Hi all,
I'm new to the forum, and joined pretty much because I'm baffled by my lawnmower. I have an older Honda Harmony HRM 215 pushmower that ran just fine up until about a month ago. Now, it will start on full choke just like normal, but it only runs for about 1 second and then dies. Further attempts to start it are fruitless unless I wait a while (say, 20 minutes at least), but even after waiting it will just do the same thing--start and then die.
I've replaced the spark plug with a brand new Honda spark plug, taken the carburetor apart (it was clean as a whistle), checked the fuel lines for flow (the whole tank drained into a cup in a pretty short time, so I don't think the problem is the fuel filter), checked the oil (full and clean), and checked the air filter (clean).
The only two things I can think of that might be the cause are the electrical system or maybe, just maybe, the fuel itself. I mention the fuel because a neighbor borrowed my 5-gal tank to refill his generator during a major, major remodel of his house. He returned it completely full, and then borrowed it again before I needed to use it, and again returned it completely full. Now, he's a general contractor, a super nice guy, and no dummy. BUT, the gas looks just a little purple when I pour it into my lawnmower. COULD it be the wrong kind of fuel? I mean...it seems ludicrous to me that he'd fill it with FIVE GALLONS of anything other than 87 octane gasoline from the corner station. 5 gallons of 2-cycle mix? No way. I ask here first because I don't want to ask him unless it's the only likely option.
Barring the fuel, what about the electrical system? I know almost nothing about lawnmower (or other) electrical systems. Could that be the culprit? Something else that I'm missing?
Thanks!
I'm new to the forum, and joined pretty much because I'm baffled by my lawnmower. I have an older Honda Harmony HRM 215 pushmower that ran just fine up until about a month ago. Now, it will start on full choke just like normal, but it only runs for about 1 second and then dies. Further attempts to start it are fruitless unless I wait a while (say, 20 minutes at least), but even after waiting it will just do the same thing--start and then die.
I've replaced the spark plug with a brand new Honda spark plug, taken the carburetor apart (it was clean as a whistle), checked the fuel lines for flow (the whole tank drained into a cup in a pretty short time, so I don't think the problem is the fuel filter), checked the oil (full and clean), and checked the air filter (clean).
The only two things I can think of that might be the cause are the electrical system or maybe, just maybe, the fuel itself. I mention the fuel because a neighbor borrowed my 5-gal tank to refill his generator during a major, major remodel of his house. He returned it completely full, and then borrowed it again before I needed to use it, and again returned it completely full. Now, he's a general contractor, a super nice guy, and no dummy. BUT, the gas looks just a little purple when I pour it into my lawnmower. COULD it be the wrong kind of fuel? I mean...it seems ludicrous to me that he'd fill it with FIVE GALLONS of anything other than 87 octane gasoline from the corner station. 5 gallons of 2-cycle mix? No way. I ask here first because I don't want to ask him unless it's the only likely option.
Barring the fuel, what about the electrical system? I know almost nothing about lawnmower (or other) electrical systems. Could that be the culprit? Something else that I'm missing?
Thanks!