Honda GCV160 mower engine no start

[Nickshu]

Hey guys I have a 7 year old Honda GCV160 lawn mower engine (on my HRX217 Honda mower) that I can't get to start.

Wife was mowing today and says it started blowing brown/black smoke then died. Would not restart.

Oil is clean and does not smell fouled. Spark plug and air filter were new 2 mows ago. Fuel is good as far as I know (not old).

Carb was replaced mid-last year (after 6 years) with an OEM Honda replacement and has run fine since.

I could not get a spark when testing so I pulled the coil and bench tested it. Showed high primary resistance - 1.8 ohms - Spec is less than 1 - so I replaced the coil. (Stole the coil from my pressure washer which uses the same engine so I know it's a good/working coil).

Also tested the cut off switch, all good.

Still won't start. I figured the coil was the culprit but still no start after swapping it out.

Anyone familiar w/ these engines have any suggestions for me? Thanks in advance.

[Baz]

You may try removing the main carb jet and making sure it is not clogged.

Does it try to start and then just shut down...or are you not getting anything at all.

Another possibility is the kill switch (if it has one) that is deactivated when you hold down the bar next to the handle.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by Baz

You may try removing the main carb jet and making sure it is not clogged.

Does it try to start and then just shut down...or are you not getting anything at all.

Another possibility is the kill switch (if it has one) that is deactivated when you hold down the bar next to the handle.

Getting nothing at all. I tested the kill switch and it's good. Will check out the carb and test compression too.

[schwarz633]

Timing belt?

[wswartzwel]

I am a dealer for them.

If you have no spark, you can disconnect the kill wire from the coil to determine whether it is the coil,l or the control... Did you properly gap the replacement coil when you installed it?

As far as diagnosing fuel issues.. Easiest is to spay a small amount of carb cleaner (NOT ETHER) and see if it will run on a spray can. The symptoms you described before it died sounds like fuel contaminated with diesel. Spark plug could be fouled if this is the case...

Edit; Does yours shut off by letting go of the handle or do you shut it off with the throttle... if it is via the handle....
Verify the control cable from the handlebars to the shut off is not stretched... if so it will not pull the control all the way back and it will kill the spark


I have also seen exhaust rocker arm failures.... you still get a compression reading but won't run... although you state that you have no spark... so I would keep my troubleshooting to the ign. system.

[nota]

my mower was great at collecting a bit of water in the gas
just enough not to start
so a gas dump in to a glass jar became a prestart drill

btw wetting the air filter with gas will work in place of carb cleaner

a rented pressure washer [honda] had so much carbon on the plug
that it would not run/start until cleaned off

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

I am a dealer for them.

If you have no spark, you can disconnect the kill wire from the coil to determine whether it is the coil,l or the control... Did you properly gap the replacement coil when you installed it?

As far as diagnosing fuel issues.. Easiest is to spay a small amount of carb cleaner (NOT ETHER) and see if it will run on a spray can. The symptoms you described before it died sounds like fuel contaminated with diesel. Spark plug could be fouled if this is the case...

Edit; Does yours shut off by letting go of the handle or do you shut it off with the throttle... if it is via the handle....
Verify the control cable from the handlebars to the shut off is not stretched... if so it will not pull the control all the way back and it will kill the spark


I have also seen exhaust rocker arm failures.... you still get a compression reading but won't run... although you state that you have no spark... so I would keep my troubleshooting to the ign. system.

Thanks for the tips. The plug was fouled, I cleaned it off w/ brake cleaner. I also tested w/ another sparkplug. I will drain the fuel and get fresh stuff but this was the 3rd tank from this fuel can I had run w/ no issues so I doubt it was contaminated.

Mine is the type that does not have the safety bar...it has the blade clutch instead. I did test the kill switch and it works fine.

I'll recheck the spark and look into the fuel next.

Part of me wants to just go down to Home Depot and buy a new one...this one has other stuff worn out on it...while 7 years doesn't sound too long we do have a half acre lot fully landscaped so this thing has had a pretty hard 7 years.

[wswartzwel]

Yes go buy a new one.. it will make mowing more enjoyable.... whether you can fix the old one or not.

[DanielDudley]

Do you have compression ? My Honda mower must be 30 years old. Might be worth figuring this out.

[john70t]

Go buy an old spiral push-mower for 100% backup.
Lube and condition.
Make sure it works.

Then begin triage.
1). Fuel= fuel, tank lines, shutoff valve, FUEL FILTER, carb and no loose rust bowl, throttle valve moving
2), Air= cleaner carb. dump some liquid fuel and see it kicks
3). Spark- magneto or newer 4cycle coil system. Pull plug and rest against engine block.