Honda 8hp starting problems

disco99

Recruit
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
2
This is a long story but suffice to say I've had a lot of problems with a Honda 8hp 4 stroke. Maybe I don't use it enough but no matter how I try to winterize it I can't get it started the next season. Same problem this year so I guess it's a carb problem.

Case history: the manufacturer used the wrong grease/oil in the lower unit and it siezed the engine. Luckily I had a 20 hr check done prior to that so they replaced the motor. Same thing happened to the 2nd engine, but they didn't replace it and rebuilding cost around $1000.00.

Couple of carb cleanings at $100 per pop and same problem again. 2 strokes seem to work so much better. I didn't use an oil injected 90 hp for 2 years and it started right up, runs perfectly.

Any advice appreciated for the Honda especially for over-wintering. I'm not really a mechanic but at this point I'll give the carb cleaning a shot.

disco99 (from Landrover Discovery, we used to have... another piece of junk)
 

isaksp00

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 14, 2010
Messages
225
Re: Honda 8hp starting problems

I always try to clean the low speed (idle) jet that is on the top of the carb, as it is easy to remove and replace. That seems to help with idling and low speed performance, and starting. This season I am going to remove and dip the whole carb, including of course that jet.
 

disco99

Recruit
Joined
Oct 19, 2013
Messages
2
Re: Honda 8hp starting problems

Thanks. I'll try it this week. It's supposed to be rainy so I should have some time to experiment.
 
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