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Honda 389cc engine binding in one spot

#1

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

389CM
Stamped on the block is
1445060
GCBDT
EY7X

This is off of a Honda Generator EB5000X

Trying to pull the recoil and it wouldn't budge. Thought it was locked up, so I pulled the recoil and spark plug. I put a socket on the crank, and accidentally turned it counter clock wise and it turns freely. Turn it the other way, and just before TDC on both the compression and exhaust stroke, it comes into a spot that's really hard to turn over.
With the ratchet, I can get it over that one spot. It doesn't take a huge amount of force. But none the less, still requires some force.
Now when this spot comes up, it doesn't feel like a metal on metal situation. Although it could be a metal against the side of metal.

BTW, the rockers go up and down as they're supposed to.
Also, removed the brushes, which looked a little worn, but OK. Tried spinning the engine over without the brushes attach. Also looked down into the gen motor and didn't see anything that could be binding.

Anyone got any clues about this?


#2

M

mechanic mark

see page 69 & adjust valves with engine cold, check air filter, check oil level on dipstick, fresh gasoline with Star Tron fuel treatment, new spark plug check gap.


#3

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

Pull the head and check for carbon buildup. Spin The engine with the head off and see if it binds. Check for something binding on flywheel.


#4

I

ILENGINE

Agree with Hammer. A piece of carbon or even the ignition module hitting the flywheel at the magnet would both bind just BTDC.


#5

B

bertsmobile1

AS will a screw that has dropped out of the throttle or choke butterfly .
This is the time hen that Bore-0-scope you have been thinking about buying suddenly becomes an essential item.
But get a good one that hooks up to our PC & can look backwards as well as forewards .
Down the plug hole then down the sump drain (after the oil is gone .) can save a lot of time on a rejected repair quote.


#6

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

Gonna start taking the head off now. I removed the flywheel just to make sure it wasn't a magnet or the coil. And it wasn't. With the flywheel off, I put the nut back on and gave it a turn with the ratchet, and it's still binding up.
So it's gonna be internal.
I can't see anything in the generator motor being the reason for the binding in one place every time.


#7

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

bertsmobile1 said:
AS will a screw that has dropped out of the throttle or choke butterfly .
This is the time hen that Bore-0-scope you have been thinking about buying suddenly becomes an essential item.
But get a good one that hooks up to our PC & can look backwards as well as forewards .
Down the plug hole then down the sump drain (after the oil is gone .) can save a lot of time on a rejected repair quote.
Click to expand...

I just ordered one. Thanks for the heads up on that. I got the cheap one. But it's waterproof. Connects to my phone. If it works out, I'll get a better one later on.


#8

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

Hammermechanicman said:
Pull the head and check for carbon buildup. Spin The engine with the head off and see if it binds. Check for something binding on flywheel.
Click to expand...


You hit the nail on the head, brother. Thanks

There was a pile over 1/2 of powdery carbon on the bottom edge of the cylinder. And on the head. It blew off easy. Just a big puff of smoke when I hit it with the air.
20201007_125501.jpg
20201007_125539.jpg


#9

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

BTW, Partstree shows this head gasket as a 12251-Z5T-003. Can I reused this one? And is there another I can use. (Because Stens doesn't have this specific one. But they do have some that look like it. Like the 465785. Which shows it's for a GX390.

Being all metal, I don't feel comfortable reusing the original.


#10

B

bertsmobile1

No
Buy an original one
Don't even think of reusing the old one


#11

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

bertsmobile1 said:
bertsmobile1 said:
No
Buy an original one
Don't even think of reusing the old one
Click to expand...

I feel like a blonde asking you this, but
No, as in the one that Stens sells won't work on this one.
Or just don't reuse the old one?


Dang it, I hate asking stupid questions.
Click to expand...


#12

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

No such thing as stupid questions, but there can be stupid answers :LOL: asking questions it's how you learn.


#13

B

bertsmobile1

Scrubcadet10 said:
No such thing as stupid questions, but there can be stupid answers :LOL: asking questions it's how you learn.
Click to expand...
But spend 3 times as much and doing the job 5 times till you get it right is how you remember :poop:


#14

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

bertsmobile1 said:
But spend 3 times as much and doing the job 5 times till you get it right is how you remember :poop:
Click to expand...
I hear ya!


#15

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

I think I understand Berts answer. As in "No, don't reuse that one. But an OEM one. (as in not a Stens one)

I'm just making sure. Tomorrow is my Stens order day.


#16

Scrubcadet10

Scrubcadet10

a Honda one is 2.95 @parts tree, that's not bad for a headgasket,


#17

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

Scrubcadet10 said:
a Honda one is 2.95 @parts tree, that's not bad for a headgasket,
Click to expand...

No, it's not the price I'm worried about. But parts tree is at least 3 to 4 days from arriving. Customer needs this Saturday morning. Make my order by 1pm tomorrow, I'll get it friday, and it'll be ready to go. It's a commercial customer.


#18

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

bertsmobile1 said:
AS will a screw that has dropped out of the throttle or choke butterfly .
This is the time hen that Bore-0-scope you have been thinking about buying suddenly becomes an essential item.
But get a good one that hooks up to our PC & can look backwards as well as forewards .
Down the plug hole then down the sump drain (after the oil is gone .) can save a lot of time on a rejected repair quote.
Click to expand...


I got my endoscope in, I peeked down into a Briggs single that I suspected the compression release had broken on. And wadda know, the compression release in it was still in tact. Except it's worn down to the point it doesn't release any compression. Still needs a new one. But at least I don't have to worry about pieces of it getting caught in the cam gear or other places.
After advising the customer of this, and showing them the picture, they decided to just let me have the mower.

It's a shame it's an old one. I'm not sure if I wanna put a new cam in it. Or just a new battery with more cranking amps. I've already got new new drive belts, new carburetor, filters, gas and oil in it. Being this late in the year, I think I'd have trouble selling it for $500.


#19

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

"Gee, thanks for putting a lot of parts on my mower but now it looks too expensive to really fix so why don't you keep it and eat the parts?" Have a nice day!


#20

PTmowerMech

PTmowerMech

Hammermechanicman said:
"Gee, thanks for putting a lot of parts on my mower but now it looks too expensive to really fix so why don't you keep it and eat the parts?" Have a nice day!
Click to expand...

Uh huh, this was one of my take ins before I started almost demanding money up front. And one of the reasons I had to start taking in "up front" money.


#21

Hammermechanicman

Hammermechanicman

Yup, been there got the hat and the shirt.


#22

B

bertsmobile1

It took a while for me to sort out this one .
As a rule, if I can't fix it I don't charge .
This stops me taking on hopeless cases and makes me tell customers up front that it is time for a replacement .
When I kicked off, I let my ego get the better of me and made massive losses repairing the unrepairable.
Not only did this cost me money but I lost a lot of customers because I would get obsessed and literally spend weeks on a single job, while quick & easy jobs sat there for weeks if not months .

So now I charge for any parts put into a hopeless case and this is regardless of weather they offer me the mower or not .
I usually tell them to take it home , and next clean up pour a beer & time how long it stays in the street before some one takes it home.
I still do not charge for the labour .
If the parts are serviceable they go into the "poverty box" for pensioners , charities ( I give the Mens Shed a lot of stuff ) or the like .
The mower, if left behind goes around the back into the graveyard .


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