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What can cause the engine to stop after running the mower for about 20 minutes and won't restart until completely cooled down?
Outdoor temp is about 91F.
Checked compression and it went up to 78 psi after 3 pulls.
Engine spec is GJAB with SN 6754173.

The cooling fins on the head is not blocked.
Thanks

bazar01 said:

What can cause the engine to stop after running the mower for about 20 minutes and won't restart until completely cooled down?
Outdoor temp is about 91F.
Checked compression and it went up to 78 psi after 3 pulls.
Engine spec is GJAB with SN 6754173.

The cooling fins on the head is not blocked.
Thanks

Click to expand...

Hi,

This is most likely an electrical issue related to the heat. I would bet it is the ignition module for the spark plug. I just replaced one that had similar issues.

Jeff

Ok thanks.
Next time it happens, I will check for spark.

Well it stopped again after about 25 minutes of mowing.
Took out the spark plug cable and boot and inserted a spare spark plug.
No spark as I pull started. Can't see any spark.
I think the ignition coil goes bad when it gets hot.
Where can I get ignition coil for the HRB215?
Thanks.

FYI there are normally no returns on electrical parts, so choose carefully. Honda seems to protect their dealer network well so pricing is generally the same, which leads to service as to who to do business with. I have had good dealings with CyclePartsNation. They are quick to respond and ship. Here is a link to the coil for my model, you will find yours with a quick search of their site. https://www.cyclepartsnation.com/oemparts/a/hpe/505ce3e3f870022d24bdbab4/ignition-coil

bazar01 said:

Well it stopped again after about 25 minutes of mowing.
Took out the spark plug cable and boot and inserted a spare spark plug.
No spark as I pull started. Can't see any spark.
I think the ignition coil goes bad when it gets hot.
Where can I get ignition coil for the HRB215?
Thanks.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the lead.

I tested the ignition coil again this morning before starting.
Pulled the spark plug and connected the spark plug wire to a spark plug and grounded it.
I saw spark at the spark plug electrode while pulling on the pull starter.

This confirmed, I need a new ignition coil.

I just bought a cheap one to try it out.
Its a Poweka ignition coil for $10.99 from Amazon.
Fits Honda Lawn Mower HR215 HR214 HRM215.
If it solves the issue, I will buy a spare genuine Honda coil pack just in case it goes bad in a short time.

bazar01 said:

I just bought a cheap one to try it out.
Its a Poweka ignition coil for $10.99 from Amazon.
Fits Honda Lawn Mower HR215 HR214 HRM215.
If it solves the issue, I will buy a spare genuine Honda coil pack just in case it goes bad in a short time.

Click to expand...

While you have your wallet out order an oregon 42-087 spark tester.
They glow red / orange so they are easy to see outside.
the mower will run fine with them installed so you can fit it ,go mow and check the coil while you are at it.
The other alternative that can be fun is the flashing spark plug caps the hot rodders seem to like.

bertsmobile1 said:

While you have your wallet out order an oregon 42-087 spark tester.
They glow red / orange so they are easy to see outside.
the mower will run fine with them installed so you can fit it ,go mow and check the coil while you are at it.
The other alternative that can be fun is the flashing spark plug caps the hot rodders seem to like.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip.

My eyes are still good and can still see the spark arcing from the plug electrodes.
The flashing spark plug caps are cool too.

Yes I can see a plug firing against the head as well
But that is fiddly and requires stopping the engine & removing the hot plug,
Also in air you should be looking for a 1/2" spark, not a 0.020" spark.
A weal coil will cause a spark to happen outside the engine but be unable to make a spark inside the engine.
Air gap resistance increases with the square of the air pressure.
Same for a cracked HT lead or cap.

New coil from Amazon came in today.
Got it installed. Gapped to 0.005"
It started with no issues.
Tomorrow I will cut the grass and see if it runs continuously over 20 minutes. Yard is about an acre.

bazar01 said:

New coil from Amazon came in today.
Got it installed. Gapped to 0.005"
It started with no issues.
Tomorrow I will cut the grass and see if it runs continuously over 20 minutes. Yard is about an acre.

Click to expand...

What did you use to gap the coil? Let us know if the new coil does the trick.

Horsehockey said:

What did you use to gap the coil? Let us know if the new coil does the trick.

Click to expand...

I have a set of feeler gauges and just stuck the 0.005" between the flywheel and the new coil.
If you don't have one, you can use a thin business card.
I will cut the grass today.

