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i've got a black max with a honda GCV 160 something or other. i think its a model sams club used to sell 3-4 years ago. my uncle gave it to me. he says he hit something with it and it wouldn't run after that. he thought he sheared the key on the flywheel. i don't know about that. i brought it home, put gas in it and it fired right up but it wouldn't stay running unless i had the choke on. this afternoon i took the carb off and cleaned it. now it runs but it surges like the carburetor is dirty and its not getting enough fuel. the carburetor was clean when i had it apart. there are no adjustments on it. if i choke it it dies.

next i've got an old toro. it was in the dumpster at work. they said i could have it. i cleaned a bunch of crap out of the carburetor. i shot carb cleaner in everything. there were two brass screws, one with a spring, one without. i took them out and shot cleaner in the holes and put them back. the one without the spring was screwed in all the way. the one with the spring it took about 5 full turns to get it out, when i reinstalled it i turned it 5 full turns. it runs but it surges. if i choke it just a little it smooths out.

i don't know what else to do.

here's a samplin' of what they're doing.

here's el toro. since i can only have one video per post, i'll just create two posts...

Your surging on the honda is either the carb hasnt been cleaned thoroughly or a gasket or spacer is torn or cracked.

Their should be a mixture screw on carb with a cap. Use heat to melt glue that holds cap on pull cap off when warm. Clean in there.
Then screw back in until it fully seats.
At front of carb is small holes where air enters.
Clean down hole on side of mix screw.
Then unscrew mix screw 1 1/2 turns.
Also top of carb is idle adjust screw and a black cap or philip screw. Clean there as well.
Usually a sonic cleaner is best then carb spray.

1. Be absolutely sure the carburetor is fully disassembled and completely cleaned. A typical area that gets clogged is the emulsion tube that's installed under the main jet. Both the jet and tube must be removed and cleaned. Here's a link to a very detailed cleaning guide for Honda carburetors:

Honda Carburetor Cleaning Guide

2. Be sure the gaskets are in good shape in installed correctly. It's easy to get one or more on backwards, and an air leak would cause the engine to surge even if the carb was spotless. Ideally, replace all three gaskets and be sure to snug down the two long bolts for a secure seal of all air cleaner, carburetor, spacer, gaskets, air guide, etc.