Honda mower engine won't start

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banjomaniac

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• Jul 16, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #1

I have a craftsman push mower with a 5.5 Honda engine and it wouldn't start so I put on a brand new carb and dumped the gas and put on new fuel lines. Still won't start but it will run a few seconds if I spray start fluid in carb. Its like the gas isn't getting into the engine? Any ideas? I put on a new plug and loosened the carb bowl screw and it has gas so I'm at a loss.

 

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logan01

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• Jul 16, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #2

Is the fuel gravity fed from tank to carb, pickup tube/line, other? Is fuel even making it at all to the carb?

 

lugnut1

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• Jul 17, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #3

first thing we'll need are the engine numbers (model, serial)
(so we know exactly what were looking at in order to solve your problem faster)

engine check:
1.spark plug condition (dry or wet)
2. is there a good draw on intake stroke

carb check:
1. main jet (plugged or restricted)
2. gasket/gaskets sucking air
3. float sticking
4. choke working properly
5. electric fuel solenoid working correctly ( if equipped )


some possible fuel issues:
1. bad gas
2. air filter dirty
3 debris in tank
4. fuel filter (plugged or restricted)
5. fuel line (plugged or restricted)
6. shut off valve working correctly (if equipped)

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2015

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banjomaniac

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• Jul 17, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #4

Craftsman mod. 917.378501 ser. 081103M 017329 I put In a new spark plug, new fuel and lines and cleaned the old carb BEFORE I bought the new carb and installed it but I used the old gaskets. Can that cause it not to deliver gas to the engine? Maybe it is sucking air like suggested. I will buy some gaskets and try that. The spark plug looks dry after several pulls trying to start and like I said, it will fire right up with a squirt of starting fluid.

Banjomaniac

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2015

Vervepipes

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• Jul 17, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #5

Re-using old gaskets can be hit or miss, If everything else is new except the gaskets it seems like a good place to check.

 

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logan01

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• Jul 17, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #6

If the old gaskets are still on, get the mower running with a few squirts of carb cleaner, etc and while running spray carb cleaner around the gasket. If it changes pitch, rpm, etc, you have a leak.

 

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banjomaniac

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• Jul 17, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #7

It won't start at all and only run a couple seconds with starting fluid.

 

lugnut1

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• Jul 17, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #8

are you trying to start it with air filter on or off?

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2015

lugnut1

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• Jul 17, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #9

need the numbers off the engine also

banjomaniac said:

It won't start at all and only run a couple seconds with starting fluid.

Click to expand...

check that your choke is working correctly.

 

Last edited: Jul 17, 2015

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banjomaniac

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• Jul 17, 2015 / Honda mower engine won't start

• #10

Choke is working fine. There is a plastic spacer between carb and engine that I'm also replacing tomorrow. Maybe it will run then. I will update.

Banjomaniac

 

Last edited: Jul 18, 2015