Honda HRA214 Won't Start

[@johnpalma7265]

I only needed to know how to remove the spark plug but I watched the whole video, thanks for the dog.

[@BrucesShop]

Dog? I hope you didn't need a video to remove a spark plug.

[@johnpalma7265]

@@BrucesShop It's a Honda! Yes Dog, thanks for offering to put one on the grill

[@BrucesShop]

@@johnpalma7265 OK. Sorry for the confusion.

[@jjparody8257]

I worked on a similar vintage Honda (early 1990's) this past summer. Ended up being the coil but unlike yours, the spark did jump the plug; it was just an intermittent failure ... run for a while, stop, run for a while, stop. The owner didn't want to pay up for OEM so I got replacement from Amazon. Believe it or not, the coil included a carb & gaskets .... for about $16. Ran fine all mowing season & still does. BTW, his had a GX140 (same as yours, I think). What a great engine, better I believe than the current GCV160's (also good engines) but probably became too expensive for Honda to make for today's Home Depot mass market.

[@BrucesShop]

Yes. This mower has a commercial "feel" to it.

[@kenhilson786]

I just got hr194 at church dumpster. After checking bunch of thing for no start it appears to have been plug tension cable end. When it finally started it would just putt putt at low rpm. One time it suddenly sped up and ran fine. I suspect that the compression release was stuck.

[@DIYLifeSkills]

Dang, I would've paid even another $5...$20. LOL This is probably one of the very best home lawn mower...that really never dies.

[@BrucesShop]

Right. Do yours smoke??

[@DIYLifeSkills]

@@BrucesShop Nope, she's been running great for 33 years with absolutely minimal maintenance (2-3 oil changes, and not sure if I changed the spark plug or not). I think Honda lawn mowers are THE BEST in terms of longevity. I've been thinking this is going to crap for last 10 years, and I'm finally convinced this will may go another 10 years. I'm going to give it a nice tune up (change oil, clean air filter, sharpen blades) in the spring, and may be give it a fresh paint job for the great job it's done. I've subscribed to your channel, and I'll be watching more details. The only issue I'm having is the self-propelling seems slightly less powerful than before, but that could be just my imagination.

[@andyhamilton8940]

Hey Bruce just picked up a HR214 with aluminum deck. Do you what years these were made or how to find out? Thanks!

[@BrucesShop]

Sorry I don't. they go back decades.

[@albert333pool]

I don't know if it's a new trend in my "young" age (I'll be 47 in a few months) but lately I find videos like this so soothing!

[@BrucesShop]

It is healthy to learn. I am 63

[@Jim-ie6uf]

Aldoobie I’m 63 and watch them all the time, I do this for a hobby, too.

[@mwhilden5277]

Thanks to you Bruce Pender! , without any prior experience I got a 35 year old roadside find up and running - Honda HR214. Only problem is a hole in the deck - looks like a blade may have wobbled off. Any ideas how I might patch it? Many thanks.

[@BrucesShop]

Well if the hole is small ( 1 inch) I would get some sheet metal and either rivit in a new piece from the top or use short sheet metal screws.

[@mwhilden5277]

@@BrucesShop i have some sheet metal on hand - I'll give it a try. Many thanks

[@manuelpacheco8203]

Any idea a honda 160 lawn mower engine with new ignition coil but no spark I disconnect the kill switch wire and still no spark thanks for your help

[@BrucesShop]

I would check for a shorted spark plug . Can you try running it with a different plug. I know it sounds simple.

[@robpeters5204]

Where are you from? I’m in southwestern Ontario and I need a deck for mine.

[@BrucesShop]

I am 3102 km/s west just north of Montana

[@threejackcity4471]

Hey Bruce, really enjoy your videos, especially inspiring is your positive attitude and sense of humor! I recently picked up a Honda HRA214 SX. I got it running but my problem is that I seem to have only full throttle and off. I can't seem to achieve any reaction from the throttle. I've tried everything I could think of w/o success. If you have any suggestions, they would be most appreciated!

