Engine Teardown - Another One Bites The Dust!

Engine Teardown - Another One Bites The Dust!
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I have easy to follow and thorough step by step tutorials "do it yourself" (DIY) videos to help you with your broken lawn and garden equipment including snowblowers and zero turn mowers.
I do my best to teach you how to easily diagnose problems the fastest, quickest and most efficient way with real repairs beyond just replacing a spark plug. These tips are for both the homeowner and shop owner.
Whether it be a handheld, two stroke, two cycle engine like a chainsaw, weed eater, weed whacker, string trimmer, grass trimmer, line trimmer, hedge trimmer, strimmer, brush cutter, leaf blower, or four stroke, four cycle units like a lawnmower, wood splitter, lawn tractor, zero turn mower, snowblower, pressure washer, generator or a ride on mower that needs parts installed or replaced, I’m your go-to guy.
My favorite brands of spark plugs are NGK and Champion and are the ones I recommend.
I’ve been a small engine mechanic for many decades and also run my own repair shop so my videos are loaded with tips and tricks that I have learned and want to share with you. You will also find many tool and product reviews from top brands on my channel as well.
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Due to factors beyond the control of DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor”, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor” assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor” recommends safe practices when working with power tools, hand tools, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor”, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not DONYBOY73 “The Small Engine Doctor".
#donyboy73 #honda

[@donyboy73]

Watch my video on how to remove a seized lawnmower blade adapter here; kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKWspYyhhbN5Z9E

[@billstiles487]

A note to inform you that someone is using your logo and requesting that we text a number to them when we reply in the comments. It's a scam. You may want to warn others.

[@donyboy73]

@@billstiles487 yes thanks, I saw that and blocked it

[@gilpicard6024]

@@donyboy73 i got one this morning

[@donyboy73]

@@gilpicard6024 it's a scam

[@sgnt9337]

That's one of those "throwaway" Honda engines. The diagonal parting line, non removable head is the main clue.

[@tomycodd]

Looks like the mower was ran with low oil at one time for a while then oil was added but it was too late.Thank you for a great video!

[@gs1100ed]

I think that a mower with no drain plug is more likely to not be serviced regularly. There are probably a few people who don’t want to deal with the dumb process for draining the oil. I also think the owner got their moneys worth out of this mower. I got ridden hard and put away wet.

[@high5innovationsllc658]

If you haven't been to school you sound just like my instructor, you're an amazing teacher. Thank you for your videos.

[@paulbillings1791]

Great teardown video. For diagnostic test to confirm a suspected rod failure,I save time by removing the plug and place a pencil in the hole and cycle the machine to see if the pencil moves.

[@jim21804]

Washington DC has banned gas powered leaf blowers because of the noise. Many cities are starting to ban gas powered lawn equipment. Sooner or later I am going to need to retire my 1964 Cooper lawn mower!!!! That old Briggs still starts on the first pull.

[@TheLawnmowerLady]

Great to see this salvage/teardown video. Despite the high mileage, it seems the owner took care to keep it out of the weather, hence the lack of corrosion on the crank, but it does seem like a lack of oil changes.

[@lukem7203]

The oil changes came to mind too when we saw how galled the rod journal is.

[@stans5270]

I think that oil was added after the engine blew. The translucent property that it has means that it doesn't have excessive use. The darkness is most likely from old oil mixing with new.

[@donyboy73]

could well be!

[@knifecollector54]

I just recently re-found this channel . Used to watch you years and years ago . Helped me fix a lot of stuff when I was a young boy . Thanks for the effort and all the hard work you do for the videos .

[@charger19691]

Wow, with some regular oil changes, i think this engine would be alive and well.

[@DC5nuT]

Looks like the bottom end has been apart. Look at the sealant. Over torqued Rod Bolt?

[@HipaParts]

Really learn about lawn mower repair. Thanks for sharing.

[@ralphwatten2426]

I think the kid ran it out of oil, the rod locked up on the crank, snapped the rod and new oil was added.

[@ApexHotShot]

An entertaining and informative video. Thanks Dony. I had to smile when you picked up the engine and shook it! Rattle, rattle.

