Small Engine Advice please

AndyM

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BX25DTLB
Sep 21, 2016
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Vancouver Island Canada
I have a Honda GX 31 on Mantis tiller that runs oil out the carb as fast as it's filled. Can't be good I am guessing. Question is how not good? Fixable or trash?
Has very few hours on it.

Thanks
 

bearbait

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L3560, 64" snowblower, 72" back blade
Dec 9, 2011
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New Glasgow Canada
I have a Honda GX 31 on Mantis tiller that runs oil out the carb as fast as it's filled. Can't be good I am guessing. Question is how not good? Fixable or trash?
Has very few hours on it.

Thanks
Do you use your fuel shutoff when your done with the tiller? For some reason if you don't these little Honda engines tend to leak gas into the oil thinning it out and overfilling the oil so it blows it out the carb. Drain your oil and and see if there is gas in it then replace with new oil and see if it still happens. The main thing is to use the fuel shutoff every time you finish with it, good luck.
 

AndyM

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BX25DTLB
Sep 21, 2016
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Vancouver Island Canada
bearbait

I haven't been using the shut off and know I should. I had the problem you speak of with a generator. I will try what you suggest. Thanks.
 

rentthis

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May 30, 2012
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The only way I can see for oil to get to thew carb is through the cylinder and past the rings. I have a GX31 on a weed eater. It's 15 years old in rental service. It starts and runs like new. Im guessing you have a stuck oil ring. Parts are available and they should be an easy fix. With the oil ring stuck, you might still get some compression.
 

bearbait

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L3560, 64" snowblower, 72" back blade
Dec 9, 2011
4,072
848
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New Glasgow Canada
The only way I can see for oil to get to thew carb is through the cylinder and past the rings. I have a GX31 on a weed eater. It's 15 years old in rental service. It starts and runs like new. Im guessing you have a stuck oil ring. Parts are available and they should be an easy fix. With the oil ring stuck, you might still get some compression.
I have a Honda 2000 watt generator and a Honda 5000 watt that had the same problem. When I went to change the oil in them there was a strong smell of gas and the oil was very thin, also both oil filters were wet with oil. I changed the oil in both and started turning off the gas and problem solved. Some times it's easer and cheaper to start with the easy fix first. AndyM's problem may be all together different but it's worth a try.
 

rentthis

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summerville,sc
Honda uses a float type carb. If the fuel is on during transport, the float has a tendency to bounce and fill the crankcase with gas.We turn the fuel off when we load the equipment and tell the customer to turn it on when he gets home. Guess how many call us yelling because it only ran for a minute and quit.
 

AndyM

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BX25DTLB
Sep 21, 2016
483
144
43
Vancouver Island Canada
I am draining the oil and will try a refill. If that doesn't work I gather unsticking an oil ring means a replacing it. No shortcuts there I guess.