[@BrucesShop]

Welcome aboard! Well adjusting the governor is a last resort as they are set from the factory. The governor is the lever and spring attached to the small black 1/4 inch shaft coming out of the engine. IF you adjust this it only has 2 position possible. 1 loosen the bolt holding the bracket onto the shaft. Take a set of good pliers and turn the shaft coming out of the engine it will only move maximum 1/8 of a turn. If it doesn't help one way try the other direction. The other issue is that it has been adjusted so many times the grip on the aluminum handle is stretched and that needs to be filed so it grabs the shaft. Good luck. There are a lot of videos on Honda governors. Take a look at about 10:26 in this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHyZqKGtiqurY5I Watching the whole thinkgwon't hurt.

[@bohdiconnelly6136]

Hi Bob ,if I may can I ask your advice? I have the same mower and I've fully serviced it. New oil , filters ,carb fully cleaned and new spark plug. I've tried to start the mower and not getting combustion. The plug smells of fuel vapour but isn't wet. After each pull on the mower there is always a "hiss" noise from the bottom of the engine close to the mower body. What else can I try? Thank you

[@BrucesShop]

I would take the flywheel off to see if your keyway is sheared mixing up the timing makeing the spark light the fuel at the wrong time.

[@bohdiconnelly6136]

@@BrucesShop fantastic. Thank you so much. Massive fan of your channel . My son is hooked also haha. Chris from bonnie Scotland

[@BrucesShop]

@@bohdiconnelly6136 The name is Bruce BTW LOL

[@bohdiconnelly6136]

My utmost apologies , it's this phones god awful auto text.

[@bohdiconnelly6136]

Well Bruce ,your long distance diagnosis could be spot on. Stripped the flywheel off and found that the key has been sheered in half. New part ordered and fingers crossed,it could be a new life for such a great mower! Thank you so much for your time and help

[@berardia4]

my guess for part 2, the little wafting of smoke when cranking at 5:00 and long crank time, partly sheared flywheel key

[@BrucesShop]

It does come to life. maybe it needed to spin you will see. thanks Al

[@ncarlson12]

I liked the business card as the coil spacer. Good trick. Helped me out. Thank you!

[@BrucesShop]

Glad it helped!

[@rudy6458]

I like your trouble shooting, unlike others who go after the carb.My honda Sounds the same, will try your coil test.Great video.

[@BrucesShop]

Thanks a lot.

[@luilui03able]

hello Bruce, left a question in your other video, and the one I got stars and will stay on till I take off the blade brake stops ,quits , you think is the carb?

[@BrucesShop]

The clutch sticking

[@derricktyler3091]

Where did you get that cart?

[@BrucesShop]

This video tells it all it is older check out the comments kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6ead6d8jLd7l7c

[@davidphillips2259]

The boss is back in town look out everyone

[@BrucesShop]

LOL Thanks I think.

[@finbah5706]

great check to test the coil. gonna remember this one

[@BrucesShop]

Thanks

[@dr.lmsb4456]

Ive learned so much from your videos i diagnosed the problem like a 1/3 of the way through the video. Thanks for all the great videos .cant wait for the next one . #smallenginenation

[@BrucesShop]

Good for you

[@dr.lmsb4456]

@@BrucesShop thanks .

[@kennycybertron1]

Did you notice how Bruce kept working real hard when the management showed up?? We all do that....just kidding ya' Bruce, can't wait for part II

[@BrucesShop]

Oh i know who is the boss around here. Just ask either one of us.

[@rogerchapanis2067]

Have you made a video on how to replace the carburetor in this mower (HRA214), or do you know someone who has?

[@BrucesShop]

Ath the end of this video i install one. there isn't much to it line up the rods as you slid the carb on. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJPMkpiQea5phJo

[@americanstreet8704]

Great job Bruce. I always tell people don't trust them light up spark testers. Get a older one to see if it can actually jump spark like them old Briggs ones

[@BrucesShop]

Right. I just use an old plug opened up to 100,000 th. I still use the neon tester but only to see. I know now what a weak spark looks like too but i still don't trust them much

[@charlesdoogan6285]

Sthil ultra 2 stroke what do you think

[@BrucesShop]

It is great fr anybody who just uses there 2 stroke stuff once in a while

[@charlesdoogan6285]

@@BrucesShop I uses it all the time

[@stanrogge9552]

How come the top two bolts of the valve cover are gone?

