My husky 22 ton logsplitter started sounding different. The Honda GVC160 engine was surging a bit and I know I was running it with the choke left on, maybe just backed off a little. Decided to replace carb. This 10 year old splitter has had well over a hundred cords thru it. The only other thing done to it other than oil and filters and some hydraulic fluid was a lovejoy replacement last year. Found a matching carb on Amazon for $12.00 Got it in a few days and took the air cleaner off. Boy was it dirty in there. I've always sprayed carb cleaner and wd40 on the carb from the side but with the plastic shroud molded into the base of the air filter mount. I could never see if it did any good. Was thinking I could trim the black plastic shroud back so I could actually see the carb and linkages. It certainly isn't keeping dirt out! Cleaned it up and found the throttle return spring was worn thru and had to get a replacement.Got everything cleaned up and put back together and it runs great. Another interesting thing I found after ordering parts was. ... Amazon has the carb, gaskets,air filter, pre air filter, fuel filter, spark plug and gas line as a package for $17.99. Even if the spark plug and fuel filter are junk It sounds like a good deal. Of course I ordered my parts separately! Question for those of you in the know Should I trim the black plastic shroud back so I could actually see and clean the carb and linkage? In the last pic you can see the black plastic shroud going from air filter housing toward the spark plug. Can't even see the carb
If it were me I think I'd just pull that shroud a couple times a year & spray it out good. I'd suggest Sea Foam in the fuel as well, keeps the carb innards cleaner. Also helps with fuel stability.
Shouldn't be a need to clean anything in there. I have 25 year old 8hp Hondas on mortar mixers and they've always worked fine. Completely coated in cement dust, but they work fine
You guys are right, won't modify it. its worked all of these years with minimal problems, so why change. I do use seafoam and have for years! Thanks
Carb linkage isn't typically a high wear spot. I'd leave it as is. Spraying WD on the outside will only attract dust and dirt to build up on those areas. When I first got my splitter, several times it would go into a heavy surge. Had to remove the float bowl and clean the needle etc. Then I decided to put an inline filter and on/off valve in the fuel line (mine had neither). After every use, I turn off the flow and run the carb dry. This eliminated all dirt getting into the small passages inside the carb and helps keep it from building up with any gunk. Trouble free since. If it were mine, I'd take the carb off and thoroughly clean it on the bench.
If it surges it's usually a lean surge. Which means crud in the fuel, not air. My sawmill engine filter housing gets completely coated with fine wood dust on the inside. It ingests tons of it. Never worried much about it. I've thought about finding a large air filter sock to cover everything...
The Wood Wolverine, Boomstick OK no WD40 on carb. cleaned area around carb with carb cleaner and blew off with air This was the original 10 year old carb that started acting up. The only thing I found wrong was the throttle return spring was broken. I assumed the old carb was gummed up to some extent. The new carb is on and running great. Good idea about inline fuel filter! Think I will try to rebuild the old carb as a learning experience for me over the winter. Never done it before. Thanks for the feedback!
Boomstick just saw you are in Saratoga. My Dad and I built a house on Rt 7 just north of the battlefield and Quaker Springs. My brother lives there now. Beautiful area!
It really is. Quintisentail, old houses the climate.... "Saratoga county" I live a few minutes south of Saratoga I went to Catholic school there, the battlefield is a beautiful and historical place. The upper Hudson valley area(it starts in the adirondacks) is the best place on Earth ...atleast nature -geography and historical wise. It's getting built up, I consider myself to be extremely lucky to have grown up in the area while it was still rural.
That’s some good advice right there. I’m no small engine mechanic or anything so when I inherited my grandfathers old 2 stroke lawnboy mower I was digging around some forums and was suggested to do just that. Now my mower, slpiltter, snowblower and pressure washer all have in line filters and fuel shut offs. Also run E free gas if it’s available in your area.
You’ll enjoy doing that I think. When I got this 2 stroke lawnboy I really geeked out on it for a while. I had another mower so I didn’t really needed it and it needed the drive belt replaced, You have to take the engine off the deck to replace the belt. So I had the engine sitting there and took it all apart, even got a little nuts and bought new jets and a pin drill set and made the jet holes bigger to sort out a surging issue. Thing runs great now and it’s the only mower I use. Sounds like a dirt bike and the neighbors are still confused every time they see me using it.
Early memory of lawn boy mower, my dad was looking after mowing duties for my grandparents while on vacation and that thing would barely start/work, Dad got super mad and lets just say us kids found something else to do for a while
