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I just wanted to confirm that i wasn't ignoring some other factor all-together:

So, my mower was showing signs that there was dirt in the carburetor, i would start it and it would just stop running after 10 seconds. After all, the deck was pretty clean and I emptied out the grass bag.

So I ordered a carburetor and two gaskets and it fixed that problem. However, the mower is quieter than it was before, and here it's implied that if the governor rod/throttle return switch then you can destroy a small engine:

http://www.small-engines.com/govtheory

I'm thinking that this is all caused by me accidentally bending the throttle return spring attached to the governor rod. Is this true? Also, have i already destroyed the engine? It's not rattling or anything, just a low hum and decreased speed with the self propeller.

Decreased speed simply means that the bend changed the gov setting - zero damage from that.
And no need to replace a good quality OEM carb for dirt - cleaning is trivial and will give you a far better carb than the cheap Chinese junk that is out there . . .

Most Honda mowers are speced to run about 3100, but have a max speed in the engine docs of 3600, and can tolerate far more. They aren't glass - it really would have to be screaming to hurt it . . .

- Tim

tadawson said:

Decreased speed simply means that the bend changed the gov setting - zero damage from that.
And no need to replace a good quality OEM carb for dirt - cleaning is trivial and will give you a far better carb than the cheap Chinese junk that is out there . . .

Most Honda mowers are speced to run about 3100, but have a max speed in the engine docs of 3600, and can tolerate far more. They aren't glass - it really would have to be screaming to hurt it . . .

- Tim

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Thanks for the answer, glad i can still use the lawn mower while my return spring comes in the mail!

I didn't clean it because i saw a youtube video on cleaning it and the guy said you need to file down the sides of a phillips head in order to fully open it. That thing was dirty as hell! Unfortunately i don't have any rods of metal shaped like that in my house, do they make screwdrivers suited for that, or something that works that's commonly in a house or in stores?

Getting the main jet out may require a somewhat straight sided screwdriver, but I have not needed to modify anything . .

How to clean a honda carb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAHdhuDpeKw

There is a special strait sided Briggs & Stratton main jet screwdriver.
I find it is better to use a power driver tip and a 1/4 ring spanner.
Most of those kits will have one that is a close fit into the main jet tube
By using a spannar on the end you can push down hard with one hand while turning with the other.