[@patriciapiper6294]

Donyboy, the way you diagnose these problems is so important for me. You teach me to slow down and start from the outside and read the signs. It makes the mystery a more worthy effort. I mean to respect the process and my time instead of going hole hog in upset mode and not remember what went where like usual for me.!! 🙏👍🇺🇸Thanks

[@gordbaker896]

The rod journal is badly scored so I suggest it was starved for oil. For a motor with lots of 'lawnage' it was incredibly clean inside. Scrap prices are very low at the moment in Southern ON.

[@brianbanks3044]

Love it when you. Dissect machines and show the damage...we are such a throw away society and never get to see WHY stuff fails...plus we get to see all the parts and how yhe look in the engine...thanks Don for all your time and effort producing your videos!!

[@swingbelly]

I always love reading the comments to your videos as they usually contain other important information. And, sometimes the subtle humour is excellent ie. autopsy "cause of death undetermined", eh. Thanks, Doney.

[@donyboy73]

😂

[@HobbyMotorDK]

Good message. With the new GCV engines with less oil capacity - it will be even more important to change the oil at the recommended interval - or even sooner.

[@richardwernst]

Great, thanks! I'd suspect the oil got low and engine failed and they put more oil in to see if it'd still run. I'm a bit surprised you're not keeping the case, unless it's damaged. Not worth someone paying you to fix but either to rebuild another one, or that engine with some other, good, used parts.

[@ChuckD59]

Fun to watch, thanks dony. As you were talking about the various parts you'd keep, or scrap I got to wondering how you organize your scrap parts. I'm just a DIYer, but over the years small engines, and other mechanical objects have passed through my shop and I'm as terrible at throwing junk away as I am organizing my junk. Would love to hear your thoughts on shop organization.

[@donyboy73]

I put them in boxes in my sheds neatly organized and labelled, very handy and those used parts often save my bacon!

[@kenbrown2808]

best thing to do is organize it by type of metal. then when you take it to the recycler, you can get the best value with the least fussing.

[@high5innovationsllc658]

I use a magnet to help identify metals, and keep them in labeled bucket to take to the scrap yard. Totes get to heavy and boxes break. The buckets for me are manageable in weight and keep my build-up down. I'm taking small engine repairs, so I take any broken cheap machine I can find. It builds fast!

[@martinflanagan2506]

Another great video Don. Change oil every fall before the mower is put away, and you will never have a thrown rod like that mower.

[@Zombeegun]

Great video. I like these tear-down vids, you can learn a lot about how the machines are put together and problems they have. Thanks Dony!

[@scottmclagan4276]

Yup, even with good build quality like Honda, if you run the engine on spent oil with no lubricity, it's toast. Great vid, thanks.

[@Doormaster77]

Great Video Don. More broken engine carnage! Reminds me of all the Kohler Courage engines that I've seen coming through my shop over the past few years! Change your oil early and often to avoid premature failures like these!

[@SA-iw4ci]

Looks to me like the engine has been opened up and worked on before and sealed up with Anaerobic gasket maker. I am personally quite fond of the Permatex Anaerobic Gasket Maker.

[@donyboy73]

yes I think you are correct

[@pjwoolw]

Good one Don. I have that same mower in the shop. The customer put the blades on wrong so I had to replace all the bolts, blades (bent) and the woodruff key. He is lucky he isn't buying a new mower.

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

It's 3:07 am and I'm eagerly awaiting 7:30 am so I can run the two junked snowblowers for the first time. Both discarded from mice damage which brings me to a video suggestion. How to discourage mice from making a home in the various types of small engine equipment. I've tried a few things but don't know if any work as I get stuff, fix it and sell it too quickly.

[@ChuckD59]

I have that problem. Moth ball bags have mostly worked. Both in the machinery and under the hoods of the cars. For out-of-season storage I'll drop one or two on whatever it is and try bag it as much as possible, or at least bag the engine. A ZTR mower gets two bags and I have a cover for the mower. But still, when I pull the snowblower out soon I'll drop the belly pan to be sure the hotel's been unoccupied.

