honda samll engine question.. (pressure washer)

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

OK, neighbor gave me a nice Honda 5.5hp pressure washer after he bought a new one. This one has sat for a few years and was not running. After draining fuel, taking apart carb, cleaning, new plug, etc. It will crank up and run instantly at all throttle speeds unless I have the hose hooked up. If any kind of load is applied it will stall and then i noticed it will only run with thte choke blade almost closed. As soon as you try to move it to the wide open postition, no matter the engine speed, it will spit and pop and backfire and stall.
I was thinking carb issuse, but it is clean and i ran small wire through all the jets, etc, i know they are clean. So then Im thinking ignition problem for the backfiring, but that wouldnt make the lean condition.

Anyone?

fingpilot · 10-24-2009, 06:38 PM

I have exactly the same washer, and cannot think of what may be going on. Did PO say it ran OK prior?

gr8fl4porsche · gr8fl4porsche's Garage

The beauty of small engines.
Spark - fuel- air.

If it starts with a new plug it's not spark. Take off the air filter to eliminate air

What's left?

Fuel.

Make sure the fuel filter in the tank is clear. Common problem. Make sure gas flows from the line.

Take apart carb again and blow air through every little hole you can find.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

yes, he said he had some running issues before not much different than im having now. Yes, I took the tank off and the carb, and soaked it in cleaner, then used compressed air to blow it all out. I can see through all the jets. just doesnt make sense why it wont run without the choke closed. Its like it has a vacuum leak. i was thinking maybe the ignition/magneto unit was malfunctioning because when it backfires its more like a crisp pop, not like a fuel misfire..

targa911S · 10-25-2009, 05:01 AM

crap in the tank?

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

i cleaned it all, see above.

im just gonna order a new carb for it. surprisingly its only $28.00!! we will see what happens..

EarlyPorsche · 10-25-2009, 08:40 AM

Buy a new carburetor. The hondas are weird. I have rebuilt their carbs to no avail. Then I replace them and they work perfectly. Odd breed but run and start better than anything.

Run marvels mystery oil in the gas and you won't be replacing any more carbs on your small engines either. The marvels will keep the new E-10 gas from ruining your carb and keep top end lubed.

LakeCleElum · 10-25-2009, 08:48 AM

I have the same pressure washer. As I don't use it often, I shut the fuel off and let it run till it quits. This keeps the carb in good shape. When turning the fuel back on, it mixes as it flows in and starts on the 1st pull....

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

Try checking the governor linkage.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

All Honda engines have the same problem after a while. Notice, that if you choke the engine, it runs fine. You have an air leak and I've had the same problem trying to fix it. I expect I will buy a new carb to fix mine.

rick-l · 10-25-2009, 06:51 PM

If you need a manual or parts diagram look here

Honda Engines Europe EEC

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Not knowing the engine, but a lot of small engines have fuel lines now.

The problem arises when you give it full throttle, the "old" fuel line compresses, pinching off the fuel flow and this causes the carb to run lean....you put the choke on and it runs fine.
If not that, it does sound like an air leak somewhere.