I have an 11 year old Honda push mower; it is an HRX217TDA (self-propelled double blade mulcher). I’m in MN if that matters,
For about 8 years it started first pull every time. I loved it (compared to the rarely-starting lawnmowers I used when I was a kid). I looked down on my neighbors struggling to start their mowers.
Then a few summers ago it started taking 2-3 pulls, then the following year 8-10 pulls, and now I pull it 20-25 times before it finally starts. It has never NOT started within 5 minutes. And once it starts, it runs perfectly smoothly.
For a while I was convinced that if I pushed the throttle ALL the way forward (while pulling the starter) then it would start better, but I never proved that. I didn't see any mechanical change from all the way forward and ALL the way forward.
When my pulls fail, usually nothing happens (ie, it just turns over), a few times there has been popping noise (like a backfire), and once or twice I thought it was starting but it died in about 1 second before it really caught. [Right after those almost-starts it was back to just turning over - it's not like it was warmed up and then started the next pull].
I have changed the spark plug, dipped the spark plug in gas, cleaned the ignition coil, re-spaced the magnets from the ignition coil. I’ve added carb cleaner to the fuel, cleaned the air filter.
At this point I am thinking I need to check the flywheel key. Is this logical based on the description above: eventually starts, runs fine, progressively worse each summer? I don’t exactly understand why the 20th pull is different than the 1st.
I did hit a screwdriver a few years ago (sheared key?), but I don’t have good recollection of when that was relative to the troubles.
I am attaching a photo zoomed on my mower flywheel. I don’t know if you can tell if the key is sheared or missing from this photo, but maybe. Is there any test I can perform ("If X rotates relative to Y, your key is sheared")?
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Sorry if any of my terminology isn’t accurate. I'm not an engine guy, clearly.
For about 8 years it started first pull every time. I loved it (compared to the rarely-starting lawnmowers I used when I was a kid). I looked down on my neighbors struggling to start their mowers.
Then a few summers ago it started taking 2-3 pulls, then the following year 8-10 pulls, and now I pull it 20-25 times before it finally starts. It has never NOT started within 5 minutes. And once it starts, it runs perfectly smoothly.
For a while I was convinced that if I pushed the throttle ALL the way forward (while pulling the starter) then it would start better, but I never proved that. I didn't see any mechanical change from all the way forward and ALL the way forward.
When my pulls fail, usually nothing happens (ie, it just turns over), a few times there has been popping noise (like a backfire), and once or twice I thought it was starting but it died in about 1 second before it really caught. [Right after those almost-starts it was back to just turning over - it's not like it was warmed up and then started the next pull].
I have changed the spark plug, dipped the spark plug in gas, cleaned the ignition coil, re-spaced the magnets from the ignition coil. I’ve added carb cleaner to the fuel, cleaned the air filter.
At this point I am thinking I need to check the flywheel key. Is this logical based on the description above: eventually starts, runs fine, progressively worse each summer? I don’t exactly understand why the 20th pull is different than the 1st.
I did hit a screwdriver a few years ago (sheared key?), but I don’t have good recollection of when that was relative to the troubles.
I am attaching a photo zoomed on my mower flywheel. I don’t know if you can tell if the key is sheared or missing from this photo, but maybe. Is there any test I can perform ("If X rotates relative to Y, your key is sheared")?
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Sorry if any of my terminology isn’t accurate. I'm not an engine guy, clearly.
