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Honda GX160

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Oggy

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I have a pressure washer with a Honda GX160 engine.

The engine turns over, has gas, has spark, and if I use starter fluid, will run for a brief second.

What I've done:
New air filter
New carburetor
New ignition
New gas

Spark plug was changed before I gave up last year, now I'm lost.

I believe because it will run for a few seconds with the starter fluid it should be getting spark, and air, and there's gas in the car bowl...

What am I missing?

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Metallitubby

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Make sure that the gasket for the carburetor vent (with the little hole) is lined up with the corresponding hole on the carburetor. People install the gasket backwards which blocks the bowl vent.

Also, pull the muffler off and try to start it again. If it starts, then the muffler (and/or spark arrester if equipped) is clogged.
 
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Daveyclimber

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I've had this problem with a generator. Turned out the carb was internally stopped up. New carb a d it was good to go.
 
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Oggy

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Metallitubby said:
Make sure that the gasket for the carburetor vent (with the little hole) is lined up with the corresponding hole on the carburetor. People install the gasket backwards which blocks the bowl vent.

Also, pull the muffler off and try to start it again. If it starts, then the muffler (and/or spark arrester if equipped) is clogged.
Click to expand...
I'll double check the gasket, I wasn't happy with the fit, as I think it was a little different than the old one. Fortunately, I think I can reuse that one if needed..

I didn't even think of exhaust, will try that next if I need to.

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theoldwizard1

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Drain and clean the fuel tank. Make sure the fuel line is not clogged. Then dis-assemble and clean the carburetor. You likely clogged the new one.

Or you have a massive air/vacuum leak somewhere.
 
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jd_1138

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What kind of carb? One of the $12 ebay knockoff specials? I bought one of those once, and it was DOA. It didn't work.
 
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Stewey

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Did you check the spark arrester? Sometimes they load-up and cause issues similar to what you are describing.
 
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finn

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A new carb without cleaning the tank completely to get rid of contaminated fuel (water and rust/debris) won’t solve the problem..spark, fuel, air, timing. The fact that it will run on starting fluid suggests spark and timing are oh. That leaves air (leaks below the carb, or plugged muffler restricting airflow) or no fuel.
 
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garfunkle24

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How has nobody said compression? Starter fluid is much more volatile than gas and will turn over a low compression motor. If you wanna check fueling just run a ml or so of gas in through the spark plug hole and see if it runs.

If I were a betting man (I'm not) I'd put my money on a stuck valve, but could just be scoring or broken ring or ring land.

Regardless, you need to do a compression test and/or the fuel in cylinder test. Some parts stores will lend/rent a compression tester but anyone with small engines should have one anyway and they don't break the bank.

OP never knew the carb was the original issue so the odds of the carb out of all possible failures being the fault without being diagnosed AND getting an nfg replacement seem pretty low to me.
 
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Oggy

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So thanks for all the help, still not running on its own...

But, I do have it narrowed down to the carb I believe... Here's why:

I removed the exhaust, so that's not an issue.

Pulled the valve cover & visually checked that the valves were operating, and they are both moving. That's not to say there couldn't be something keeping them from closing completely, but I don't believe this to be the case based on the following.

Checked the bowl, still fuel in it, checked the gaskets, and they're on correctly (atleast now, didn't note the location of the hole when I removed the last time, just how it went on), disconnected the low oil switch (there is oil), finally after all back together, I put the starter fluid away, and put some gas in a bottle, and put a little in at a time to keep it running, and it ran. If only there were a way to get fuel in that didn't directly involved pouring it in... Sort of like a tank, that fed something with jets to the create an air fuel mixture...

So because it will run that way, I think it's the carb...

The only adjustment I see are the screws below. One changes the idle, and not sure about the other. I didn't mess with it, but will if I know what's going on/how...



Image.jpegImage%20(1).jpeg

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garfunkle24

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When you say the one changes the idle, do you mean the idle speed or the mixture? You likely have a screw for each unless the idle speed is set by a mechanical stop on the cable/linkage.
 
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MarlynOC

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Did you check the fuel filter in bottom pickup of fuel tank. Slowly lets fuel through but when needed it will not let fuel flow.
 
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Bighead38

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I installed a new Honda crate motor last year. It ran fine for a day and then died an would start. The coil was bad from the factory. Might not be your problem but can’t hurt to check that your getting good spark.
 
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garfunkle24

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Bighead38 said:
I installed a new Honda crate motor last year. It ran fine for a day and then died an would start. The coil was bad from the factory. Might not be your problem but can’t hurt to check that your getting good spark.
Click to expand...