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

@@ChuckD59 I heard spearmint oil like the over the counter pharmacy has works on cotton balls which would require putting where water can't get it like where a mouse would live. Have you ever heard anything like that as it was in a Farmer's Almanac and I tend to believe that source. Great job at preventative maintenance BTW, I won't be seeing any of your stuff probably ever. People where I'm at throw away $800 year old Weber grills if a mouse makes a nest in it. I currently have a collection of Weber grills from the early 90s till two years ago I restored over the winter and just got a Weber Genesis Gold which I've never seen before. Anyways I'm rambling so peace and not pieces for your connecting rods.

[@donyboy73]

moth balls work great

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

@@donyboy73 Much appreciated. I'm on my way to get some now.

[@kenhilson786]

@@ChuckD59 I've heard stinky dryer sheets

[@bobmcl2406]

That was an interesting exercise. Thanks for the tour. I thought Hondas were indestructible, but your speculations regarding the failure make sense. It was sad to hear your assessment of the future, but you almost certainly are right. I am not looking forward to having to take 2-hour breaks to recharge battery packs when I am trying to mow my property or clear my long laneway!

[@donyboy73]

unfortunately some of these honda engines are made in china and the quality is not what it used to be

[@bobmcl2406]

@@donyboy73 I didn't know that! I wonder if those Hondas and the "Chonda" clones are made in the same factory?

[@timewa851]

there will be ICE engines, for those who prefer them. Just collect a few spares, or wait till a neighbor tosses one with a loose cutting blade, plugged air filter & fouled sparkplug. Then bolt it on & operate it for another fifteen years. Free B&S Quantum engine!! I do that.

[@Lovinflyindrones2022]

The lawnmower Dr Specialist!!!

[@donyboy73]

in this video I was the coroner!

[@Lovinflyindrones2022]

@@donyboy73 yes love your channel. I’ve been watching for years now.

[@philliphall5198]

Funny that most people will add oil, even used oil to try and get warranty

[@georgepruitt637]

They ran it low on oil, then added oil after the rod broke. A worker at a construction co [that I was their mechanic] ran a 555 Ford backhoe almost completely out of oil. He panicked added oil up to the full mark, and thought himself quite clever. Unfortunately ,he could not crank the motor. So, at the bottom of the dipstick, was black oil. All the rest of the way up the dipstick was clear oil that he added. No, the boss didn't fire him. I noticed black oil/clear oil on the dipstick that you removed.

[@deanmoore420]

You’re definitely right it blew its cookies

[@skyemac8]

Maybe the governor was stuck open giving it high revs. Otherwise it was a well kept machine.

[@BrucesShop]

I love a tear-down. Thanks

[@gregwmanning]

Great video. I enjoy seeing what's inside an engine

[@jeffshark4]

Thank you for the video , No battery lawn mowers in my future, everyone I see if you have a hour job mowing with battery takes you 3 hours because of charging and lack of power, I would just let my lawn go and not mow, I had to go battery !

[@frankmuschetto3385]

Great video. Your tear down and comments are very informative.

[@billstiles487]

love your fast, to the point videos. Thanks for sharing.

[@kurtyoung6769]

I stopped very early in the video to say " oh no, check for a stuck valve first!" This procedure can be done in less than five minutes!!!!

[@11bayrat]

Thanks for sharing this information!

[@tyroneclarke1666]

Great tear down video Don. Cheers 👍🦘🇦🇺

[@alexcorvi2254]

Doesn’t appear to be a lube failure as piston looks decent. looks like over reved

[@ronwatson4902]

Yessir. That's a great video and I'm always interested to see what happened when an engine fails. My last one was a broken rod as well. Thanks Dony and have a great weekend yourself.

[@jonahlawrence4617]

Dude, You are the BEST!!! Thank you for the video. This will definitely help be in the future!

[@markproulx1472]

Great video! I own an HRX217, so this was really informative. I’m glad that I take really good care of it.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Now we know what the inside of a Honda engine looks like.

[@hosocat1410]

I have several machines with these engines. Very informative. Thanks!

