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Hi All,
I bought this Honda HRR216K9VKA last year and am having problems. I used it probably 5 or 6 times last year with no problems. The first try this year I had trouble starting it because of the long break so I sprayed some starter fluid into the carb and it started and ran great. The second time I used it, no problems at all. Then I pulled it out yesterday to mow again for the third time this year. It started great but after about 10 minutes it quit and wouldn't start again. I pulled several times and could smell gas but it wouldn't start.
I did some research which suggested I pull the spark plug and see if it was black. I did and it was. One site advised that it was probably due to a clogged air filter. I headed to HD and bought a new plug and air filter (I also checked the oil, good level and looked clean). Installed them, started up the mower, and it quit again after about 10 minutes. My wife tried it again about an hour later and it started right up but again quit after about 10 minutes. I've read that this may mean the carb needs to be cleaned/rebuilt. Does this sound right to you guys? I'm a little frustrated because I've only had this thing for about a year with about 10 total mows.

nurdyguy said:

I've read that this may mean the carb needs to be cleaned/rebuilt. Does this sound right to you guys? I'm a little frustrated because I've only had this thing for about a year with about 10 total mows.

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Sure sounds like a fuel delivery problem. Pretty common with today's ethanol fuels, as they can go stale in as little as 30 days, and gunk up the internals of the carburetor. Dirty carburetors aren't covered under warranty (they aren't considered a factory defect when they get plugged up with dirt/slime/old gas). The good news is they are inexpensive to purchase and not hard to install. Since you've already replaced the plug and filter, I'd consider installing a new carb (and gaskets). Any Honda dealer can get them for you; here's a link to find one in your area:

Find A Honda Dealer

If you'd prefer to DIY, share the serial number off the back of the mower deck with me and I'll post some pages from the shop manual to show you how to remove and replace the carburetor.

Well, I took it in to the repair place and the guy cleaned the carb for me. He took way too long to get the work done so he ended up not charging me. Unfortunately, the problem persists. If we haven't used the mower in a day or so, it'll last about 20-25min before cutting out. If you let it cool off for an hour or so it'll fire up and you can get a solid 5-10min out of it. I'm sure you can imagine just how frustrating this is.

I was wondering, could this be an overheating issue? Is the overheating vaporizing the gas causing the vapor lock? How exactly do these air cooled engines cool? Could there be some kind of clog somewhere in the cooling system?

Sounds like you might have a fuel cap that is not venting. The next time you run it, and when it gives a hint that it wants to quit, quickly loosen the fuel cap. If it regains smooth running, that will tell you that you need a new fuel cap.

nurdyguy said:

Well, I took it in to the repair place and the guy cleaned the carb for me. He took way too long to get the work done so he ended up not charging me. Unfortunately, the problem persists. If we haven't used the mower in a day or so, it'll last about 20-25min before cutting out. If you let it cool off for an hour or so it'll fire up and you can get a solid 5-10min out of it. I'm sure you can imagine just how frustrating this is.

I was wondering, could this be an overheating issue? Is the overheating vaporizing the gas causing the vapor lock? How exactly do these air cooled engines cool? Could there be some kind of clog somewhere in the cooling system?

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Probably not an overheating issue, but check around the top of the starter area; just under this is the fan that pulls in cooling air for the engine. Make sure it's not plugged up with grass or debris. Also check around the sides of the engine and clear away and clippings, dirt, debris, etc. The outside of the engine needs to be kept clean and exposed to open air to cool properly.

Vapor lock is possible in any gasoline engine, but unlikely. I understand it could happen easier with a winter-grade fuel, which may be more prone to vaporizing.

Kind of odd the guy cleaned the carb; they very inexpensive for this mower, and often solve poor running issues.

This mower is vented through the fuel cap. You could try loosening it and see if the problem is resolved. I doubt this is the issue, still think there's some gunk in the carburetor.

You bought the mower last year, so still under warranty. Just beware as I mentioned before, issues caused by fuel aren't factory defects, and usually aren't covered under warranty, so be sure to communicate with the dealer who will pay for what repairs BEFORE any work is done.

Thanks for the advice guys. I took it back to Home Creepo to have the guy look at it again. He said he doesn't know what is causing it, thought the carb cleaning would do the trick. He's gonna have to call the Honda guys for advice and may end up sending it to them for full repair. Mean time, my wife is NOT happy. There is a great big triangle on our front lawn where we stopped mowing, it looks pretty trashy. She's upset too because we paid $400 for a mower that just doesn't get the job done.

Side note: I got the model number wrong, it is last years model, the HRR2168VKA.

When it gets to the point of not starting, take the spark plug out, ground it to the block and turn the engine over to see if there is any spark at the plug. The coil may be bad when it heats up.

Joe