Anyone know about Honda GC160 engine governor?

[Burt Shaver]

I was pressure washing a deck for a customer tonight getting ready to stain it when my Honda engine quit. I got it to start back up but only at an idle. I found if I pushed on this linkage it would rev back up, the further I pushed the higher the rpm I haven’t done any YouTube searching yet but I will. Was wondering if anyone here knew anything about these? I believe it’s the governor but I could be wrong about that. Actually now that I think about it, when I lift the throttle handle to increase rpm nothing happens so maybe just a broken spring? I will have a look at it tomorrow

 

[Burt Shaver]

 

[Burt Shaver]

I was able to find 3 or 4 good videos showing how to set the governor on this particular engine, seems to be very easy to do. I will find out tomorrow if that is the problem

 

[The Cobbler]

doesn't sound like a governor issue to me, it more sounds like the link between the throttle lever & the carb throttle, or the cable on the throttle ... something like that

 

[drmarkr]

@Metallitubby , please call the house phone.....

 

[Metallitubby]

@Metallitubby , please call the house phone.....

Nah

 

[WillyBoy]

For what it's worth . . . . .

I have a Honda GC-160 on a power washer that I bought 20 years ago. The shroud on mine is black, not red.
Last year I started having a problem with it. It would idle fine. In fact it would idle for an hour with no problems.
When the throttle was opened fully to actually use the full spray, the engine would start to sputter and then eventually die.

I found a Utube video that indicated the most likely culprit is the spark plug.
"No way" I thought, if it sparks fine at idle, it should spark fine at full throttle. AND, the plug looked fine.

After investing in a new spark plug, the engine runs as well as it did 20 years ago. Go figure.

This may or may not be your situation. Try a new plug and see.

 

[finn]

For what it's worth . . . . .

I have a Honda GC-160 on a power washer that I bought 20 years ago. The shroud on mine is black, not red.
Last year I started having a problem with it. It would idle fine. In fact it would idle for an hour with no problems.
When the throttle was opened fully to actually use the full spray, the engine would start to sputter and then eventually die.

I found a Utube video that indicated the most likely culprit is the spark plug.
"No way" I thought, if it sparks fine at idle, it should spark fine at full throttle. AND, the plug looked fine.

After investing in a new spark plug, the engine runs as well as it did 20 years ago. Go figure.

This may or may not be your situation. Try a new plug and see.

Cylinder pressure increases with MBRP, so the spark has a tougher time jumping the gap at higher loads. The gap increases with time and wear on the plug.

Maintenance is your friend.

Might be time to change the oil, too.

 

[Burt Shaver]

For what it's worth . . . . .

I have a Honda GC-160 on a power washer that I bought 20 years ago. The shroud on mine is black, not red.
Last year I started having a problem with it. It would idle fine. In fact it would idle for an hour with no problems.
When the throttle was opened fully to actually use the full spray, the engine would start to sputter and then eventually die.

I found a Utube video that indicated the most likely culprit is the spark plug.
"No way" I thought, if it sparks fine at idle, it should spark fine at full throttle. AND, the plug looked fine.

After investing in a new spark plug, the engine runs as well as it did 20 years ago. Go figure.

This may or may not be your situation. Try a new plug and see.

Thanks for the reply but if I push on the bar lol it idles up fine. I’m going out to look at it shorty here. Got caught up yesterday fixing a friends Honda 690 engine on his wood splitter.

 

[WillyBoy]

Might be time to change the oil, too.

Did that. Engine, pump, air filter.
Also, this wasn't the first plug replacement in 20 years, Probably closer to 5 years with maybe 3 hours a year actual use.

 

[Wakefield]

Does it have the lever with a clamp on a shaft such that the shaft torque pushes the lever ? Has the clamp become/been loosened such that the lever is slipping/allowing rotation of the shaft to not take the lever along with it (as it is supposed to work)
be careful if trying to work on it ,a mistake could cause the engine to run away with itself causing it to grenade in seconds

 

[Burt Shaver]

So the problem easily presented itself, spring halfway up the governor arm is broken on the the throttle lever side. I started it, and pulled the spring as if to attach it to the throttle control lever and the rpm’s increased. I will say, not any spring would do since it was very responsive to the torque put on the spring, had to be just the right tension. I will see if the Honda dealer can tell me what part number it is since I can’t find it for sure

 

[Burt Shaver]

 

[Wakefield]

I guess the throttle/speed regulation on these machines is tied in with an "unloader valve" ?
maybe the broken spring was part of the chain of action by which the throttle opening increases when the unloader or whatever valve calls for more pressure or to maintain pressure when the flow increases ?

Or and easier

maybe the broken spring is just the regular governor spring the same as the main one on the mower engine that acts to open the throttle while the governor via the lever transmits force opposing it to close the throttle? Maybe the same Honda part as the governor spring on the mower ?
the GCV mower in my collection has a tiny extra spring sort of wrapped around the link for the bigger spring that I think is some kind of anti surge or dampener

 

[Burt Shaver]

I guess the throttle/speed regulation on these machines is tied in with an "unloader valve" ?
maybe the broken spring was part of the chain of action by which the throttle opening increases when the unloader or whatever valve calls for more pressure or to maintain pressure when the flow increases ?

WHAT?

 

[Burt Shaver]

I guess the throttle/speed regulation on these machines is tied in with an "unloader valve" ?
maybe the broken spring was part of the chain of action by which the throttle opening increases when the unloader or whatever valve calls for more pressure or to maintain pressure when the flow increases ?

Unfortunately I have no idea what any of that means, perhaps this evening I will do some searching and see if I can figure out what your saying and how that works

 

[Wakefield]

Unfortunately I have no idea what any of that means, perhaps this evening I will do some searching and see if I can figure out what your saying and how that works

I am thinking that it is probably just the garden variety governor spring that pulls to open the throttle against the opposing force from the governor mechanism and that the unloader system is probably not involved (with the problem)
If there is a manual speed adjustment for the engine (like turtle > rabbit) that will be set up so that the spring is stretched longer on "rabbit"

 

[Burt Shaver]

If there is a manual speed adjustment for the engine (like turtle > rabbit) that will be set up so that the spring is stretched longer on "rabbit

Yes, when I push the throttle lever up making the rpm’s increase, there would be more tension on the spring that attaches at the throttle lever and goes to mid point on the governor arm.
My research says I need spring 16562-ZL8-000 and the Honda dealer says I need spring 16561-Z0J-000 the one I think it is is 6.39 and the one they say it is is 1.10 so I ordered both. AI says they are very similar and they I would use the one I found. My model is GCAHA6044864

 

[finn]

Does it have the lever with a clamp on a shaft such that the shaft torque pushes the lever ? Has the clamp become/been loosened such that the lever is slipping/allowing rotation of the shaft to not take the lever along with it (as it is supposed to work)
be careful if trying to work on it ,a mistake could cause the engine to run away with itself causing it to grenade in seconds

That’s why you always have a clipboard at the ready when messing with governors, especially on Diesels.