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

Two other comments and I forgot to thank you again so thanks for helping me get where I am.

[@evanchapmanfanman]

My guess is that the con rod had some galling which caused it to seize to the crank and snap the rod. these are tough little engines, very odd to see one blown up. I put one on my snapper mower after the old tecumseh blew up.

[@lawrencecarroll2031]

Good video! ALWAYS enjoy a good autopsy!!

[@donyboy73]

cause of death is "undetermined"

[@lawrencecarroll2031]

@@donyboy73 :) the perfect crime then!!

[@hosocat1410]

This is a little off topic. I've been hearing a lot of people on KZbin and chainsaw forums saying that stihl 2 cycle oil is damaging engines. Have you heard about this? It might be a good topic for a video if you felt like it. I've been using stihl orange and silver bottles for years. I hate to think I might be wearing out my equipment too soon.

[@Mudcat597]

Thanks for sharing.😊👍

[@Kyle-bb9zp]

It's done it surprisingly that people or home owners don't want to take care of there gasoline equipment every year. They would rather go out and buy a new mower every year. I know those Honda engines are very good last a long time.

[@Hydrogenblonde]

Tremendous video. Very informative.

[@arendeepropertymaintenance]

Your best video to date, Don. Very good. I thought stuck valve, but if I had heard the banging and clanging as it turned over.......yep. con rod. A Honda breaking is as rare as rocking horse poo.

[@gillgetter3004]

Electric mowers? Modules micro switches and motors. Electronic diagnosis will be the thing to learn!!😂

[@alans.4658]

Great video to watch. I guess the owner will be buying another mower for his lawn moving business, lol

[@AlwaysBeSmart674]

I just found one of these being thrown away on someone’s tree lawn in this rich neighborhood right by where I live. It’s the Hrx model though with plastic deck it’s like brand new runs great. Was at a house for sale I think the realtor or someone just didn’t know what it was

[@walterbordett2023]

Good video,Dony. My dumb guess was compression release failure. All the aluminum talked onto the crank journal was interesting. I love my Honda mower. Worth every penny I spent. I'm not going electric until someone builds one that isn't a plastic toy.

[@appleztooranges]

It’s the damn autochoke!

[@mjg263]

Really neat tear down and autopsy Dony! I guess the crank pin can show signs of galling whether the engine died from over-revving or from oil failure. That’s a weird one, looks like the guy took pretty good care of it except for not changing the oil every spring. Oh well…can’t save ‘em all, eh?

[@dtom1145]

Love those post morttems!

[@barrypettit3668]

Excellent video Don, i have this exact mower but i change the oil almost every year . May be overkill but it only takes a few minutes to do. Last mower i am going to buy.

[@philliphall5198]

I change oil every 5 time I cut grass

[@nomanjones4803]

Mowing on a steep hill could cause this.

[@adrianhinds106]

Legend Mate st turned 2 mowers into one and works like new now thankyou

[@TheNine6]

My Honda made the same sound. That was after I couldn't pull the cord at all. After 2 hours of kicking it, it started. Now it runs great. That was 4 years ago after sitting for 3. Mower was bought in 1995 and runs great for some reason. Will ever only buy Honda

[@mcarroll598]

These HONDA GCV engines are made so cheaply compared to the GXV engines.

[@philliphall5198]

Junk

[@josephrich6014]

Excellent video. I really like how you explain what everything is as you're removing it. I did not grow up around engines or mechanics, so your videos have really helped to educate me on how to fix my machines or when to not attempt it. Thanks again and have a great weekend.

[@donyboy73]

thanks Joseph

[@1oldteck]

Thanks 👍

[@gregvan5057]

Thanks for the teardown

[@CompetentSalesUSA]

Thank you

[@donvoll2580]

Good day Don. Very interesting video. Thanks Yea over revving, bad.

[@annierenard5954]

very good video, thank you

[@thyubernoob]

Not getting my gas powered...😉👍

[@donniemunroe7512]

good video dony, thanks

[@xoxo2008oxox]

Rare to see a Honda, that are premium priced over most mowers, fail like that. Was it the original blade? Was that under mower front shield bent? And the wear on the wheels...they got their value out of it. 1313 serial... 13.... there's your problem! 😆

[@belgianmechanic3971]

GCV engines are not that good. We see a lot of failures on GCV engines at my work. GXV instead are workhorses, never had issues with them.

