Hello! I have a Honda HRR216 self-propelled mower that I purchased for my work and it has been running great, including this season. My coworker mowed on a Wednesday, put the mower away, and I pulled it back out on Friday to finish a section that was missed. When I started the mower it started within 3 pulls but I felt like it was idling lower then it should be or struggling, so I turned it off, cleaned the housing (we mulch), checked the sparkplug (okay condition) and I took the blades off for a sharpening. I tried to start the mower after everything was cleaned up and it wouldn't start. After multiple pulls the handle would snap back and not want to move, so I figured I broke the flywheel key in my furvor of trying to get it started, so it was time to order parts (may as well do a few things at once right?). I've replaced the flywheel key, cleaned the carburator (outside of carburator was super dirty, but everything inside looked good), replaced the fuel filter, spark plug, and air filter. I get everything back together and give it a pull....not starting. It pulls better, but after ~5+ pulls it will start to pull back on me, spark plug is getting fuel (new fuel), and it sounds like it wants to start, but it wont grab, and almost sounds like it wants to backfire. I have checked the sparkplug cable and it is giving off spark, but now I am at a loss for what could be the issue. I did ask my coworker if he hit anything when he was mowing or noticed the mower running poorly and he said he didnt remember hitting anything and he thought the mower was running 'really good' when he used it. I called a mechanic, but they are 3 weeks out and I would like to have it up and working prior to that... Help!?
Everything I have tried:
New spark plug
New Fuel
New Air Filter
Cleaned Carburator
New Fuel Filter
Sharpened the Blades (unrelated?)
Cleaned the Housing
New Fly Wheel Key
Reasoning With It
#2
primerbulb120
Just to clarify, are you starting it with the blades installed, or are they still off? Starting it without the blades will cause the issue you're describing.
Unlike your car which has hydraulic lifters that never need adjusting, most mowers have solid lifters that require adjustment from time to time.
So buy a new rocker cover gasket pull the rocker cover & check the valve lash .006" & .008".
Hondas do not war as much as other engines because the cam & rockers are made from a better grade of steel & are better designed & made.
However they are also a lot more fussy about valve lash.
