Honda GCV 160 intake valve not moving?

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A customer or mine gave me his old mower which has a Honda GCV160 engine. Man what a pos these residential Hondas are. The motor has no compression and I thought it was cause the valve cover had a slight dent in it causing it to not let the rocker arm close all the way. Well I don't think that's the problem cause I took the valve cover off and it still has no compression, but I did notice the valve on the right doesn't do anything. The rocker arm isn't pushing it down like it does on the left one. I believe the one on the right is the intake valve. Any ideas? Just curious to see if this is a common problem?
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
A customer or mine gave me his old mower which has a Honda GCV160 engine. Man what a pos these residential Hondas are. The motor has no compression and I thought it was cause the valve cover had a slight dent in it causing it to not let the rocker arm close all the way. Well I don't think that's the problem cause I took the valve cover off and it still has no compression, but I did notice the valve on the right doesn't do anything. The rocker arm isn't pushing it down like it does on the left one. I believe the one on the right is the intake valve. Any ideas? Just curious to see if this is a common problem?


Someone "Gave" you a free mower and your surprised its a POS?
33.gif
 
Take a closer look at Honda these days they have figured out a way to engineer their products to break so maybe they can sell more... I see it with their engines after say around 2005-2006. At one time we saw a very few Honda engines here for rebuilds now they are here all the time and not very high mileage either.
 
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
Better check the camshaft. MY "residential" Honda 216 has been running since 1996.


Homeowner mower engines are built as cheap as possible these days unfortunately.
 
OK, the intake valve sticking is not uncommon. Happens to any of the newer OPE engines regardless of brand.

Old gas. Old gas varnishes up the valve stem on the intake and sticks it. Valve stem clearances had to be tightened up for emissions concerns. You can shoot some carb cleaner through the intake port at the valve, work the valve from the retainer/spring side till it frees up. If the valve cover is bent from prying it off, a GSV series cover bolts in place of the GCV cover.
 
Originally Posted By: punisher
OK, the intake valve sticking is not uncommon. Happens to any of the newer OPE engines regardless of brand.

Old gas. Old gas varnishes up the valve stem on the intake and sticks it. Valve stem clearances had to be tightened up for emissions concerns. You can shoot some carb cleaner through the intake port at the valve, work the valve from the retainer/spring side till it frees up. If the valve cover is bent from prying it off, a GSV series cover bolts in place of the GCV cover.


+1 to that.

Instead of pointless rant and echoing, this is the kind of constructive information I'm hoping to see. No point crying over a damaged engine (about quality and speculating beyond) when there are better things to do.

Q.
 
Originally Posted By: punisher
OK, the intake valve sticking is not uncommon. Happens to any of the newer OPE engines regardless of brand.

Old gas. Old gas varnishes up the valve stem on the intake and sticks it. Valve stem clearances had to be tightened up for emissions concerns. You can shoot some carb cleaner through the intake port at the valve, work the valve from the retainer/spring side till it frees up. If the valve cover is bent from prying it off, a GSV series cover bolts in place of the GCV cover.
There's even a gasket for the GSV rather than using goop. It's harder to bend the thicker cover when hitting something.
 
Fill the cylinder with rope to close the intake valve. See if that fixes your problem.

If the valve cover is dented, very good possibility that it broke the plastic camshaft. I've seen a ton of broken plastic camshafts on this engine.
 
Originally Posted By: bubbatime
Fill the cylinder with rope to close the intake valve. See if that fixes your problem.

If the valve cover is dented, very good possibility that it broke the plastic camshaft. I've seen a ton of broken plastic camshafts on this engine.


I didn't know it had a plastic camshaft. Yes the cover had a slight dent in it which lead me to believe it was not allowing the valve to close completely. The dent was the size of a pea sized dimple for size reference. I was hoping this was going to be a quick fix and I could sell it for 50 bucks. Unfortunately, I think it's just going to have to go out to the curb.
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Unfortunately, I think it's just going to have to go out to the curb.


Seriously? This is 30 minutes to an hour of time to fix. If the cam is indeed broken, you might not want to mess with it. If the cover is dented, or the valve seized up, its quick money on the flip. Heck, a new cam is $13 shipped from Amazon if that is the problem.
 
Nobody wants to fix anything these days. Just a throw away society.BTW- maybe I will sneak at night and rubbish pick it from you.
 
Originally Posted By: Lubener
Nobody wants to fix anything these days. Just a throw away society.BTW- maybe I will sneak at night and rubbish pick it from you.

As evidenced by this post...

I have a '04 GCV160 trash pick on a 1983 Snapper Hi-Vac that I put together after the B&S kicked the rod out... Spent around $75 for carb and other misc Snapper parts, has run flawlessly for four years now...
 
This is a simple case of a gummed up intake valve due to old gas being used. I've fixed one on a friends' GCV160 before. Quite easy, in fact. Spray that valve good, top and bottom, with carburetor cleaner and then take a pair of vice grips to the valve stem and begin to work that valve. Start by spinning the valve in place if it'll spin. Then begin to slowly work it in and out. It will free up just fine, and the engine will probably run well for another 10 years.

I have a GCV160 and a GCV190, both from 2003, and both run like champs. This is a very easy thing to fix. After fixing it, you'll have a great engine out of it.

Great tip, by the way, someone posted on the GSV cam cover. They're cast aluminum with a real gasket instead of stamped sheetmetal.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
This is a simple case of a gummed up intake valve due to old gas being used. I've fixed one on a friends' GCV160 before. Quite easy, in fact. Spray that valve good, top and bottom, with carburetor cleaner and then take a pair of vice grips to the valve stem and begin to work that valve. Start by spinning the valve in place if it'll spin. Then begin to slowly work it in and out. It will free up just fine, and the engine will probably run well for another 10 years.

I have a GCV160 and a GCV190, both from 2003, and both run like champs. This is a very easy thing to fix. After fixing it, you'll have a great engine out of it.

Great tip, by the way, someone posted on the GSV cam cover. They're cast aluminum with a real gasket instead of stamped sheetmetal.


Do I need to remove the head for this? Or are you saying spray the valve stem from the outside? Sorry not as familiar with the OHC engines as the OHV. I'll give it a shot.
 
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