I have an old HT-R3811 Honda riding mower. It's a great machine, which I've owned for many years and we use it for mowing and towing a small, home-built trailer. The trailer is key for picking up leaves and garden waste. We use the mower and the trailer late into the fall to finsh fall cleanup prior to the first snow.
Last spring I put a new air filter on the mower. The machine was way overdue for this, but since doing it, I'm having starting difficulties. The throttle on this machine has "start" way at the top, then down to fast run, then down to the bottom for idle. Historically, to start, you move the throtttle lever all the way up and turn the key - always started right up. Since putting the new air filter on, this does not seem to work. In the start position, the mower won't start. If I move the throttle to the idle position, it will start and run very slowly, but stalls as soon as you start to advance the throttle to a running speed. Being very judicious in letting the machine warm up a bit at idle speed, then slowing advancing the throttle, I can get it to run. This gets more difficult as the weather gets colder. Warm starts are not an issue.
I suspect that before I put the new air filter on the machine, it was a bit "choked" all the time due to poor airflow through the clogged filter, hence, it started well. Now, with full airflow, it needs a real choke mechanism.
I cannot find any information on how this choke mechanism works. I do not have a workshop manual and cannot find one online. I've looked at a parts diagram for the carburetor, but that was of little help. I cannot find a parts diagram for the throttle mechanism, so I do not know how that connects with the carburetor and ties into any choke mechaism there.
Any suggestions on what to look for and how this choking mechanism works?
Last spring I put a new air filter on the mower. The machine was way overdue for this, but since doing it, I'm having starting difficulties. The throttle on this machine has "start" way at the top, then down to fast run, then down to the bottom for idle. Historically, to start, you move the throtttle lever all the way up and turn the key - always started right up. Since putting the new air filter on, this does not seem to work. In the start position, the mower won't start. If I move the throttle to the idle position, it will start and run very slowly, but stalls as soon as you start to advance the throttle to a running speed. Being very judicious in letting the machine warm up a bit at idle speed, then slowing advancing the throttle, I can get it to run. This gets more difficult as the weather gets colder. Warm starts are not an issue.
I suspect that before I put the new air filter on the machine, it was a bit "choked" all the time due to poor airflow through the clogged filter, hence, it started well. Now, with full airflow, it needs a real choke mechanism.
I cannot find any information on how this choke mechanism works. I do not have a workshop manual and cannot find one online. I've looked at a parts diagram for the carburetor, but that was of little help. I cannot find a parts diagram for the throttle mechanism, so I do not know how that connects with the carburetor and ties into any choke mechaism there.
Any suggestions on what to look for and how this choking mechanism works?