Honda Engine Troubles

[Corley5]

My wood splitter has a 5.5hp Honda engine.  It's one of the black ones not the better red and white models.  I used the splitter over the weekend and it ran fine, even started up with no fuss after almost a year.  When I shut it off Saturday it was working fine, running good, no problem.  I had about six blocks left to bust up yesterday and when I pulled on the starter cord there seemed to be no compression.  I messed around with it, held my hand over the exhaust while pulling the starter and there was no pressure coming out but maybe a little suction ???.  I took out the plug and it was flooded but did have spark, held my thumb over the hole and pulled the rope and there was very little compression if any.  I took off the air filter and held my hand over the carb throat and there was pressure coming out of the carb when I pulled the engine over. ???  If this little engine has 50 hours on it that'd be a lot.  This is the fourth season I've had it and have only split wood for Dad and I and since we've got the outdoor furnaces very little needs splitting now.  The first season I split probably 10 face cord with it and the amount has gone down each season since.  It always has been a little kicker.  When the engine is cold the starter cord would sometimes just about rip your fingers right off.  I figured the timing might have been off a bit ???  But now I'm wondering if the timing could have jumped to the point of being off so far it's backwards?  I know 2 strokes will run backwards.  Rotaxs and Detroits come to mind but would this happen with a single cylinder four stroke?  Not that it would actually start and run but could something have slipped, jumped or whatever that's making it operate backwards ???  Anyone got a diagnosis ???  I'm confused by the whole matter :( ;) :D Here's some pics of what I split Saturday





Before


After



I thought it was splitting hard ;)  Most of the this log was curly.  If I'd known before or paid any attention to it as I was chunking it up with the chainsaw I'd of saved it to saw but too late now.




This stick had been over grown in the crotch long ago

[Tom]

You could stlll save some of those small, prettier pieces for a wood turner.   It makes good looking bowls and spindles.

If your little engine didn't jump time, it might have swallowed a valve.  You'll have to remove the head to be sure.   It may just be a stuck valve.

[D._Frederick]

If it is a valve-in-head design, take the valve cover off and see if the valves are moving. Like Tom said, it could be a stuck valve, they don't have a very good oiling system for the valve stems.

[twoodward15]

A shot of carb cleaner /wd-40 down the stem might free it up a bit.

[isawlogs]

 If it aint the valve(s) , then it will be your piston ring(s) that is stuck on the piston , this I have seen a few times . Motors that have been in storage for a year or more fire up , but have no lube on the rings they have a tendency to stick when engin is turned off ... Normally aint a big job to unstick them the big job is to get to them .

[Fla._Deadheader]

Marvel Mystery Oil in the crankcase, after you free up whatever is stickin  :

[sawguy21]

Sounds like it is the GC series. Remove the four bolts holding the cam cover and gently pry the cover off. It is sealed with Permatex or something similar. See if the valves are moving properly, the intake may be stuck open. If the valve is sticking up at an odd angle and not doing much of anything., the tip has broken off letting the valve fall into the cylinder where it met the piston. This is not an uncommon failure. Time for a new engine.

[bitternut]

Hope your engine problem is a simple one and easily corrected. I think your engine is the same model that I have on my splitter. I bought mine several years ago and it has been a very good engine. Let us know what you find out.

[Corley5]

I pulled the valve cover today and sure enough the intake valve was stuck.  I pulled the pin out of the rocker arm and tapped the valve with a plastic hammer and it freed right up.  I put a few drops of Rust Reaper on the stems of both valves and worked them a few times then applied a little more.  I'll put it back together tomorrow after it soaks a bit.  It does have compression again.  Thanks guys 8) 8)

[Corley5]

I put it back together yesterday and split this with it no problem except for pulling a muscle or something in the back of my thigh rolling these great big blocks around.  Been hobbling ever since :  I told Dad he didn't have to haul something like this home again.  It came from along a road up towards Indian River that the Road Comm. was ditching.  The landowner cut what he wanted out of the top and Dad had the rest hauled home :  It did make a bunch of wood but was alot of work too.  I could have went to the woods and cut more in the same amount of time and not worked as hard and probably wouldn't have hurt myself :






One of Dad's crew wanted some cross sections to use for plaques or something.  I told him they were gonna split as they dried but he wasn't concerned.  You can see where the tree was tapped different times in it's life.


Didn't miss a full load by very far 8)


I brought the big dog (395) out for this project and then didn't even start it up.  Nothing the 372 couldn't handle 8).  The 395 hasn't seen much use lately.  I did run a tank of gas through it earlier just to keep it limbered up.  Not used to the big horse anymore.

[CHARLIE]

DanG! I looked at that log where all those limbs converged and saw some beautiful turning stock. I bet the grain was wild there!   

[Corley5]

Actually Charlie that piece is still laying there.  It's the one with the saw sitting on it.  It was just too much to wrestle and I had plans to take it to the woods and dump it.  You can have it but UPS shipping would be prohibitive I'm sure.  I could put it in side to dry and you can pick at the Pig Roast next year

[Ironwood]

YOU'RE MAKING ME CRY AT THE BEAUTIFUL FIREWOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1


                                 REID

[Furby]

Me too!!!
Been looking for a log like that.

[Corley5]

I wonder if figured wood has more BTUs ??? ;D ;D

[CHARLIE]

I've got more wood than I can handle right now, but thanks anyway.  You might contact a local woodturner or woodturning club and see if they want it.  I bet they would.

There are woodturning clubs in:  Troy, Fenton, Traverse City and Portage.  If any of them are close I could send you contact names if you want.