I have received a Honda lawn mower - HRR216K8VYA s/n MZCG-8432572
The GCV160 engine is GCV160AO MX2 R280 and is the GJAPA1589376 variety
I have no history behind this mower except that it was set out on the curb and a friend of mine picked it up. But it does not run too well - it starts on the first pull, but sounds like the blades are pounding the heck out of the stuff below. Except they aren't. The friend has been using it like that, after replacing the clutch for the blades, for about two years as a second mower. So it wasn't used much. When I got it, it was almost out of oil - just showing on the dip stick maybe an eighth of an inch. So I added enough to fill it, but the banging was awful. I pulled all of the things that are below off and put just the clutch on without the operating stuff and when it started, the noise was as bad as ever.
The only thing that I can see wrong is that the flywheel has way too much play at the top - it isn't too bad at the bottom, but is almost 1/4" horizontal movement at the top. I am sure that that kind of movement could cause that much noise. So I thought that the bearings must be out - there are no bearings, just really thick seals on the upper and lower that appear to be intended to keep the crank in-line. I have ordered the two seals, but I am concerned about the engine - is there any way to save it? I put two pictures of the flywheel interfering with the coil even after I had moved the coils to make a gap because I thought that the flywheel was hitting the coil ends - it was rubbing all of the way around. I'm surprised that it didn't hook the notches in the flywheel. The first picture shows the gap at 1/8" or more with the flywheel pulled toward the front and the second shows it rubbing on the coil when pushed the other way - it is a little hard to see.
I split the engine block and looked at the rod and crank - they look like nothing is worn or otherwise damaged. But I cannot find anything that looks like crank bearings! The crank seems to operate in a large hole not designed to hold it in place. The only surfaces are the oil seals. If those large holes are the bearing surfaces .... - well suffice it to say that they are totally worn out - and the engine is toast. I ordered the two seals and will try to install them to see what happens.
Thoughts?
The GCV160 engine is GCV160AO MX2 R280 and is the GJAPA1589376 variety
I have no history behind this mower except that it was set out on the curb and a friend of mine picked it up. But it does not run too well - it starts on the first pull, but sounds like the blades are pounding the heck out of the stuff below. Except they aren't. The friend has been using it like that, after replacing the clutch for the blades, for about two years as a second mower. So it wasn't used much. When I got it, it was almost out of oil - just showing on the dip stick maybe an eighth of an inch. So I added enough to fill it, but the banging was awful. I pulled all of the things that are below off and put just the clutch on without the operating stuff and when it started, the noise was as bad as ever.
The only thing that I can see wrong is that the flywheel has way too much play at the top - it isn't too bad at the bottom, but is almost 1/4" horizontal movement at the top. I am sure that that kind of movement could cause that much noise. So I thought that the bearings must be out - there are no bearings, just really thick seals on the upper and lower that appear to be intended to keep the crank in-line. I have ordered the two seals, but I am concerned about the engine - is there any way to save it? I put two pictures of the flywheel interfering with the coil even after I had moved the coils to make a gap because I thought that the flywheel was hitting the coil ends - it was rubbing all of the way around. I'm surprised that it didn't hook the notches in the flywheel. The first picture shows the gap at 1/8" or more with the flywheel pulled toward the front and the second shows it rubbing on the coil when pushed the other way - it is a little hard to see.
I split the engine block and looked at the rod and crank - they look like nothing is worn or otherwise damaged. But I cannot find anything that looks like crank bearings! The crank seems to operate in a large hole not designed to hold it in place. The only surfaces are the oil seals. If those large holes are the bearing surfaces .... - well suffice it to say that they are totally worn out - and the engine is toast. I ordered the two seals and will try to install them to see what happens.
Thoughts?
