Rudy
05-11-2009, 12:31 PM
I have a problem where the GX31 engine on my Honda rototiller overheated. I was using the dethatching rake, and unknown to me, a lot of the thatch got blown up inside the cover for the engine, and blocked all the cooling fins. It was packed pretty solid. *sigh* I took the cover off the engine and cleaned everything out (including the fins on the flywheel), so it is breathing better now.
The engine still starts. It runs for awhile--a minute or two when cold, and maybe half a minute after it has gotten warm. But then it dies. When it dies, there is a light ticking sound from somewhere inside the engine. It will often start right back up, but then it will only run for a few seconds.
It's not a gas problem--the bowl (primer bulb) stays full of fuel. It appears that the spark is OK, as I've taken the spark plug out and it still gets a spark. I had thought maybe it was an intermittent coil, but the ticking inside the engine is what had me concerned. The engine had fresh oil this spring, and the fuel is drained out (and the gas tank run dry) in late summer each year when I'm done using it for the year.
There is also a black plastic cap on the engine, right beneath where the spark plug screws in. It got a little melted...and in fact, it was leaking a tiny bit of oil out of the bottom. The screws were loose, probably from the plastic deforming. I tightened those up, and the leak has stopped. I don't know what the cap is for, though...there is a vent with a tube attached to it that feeds back to the air cleaner.
Any idea where to start troubleshooting, beyond what I've done? I can shoot a quick video of the engine when it's running, and you should be able to hear the ticking just before it starts. I suppose I could find a used GX31 to replace it with, but not if I can fix this one (if it's worth fixing)--the tiller has low hours on it, as I've only owned it about five years.
I also have a Honda gas edger with the exact same engine, but I don't really want to "borrow" the engine as I use the edger twice a week. That engine still starts on the first or second pull and runs fine...and I've owned it longer.
The engine still starts. It runs for awhile--a minute or two when cold, and maybe half a minute after it has gotten warm. But then it dies. When it dies, there is a light ticking sound from somewhere inside the engine. It will often start right back up, but then it will only run for a few seconds.
It's not a gas problem--the bowl (primer bulb) stays full of fuel. It appears that the spark is OK, as I've taken the spark plug out and it still gets a spark. I had thought maybe it was an intermittent coil, but the ticking inside the engine is what had me concerned. The engine had fresh oil this spring, and the fuel is drained out (and the gas tank run dry) in late summer each year when I'm done using it for the year.
There is also a black plastic cap on the engine, right beneath where the spark plug screws in. It got a little melted...and in fact, it was leaking a tiny bit of oil out of the bottom. The screws were loose, probably from the plastic deforming. I tightened those up, and the leak has stopped. I don't know what the cap is for, though...there is a vent with a tube attached to it that feeds back to the air cleaner.
Any idea where to start troubleshooting, beyond what I've done? I can shoot a quick video of the engine when it's running, and you should be able to hear the ticking just before it starts. I suppose I could find a used GX31 to replace it with, but not if I can fix this one (if it's worth fixing)--the tiller has low hours on it, as I've only owned it about five years.
I also have a Honda gas edger with the exact same engine, but I don't really want to "borrow" the engine as I use the edger twice a week. That engine still starts on the first or second pull and runs fine...and I've owned it longer.