Troubleshooting; Hard Starting With The Recoil Starter Or Poor Engine Performance - Honda HRX217K6HYA Manual

HRX217HYA • HRX217HZA

7. TROUBLESHOOTING

ENGINE

HARD STARTING WITH THE RECOIL STARTER OR POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE

Make sure the fuel valve is ON.
Check the fuel level.
Sufficient fuel in tank
Confirm the fuel quality. If gasoline is more than 30
days old, the engine may be hard to start
Fresh fuel
Check the air filter.
Clean
Check the fuel filter.
Clean
Remove the spark plug and inspect
Dry
Install the spark plug in the plug cap and perform the
spark test (P. 2-12).
Good spark
Check the choke butterfly with the engine cold.
Choke closed
Check the spark arrester (if equipped).
Clean
Install a compression gauge in the spark plug hole
(P. 2-12). Use the recoil starter to briskly crank the
engine several times.
Compression normal
Remove, disassemble (P.
carburetor (P. 8-9).
Install the spark plug and restart the engine.
(P. 2-16).
(P. 3-9).
8-2), and clean the
No fuel in tank
Stale fuel
Clogged
Clogged
Wet
No or weak spark
Choke partially open
Clogged
Compression
is above
80 psi
Compression
is too low
SERVICE INFORMATION
Refuel.
Drain the fuel system, and refill with
fresh gasoline.
Clean or replace the air filter.
Clean or replace the fuel filter.
• Install a new spark plug, then
restart the engine.
• Check the carburetor for flooding.
Check the ignition coil air gap
See "CHOKE CONTROL SYSTEM"
on page 2-15.
Clean or replace the spark arrester.
Camshaft decompressor is not
working, valve clearance excessive.
Inspect the decompressor and valve
clearance (pages P. 3-12, P.
Check the valve clearance
and then perform the cylinder
compression test. If the cylinder
compression is still too low, perform a
leak down test.
If the air leak down test shows air
leakage, check the following as
determined by the test:
- Valve sticking open (P. 10-21)
- Valve seat width (P. 10-22)
- Carbon on the valve seat
- Piston ring side clearance
- Piston ring width (P. 10-16)
- Piston ring end gap (P. 10-17)
- Piston skirt O.D. (P. 10-17)
- Cylinder sleeve I.D. (P. 10-15)
(P. 9-5).
10-14)
(P. 3-12),
(P. 10-23)
(P. 10-16)
2-7