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Hello, New to the forum. I have a 2001 Craftsman walk-behind with a 5.5hp Honda engine. I pulled it out of the shed this spring and it would not start for anything, it had new fuel, stabilizer, new oil, new air filter..........etc. I changed the spark plug in case that was it but that didn't fix it. I checked further and it had spark, fuel.....so that led me to air. I took apart the air cleaner housing back to the carb and then back to the cylinder. I noticed several gaskets were old and decided to just clean the carb and replace the gaskets. I put everything back together and it fired right up! But now whenever I am mowing up or downhill the motor starts to sputter and if I don't get to level ground she dies. I'm thinking fuel filter but when I check sears parts there is no fuel filter listed or on the diagrams and I honestly have never noticed one on the mower. I think I have either unwittingly done something to the carb or have a blockage somewhere. Any help would be appreciated.

the fuel filter on a honda is in the tank and could be plugged from old gas drying out in it. could also be something to do with the float. the floats on hondas are not adjustable but can get out of spec and sit too low and not have enough fuel in the carb bowl to run on an incline.

I agree, probably something to do with the carb float.

First let me start by say thanks for the great info.

Ok, here's an update. I took the bowl portion of the carb apart and checked the float which seems to be moving freely. I discovered something that may shed more light on my problem though. If I don't use the self-propel feature and just push the mower it doesn't stall out, even on inclines but if I try those same inclines and even lightly pull the propel lever she begins to sputter. Any ideas? I'm thinking I may have hooked up something wrong on the carb when I put her back together. Again, thanks for you help.

XNAK said:

First let me start by say thanks for the great info.

Ok, here's an update. I took the bowl portion of the carb apart and checked the float which seems to be moving freely. I discovered something that may shed more light on my problem though. If I don't use the self-propel feature and just push the mower it doesn't stall out, even on inclines but if I try those same inclines and even lightly pull the propel lever she begins to sputter. Any ideas? I'm thinking I may have hooked up something wrong on the carb when I put her back together. Again, thanks for you help.

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It's still a fuel problem!

Try adjusting the carb, Turn the mixture screw all the way in then back it out to 2-1/8 or 3 turns out.

Could still be the float too, float level should be 31/64 to 39/64.

It also could be a bad gas cap or the fuel screen/filter.