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Honda HRN 216 Mower

#1

B

billroy1

Hi,
I have a Honda HRN216VKAD, with the GCV170 engine bought new in the box from Home Depot on line this year. The engine model is GJAUA 2361122MY03 with a punch mark on the data plate and blue dot so the recalled camshaft on these engines was done I assume at the factory, Runs great, it leaks oil out of the valve cover (its not like they skimped on sealant either) easy fix, I can live with it for now and I plan to deal with the warantee at the end of the cutting season. My concern is that when it sits for a few days there is a puff of smoke when it starts. Maybe 12 hours on the engine, not above full mark on the stick, 10w-30 etc. Would think this indicates valve stem seal issues leaking oil into the cylander when it sits rather than rings Any thoughts,
If so thank you


#2

S

slomo

Take it back immediately.


#3

B

billroy1

Thank you,
Anybody else out the that is familiar with the GCV170 engine?


#4

sgkent

sgkent

no but I have a 20 year old Toro with a Briggs that has done that since new. Is your Honda one that stores on end? If it is enough that it concerns you, I would follow Slomo's advise. You know it leaks oil. That should not be happening. Might have been someone's first day on the job, or they had a hot date to get to and cut corners.


#5

Tiger Small Engine

Tiger Small Engine

billroy1 said:
Thank you,
Anybody else out the that is familiar with the GCV170 engine?
Click to expand...
That Honda engine is a really good engine. A puff of smoke on start up on older engines is normal. Not so much on a new engine. Realize that Honda got out of the gas self-propelled and push mower business about three years ago, so they probably won’t have another comparable mower to give you.


#6

B

billroy1

slomo said:
Take it back immediately.
Click to expand...

Tiger Small Engine said:
That Honda engine is a really good engine. A puff of smoke on start up on older engines is normal. Not so much on a new engine. Realize that Honda got out of the gas self-propelled and push mower business about three years ago, so they probably won’t have another comparable mower to give you.
Click to expand...
I like the mower, I want to fix it, or at least figure out the cause, there seems to be a little oil getting into the cylinder when it sits, (puff of white smoke on startup after it sits a few days) I am think it be would be oil leaking thru the valve stem seals or the rings when it sits. Or could it be something else? It is a new engine. Would a compression test verify anything?


#7

P

Pitt

Tiger Small Engine said:
That Honda engine is a really good engine. A puff of smoke on start up on older engines is normal. Not so much on a new engine. Realize that Honda got out of the gas self-propelled and push mower business about three years ago, so they probably won’t have another comparable mower to give you.
Click to expand...
"Realize that Honda got out of the gas self-propelled and push mower business about three years ago, so they probably won’t have another comparable mower to give you."
Odd statement as I recently bought a HRX217HZA and just checked their website and they still have a bunch of different models:

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#8

R

RevB

billroy1 said:
Hi,
I have a Honda HRN216VKAD, with the GCV170 engine bought new in the box from Home Depot on line this year. The engine model is GJAUA 2361122MY03 with a punch mark on the data plate and blue dot so the recalled camshaft on these engines was done I assume at the factory, Runs great, it leaks oil out of the valve cover (its not like they skimped on sealant either) easy fix, I can live with it for now and I plan to deal with the warantee at the end of the cutting season. My concern is that when it sits for a few days there is a puff of smoke when it starts. Maybe 12 hours on the engine, not above full mark on the stick, 10w-30 etc. Would think this indicates valve stem seal issues leaking oil into the cylander when it sits rather than rings Any thoughts,
If so thank you
Click to expand...
Is the oil level above the valve stems when not operating? 🤔 ⛔


#9

B

billroy1

Pitt said:
"Realize that Honda got out of the gas self-propelled and push mower business about three years ago, so they probably won’t have another comparable mower to give you."
Odd statement as I recently bought a HRX217HZA and just checked their website and they still have a bunch of different models:
Click to expand...
They stopped making them for sale in the US, Honda had 400k mowers built in the US with the recalled cam shaft in stock, I assume they rebuilt them at the factory, We got one of the last. mine has a punch mark on the engine data plate with a blue dot to indicate the defect was repaired. It leaks alots of oil out of the valve cover and seams to have a valve stem seal leak, otherwise a great mower


#10

B

billroy1

RevB said:
Is the oil level above the valve stems when not operating? 🤔 ⛔
Click to expand...
billroy1 said:
They stopped making them for sale in the US, Honda had 400k mowers built in the US with the recalled cam shaft in stock, I assume they rebuilt them at the factory, We got one of the last. mine has a punch mark on the engine data plate with a blue dot to indicate the defect was repaired. It leaks alots of oil out of the valve cover and seams to have a valve stem seal leak, otherwise a great mower
Click to expand...
Maybe mine is trying to send smoke signals to yours


#11

B

billroy1

Rev B, The oil level is right at the full mark, I can try to drop level a little and see if that solves the start up puff.


#12

B

billroy1

billroy1 said:
Rev B, The oil level is right at the full mark, I can try to drop level a little and see if that solves the start up puff.
Click to expand...
Sorry no the engine sits horizontal on the ground when not used


#13

C

civic

When you check the oil level do you screw in the dipstick? What grade of oil do you use?


#14

B

billroy1

Sir, I have been using 10w-30 conv. No I do not thread in the dip stick, it would be overfilled. I get a puff of blue smoke after shutting It down for a few days and now I notice a puff after restarting after 30 mins or so. Otherwise runs great I am asking if there is anything I can do to test/verify a valve stem seal leak on a GCV 170 engine? Would a compression test tell me anything?


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