[@BrucesShop]

Go to the beginning of the video they share the attachment of the rewind housing.

[@randylyon2772]

Bruce, my father in law gave me a lawn mower like this one. I what it's like for this mower to smoke like a locomotive. He told me the service people put diesel in it. When you first start it up it really smoked. I know this sounds really weird. That's what he told me.

[@BrucesShop]

Some of these Older Honda's smoke for 30 seconds when you start them up.

[@GrampiesWorkshop]

How's sh goin'? I like how you start on something and stay with it!! I could tell when you were trying to start the mower in the truck that you were hooked and wouldn't leave it alone till you got it to at least bark a little!!! Take care!!!

[@BrucesShop]

Right. Once they show a sign of life i do get hooked.

[@kenhilson786]

Can't believe I just got a hr194 no starter. Found manual. Coil gap is .016 set away from magnet. My problem was apparently just the boot end. There are also ohm measurements in the manual for coil testing. Normal compression is only around 50 psi . manual shows how to bypass it to get true compression.

[@BrucesShop]

The compression will read low as on the the rope pull there is a compression release to make the pull easier. Only at high rpm with the compression increase after it is running.

[@JSchrumm]

Why do you suppose the valve cover bolts are mia?

[@BrucesShop]

They aren't. The not only hold down the cover but the rewind housing too. At 6:20 You will see.

[@aldricracette4813]

Thanks for the video Bruce keep them coming

[@BrucesShop]

OK :-)

[@jonathanfierberg3807]

Defective zed bend ??

[@BrucesShop]

Dirty carb. This is the following video kzbin.info/www/bejne/qafLp2R5l9Fpp8U

[@beardedscrapper538]

Love these old Honda’s. Got one sitting in the truck.

[@BrucesShop]

They are made well

[@campbellpaul]

I had a problem starting an HRSX once... It turned out that the blade was stuck in the engaged position somehow

[@BrucesShop]

I can see that.

[@HamJamming]

When the spark gets weak, it doesn't burn all the gasoline in the combustion chamber so the exhaust emits black smoke, just like it was running too rich.

[@BrucesShop]

Right. The last owner thought is just smoked. Although it still does a bit. There is a lot of carbon in there so let's wait for part 2.

[@johnmcminn9455]

So it was the coil this time and the carb

[@BrucesShop]

The coil was the first find and an old Honda carb always need cleaning.

[@not2fast4u2c]

I wonder why the coil went bad

[@BrucesShop]

The coils are designed to have a gap of about 30 thousands. this was was almost touching 5 th??? creating almost a short and loading the current flow of the spark my theory. I think that is what did it.

[@davessmallenginerevival2847]

Hi Bruce. I think it was blowing smoke do to poor spark. These old Hondas were great mowers

[@BrucesShop]

Partly as well with the small spark gap on the plug. Maybe that killed the coil. ?????

[@nickl1682]

Those older Hondas just keep running , there great , not sure about the newer motors . Great buy .15.00

[@BrucesShop]

They are

[@richardybanez9052]

What Was This Honda Made. Ohghhh Year 1972.Richard.

[@BrucesShop]

Yes

[@jasonvolkov7069]

Try moving the camera closer to your work... other then that helpful video. Btw looking for info on honda HCR 216??

[@BrucesShop]

I am always working on my videos. You should try to make a video. I am happy this one helped you. This is the toughest thing I have ever done, but there is satisfaction in the work.

[@clauslundberg9224]

BPTV - my favorite channel :-)

[@BrucesShop]

Thanks Claus

[@themowerman]

Wait. Your going to make me wait for a part 2. How can you sleep at night lol.she will be a runner. But the question is why the black smoke. Could of been run of choke I suppose. Great video as always mate

[@BrucesShop]

Well these are famous for either valve guides or ring issues..

