I have a Honda lawn mower, model number HRR216K9VKAA, that won't run. It will start up, but almost turn over, but won't stay on. I've checked all of the fuel lines, changed the fuel filter, air filter, spark plug and cleaned the carburetor, and it still won't stay on. Any ideas as to what the problem could be?
Honda not running
- Thread starter H.silv2
- Start date
Your description is a little self-contradictory. You said it starts “but almost turns over.” If it doesn’t turn over, how does it start? Does it start and then stop running? Will it restart after a few minutes and then stop running again? Are you helping it to start by spraying fuel or carb cleaner into the carb or does it start without help? If it starts without help and then cuts off and sometime later starts again, my best guess is that you have an inline fuel shutoff that is in the closed position and over time some fuel leaks past the valve and fills the bowl on the carb. But after it starts with that fuel, the closed valve prevents more fuel flow and the engine dies from fuel starvation. Another possibility is that you used the wrong fuel filter and it is too fine to let sufficient fuel flow. Did this engine ever run for you or did you get it in a non-running condition? Give us more facts so we can help better than just guessing.
What I mean by it starts but doesn't run is, when I pull the cord, the engine will rev, but it will die after that. The fuel filter I installed looks exactly like the one it replaced, it is just a bit shorter. It was running fine, but I believe someone put some dirty gas in the tank. Since then it hasn't been running. It actually ran, albeit very roughly, for about 10-15 seconds when someone was spraying carb cleaner into the motor. After that it cut off. If I'm not giving you enough info, it is not intentional. I am completely new at diagnosing/fixing lawnmowers or engines of any kind. Hope this is more helpful in explaining the problem.
You need to check fuel flow. Does the mower have a fuel pump? If you follow the fuel line from the tank, where does it go? The fuel filter is one, and the carb is the last. Is there another place the fuel line connects? That's usually fuel pump, and has 2 fuel lines and a vacuum line that goes to the engine. If there is a pump, disconnect the line from tank to pump, and see how fuel flows. It should flow, not trickle or dribble. If there is no fuel pump, then do that same check at the carb. If there's a fuel pump, do the check at the carb, but you have to turn the engine over while checking, so the fuel flows. If the first test doesn't flow well, the tank is dirty. You need to clean the tank, and I'd advise to clean the fuel pickup in the tank. Shine a flashlight in the tank, and fish out the pickup. If it's a filter, blow compressed air through it, or clean with carb cleaner spray, or WD40. If fuel flows well all the way to the carb, double check on the carb. Let us know if that's the case, and we can give advise going forward.
Thank you for this advice. I will look into this and hopefully be able to find the issue. I appreciate the feedback.
I’m pretty sure this mower does not have a fuel pump. It is a very common walk behind mower. From what you have told us we know that it starts and runs on carb cleaner, so we know this is a fuel issue. You think it was run on dirty gas and I think you are right. That fits the symptoms you described. I know you said that you cleaned the carburetor but you are new at this so I think you may have overlooked something when you cleaned it. If I were you I’d give up on trying to clean it any further and just buy a new one. You can get a Honda original part carburetor for less than $25. Just search on HRR216K9VKAA and you’ll find vendors with your carb. I found Repair Clinic but there are likely more sellers and maybe better prices. Good luck.
I'm thinking this is a " gravity" fed carb from the fuel tank, if the tank is dirty and fuel not flowing, pull and clean the tank as well as the fuel lines., carb is probably contaminated still , Mark O is right on about replacing the carb if you're not experienced in tearing them down , easy to miss a stopped up jet or bad diaphram etc. If you don't clean the tank , your problems will continue going forward , also you should be able to blow through the fuel filter with out any restrictions
did you drain out all the old fuel, drain the bowl, and replace the filter if there is one? If there is a fuel on-off valve, is it in the on position? Does the choke butterfly work properly if it is an automatic choke?