How to FIX a HONDA Harmony Lawn Mower that WON'T START after Sitting UNUSED for years

The owner of this vintage Honda Harmony II Lawn Mower told me he thinks getting it running again might be a lost cause as it sat unused for years. Well, we'll see about that!
Join me as we work the steps to getting this mower back in service. Thanks for watching! Buck's Small Engine DIY, Putting the "Do" into "Do-It-Yourself."
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction and comments from the owner
1:25 Initial Start-up attempt
5:50 Carburetor Removal
8:53 Carburetor Cleaning
19:48 Re-install the carburetor
25:12 Start-up and Celebration
26:15 Conclusion

[@dennissavitskij4957]

Carb cleaning is not boring, that's the best part! There is something about keeping engines running which is incredibly satisfying.

[@Buckwsr]

Ha ha! I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Blu-Man]

@@Buckwsr hello you did a video few years ago on belt replacement on boombox want to ask you about mine

[@Buckwsr]

@@Blu-Man Here's a link to that video: th-cam.com/video/iw0pqLWpiSY/w-d-xo.html

[@carterhunt9861]

Main fuel jet was clogged and the engine wouldn't start. This Honda mower sat for two years with fuel in the bowl. I removed the carb, cleaned everything, and the engine started on the first pull. Now, I'll turn off the fuel hose valve and will let it run out of fuel every time. After mowing the yard, I did this. I let the mower sit for about two hours, turned the fuel valve on, gave it about a minute to fill the bowl, and the engine started on the first pull. Thanks for posting your video. Very helpful!

[@Buckwsr]

Great job getting it fixed yourself!

[@lloydsmith9498]

Thanks a lot, I’m a 79 yr old amateur with a lot to learn about carburetor’s and you make it look easier than it really was for me; however, I did make it run again.

[@Buckwsr]

Good job! Those Honda engines are harder to work on than some of the other brands....

[@lawrencecarroll2031]

After experiencing the frustrating machinations one has to go through on these Honda carbs; I got some 6 m threaded rod and nuts. I thread the rods into the block, then put everything on and tighten the nuts down. Then I remove one of the rods and while, holding everything firmly against the block, I thread in the bolt that that is supposed to hold everything in place and tighten it down, then remove the other nut and threaded rod and install the 2nd bolt. Works like a charm!

[@Buckwsr]

Yep. I have a similar procedure with M6x1.0 threaded rod. I plan to demonstrate it in an upcoming video. Thank you!

[@lloydchappetta5960]

Great Idea.

[@kevinludlow7462]

Gonna try to clean my carburetor..thanks for video..big help

[@aviator1243]

You did avery good job and through.

[@salutations5749]

Great video !! Im an amateur and was dumbfounded on putting my honda back together. This video helped immensely !! Thanks

[@JamesSmith-sc4gg]

The best video I have watched re the same problem I have on a newer version of a Honda. Thank you.

[@ekhoromeo]

Excellent Trouble shooting Buck
I'll put this video into use today for. my mower and power washer,
thanks for the details.

[@georgele872]

very good infor, appreciate for sharing the video.

[@Hojjiifp]

Great video....I have the exact issue with the same mower...thank you.

[@georgenicholas5210]

Very informative. My neighbor cleaned my carb for me a couple of years ago and it was good for a while, but I always leave gas in my mower over the winter, probably the worst thing you can do to a small engine. I know my local Honda repair shop doesn't even bother with carb cleaning anymore; they're so inexpensive, they simply replace it nowadays.

[@Markomyt1]

Well done!

[@joshuaalkar605]

I did clean my carb and it’s running great now, thank you

[@Buckwsr]

Great job, Josh!

[@danielsojourner267]

Good job!!

[@genemyersmyers6710]

Fantastic!!!

[@kingkon164]

20:55 Thanks for the longest I couldn't figure out why my choke lever wasn't working properly. Lol 12:05 am I went straight to the garage in my pj's to put the lever in the correct hole. Thanks again

[@Buckwsr]

Glad to help...even at midnight!

[@carlosqueme2154]

Thanks

[@YingMoua-lp2tn]

Awesome video
New subscriber here

[@waynestefinashen239]

Just about any mower unless totally abused can be brought back to life. A little powerwashing and hitting it with a spray can of automotive clear coat and this Honda would look brand new. Nice save on this one Buck.

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks, Wayne. And also for subbing to my channel and the helpful comments. Really appreciate it!

[@OutLaw_Spartan]

At 14:30 how do i put it back in

[@dzibdzib2287]

I like watching you video you doing very good job

[@Buckwsr]

Thank you so much!

[@vinopan5374]

Hi Buck, I noticed on another TH-cam video the metal shroud, behind carburetor, on the Honda 2 Harmony is positioned in the opposite direction. Which is correct? Thanks.

[@Buckwsr]

I hadn't given that much consideration. I think I just put it back the same way it was originally when I took it apart.

[@vinopan5374]

Yes, I have also seen where spacer can be put upside down or reversed . Just a thought.

[@Buckwsr]

@@vinopan5374 You know, I just went back to look at the video, and I did indeed return that plate to the same position it was in when I took it apart. But now I'm wondering if perhaps someone previously had installed it backward. I don't know if it makes much of a difference, but it does seem to make more sense to me to have the bottom of the plate bending in toward the engine, not away from the engine. As an air-cooled engine, that would direct the air better under and around the engine. I've noticed that instead of a metal plate, the newer Honda motors just have a fiber (sort of like cardboard) large gasket here instead of the metal plate. But it just hangs straight down, with no bend at the bottom.

[@stevenstrickland772]

I can’t get a 160 electric start to die whn key is turned off

[@HawgWyldFishing]

What do you do when you have spark and you add fuel manually and it still doesn’t fire off, at all. Never even remotely attempts to start. I have never been so befuddled. I know it’s got fuel because I squirted gas straight into the cylinder with the plug out, and then later, sprayed some through the carb. But it never fired off at all. What could cause that?

[@Buckwsr]

How did you test for spark?

[@fouadmohamad336]

The job of the carburetor would’ve been alot faster and easier and more visible if you take out the top cover

[@nancysmith9487]

Love Hertz, does hurtz... According to scientific sources. It's not a feeling. It's like a scent of flower or something that reminds us. Part of other parts.
It's like never trust an atom, they make up everything lol

[@Buckwsr]

So intriguing….

[@JamesSmith-sc4gg]

Why can't they use a translucent material so that you can see what you are doing !!????

[@us-eb3info79]

Wow that's using alot of carb cleaner. Maybe you use 1 bottle for 1 carb?

[@stevenstrickland772]

Do u know anything abt electric start issues on these motors

[@benrobles752]

Change the oil! It will make that engine outlast that mower deck.

[@Buckwsr]

Yes. Absolutely. I certainly changed the oil in this machine before returning it to the owner....just didn't bother to include that in the video. Thanks.

[@Fresh-tw7ev]

New Honda mowers at big box stores are more like $500

[@Buckwsr]

Yeah, you're probably right. I'm out of touch...I've never bought a new mower in my life....

[@Fresh-tw7ev]

I went online and the cheapest Honda at the orange big box is $550 so with tax it’s pushing $600! Just this summer I brought a curb alert Honda back to life thanks to watching your video series. I ended up scrapping the factory carburetor and put on a replace $18.

[@Buckwsr]

@@Fresh-tw7ev That's fantastic! You saved yourself a lot of money, and experienced a great deal of satisfaction in doing it yourself. Thanks for watching and commenting.