AutoChoke Question on GCV200 Mower

[pstrickey]

I have a HRX217K6HZAA, MAMA 1703372 for the last 2 years that mows very good. It has always been hard to start cold and after spraying some starter fluid it will immediately start and run fine. I can also restart the engine after it has been sitting for awhile; just not a cold start. I attached some pictures trying to show the choke position, which appears to be closed but thought I would ask the experts! I have read the posts in the autochoke section and I could not find any pictures showing a fully closed choke. Thanks in advance for your help!
Paul

 

[sgkent]

a fully closed choke is when the butterfly has completely closed off the carb throat. If you shut off the fuel and run it dry when you are done, wait a few minutes after you turn it back on so the carb bowl can refill. New fresh fuel will start easier than six month old fuel. Also, when you start any engine with a rope pull, pull the rope slowly until you feel strong resistance, then pull quickly. If you are near the end of the rope before you feel resistance, let it back in and pull quickly. As for starting fluid, do not use the ether based ones. They are too explosive and will take out the head gasket in time. Use some Berryman's B12 carb cleaner instead.

 

[slomo]

As for starting fluid, do not use the ether based ones. They are too explosive and will take out the head gasket in time. Use some Berryman's B12 carb cleaner instead.

Anything flammable should be fine.

To be safer, use 2 stroke mix in a pump spray bottle.

 

[pstrickey]

I will in the future use the products previously mentioned to start an engine instead of an ether based one. What do you all think from the pictures if my choke is completely closed? While to me it appears to be closed, there is room for air to get in on one side of the butterfly. Maybe I am missing something?
Thanks again for your comments!

 

[slomo]

The choke plate is never fully closed far as air flow. It has holes in it for some air to pass through and go bang.

Positionally YES the plate should be closed.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Look at the plastic linkage lever to the choke shaft (top of carburetor) with the inner air cleaner housing removed. The lever tip would hang on the metal bracket due to poor assembly. Most of the time it just requires a little of the plastic be sanded away to keep the lever from dragging and hanging.

 

[Hammermechanicman]

a fully closed choke is when the butterfly has completely closed off the carb throat. If you shut off the fuel and run it dry when you are done, wait a few minutes after you turn it back on so the carb bowl can refill. New fresh fuel will start easier than six month old fuel. Also, when you start any engine with a rope pull, pull the rope slowly until you feel strong resistance, then pull quickly. If you are near the end of the rope before you feel resistance, let it back in and pull quickly. As for starting fluid, do not use the ether based ones. They are too explosive and will take out the head gasket in time. Use some Berryman's B12 carb cleaner instead.

I will give anyone here $100 if they can damage a lawn mower engine with starting fluid. I have used starting fluid on hundreds of small 2 and 4 stroke engines. Ether has less energy density than gasoline. It just vaporizes easier. I have given people a full can of starting fluid and had them try and "blow up" an engine. Best they could do was hydro lock an engine and get a good backfire out the carb.