QuestionQUESTION: Hello. I have an Excell pressure washer, model XR2600, with a Honda GC160 engine. The number stamped on the engine is GCAHA-2434867. I was using the pressure washer and it was running fine for approximately 1/2 an hour. I shut the engine off to take a break for a few minutes. The engine started up again but then started running rough. It now will run only with the choke pulled out. It immediately dies when the choke is pushed in. I have replaced the spark plug and taken the carburetor apart and cleaned. This didn't make any difference. Any idea what to try next?
ANSWER: Try it with the gas cap loose. If that doesn't help, check the fuel flow to the carb. How did you go about cleaning the carb?
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QUESTION: Tried it with the gas cap loose and that didn't make a difference. I'm not sure how much gas should be flowing to the carburetor. After getting the engine to run for a few seconds I loosened the screw to drain the float bowl and quite a bit of gasoline drained out. I cleaned the carburetor by spraying it with cleaner after taking the float bowl, float and valve off. Any other ideas would be appreciated.
AnswerI think your carb is going to need to come off and be soaked in cleaner for an hour or more. Spray cleaner is only effective about half the time. It just won't reach into the tiny circuits like soaking it will. After soaking, run a fine wire through all the holes and blow the carb out with air.
This is the most common complaint we see in the shop. We provide an annual service that includes rebuilding the carb it's such a common problem.
For soaking, the carb cleaner you buy at auto parts stores works well. It comes in a can like a what paint comes in and usually has a basket inside. Follow the label directions and use a new kit when you reassemble the carb and you should be good to go. We'll also replace the fuel lines and filter and clean out the tank when rebuilding a carburetor.
