If your Honda GCV Mower Surges try this First

[@danlather3046]

Hank, I cannot see from the video but my Honda carb, which is very similar to yours, has a slow or pilot jet you access from the top of the carb. Mine is under a Phillips head screw. I have to remove the idle speed adjustment screw and its spring first to remove the screw covering the slow jet. The orifice is very small. This gets plugged and causes surging at low speed. You don't remove this jet, at least I cannot remove mine, but I clean it in place. You'll need a very small wire or micro drill bit, something like .013" or so. You got the main jet and the other part is often called the emulsion tube, but I did not see you clean the slow or "pilot" jet. I think some have it under a plastic piece you remove to access this jet. I put an inline filter on my mower and this jet is so small it still gets plugged!

[@hanksgarage_]

Good info

[@cuevjg]

yes, that is exactly what needs to be cleaned. 100%

[@hanksgarage_]

Just took another look at it, there is indeed a small hole under a screw, but it does appear that it is clear... unfortunately, there is not a way to access the other side of it, so it is possible that whatever you push past that hole will find its way back into it.

[@danlather3046]

@@hanksgarage_ Hank, There are two types of pilot jets. One is plastic and removable but the other is brass, I think, internal and I think it is pressed in. When I saw the Phillips head screw on top your carb I figured the internal, non-removable type. If the jet is clear, open, that's great. I have had to clean mine from the only side I had access to. I get a every small micro drill bit and make sure it will pass through the orifice. I can feel it bottom out. I drizzle some carb cleaner in the hole where the pilot jet cover screw came out and let it trickle through by gravity. Of course some compressed air helps. I never had any dislodged crud back up on mine and re-plug the orifice. I cannot tell you the size of the orifice but it is ridiculously small to begin with. These are so lean to begin with and the pilot/low speed jet provides fuel at high speed, too. The fuel flow is so marginal off the bat that even a partially restricted jet can cause surging or "hunting" or "seeking" because, as you know, the governor keeps revving it up before she can stall out. I think my drill or wire size for cleaning mine is .013" or .014" but that is from memory and I am not 100% certain.

[@hanksgarage_]

Makes sense. Yea couldn’t remove it. Used a wire from a bristle brush and compressed air. Felt it bottom out but couldn’t see anything come out on the wire. Definitely smaller than .020 which was the size wire I tried first. That didn’t fit. Carb also had a slow gas leak that I couldn’t seem to fix either so just replaced it with an aftermarket. Mower runs perfect now.

[@Dankcatvacs]

runs good other wise , i use a fwd troy bilt honda some times but mostly the honda hrx mine i think needs a gasket kit because under load it looses top end. but the double blades , cant beat it.