[@gordmcdonald2807]

I learned again from you. I never knew some of the small engines had timing belts. I have a 22 year old toro. I've put OME wheels on it twice. Sadly the drive rod is warn and they are close to $300 when I priced it. Time for a new toro. Love your vids.

[@donyboy73]

have a good weekend Gord!

[@zonie1953]

I think that engine has been apart before. Not the usual gray Hondabond sealer on the sump cover . I wonder what the engines story is !

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

Oh yeah, my first experience with a Honda push mower was putting the timing belt back on. I didn't even know some had T-belts but Honda loves over complicating things like choke for example or fuel shut off valve which is cool but I had to figure that out the hard way too.

[@nelsonthekkath4830]

I used to keep it as a whole. Otherwise I won't find the items whenever I need. Whatever I need that time I remove it and take. 🙂🙂🙂 All the best buddy.

[@RaleysSmallEngines]

Good video my friend.

[@jameshedrick605]

Love the tear down videos. You can learn a lot and sometimes you can get quite a few useable parts. I have a Kohler courage engine with the hours on it it comes to approximately 126,000 miles before it finally lost compression and it was serviced regularly. With an engine that blew up like that and if it didn't cause anymore damage can you replace the connecting rod ?

[@jjparody8257]

Honda's can be pretty forgiving on rebuild in my experience. Last summer rescued a similar engine, GCV190, on an HRX217 where the broken rod knocked a hole in the top end. I used the bottom end of that engine along with the crankshaft & flywheel, all in good shape, and utilized the cylinder top end, with rod, piston, & valves, from a GCV190 pressure washer on which the pump was kaput. Have successfully mowed with that HRX217 for two seasons now. But I am a DIYer; such an effort likely wouldn't be productive nor cost effective for a shop owner.

[@stevetalbert2727]

That conrod seized to the crank.

[@rckolc]

The reason why the front tire treads are worn is because those wheels can also be used as drive wheels. They have geared hubs. You can use them as drive wheels also. They were rotated once the original drive wheels wore smooth.

[@bobadiag]

Thank you.!!

[@edwintaber6465]

Saw this once when mower was used too long along a steep contour probably with oil level down to the low mark.

[@baddad5781]

I'm just a dyi flunky but always enjoy your videos. I learn something every video so thank you. Since that piston was seized in the cylinder wall, why wasn't the cylinder wall scored you think?

[@pryme2013]

Lol does that thing even mow grass? That deck is spotless. Even cleaning the deck multiple times a year my 11 year old ariens has a dyed green deck with lots of grass

[@12tremblay]

Well done sir !

[@SueEnoughIsEnough]

I would save all the screws and bolts. They are expensive.

[@gregbetts8057]

personaly i save everything that can be reused , than smelt down the ally for future projects . good vid , thanks

[@PatrickKanatzer]

Would like a video on your thoughts and or concerns of going electric.

[@jonlambshead6593]

Another Great Video, Well Explained, I Work On Small Engines For Many Years. Lots Of Valuable Parts There To Save. Most People Would Just Dump The Whole Thing. Even Though I Work On These Little Engines I Like Watching Other Peoples Videos and Offer Some Help If I Can. Thanks For The Great Vid. Watching From Australia. Love The Channel

[@donyboy73]

greetings from Canada!

[@jamiecraswell9368]

I am surprised that you don’t have or use a oil extractor for these small engines

[@donyboy73]

i do but since this engine was scrap i did it this way

[@adnacraigo6590]

At least you are left with some usable parts. I am not sure that I like those plastic parts inside the engine though.

[@michaelovitch]

Will you have enough work in your field if the small engines become electric engines ? Do you have plans or needs to adapt or change your approach yet ?

[@xmanb8193]

Oil is cheaper than a engine 👍👍👍 never had any problem with Honda engines

[@rjb6327]

Always interesting.