[bigcatdaddy]

I picked this old non-running hra 215 sxa for $50 at a garage sale. I had spark, compression but no fuel. I pulled the carb, gave it a good cleaning, re-installed and it started but was WIDE OPEN running. So I bought a China carb and put it on. Starts just fine but as soon as I go anywhere below Rabbit, it shuts down just like if I put it to Stop. Any ideas out there?? New to Hondas!!

 

[bigcatdaddy]

I picked this old non-running hra 215 sxa for $50 at a garage sale. I had spark, compression but no fuel. I pulled the carb, gave it a good cleaning, re-installed and it started but was WIDE OPEN running. So I bought a China carb and put it on. Starts just fine but as soon as I go anywhere below Rabbit, it shuts down just like if I put it to Stop. Any ideas out there?? New to Hondas!!

Update!! Problem solved. It turns out I had Turtle but no Rabbit. I had the Idle set real high. Turns out all I had to do was slightly adjust the Governor post coming out of the engine. A slight (and I do mean slight) turn counter clockwise gave me my Rabbit. I also gave the choke arm a slight bend forward and now I've got full choke, Rabbit, Turtle and everything in between and Stop. That old girl runs like a new one now..........well mostly. I'm also giving the inside of that little engine a good cleaning. 4/5 motor oil and 1/5 Marvel Mystery Oil. I ran it for about 3 hrs. and then drained it, black as a moonless night, really nasty. I refilled it with the same mixture and will run it a bit longer this time.

 

[Chevy88]

This might be same thing I’ve got going on. Can you post a few pics so I can see what you’re describing?

I just replaced throttle cable and carb and it starts but surges on choke. But as soon as I move it, the thing wants to die.

 

[bigcatdaddy]

This might be same thing I’ve got going on. Can you post a few pics so I can see what you’re describing?

I just replaced throttle cable and carb and it starts but surges on choke. But as soon as I move it, the thing wants to die.

It turns out that a slight adjustment of the governor arm cured the problem. Just be carful when you turn it, it only takes a slight movement counter clockwise to get it right again.
i hope this helps.

 

[Chevy88]

I’m not real sure which arm is the governor arm. And you bent the choke arm. I just went out and tried to adjust the only 2 things I could see that looked like I could move them and no change.

 

[bigcatdaddy]

Here's a pic of the governor arm. It's the black thing in the center of the photo. It's the only thing that goes into the engine, right at the back of the throttle plate

 

[Chevy88]

Finally able to get out into the garage to give this a try. I wasn’t aware but figured it out, I had to loosen that nut to get it to move. Gave it a turn put it back together. Now I have over-rev but no throttle control really. Maybe I’m doing something wrong but there really isn’t much you can move the governor. Surprised that little but makes such a difference.

 

[tabora]

Gave it a turn put it back together. Now I have over-rev but no throttle control really. Maybe I’m doing something wrong but there really isn’t much you can move the governor. Surprised that little but makes such a difference.

The throttle cable adjustment is on Page 44 of the Owner's Manual:

https://cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/pe/pdf/manuals/31VA4A01.pdf

And then, here's the Governor Setting procedure:

 

[Chevy88]

Here's a pic of the governor arm. It's the black thing in the center of the photo. It's the only thing that goes into the engine, right at the back of the throttle plate View attachment 62497
View attachment 62497

Is the throttle cable in this pic relatively new? I have mine set so that the edge of the black rubber is flush with the front side of the clamp. Do I need to pull it back farther like the one above? Could that be part of my problems? I found a video on adjusting the governor. 1. Put throttle to fast. 2. Loosen nut. 3. Push arm all the way forward. 4. Turn the adjustment toward the handle bars as far as it will go. 5. Tighten. When I did this, it started but only for a second. Almost acts like I don’t have choke.

Actually I just went out and checked. Mine is set up exactly as the one pictured above. No idea why mine won’t run like a top. It has a new carb and new throttle cable. Shouldn’t have needed anything adjusted.

 

[tabora]

I found a video on adjusting the governor. 1. Put throttle to fast. 2. Loosen nut. 3. Push arm all the way forward. 4. Turn the adjustment toward the handle bars as far as it will go. 5. Tighten. When I did this, it started but only for a second. Almost acts like I don’t have choke.

Did you FIRST do the throttle cable adjustment as shown on page 44 of the manual as I previously posted?

The throttle cable adjustment is on Page 44 of the Owner's Manual:
https://cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/pe/pdf/manuals/31VA4A01.pdf

 

[Chevy88]

I just went out and played with a bunch of different things. Think I have the throttle cable set about where it needs to be. I move the governor arm one way I get pulsing on choke, and if I move throttle at all it dies. I move the arm the other way, it over revs until I move the throttle and it dies. I have no idea at this point.

 

[Chevy88]

Finally got it going! I have an uncle that does small engine for a living. I explained what was going on and he said it’s simply not getting enough fuel. I’m not going to pretended to know what I did to change things. The gaskets I was trying to use were old but they seemed to line up with the holes good. I found a parts diagram, located 2 gaskets that looked identical to the the ones in the diagram, put it back together, walla. There is still a minor adjustment somewhere. The off position doesn’t kill it. I have to engage the blade quickly to kill it. And maybe this is normal but it only starts on choke. Even warm. The self propelled cable was frozen so I replaced that too. Now I have both forward gears. When I first engage I can hear a knock in the system for just a second but then it quits and the wheels pull me right along. That might be another small adjustment in the cable or maybe it always does that, I don’t know.

 

[bigcatdaddy]

Finally got it going! I have an uncle that does small engine for a living. I explained what was going on and he said it’s simply not getting enough fuel. I’m not going to pretended to know what I did to change things. The gaskets I was trying to use were old but they seemed to line up with the holes good. I found a parts diagram, located 2 gaskets that looked identical to the the ones in the diagram, put it back together, walla. There is still a minor adjustment somewhere. The off position doesn’t kill it. I have to engage the blade quickly to kill it. And maybe this is normal but it only starts on choke. Even warm. The self propelled cable was frozen so I replaced that too. Now I have both forward gears. When I first engage I can hear a knock in the system for just a second but then it quits and the wheels pull me right along. That might be another small adjustment in the cable or maybe it always does that, I don’t know.

Sounds like you're on the right track now!! Hopefully with a few minor adjustments you can get it running right once again!!

 

[Chevy88]

Still a little dumbfounded what I did fixed it. The gaskets that I was trying to use were the ones that came in it when I got it. Didn’t look bad. Lined up with the holes and passage ways well. Not sure why I put 2 new gaskets on changed that much. I guess you live and learn. Next time I’ll give that a closer look when I’m having trouble.