... that's a big affirmative, the motor runs, pretty good too from what I've seen- but only after priming the culinder with gas. any pointers on what else to check on the carburetor? Y'know- I've got a spare Mojave carb in the shed, was thinking of swapping that in!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Is the gas new and fresh, or is it the old crap from when you bought it? Pull the gas line off the carb and see if it flows freely. Some were gravity fed, and some have diaphram fuel pumps.

 

Hmm-- what would this diaphragm look like? Maybe that's why I'm hearing things on the intake side. I'll do that tommorow-- sun had gone down, getting too cold to do this kinda stuff anymore. Really seems like not getting feul from the carb now, but the float bowl is full. Thanks again for all the suggestions- we are making progress.

 

If it's like any other Honda small engine I've ever seen, it has a fuel shutoff valve somewhere between the tank and the carb. Other possible issues: carb to engine gasket may not be so good, any vacuum leak and the carb won't draw properly ; may be a choke or enrichener circuit not working : could be a weak spark, and will only run when the mixture is excessively rich ; I once had a snowblower engine that would only run when primed, or when the choke was full on. I ended up putting a carb kit in and cleaning the carb thoroughly to make it work. It sounds like you may have a plugged jet, with lawnmowers it's usually a bit of grass or dirt . There should be a filter between the tank and the carb, if it doesn't have one, get one to install.

 

.. there is definatley gas being drawn down to the carb, as the bowl is full and when I pop off the hos from the tank- fuel flows freely. I thought I'd looked everything over in teh carb when I took it apart, but I'll look again; time and weather permitting..

 

get some starting fluid, my mower never starts without it

 

When your testing for spark make sure you pull down the handle or else you'll get no spark.

 

OK, I took the carb apart again today, and the petcock- feul shutoff valve was stiff and hard to turn, so i took it apart but didn't find anything I then too the entire carb apart again and poked around with a paper clip and sewing needle- everything looks good. IIi kinda have a feeling it was that petcock as teh float bowl was dry even having a full tank of gas. just for kicks I'm soaking everything in nail polish remover for the night. Again- thaniks for all the suggestions. I'll llet ya'll know how it turns out.

 

.. OK- it starts, and runs, but! it runs rich as he77 which I can understand because I left out the float and the little pintle shut off. it ran, on choke only strongly then began to sputter running weakly, then harly turning over. can an excess amount of oil in the crankcase do this? Thanks for you all's help.......