Another mower was adopted today by me

[E150GT]

Facebook marketplace is gonna get me in trouble. I saw this Honda hra214 that didn't run for sale. I decided to bring it home.
The good:
It looks pretty good for it's age. Superficial rust on the deck.
It runs and blade clutch works and so does transmission.

The bad: it smokes some. Not sure what the deal is about that but I'll look into it. I was told it sat a long time.

This particular mower has no job at the moment. I am not sure what I'll do with it.

 

[CleanSump]

It looks nice. Making them run is an honorable hobby.

 

[hemitom]

Those engines are extremely reliable !
I would run some 15w40 in it and run it I wouldn't be surprised if the smoking quit.

 

[BobsArmory]

My Toro was smoking on start up last year. Changed the oil to Restore and Protect. After about 8 mowings it no longer smokes 98% of the time.

 

[E150GT]

Well shall see. It didn't run when I bought it earlier today but I pulled the carb and cleaned it and I drained the old gas and added fresh and it fired right up. It's a smoke show though. If it idles it'll stop and then when you engage the blade shortly thereafter it smokes.

 

[Reggaemon]

Smoking mowers don't bother me at all. I like those Honda powered mowers.

 

[shortyb]

Nice classic Honda. They don't build them like that anymore. Smoke is probably valve guide "stem" seals (on intake valve only) or piston rings. Both incredibly easy to fix. Try the heavier visc oil as mentioned first and see how it goes. The stalling when idling is probably a clogged low speed circuit. Hard to clean thoroughly, OE carbs are very inexpensive and probably easier than fiddling with original one. Happy mowing.

 

[andyd]

If I see a free 2stroke F series Lawnboy or 80's Toro 3spd with a Suzuki engine. I'll drive a distance. I just turned 75. I figure the the spare 60211 and a couple spare steel deck Lbs will out last me. Especially with the '00 Craftsman LT 1750 sitdown doing 90 % of the job. Also I enjoy fixing them to serviceable condition for short/no money But I'm not into garage queens

 

[E150GT]

If I see a free 2stroke F series Lawnboy or 80's Toro 3spd with a Suzuki engine. I'll drive a distance. I just turned 75. I figure the the spare 60211 and a couple spare steel deck Lbs will out last me. Especially with the '00 Craftsman LT 1750 sitdown doing 90 % of the job. Also I enjoy fixing them to serviceable condition for short/no money But I'm not into garage queens

I've become a mower nerd for some reason. This is mower number 4. I think I have enough to last a lifetime but I'm always on the lookout for a K1 Honda HRC216.
I've got all Honda's but I keep my eyes peeled for a nice mower with a Kawasaki or Suzuki engine. No briggs for me.

 

[fantastic]

Smoking could be from sitting sideways or something. Other could be a bad needle letting fuel past into the combustion chamber. A new carb or rebuild would fix that. I've got 30 hours on a China carb with no issues. They're too cheap not to try but keep the original around just in case.

I'm almost finished with a 1952 Lawn Boy & I already finished the 1991 John Deere 260 GT. It's work but rewarding once repaired. Push mowers are easier to repair than riding mowers.

 

[E150GT]

Smoking could be from sitting sideways or something. Other could be a bad needle letting fuel past into the combustion chamber. A new carb or rebuild would fix that. I've got 30 hours on a China carb with no issues. They're too cheap not to try but keep the original around just in case.

I'm almost finished with a 1952 Lawn Boy & I already finished the 1991 John Deere 260 GT. It's work but rewarding once repaired. Push mowers are easier to repair than riding mowers.

The carb issue you mentioned would be burning excess fuel though right ? I am definitely burning oil.

 

[fantastic]

The carb issue you mentioned would be burning excess fuel though right ? I am definitely burning oil.

Ah, my 2 stroke friend... That fuel mixes with your oil and burns the oil too.

 

[football]

Change the oil to conventional SAE30. Nothing else. A synthetic is much more likely to smoke on a old seasoned engine like that. Smoking might go away or diminish with the SAE30.

(I've owned literally thousands of mowers, bought and sold, over the years as a side hustle. Synthetic WILL smoke in old worn out engines while conventional SAE30 wont. Just something I learned over the years)