I remember previous discussions on small engine troubleshooting years ago, and am hoping to tap into that knowledge.

I have a Husqvarna lawnmower with a Honda GCV 160 engine. It will run for about two minutes and then will sputter out, like it's starved for fuel. If I let the mower set for a while, it will fire up and run for another couple minutes and sputter out.

I initially thought it was old gas, so drained tank and put new gas in. Same behavior

Initial internet search pointed to plugged gas cap vent creating a vacuum preventing fuel getting out of tank. I ran the mower w/ fuel cap off - same behavior.

I've gone ahead an ordered a new OEM carb (surprisingly cheap), new fuel filter, air filter, and gas cap.

Any other ideas from the group on what might be causing this behavior?

Thanks.

Rob

Bit of crap in the float bowl. Gets sucked down blocking the flow of gas. Floats away after engine dies.

New carb should fix it.

oil level? top it off to the top of the full line not between add and full. Some of those Honda engines have a low oil level engine cut off. Had it happen to a small generator with honda engine,did the same thing you described. About through it across the yard at one point. Added some oil good to go. worth a check and try. Hray

Note wanted to add on most if not all Honda small engines you don't screw the dip stick in to check oil. Remove wipe insert without screwing in and check level

Could be heat-related electrical issue. Next time it croaks, immediately pull the spark plug, ground it to the engine and crank it over to see if you have spark.

The ignition coil can run normally until it gets good and hot. As it expands an internal connection opens up and kills the spark.

quote:

Originally posted by hray:
oil level? top it off to the top of the full line not between add and full. Some of those Honda engines have a low oil level engine cut off. Had it happen to a small generator with honda engine,did the same thing you described. About through it across the yard at one point. Added some oil good to go. worth a check and try. Hray

Note wanted to add on most if not all Honda small engines you don't screw the dip stick in to check oil. Remove wipe insert without screwing in and check level

Oil level looks ok.

Wasn’t the downside of these GCV engines is they have some sort of major component that’s plastic when it should be metal? Thought I read that here at some point over the years?

I have a GCV 200 in my Honda HRX-217, hope it remains trouble free?

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Could be heat-related electrical issue. Next time it croaks, immediately pull the spark plug, ground it to the engine and crank it over to see if you have spark.

The ignition coil can run normally until it gets good and hot. As it expands an internal connection opens up and kills the spark.

And it appears there is still spark after it dies and I pull the plug immediately. IDK what lawnmower spark should look like relative to a car, it was pretty tiny, but present.

I always start with the easy stuff, fuel, spark, air. Can vary with how old? How it was stored? Etc..

I have a DR Field & Brush mower I bought new in 1996, still runs well.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Wasn’t the downside of these GCV engines is they have some sort of major component that’s plastic when it should be metal? Thought I read that here at some point over the years?

I have a GCV 200 in my Honda HRX-217, hope it remains trouble free?

Yes, the camshaft and cam drive gear are plastic. I wouldn't give you a quarter for a truckload of "C" engines. GX yes. GC no.

A pinhole leak in the gas line has bitten me so many times I just have to mention it. Air gets pulled in when the gas is flowing, then there's a bubble that shuts things down, eventually the bubble dissipates and things work again. Sometimes hard to find, check where the line connects to fittings as well.

Is this the model with the autochoke feature?

I know they recalled a bunch of these a couple years back.

New carb, filter, air filter installed. Some Shot called it - if not the exact failure mode, it was something in the carb. Fired right up and ran fine after replacement. Thanks everyone for the troubleshooting ideas.