I just bought this $10 coil to find out if the original coil was the culprit when it gets hot. Honda coil is about $80.
I want to keep this mower for a long time and will get the Honda part later when this cheap one craps out.:laughing:

bazar01 said:

I have a set of feeler gauges and just stuck the 0.005" between the flywheel and the new coil.
If you don't have one, you can use a thin business card.
I will cut the grass today.

I just bought this $10 coil to find out if the original coil was the culprit when it gets hot. Honda coil is about $80.
I want to keep this mower for a long time and will get the Honda part later when this cheap one craps out.:laughing:

Click to expand...

Well done. Here’s hoping the new one makes it 21 minutes. Let us know how it goes.:biggrin:

It made it 35 minutes and then it died. LOL.
It has spark when I tested it.
Looks like this time it's fuel related because it starts then dies immediately.
Definitely heat related.

I am going to check the valve clearances.
Don't know what else to check after.

bazar01 said:

It made it 35 minutes and then it died. LOL.
It has spark when I tested it.
Looks like this time it's fuel related because it starts then dies immediately.
Definitely heat related.

I am going to check the valve clearances.
Don't know what else to check after.

Click to expand...

Did the cheap coil still produce spark after it got hot then died? At this point before messing with valve clearances try loosening the gas cap and running with the cap loose just to see if you have a gas cap vent issue.

So now it's a mission to get this one figured out! I would try a spark plug (verify that it's the correct plug) and if that doesn't fix it, a carburetor clean, or even even think about replacing the carb (mine are less than $15) Not worth the time and parts spent cleaning.

Does your carb have a drain on the bottom of the float bowl? The next time it quits you might crack that and see if there is A: fuel and B: water in the fuel. It doesn't take much. I have had my mower quit after a bit only to find water contaminated gas. I attributed that to the ethanol enriched gas I was using. A local gas station now has Recreational (ethanol free) fuel. I haven't had that problem since switching over.

Horsehockey said:

Did the cheap coil still produce spark after it got hot then died? At this point before messing with valve clearances try loosening the gas cap and running with the cap loose just to see if you have a gas cap vent issue.

Click to expand...

Yes, cheap coil still produced spark when I cranked it with the sparkplug out and grounded to the engine.

I removed the gas cap to check if there was fuel. There was still half full. I put the cap back and started it. It tried to run but wont stay running.

I'll try with the gas cap off. Do you know how the carb is filled with gas? Gravity or a diaphragm fuel pump? (I will remove the carb and investigate)

rePhil said:

So now it's a mission to get this one figured out! I would try a spark plug (verify that it's the correct plug) and if that doesn't fix it, a carburetor clean, or even even think about replacing the carb (mine are less than $15) Not worth the time and parts spent cleaning.

Does your carb have a drain on the bottom of the float bowl? The next time it quits you might crack that and see if there is A: fuel and B: water in the fuel. It doesn't take much. I have had my mower quit after a bit only to find water contaminated gas. I attributed that to the ethanol enriched gas I was using. A local gas station now has Recreational (ethanol free) fuel. I haven't had that problem since switching over.

Click to expand...

Spark plug is new and correct one I bought from a lawnmower supply house. (NGKbp...)

I will investigate the carb and the drain when it quits again.

I checked the valve gaps and they were in spec. 0.15mm intake, 0.20mm exhaust

Tried to cut again today and it stopped after 30 minutes of mowing.
As suggested, I opened the carburetor bowl drain and very little gas came out.
It's a fuel issue this time.

Removed the fuel hose to carburetor, no fuel.
Removed fuel hose from gas tank to a fuel cut off device inlet (operated from the throttle cable), there was fuel.
Removed the fuel hose from the fuel cut off device outlet, no fuel.

This is the fuel cut off device I am talking about. Could this be plugged? How come it runs for 30 minutes and cuts off fuel supply when hot? I will take it out tomorrow and dismantle it and check the diaphragm if there is.

I think I will try to bypass the fuel cut off device and run a fuel hose from the fuel tank straight to the carburetor.
And see if it runs until the fuel tank is empty. :laughing:

Success!
I was able to finish mowing in 45 minutes and this thing still keeps running.
I had to stop it. :laughing:

It has been running great so far with no interruptions.
I ran a fuel line straight from the fuel tank to the carburetor and also drilled a small vent hole in the gas cap.
Not sure which one fixed the issue but it's running continuously now and able to finish mowing the yard in one run.