[@themowerman]

@@BrucesShop yeah I had one in this year too but I got it running with replacement of the carb gasket

[@BrucesShop]

@@themowerman There are more of them out there as they do burn oil and folks don't like that.

[@themowerman]

Bruce Pender yeah mate

[@joeo1352]

Looks like a good one Bruce 👍

[@BrucesShop]

It is heavy

[@cartee72]

Good video Mr Bruce 👍🍺👍🍺

[@BrucesShop]

Thanks

[@ksdj1]

Looks like it's going to end up being a good buy. Hopefully!

[@BrucesShop]

Right. Thanks for watching.

[@Jim-ie6uf]

If it’s not the carb, it’s the carb, otherwise it’s the carb. They are pretty cheap down here, generally $22.00 to $28.00 delivered.

[@richardybanez9052]

Bruce You Did Answer My ??. Richard.

[@BrucesShop]

If I missed you I am sorry I have abut 100 comments a day to respond too.

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

LOL, "mower smokes real bad". Turns out the problems are everything _but_ . Sounds about right.

[@BrucesShop]

right. A Honda 214 that doesn't smoke is rare.

[@ohiofarmer5918]

I used a drill motor to turn a Japanese Briggs two weeks ago and it ate my hand . The engine kicked three licks and the five pound flywheel spun off the tapered shaft. Split the skin right to the bone. An engine spins faster than a drill motor, so maybe Mustie1 and you need to warn us mere mortals of what can happen. A five pound flywheel going a five hundred RPM can do some damage when the fins hook up with human tissue

[@BrucesShop]

Yes it is dangerous. I usually say something before starting like "I am going in" not much of a warning though. Everything is risky.

[@NotNiekie]

Hey. How is your hand now? Can you still use it? I am very sorry for what happened.

[@jonathanfierberg3807]

I’m sorry to hear this thanks for the heads up

[@haneyoakie14]

Glad you kept going one it started to fire. I would have done same thing. So close, keep going! My Tecumseh snowblower project got delayed by the same type of coil problem, the spark indicator said "good", but the spark plug did not spark. I thought the points were installed wrong / badly / user error / but I decided the coil was weak. I guessed right, because now the engine runs and the auger turns, and I just need to figure out the drive problem. Goo job Bruce! We are thinking along the same lines, so I think I am on the right path.

[@BrucesShop]

Yes Teh spark indicator is just that. I have had mine long enough not to trust it.

[@haneyoakie14]

@@BrucesShop I saw you using a tachometer in one of those videos. Now I see a new toy I want. Looks like you recommend the "hook to the spark plug" type over the "take a reading off the moving blade" type?? Tom Haney is the live dangerous type of guy!! which means it will come down to cost.

[@BrucesShop]

@@haneyoakie14 Well i would get the inductive type. they aren't expensive. You can get the one for minibikes and just use it for a small engines of any type.

[@TheGreatOne16439]

I love your videos Bruce but I dont think your camera is situated at the right angle ( we're seeing too much of your back! ) . Maybe if you turn the mower 45 degrees we can see more.

[@BrucesShop]

yes I am working on it. This video is a year old i hope to see some improvement this year. It is tough as my benches are all in a line. You should try to make a video. Just a short one. It is fun.

[@TheGreatOne16439]

@@BrucesShop I understand! Keep up the good work nevertheless!

[@chipster9422]

Wish you would provide more close up views of you changing the cool. Can’t tell much from here.

[@BrucesShop]

You mean coil Yes I am workingon my videos. Thanks for watching. Mistakes are easy to make.

[@ebfromwyoming4118]

looking good sir

[@BrucesShop]

Thanks EB.

[@terryullma9934]

spark plug gap is 0.70- 0.80 mm

[@BrucesShop]

That sounds about right. I use SAE which is about 28 th

[@michaelfontana5292]

Sorry Bruce didn't like the camera work today a lot of blockage from the view

[@BrucesShop]

All I can say is try making a few. Sorry

[@butler386]

Once again great video. Wished I had a pick up. You will get her running for sure. I am getting concerned--you are sounding like my wife--Do something will you. Did you pick that up from her? Waiting for part 2. Can you work nights?

