Engine Surging/Governor Search.

TwinL

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Aug 18, 2015
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I have a Honda HHR216VXC mower with a GCV160 engine, that has a governor searching issue, cleaned carb and all jets, new fuel line, set governor to proper limit, start full choke to warm then move choke off it starts to surge, turn choke on to approx. 3/4 and runs smooth as silk, and suggestions?
 

bertsmobile1

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99.99% of the time surging is insufficinet fuel inside the cylinder to maintain a constant speed
Now two causes of this
1) carb not adding enough fuel to the air
2) air entering afer the fuel has been added to the air

On small Honda engines , the latter can happen if the gaskets & spacers are not in good condition or in the wrong position or the fasteners are not properly tight

The former usually happens when the carb is dirty, float level is too low or fuel supply to the carb is restricted
Did you clean the carb as shown in the pictures at outdoorpowerinfo.com ?
If not then it is possibly just not clean
 

TwinL

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Aug 18, 2015
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99.99% of the time surging is insufficinet fuel inside the cylinder to maintain a constant speed
Now two causes of this
1) carb not adding enough fuel to the air
2) air entering afer the fuel has been added to the air

On small Honda engines , the latter can happen if the gaskets & spacers are not in good condition or in the wrong position or the fasteners are not properly tight

The former usually happens when the carb is dirty, float level is too low or fuel supply to the carb is restricted
Did you clean the carb as shown in the pictures at outdoorpowerinfo.com ?
If not then it is possibly just not clean
Thanks for your reply, I cleaned the carb, did total disassembly, cleaned all jet holes, yes even the tiny ones in center tube, did a propane test while running to check for possible air leaks, the float is fixed so no adjustment, replaced fuel line from shut-off valve to carb, may just replace carb and gaskets, OEM carb and gaskets are $25.00
 

bertsmobile1

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Propane is the worst way to do an air leak test on a mower
It is not particularly good for cars come to think of it
The air flow from the cooling fan blows the propane down onto the floor
Use a liquid from a trigger spray bottle.
Saturate the whole area from the manifold through to the throttle butterfly shaft
And to get good manifold vacuum work the governor rod by hand so the engine ir reving up and down.
 
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