He's had it running by feeding gas directly, spark is fine.
 
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Oggy

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garfunkle24 said:
When you say the one changes the idle, do you mean the idle speed or the mixture? You likely have a screw for each unless the idle speed is set by a mechanical stop on the cable/linkage.
Click to expand...
There is a screw for the mixture, I've now tried running it all the way in, and part ways between there and almost out, and no improvement... Thinking I may order another carb, higher quality...

Unless I can talk my neighbor into looking at it, but... social distancing...

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garfunkle24

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Oggy said:
Replaced it, but when I take the fuel line off the carb the fuel flows freely.

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Click to expand...

When you were adding fuel manually, how were you doing that? Have you checked the compression? Quick and dirty check is to see if you can keep your finger over the spark plug hole while turning it over.

Given you had it running on gas I now doubt compression is the issue, but if the fuel feed is ok I'm wondering if it's pulling enough air through the carb to pull fuel.

Did you check the float height on the carb? That's something easily tweaked in shipping.
 
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Oggy

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garfunkle24 said:
When you were adding fuel manually, how were you doing that? Have you checked the compression? Quick and dirty check is to see if you can keep your finger over the spark plug hole while turning it over.

Given you had it running on gas I now doubt compression is the issue, but if the fuel feed is ok I'm wondering if it's pulling enough air through the carb to pull fuel.

Did you check the float height on the carb? That's something easily tweaked in shipping.
Click to expand...

Didn't take the new carb apart, and I didn't check the compression, assumed it was good after the gas was able to keep it running.

I added the fuel where the air filter sits with a Gatorade bottle with a hole cut in the top.

Where should the float sit? I didn't see any adjustment on the old one.

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garfunkle24

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Oggy said:
Didn't take the new carb apart, and I didn't check the compression, assumed it was good after the gas was able to keep it running.

I added the fuel where the air filter sits with a Gatorade bottle with a hole cut in the top.

Where should the float sit? I didn't see any adjustment on the old one.

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Click to expand...

They're usually adjusted by just bending the arm that lifts the needle. Not sure on the spec without a manual. Maybe just visually check if they're similar?
 
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mx500

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Slednut said:
OP, did you make sure the main jet and mixer above it were clean?
Click to expand...

yep, some small engines have a funky needle/seat,float setup and its hard to tell if the main jet is plugged. next step would be a squirt bottle of gas through the carb. if it runs that way, you know what the problem is.
 
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Oggy

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The Cobbler said:
that mixture screw, a rough rule of thumb is, seat it gently, back it out 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 turns. that is a good starting point .
Click to expand...
Ultimately, this was what worked.

I ended up what looks like 3/4 of a turn past where it started from when I received it.

The basic process was start 1 1/2 turns out, get it going, and noticed that it didn't need much gas to keep going, so I adjusted the needle out a little until it ran at full throttle, then lowered the throttle a little, then kept going at that place until it ran smoothly.

Then I tried to shut it off, and the switch didn't work... So I pulled the spark plug... The switch didn't work because it didn't have a ground...

All together now, and likely won't get used for another week or two because, I'm considered essential.

Thank you to everyone for the help!

(I'd show a video, but don't upload videos... Ever, so I admittedly am behind many half my age, and some even double...)


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Oggy

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So I went to use the power washer today, man I must have pulled that cord 60 times... couldn't get it to start. I was ever so ticked...

Called my daughter out to hold the trigger on the wand to make sure I had no extra back pressure.. about 3 pulls later realized I hadn't checked the run switch...

Ran perfect after I flipped that switch...

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JerryC

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With a lifetime of shoulder injuries... If I have to pull a cord on a hard to start engine it gets a shot of starter fluid first.
I learned that trick on my pressure washer :) it's always stubborn to start after coming out of winter storage but once it gets going it's fine.
 
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walta

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Before you call it a day do the valve lash adjustment.

My 160 was slow to start and would pull the rope out of your hand. Now it starts on half a pull.

Walta
 
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Lennyzx11

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Bennington Vermont
Oggy said:
So I went to use the power washer today, man I must have pulled that cord 60 times... couldn't get it to start. I was ever so ticked...

Called my daughter out to hold the trigger on the wand to make sure I had no extra back pressure.. about 3 pulls later realized I hadn't checked the run switch...

Ran perfect after I flipped that switch...

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Click to expand...


My wood splitter has the same engine. The switch is on the opposite side from where I have to pull start it. Out of view.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done the exact same thing as you!


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