[@BrucesShop]

"Well not any more But I did work nights. they don't call work play. AS IN "Did you go to play today"

[@mrbriggs68]

Rings are a common problem with this model Honda

[@conner5611]

I've also seen a couple with bad vavle guide seals

[@BrucesShop]

@@conner5611 True

[@Thenumba1Tig]

Two valve cover bolts missing

[@BrucesShop]

I knew someone would comment.

[@rodparker4514]

If you slide the carb out a little ,the lever will come out easily .

[@BrucesShop]

Right Thanks

[@reginaldlawrence412]

Great video. They could have been running that mower on 2 cycle mix fuel.

[@BrucesShop]

maybe we will see.

[@RobertPerrigoOkiechopper]

I know you're going to tear the carb. down, just me, that is my first point of interest on 95% of mowers.

[@BrucesShop]

Right. I am dealing with modern fuel every day now.

[@jonathanfierberg3807]

Defective zed bend

[@alcolavista-22]

So amazing to watch this all the time😍👍✌️

[@BrucesShop]

Thanks a lot

[@dfields9511]

Think 🤔 smell the smoke from your brain. Looks like you figured it out Dr Pender 😆. Management came to check quality control 😜

[@BrucesShop]

Yes on all accounts. LOL

[@Turningwrenches85]

Well lets see what pt 2 has in store spend time with that family. send me a burger haha

[@BrucesShop]

Thanks again Mr. Wrenches. Burger?

[@Turningwrenches85]

@@BrucesShop when you said you have family over you had to put burgers on the barbie

[@BrucesShop]

@@Turningwrenches85 Sorry. YES we had a great time. Sorry 63 year old brain. can i put a dog on for you LOL.

[@Turningwrenches85]

@@BrucesShop yes sir lol

[@RaabStephan]

Mine starts and works just fine, but it's leaking crazy amounts of fuel all over the place.

[@BrucesShop]

The needle and seat in the carb are most likely not sealing. a carb rebuild or replacement is what you need. Let me know how it goes.

[@RaabStephan]

@@BrucesShop Giving it a shot tonight!

[@1messican350]

rule of thumb ck compression, spark and fuel. Repair failure of any. clean carburetor remove the main jet, remove emulsion tube clean all passages, if using sonic cleaner blow all passages clean, reassemble carb , fresh fuel, might even add a fuel filter, fire lawnmower, its not rocket science just a lawnmower.

[@BrucesShop]

Right. I do wonder why more people don't try.

[@Jim-ie6uf]

If a customer says it’s been a year, count on 2 or 3. Sometimes you get a myriad of issues. I’ll take burger, medium, m&m, and all the rest, some chips and a beer, too. I’m waiting. Did you forget?

[@BrucesShop]

Yes. 63 now LOL

[@SouthpawDavey]

Left the spacer in ;-) off to part 2

[@BrucesShop]

Right the official business card At 15:22 I catch it.

[@timmygilbert1371]

Frank is feeling lonely , u never sing to him :( . lol

[@BrucesShop]

Ok Let's be Frank LOL

[@timmygilbert1371]

@@BrucesShop lol , yep

[@RobertPerrigoOkiechopper]

I got two just like it.

[@BrucesShop]

They are good old mowers. Heavy though.

[@tommagee1834]

Cant wait for part2

[@BrucesShop]

Thanks

[@frankdeegan8974]

Come on you moved the camera and all we get is your back put the camera back where it was.

[@BrucesShop]

We ok

[@geraldbasford6713]

Got to give you a 5 for that.I started to chew off my finger nails after that. Stiil enjoyed your great attitude.I bet you have moths flying out of your wallet. Leave it to the pros.

[@BrucesShop]

I didn't cost me much at all.

[@steventurner1473]

O

[@BrucesShop]

O ?? What is that

[@jkw24691]

Sorry dude, you didnt fix anything and does not look like you have a clue. The object of this video was what?

[@BrucesShop]

No spark no start at 3:22 Changed the coil at 9:47 Good Spark at 15:43. Coil was bad