Add manual throttle to GCV160?

[brucemc777]

Hello World!

OK, so I'm old...

I bought a used Troy-Bilt with a Honda GCV160A engine. I'd really like to add throttle control to vary power between high and short grass (weeds. One day I hope it's grass) situations. Is there a "how to" anywhere or if someone knows these engines, would you be so kind to help? I saw a throttle control for a GX160 but have no idea to what degree it might pose a solution.

Thank you VERY much!

-Bruce

 

[ILENGINE]

3 things to consider.

1. running the engine at less than the recommended throttle setting can cause loss of proper engine cooling.
2. Changing the engine from the set rpm can violate US EPA emission laws. I bring this up because it related to item 3
3. Do to the changes brought about by emission regulations it made it easier for engine manufacturers to meet those standards with a single speed engine. By doing so they may have eliminated the idle fuel circuit in the carb, which can cause irratic engine performance, meaning engine surging, and not running smoothly if the engine speed is reduced outside of its design parameters.

 

[slomo]

The most important items are 1, 2 and 3 that ILENGINE posted.

Leave it alone.

 

[StarTech]

Can be done by converting from Control 3 to either Control 1 or Control 2 setup but cost is normally prohibitive as the parts alone is around $100 plus you must add a throttle control cable. Especially if you got to have a shop correct your mistakes. Every control component has to be changed out.

Many GCV160A have variable engine speeds so you could find a blown engine and extract the control unit components.

But consider this a fix speed does vary the horse power via the governor already and it uses only the fuel needed for mowing conditions.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hello World!

OK, so I'm old...

I bought a used Troy-Bilt with a Honda GCV160A engine. I'd really like to add throttle control to vary power between high and short grass (weeds. One day I hope it's grass) situations. Is there a "how to" anywhere or if someone knows these engines, would you be so kind to help? I saw a throttle control for a GX160 but have no idea to what degree it might pose a solution.

Thank you VERY much!

-Bruce

If it's not broke, don't break it. These are "set speed" engines to handle various conditions and the governor will compensate for heavy cutting loads.

Running at too low an RPM will create an overheat condition on this design usually,

 

[brucemc777]

Wow! Very good and fast replies, i am not used to that from the first board i pick in any topic - usually my question (about anything) won't get any responses and i'll have to trial & error several boards before i find one i can learn from! Thank you, everyone!!! I must say that it was my understanding that the throttle-less wave came about by the psychos in California government going overboard as usual (which is behind my motivation as much as anything to circumvent) but given what you folks have said, the fact that both configurations were once available and that the governor "auto-throttles" itself, perhaps i just need to tone down my coffee consumption.

And of course there is something else... The "spark that lit the fuse" was my first and only time that i have used this mower so far, bought from a nice man who gets poorly working mowers and fixes them up. Well, he should have gone beyond making the engine run in this case and instead cut a lawn. After a while the governor seemed to have a mind of it's own, sometimes running fine and other times sporadically chugging along with that puff of black smoke. Then was the engine shut-down along with killing the fuel. 20 minutes later i came back to a hard start, open the air intake cover and am greeted by a pool of gas.

Normally i would go direct to a rebuild, but in that i didn't know how to verify that the carb on it being OEM or a cheaply made "Will fit your GCV160..." i chose to order that which is supposed to be an OEM. Only problem with that is i ordered it off of Amazon, so it still could be some cheap knock off with OEM indicia. It gets here on Wednesday, will have to see-

Anyway, once again, thank you everyone, it looks to me i found the experts i had hoped for.
-Bruce

 

[ILENGINE]

Wow! Very good and fast replies, i am not used to that from the first board i pick in any topic - usually my question (about anything) won't get any responses and i'll have to trial & error several boards before i find one i can learn from! Thank you, everyone!!! I must say that it was my understanding that the throttle-less wave came about by the psychos in California government going overboard as usual (which is behind my motivation as much as anything to circumvent) but given what you folks have said, the fact that both configurations were once available and that the governor "auto-throttles" itself, perhaps i just need to tone down my coffee consumption.

And of course there is something else... The "spark that lit the fuse" was my first and only time that i have used this mower so far, bought from a nice man who gets poorly working mowers and fixes them up. Well, he should have gone beyond making the engine run in this case and instead cut a lawn. After a while the governor seemed to have a mind of it's own, sometimes running fine and other times sporadically chugging along with that puff of black smoke. Then was the engine shut-down along with killing the fuel. 20 minutes later i came back to a hard start, open the air intake cover and am greeted by a pool of gas.

Normally i would go direct to a rebuild, but in that i didn't know how to verify that the carb on it being OEM or a cheaply made "Will fit your GCV160..." i chose to order that which is supposed to be an OEM. Only problem with that is i ordered it off of Amazon, so it still could be some cheap knock off with OEM indicia. It gets here on Wednesday, will have to see-

Anyway, once again, thank you everyone, it looks to me i found the experts i had hoped for.
-Bruce

Actually the retail price from a Honda dealer for the carbs on the GC and GCV engines are actually cheap. OEM carbs for around $20 and the repair parts to kit it are more than that.

 

[brucemc777]

I guess i've been had for the one i am expecting was about $32, but if it actually is OEM i won't sweat it-