cap vent hole. It wouldn't hurt to empty the tank and look inside for debris or a screen.
Honda GCV160 carb will not provide fuel
Hi All,
The mower the Honda GCV160 is on was running somewhat lean, so I took the carb off to clean and inspect it.
I did clean it pretty carefully in gasoline, sprayed all passages with carb cleaner, checked main jet and main nozzle with fine copper wires and a loupe. The holes are all clear and look good under magnification.
But now when I try to start the engine (fixed throttle) on full choke, it runs for a second or so then dies. It won't fire again unless I let it sit for a couple minutes, then it will again just run for a second.
It will keep running if i spray fuel into the carb throat.
I'm pretty stumped, does anyone have any ideas what I should do next? If I valued my time, I should just buy a replacement I guess but I'd like to fix this one.
Thanks for any help.
The mower the Honda GCV160 is on was running somewhat lean, so I took the carb off to clean and inspect it.
I did clean it pretty carefully in gasoline, sprayed all passages with carb cleaner, checked main jet and main nozzle with fine copper wires and a loupe. The holes are all clear and look good under magnification.
But now when I try to start the engine (fixed throttle) on full choke, it runs for a second or so then dies. It won't fire again unless I let it sit for a couple minutes, then it will again just run for a second.
It will keep running if i spray fuel into the carb throat.
I'm pretty stumped, does anyone have any ideas what I should do next? If I valued my time, I should just buy a replacement I guess but I'd like to fix this one.
Thanks for any help.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
I emptied and refilled the tank with fresh gasoline and removed the drain screw on the fuel bowl and confirmed fuel pours out in a good stream.
When I had the carb off, bowl full, I blew through it and atomized fuel definitely came out, I checked by placing my hand near the outlet and it got wetted by the gasoline.
I'll take the carb off again today and try to find the issue. I'll also see if I can scrounge up another used carb from another mower guy.
The cheap Chinese replacements are looking pretty attractive, but by the time one got here prime grass growing season would be over. This is one of the excess mowers that have been hanging around my yard for too long that I had planned to quickly fix (hah!) and sell in prime spring season.
When I had the carb off, bowl full, I blew through it and atomized fuel definitely came out, I checked by placing my hand near the outlet and it got wetted by the gasoline.
I'll take the carb off again today and try to find the issue. I'll also see if I can scrounge up another used carb from another mower guy.
The cheap Chinese replacements are looking pretty attractive, but by the time one got here prime grass growing season would be over. This is one of the excess mowers that have been hanging around my yard for too long that I had planned to quickly fix (hah!) and sell in prime spring season.
I have found that OEM Honda carburetors to be surprising inexpensive. The last one I bought was less than $40 - and it came in a Genuine Honda box!
The last time I tried to source a Honda carb (for a generator) from a Honda outdoor equipment dealer it was over $100 and obsolete... I lucked out and got a Chinese one for $15 and it worked great.
Stuff is harder to source and more expensive up here in the Great White North.
Stuff is harder to source and more expensive up here in the Great White North.
This video might help.
www.honda-engines-eu.com
Honda engines - GC/GCV carburettor cleaning
Honda Engines offers high-quality general-purpose engines for a wide range of applications such as construction equipment, generators, lawn mowers etc.
www.honda-engines-eu.com
See the BB Type Carb GCV section starting on page 26 in this document:
That was a weird video. A silent movie except for one short burst of muttering.
I had also seen the 300+ page online document, which does have a pretty good troubleshooting flow chart.
I found this much shorter Honda Job Aid document regarding cleaning the GCV carbs which seems to be the most succinct:
file:///C:/Users/USER/Downloads/carburetor_cleaning.pdf
I did order a new carb, but I may still putter away at the original unit. I will see if a friend can bring it in to work to put in the industrial sonic cleaner. It will be interesting to see if the replacement carb cures the problem!
I decided to spend the money after thinking about how many hours I've spent on this thing, on my holiday time.
I had also seen the 300+ page online document, which does have a pretty good troubleshooting flow chart.
I found this much shorter Honda Job Aid document regarding cleaning the GCV carbs which seems to be the most succinct:
file:///C:/Users/USER/Downloads/carburetor_cleaning.pdf
I did order a new carb, but I may still putter away at the original unit. I will see if a friend can bring it in to work to put in the industrial sonic cleaner. It will be interesting to see if the replacement carb cures the problem!
I decided to spend the money after thinking about how many hours I've spent on this thing, on my holiday time.
That's a link to a file on your PC; not useful...file:///C:/Users/USER/Downloads/carburetor_cleaning.pdf
All you need to look at are pages 26 to 35. That's the entire BB Type Carb GCV section.I had also seen the 300+ page online document, which does have a pretty good troubleshooting flow chart.
I found this much shorter Honda Job Aid document regarding cleaning the GCV carbs which seems to be the most succinct:
Oops.
Now I can't find the file again.
I did read through the section (pages 26 to 35) of the large document.
Now I can't find the file again.
I did read through the section (pages 26 to 35) of the large document.
That is fine for a GX engine carburetor, but there are many types of Honda carburetors... Each section of this document is for a different type/application. Pages 26 to 35 are specific to the BB Type Carb on the GCV engines.
I watched the video, I believe I've done everything he suggests. The Youtube videos generally could be edited down to about 10% of their running time.
But I am inspired to go check the dumb ol' carb out once again today.
But I am inspired to go check the dumb ol' carb out once again today.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
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