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Anyone run across this....two of the three nuts holding the recoil starter in place are spinning the studs....kind of don't know what to do.

hrt2162tda

poorboy said:

Anyone run across this....two of the three nuts holding the recoil starter in place are spinning the studs....kind of don't know what to do.

hrt2162tda

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Yes:



The holes in the engine block for the studs are NOT tapped, and during engine assembly, the studs self-tap into the block. Then, when the three nuts holding the recoil starter are installed, many (but not all) have locking inserts (depends on the model). This combination may cause a stud to back out first when loosening a nut.

Best fix is just to proceed to remove the stud/nut (all three) slowly, then after the recoil is off the mower, use a vise or locking pliers to hold the stud and then remove the nut. When installing the studs, a couple of drops of thread lock on the stud threads, and proper torque [8.9 ft-lb studs, 6.1 ft-lb nuts) will help avoid this problem if there's a next time.

That was perfect advise and did the trick. Not the best design in the world but I can see why Honda did it this way. Man two of the nuts were on so tight I almost could get them loose by holding the stud with a vise grips. finally got them out.

Thanks for the advise.

Get yourself a 6" Ridgid pipe wrench the next chance you have. Then you can leave the finger pinching no good vise grips in the bottom of the tool box.