Any Small Engine Mechanics?

[HogHunter34]

My push mower is running rough & dies on me. It’s a Troy built with a Honda OHC 160cc engine. It revs up & down for a few minutes & then dies. I was afraid gas from last year went bad and I don’t do a good job draining off old gas. I mowed the front yard 2 weeks ago and it ran okay. Took about 20-30 minutes to do that. Yesterday I mowed the back but after 15 minutes it starting revving up & down and then died. I pulled plug and brushed it well and fired up but it revved up & down about 3 minutes while I hurriedly finished up. I ended up adding 1 oz of mechanic in a bottle to the gas which it had close to full tank. I tried tuning for a bit after adding it and it revved up & down and died again. Today I changed the oil, new plug & new air filter. Tried running it again to get more of the stabilizer through it and it ran about 3 minutes and then started revving up & down and jerking a little and finally died. Have to put it on choke to start again. I forgot to mention yesterday when I fired it up after adding fuel stabilizer it occasionally wanted to back fire a little with a little pop here & there. Didn’t do it this afternoon. It’s about 10-12 years old. Time for new or pretty simple fix?

[pervis]

I'd take off and clean the carb jets. Then I'd google it and see if it has a spark arrestor. I'd take the spark arrestor out and clean it using a drill w a wire brush attachment.

[BayouCat]

Clean the carb

[Black Ice]

I'd take off and clean the carb jets. Then I'd google it and see if it has a spark arrestor. I'd take the spark arrestor out and clean it using a drill w a wire brush attachment.

X2


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[Anvilheadtexas]

It’s the carb

[HogHunter34]

Yep I came across a YouTube video a guy demo’d a mower surging & dies after taking it off choke. Pretty spot on to what mine is doing. He had to take the carb out & clean the jets out well. Looks like that’s my next step. Thanks for the info!

[Sleepy]

If you can’t get it rollin, holler at me. I’ve got a good one I’d sell. By the time we find a new place to live, I’ll need a zero turn so I won’t need it. Lawn maintenance is covered here where we’re at so mines in storage.

[HogHunter34]

If you can’t get it rollin, holler at me. I’ve got a good one I’d sell. By the time we find a new place to live, I’ll need a zero turn so I won’t need it. Lawn maintenance is covered here where we’re at so mines in storage.

Ok I may holler at you if this thing keeps giving me fits.

[Grndchecker]

Doesn't take much to clog the jets on a carb. Cleaning the jets isn't that difficult and may do the trick.
Replacement carbs are usually inexpensive on newer model mowers. If it sat for a few months with gas in the carb, the gaskets, float, and lines will swell from the Ethanol in gas these days.

[HogHunter34]

Doesn't take much to clog the jets on a carb. Cleaning the jets isn't that difficult and may do the trick.
Replacement carbs are usually inexpensive on newer model mowers. If it sat for a few months with gas in the carb, the gaskets, float, and lines will swell from the Ethanol in gas these days.

I hope so. I’m one of those engineers that can’t poor **** out of a boot even with the directions on the heel