I have a GCV160E Honda lawn mower engine.
- changed the oil and checked the spark plug and filter and sprayed penetrating oil round the linkages and the blade and left if for 48 hrs. I started it on fourth pull and I cut my back lawn.
- I moved it round to the front and found it had used quite a lot of petrol.
- placed a small amount into the tank and tried to start it. The cord was working freely but it wouldn't start.
- left it a while and went back out after about fifteen minutes to find that there was petrol dripping through the air filter and exhaust. I could move the pull quite freely.
- took the carb off and looked at the float in the float bowl. The carb was cleaned professionally last year and serviced professionally so I was surprised if it was going to be the float. I looked and couldn't see anything wrong with it.
- cleaned it up and put the carb back on.
- tried to start it and found the pull cord extremely stiff.
- took the spark plug out there was petrol round the mounting.
checked that the brake was deploying properly and also I thought that it should pull now the spark plug is off but it won't.
I have taken the pull cord mounting off and it works perfectly fine.
- tipped the whole engine upside down after draining the oil out of it and no petrol has come through the spark plug hole.
- sprayed penetrating oil into the spark plug hole and left it and still I cannot pull the cord freely.
- put some new oil in and have left it.
I cannot believe that a stuck float can cause catastrophic damage to the pistons if that is the problem. I am a little disappointed if this is the case. Can you think of anything else that could be impeding the cord from deploying? I didn't hit anything prior to the fuel leak through the filter and exhaust. I have also removed any debris around the blade and I could move it initially but not now.