Carb Kit for Honda GSV190

Joined
Jan 23, 2003
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Location
ON, Canada
Does anyone have a recommendation on a online source for a decent rebuild kit of a Honda GCV160 carb? My 15 year old Troybilt needs the carb overhauled and I see lots of options. I also see a ton of cheap offshore new carbs, but I would think that rebuilding my current carb is a better option. I am not looking to put a lot of money into this old mower, but not sure what is good and what is junk.
 
Does anyone have a recommendation on a online source for a decent rebuild kit of a Honda GCV160 carb? My 15 year old Troybilt needs the carb overhauled and I see lots of options. I also see a ton of cheap offshore new carbs, but I would think that rebuilding my current carb is a better option. I am not looking to put a lot of money into this old mower, but not sure what is good and what is junk.
I usually have good luck going to Partstree.com based off the serial number and model of the engine and finding the part numbers for the stuff inside the carb. Honda doesn't seem to sell "kits" that I can find. I usually just search the part numbers for OEM parts for the needle valve and the carb gaskets, then make sure to clean everything real well. Don't bother with the aftermarket carbs and kits.
 
Part 2 of that is how ambitious you are and the costs.

It's sad but they are so cheap that many shops will not rebuild anymore if they can even find and get the kits. The labor rate to take apart, rebuild, reassemble may be 2-3 times as long as swapping 2 bolts. Someone is paying for that if you can't DIY.

Looks like part# 7 is the whole carb for $22 which is cheaper than the parts/gaskets.
https://planopower.powerdealer.hond...v/GCV160/GCV160LA0-N5AF/ZM00E1400W/references

I did an Amazon carb kit for my Stihl weed whacker. It hasn't missed a beat in 4 years of use.

1736449740364.webp


Same thing for snowblower and was here the next day.
1736449871471.webp
 
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Supposedly the emulsion tubes are tuned for a particular motor and application. The little holes in there are set up to transition smoothly from idle to high load. Emulsion tube is the little straw like thing above the main jet.

If you find yourself rebuilding your carb, clean this well, but don't hog out the holes with abrasive (steel) wire etc. And if your carb kit comes with a choice of different ones, def consider reusing the one you've got.

Really with chonda carbs, and presumably genuine Honda ones, I get a few take-apartings before the gaskets around the top and bottom of the bowl, and the intake gasket, show enough abuse to leak. My carbs come apart for "de-gooping" after storage with today's lousy fuel, but come right back to life with a little cleaning and no new parts.
 
Chances are high that a good cleaning is all you need. If parts are needed, order real deal Honda parts. For some carbs, they sell a gasket kit. There should be no reason to replace metering jets and such, just clean well.
 
I stopped cleaning/rebuilding Honda carbs (Keihin) and just swap in a new one. Last time I did a clean/rebuild it took 2 hours and about $55 in parts. Still didn't run 100% as new. Entire carb would have cost $22 and take me about 10 minutes to install. No brainer. I get my stuff here.
 
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