How to Adjust Valves on Honda GCV 160~190 Engine This engine is on a Generac Pressure Washer. These techniques apply to any Honda GCV - Vertical or Horizontal shaft engine
Was just chatting about this last night on my Saturday live show! Your one of the rare few that can tell and understand that so many of these engines are really just the same dam things whether they are on mowers or pressure washers are really,,, whatever! lol Thanks for writing in!!
Does the fuel and oil need to be drained befor tipping engine back? I have a Ryobi pressure washer with the Honda GCV 160 and need to check the valves. Thanks!
Good question!! Generally I don't, also its helpful to put it on the side of the muffler because the oil can run into the carb/filter if tipped that direction! As long as you are aware of this, it may smoke a bit. If it gets into the carb it will smoke that way as well.. If ya gonna leave it for a longer time then yes, it will eventually leak out to a degree. My worry is when I drop all the oil and I get busy with other things I may forget to put oil back into the engine!!! Ouch!!!
I am dealing with an old mower with a GCV 160 manual choke that has been sitting for several years. It will run fine for a few minutes, surge for a few minutes, and then run fine again for a few minutes. It has a brand new air box, air filter, carb, carb gaskets, fuel lines, and spark plug. Everything is OEM. I have also cleaned and gapped the coil, and cleaned the magnets on the flywheel. Could the valves being out of clearance cause an issue like this? It is definitely hard to start when it is cold. Can you think of anything else I have missed? I am stumped on this one.
Yup, you got it! Valves out of adjustment and depending on the age of the engine and if it sat out, moisture or rust or carbon, you may have a poor valve seal or even some issues with the cylinder bore and rings!
Good day to you, sir! You spoke of "...a little more clearance" so, am I right to asume more clearance is better than too less? If given a clearance of 0.05 to 0.07 by the manufacturer, should I aim more to 0.05 or rather more into the 0.07 direction? Thank you for the info and best regards.
I do have better videos on this, in a folder for valves & tuning they live. This is an old video for me so as a newbie I did my best. Generally, most engines offer a range; too tight and you can damage the engine and or it wont run right. A little looser on the exhaust, due to expansion for heat, its ok to be on the heavy side of the measurement. Since the spec's give us a range for most but not all engines, if the clearance falls within Min/Max, just leave it!
Great question, I do partially answer it. Its not under load and its running at its full RPM. Its a little lean in the fuel mix, with the air filter, the air is restricted just enough to make it a bit richer. Under load it will pull more fuel so it will have a correct air/fuel mix. There isn't a blade on it, its a pump so until it sees water there isn't any load. If I were to drill the jet larger, it would to too rich under load where it counts.
Often one has to sneak up on the adjustment. Do the adjustment, tighten and check, if it needs more or if gone too far or to tight, keep doing it until ya get it right.
