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I have a Craftsman mower with the Honda GCV160 engine. Had it for years and it's always run fairly well. I replace the carb pretty much every year...costs about $20 and takes about 5 minutes to do. Well the last time it died I assumed it was just the carb again, and it was winter here in Florida so I dont cut every week so I kind of ignored it for awhile.

I pulled it out today, went and bought a brand new carb, hooked it up. And it still doesnt want to start....ok..plan b, spray some carb spray in, it fires, starts, and immediately dies. I check make sure it is getting gas and I have fuel switch open. Still nothing.

So I buy a new spark plug. Still same issue. I can only get it to fire if I spray some carb spray into the carb and it will fire after 4 or 5 pulls and then die immediately. Normally this mower starts first pull with no issues.

Any other ideas on what I can try?

To add... I also verified gaskets are on correctly using a diagram I found online for the carb thinking maybe I just had then backwards. And I can also see I have the choke tab correct as I can see it engage and disengage if I look behind the air filter housing.


I know this looks, feels, and sounds like a fuel issue, but with a brand new carburetor, new gas, and a new plug I'm not sure what else to try.

check air filter & adjust valves

https://www.google.com/search?q=how.....69i57j33.33679j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

remove spark plug & make sure you're on compression stroke & piston is at top dead center, both rocker arms, intake & exhaust rocker arms should be loose.

watch youtube video

mechanic mark said:

check air filter & adjust valves

Click to expand...

Air filter isnt even attached right now, I have it off while I'm trying to get this thing going and spraying carb spray into carb cant be done with the air filter installed.

What valves are you talking about adjusting?

OHV engines need valve lash adjusted after time.

Smmcinto said:

What valves are you talking about adjusting?

Click to expand...

Intake and exhaust valves, intake valve opens to let fuel/air into the cylinder, then closes, combustion takes place and exhaust valve opens letting the burnt mixture out through the exhaust. over time the parts wear and the clearances loosen up..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OYsUtJtrfo

Scrubcadet10 said:

Intake and exhaust valves, intake valve opens to let fuel/air into the cylinder, then closes, combustion takes place and exhaust valve opens letting the burnt mixture out through the exhaust. over time the parts wear and the clearances loosen up..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OYsUtJtrfo

Click to expand...

Time to go rent some feeler gauges.