Old Ride-on Honda GV400 Mower Hard to Start and Stalling

figarow on 27/12/2021 - 11:41
Last edited 27/12/2021 - 11:49 by 1 other user

Not in a position to upgrade or take it to the shop, need to fix it myself, or at least get it going better for the short term. The engine is an old Honda GV400. It drinks oil like nothing else, literally has low oil every 2 hours of mowing. Can't see oil hitting the ground or coming out anywhere…

Often times very hard to start from both cold and hot, sometimes I can't get it going and walk away. If it stalled out because of high grass its easy to start and often first go. Once running it can go for 30 minutes or more before stalling which seems random. Checking the spark plug sometimes it is good but at times can be gunked up with oil and solid bits of sludge. I give it a wire brush but still hard to start with clean plug.

Any ideas on how to get it running better?

I replaced the air filter and noticed some oil in the air intake. I'm not very mechanical so any advice is good, cheers.

• 

  dirtybigbjelke on 27/12/2021 - 12:01

  +1

  Burning Oil. Sounds like the rings are worn out so oil is coming past and being burnt hence the gummed up plug. How is the carby? Do you have any carby or brake cleaner? I would try to spray around the carby with carby or brake cleaner when the engine is running and see if the revs change. Maybe your carby has leaks letting air in. The oil use is concerning it may not be worth spending any more money on the rest of the engine if the compression/rings are that bad.

  Maybe get a carby rebuild kit and clean and rebuild the carb with new seals and gaskets and see how it goes?

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  pegaxs on 27/12/2021 - 12:34

  +1

  Low oil every two hours? Hard to start? Runs like crap if it does start? Low on power? Spark plug gummed with oil and sludge?

  That my friend is worn rings and no/low compression. There is no easy/cheap fix for this.

  Any ideas on how to get it running better?

  Yeah, take it to a specialist mower place that is experienced in Honda engines or buy a new mower.

  • 

    Baysew on 27/12/2021 - 12:41

    +1

    Perhaps try swearing at it?

    • 

      pegaxs on 27/12/2021 - 12:53

      +1

      Perhaps calling it names and degrading it in front of all the other lawn care equipment in the shed…

      Or perhaps OP should get over it being a 20yo ride on mower and it's time to get a new one or get that one repaired because they have had a decent run out of it as it goes.

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  brendanm on 27/12/2021 - 12:59

  +1

  Probably has about 10psi compression, poor thing.

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  Loot N Plunder on 27/12/2021 - 16:24

  First thing i would do is check the valve clearance. I would be surprised if it has been touched at all

  https://cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/engines/pdf/manuals/318…

  If the valve clearance is not set properly it will be hard to start and could blow back oil so give that a try
  take the spark plug out to determine top dead center
  Then do a normal compression test if you have the tool If it is low then do an oil wet bore test to check the rings

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  Euphemistic on 27/12/2021 - 16:44

  +1

  I know a guy who’s ride on packed it in. He purchased a replacement Chinese knockoff motor from eBay or somewhere for a lot less than expected. It kept going for years.

  • 

    figarow on 28/12/2021 - 10:49

    +1

    I'm good at purchasing things but the putting together part is where I come unstuck.