Honda Lawn Mower Starts, Runs OK, Then Stops?

So, you get out your trusty lawn mower to mow your yard. You pop open the fuel cap, add some fresh gas, and you get to it. You're thinking about that cold one waiting for you when you are finished, and then it happens:

Your mower starts skipping, coughing, and eventually sputters out. Sort of like you ran out of gas (in a way, you did). Naturally, you crack open the fuel cap, peer inside and sure enough you've got plenty of gas. Hmmmm, you try and start it again, and sure enough, it starts and runs just fine. Then three or four minutes later, the pattern repeats. If this happens to you, take a look at this video. It might just fix your problem:

The mechanics here are such that in order for the fuel to flow uninhibited from your tank to your carburetor, the gas tank itself has to maintain pressure inside the tank that is equal to the surrounding atmospheric pressure. This is how a gravity fed fuel system operates. To accomplish this gas caps have small little passage ways or holes built in to allow the fuel tank "to breath". Sometimes it's a simple, yet temporary fix. But the permanent fix is to just replace your fuel cap. Here's one for this Honda GCV160 engine: https://amzn.to/3xfuwKv

Often gas cap vents will be clogged with debris or dust and dirt. They look pretty simple, but the air passages are tiny, and often convoluted to keep dirt and moisture out, but those same complicated passageways get easily plugged up. If the fuel cap does not vent properly, it creates a vacuum and the gas cannot over come the negative pressure. Some folks call this vapor lock, but what ever you call it, gravity fed fuel systems can't operate if the inside of the tank is not at atmospheric pressure. This is a perplexing problem as any time you open the gas gap to check, that negative pressure is released, and then your mower subsequently starts just fine, but stops again after a few minutes. Here's a set of inexpensive picks: https://amzn.to/3vXvQkV

Another quick fix is to drill a small hole in the cap. This particular fix however is wrought with peril: Yes, you never have to worry about those little complicated passages getting clogged up again. But you risk allowing dirt and debris to move on through to your carburetor, and trust me, the passageways through your carburettor for fuel and air are far smaller that the vents in your fuel cap.

I hope these tips and tricks can empower you with oracle like skills to make your small engines run smoothly and consistently.

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Mow Happy!

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Wear your safety glasses, or you'll put your eye out. Try on some gloves. Take off that spark plug boot. Clean your room. Open the windows, those fumes are nasty. Just 'cause I do it, don't think it's the end all, be all solution. There's plenty more ideas out there, I can't take responsibility if you slice off a few fingers after watching my videos. And don't just pour that toxic stuff down the sewer or in the ditch, dispose of waste responsibly. Just be safe, OK?