Cant get the engine to start on the splitter?!?!?!

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iceman

Minister of Fire
Nov 18, 2006
2,403
Springfield Ma (western mass)
any ideas?
its a honda gc190, i started it and it seemed like it was running outta gas so i checked and yep needed gas, turned it off put gas in it hasn't started since... the gas was new as i had to go the station and get it... i pulled the plug and it was dry (after pulling 15 times) any ideas??? could something be gummed up inside? is there a spray or something to fire it up?
 
First thing I would do is pull the bowl off of the card. Bet you got water or something in it. You can also make sure that it is getting fuel.
 
iceman said:
any ideas?
its a honda gc190, i started it and it seemed like it was running outta gas so i checked and yep needed gas, turned it off put gas in it hasn't started since... the gas was new as i had to go the station and get it... i pulled the plug and it was dry (after pulling 15 times) any ideas??? could something be gummed up inside? is there a spray or something to fire it up?

Can you check and make sure the plug it firing ??

When you tried to start it after it ran out of gas.. Did you try to choke it ??
 
it has been sitting in my garage for 2 + weeks so i dont think there is water in it i could be wrong......
i have been trying to start it with the choke pulled out with no luck
 
Check for a loose nut behind the wheel.





Sorry, I have been drinking a bit tonite.


KC
 
Think "FINK_C" = the general formula for getting any engine going....

Fuel - Is the fuel valve ON? - pull the bowl on the carb, or open the carb drain (if it has one) make sure that you are getting gas into the carb.

Ignition - Is the ignition switch ON? - are you getting spark at the plug when you pull the engine over?

Neutral - Kill - Are there any other interlock switches that need to be made - oil level is definitely one to check, probably aren't any others on most splitters, but... Is the splitter valve in neutral? (if not the load can keep the engine from turning over fast enough, but it isn't an electrical switch)

Choke - Do you need it?

If that all checks out, go down the basics - an engine needs

Fuel - see above..
Air - hows the air filter? is the throttle set right? (I find a lot of small engines start best at full throttle)
Compression - do you have good compression when you pull the engine over? Unlikely that this is the problem, but I have seen the Honda engines throw a valve pushrod...
Spark - See ignition and kill above - probably the most likely issue.

I know a lot of these sound like "idiot checks" but even the best of us have trouble with these some times... I have learned the hard way that it is best to start with the "idiot list" before getting out any wrenches...

Gooserider
 
if you are still having trouble you can buy some "deep creep" made by sea foam and spray it in the carb my local autozone sells it

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it works as quick start

my honda splitter has 40 hours on it and it will start on the first pull - turn the kill switch to start - turn chock to on, turn gas on and pull
 
well here is the update.....
pulled the plug checked for a spark... the spark was good...
opened the fuel drain valve and only a drop came out
checked the plug again it was still dry to the bone
i cannot find a fuel shut off switch... honda manual says some are not equipped with this so i believe mine isnt
called local honda guy he said since its new bring it on over with paperwork from the store and he is 99.9 % sure honda will cover it... he knows if its engine malfunction they will and most times when its this new they even cover fuel issues...
so i think i will be ok as the service my honda "beast" snowblower i do have some history with them
 
Ice, too bad the splitter is giving you problems....must be really frusterating to be on the 2nd new one in a short time and having problems with this one as well.
Anyway, just hope things work out ok for you....really sucks buying brand new equipment and it doesnt run.
Keep us posted
 
I liked the old days when equipment had a sticker that said "Buy clean fuel. Keep it clean". CAT dozers had it cast in metal on the cap.

If/when you get dirt in the system, it can sit dormant like a blood clot. When you run out of fuel, it drains the lines. After refueling, there is an inrush of fuel that's much greater than the normal flow and this inrush can dislodge dirt that then ends up somewhere downstream and you have a heart attack or stroke.

General rule is never run it out of fuel in the first place. When working on fuel delivery systems, flush the line before filling the carb.
 
Ice if it were mine I take off the air cleaner and spray some starter fluid in the carb.
 
Most obvious is float stuck. Honda did have some problems with the low oil switch, but , from a friend who is a mech on these, refill your oil until it just runs out of the fill port ( note this is only if you have a fill port without some big long tube on it) I have a pressure washer that just gave me fits, followed the set up in the manual. could not keep the thing running or not get it started, turned out it was low oil even though the oil was filled to mark on the dip stick. His statement to me was that they seem to use the same dip stick for everything and the level mark is not always correct. Filled oil according to above no more problems, one pull off and running. just my 1/2 cents worth.
 
I have a D6C with that cap Its a mule. anyhow 99% of small engine carb trouble is Trash/Water
BTW after service check all your fuel cans and if youre gonna leave it frequently be sure to use some additive to postpone some of the effects of ethanol it is the devil
 
I gave up on the running pump gas in all of my equipment. If it is not diesel powered I am running 100LL that I run in my planes. Yeah it is costing me $4.50 a gallon but I the ATV's, saw, weed wacker, etc. always start.
 
pilot-werx said:
I gave up on the running pump gas in all of my equipment. If it is not diesel powered I am running 100LL that I run in my planes. Yeah it is costing me $4.50 a gallon but I the ATV's, saw, weed wacker, etc. always start.


Sounds like it'd be a good stove fire starter?
 
ok here is the update

i get a call today from the shop he tells me to come pick it up cause it started in 1 pull.......
says they looked at it sat it started and came in today and started allmon 1 pull... so i go over there and he starts it on 1 pull tells me i didnt pull choke out far enough... so inlaugh and say i pulled it as far as it would go!! needless to say i mustve flooded it but trying to start it on 2 diff days and all the sudden he does it on 1 pull???
 
^someone will be around to collect your membership card this morning.
 
^someone will be around to collect your membership card this morning.

You are always welcome in the electric club. Membership requirements are simpler and you are always within 50 ft of a cold beer.
 
There's an old saying that goes, "Stranger things than that have happened"
but I'm not sure it's true in your case.
 
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