Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): 5 HP Honda wont idle, honda oem, hp honda

Question
I have a 5 HP Honda horiz. shaft motor that, after 2 years, quit idling. I put on a new carb and it still won't idle. I took it a local small engine/Honda dealer and he couldn't get it to idle, either. He said that in the past he has occasionally reamed out the idle air jet to solve this problem; what do you think?

Answer
Where did you get the new carb from?  Was it a Honda OEM carb, an aftermarket carb, or a different carb taken off of a different engine.  A lot of people make the mistake thinking the carbs for the Gx120, Gx160 and Gx200 are the same.  They are not.  This sounds like it could be your problem.

I do not endorse reaming out any jet or orifice in a carb because it changes emissions and makes things complicated.

Looking beyond the carb, is the "push pull" rod bent or distorted at all?  IS the black screw on top of the carb screwed in so its making contact with the throttle shutter plate?

Check these things, I think you will find a solution!

Happy wrenching...

Dave