Harbor freight engine hard to start

[ldj]

I got a brand new Harbor freight 5.5hp vertical shaft engine. I installed it on a lawn mower. It is hard to start cold even with choke, 12 to 15 pulls and sometime have to put fuel in spark plug hole. Warm it is hard to start unless you choke, then it will fire right up. when running it gallops a little. All of this to me points to lean carb setting except when I put a small load on it by engaging the blade the galloping stops. There are no carb. adjustments in it. I haven't put a big load on it by cutting grass.
Any suggestions what the problem is?

 

[Anonymous-0]

made in China

 

[hanovertom]

And that is probably the best it will ever run

 

[supergrumpy]

my china generator does same thing

drilled tiny hole in air cleaner housing and spray hint of ether into carb thru the hole using snorkel tube

fires right up

you get what you pay for

 

[ff in mich]

What I would do is go back and buy 5 of them, then try them all, maybe you migth get one that you can get started

 

[eastexan]

I don't have one, but am thinking about getting one.
I've been reading good review on other forums on the Harbor Freight engines. What isn't made in China anymore?

Ronnie

 

[ldj]

Ronnie,
Yes, I've read good reviews also. I did read a person had problem like mine but on a 6.5 HP horizontal shaft engine. He took the main jet out and drilled it larger, problem fixed. I was hoping I would hear from some one with this exact engine that did that and how much it was drilled out. I can't understand only one person wrote about that problem or why I don't read in reviews on this exact engine having this problem. Maybe wrong jet got put in? I doubt that. I did take the carb apart and it is a common ordinary looking carb. I was hoping to find that trash or something had got in even though it was new.

 

[eastexan]

ldj,
Sounds like you just got a defective one. If I were you I'd take it back to the store and get another.

Also, I read where someone had a defective part on something they ordered from Harbor Freight. He called tech support, and they sent him a part. I don't remember now what it was. But they might send you a carburator. Who knows?
Hope it works out for you.

Ronnie

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you had just taken it back, they would probably have given you a new one, but now that you have tore into the carb, they may not. Lesson learned. Tom

 

[Kevin2]

Dad had a Lawn Boy that never ran quite right. After many years he took it in for a tune up and they didn't like the way it ran at the shop. Turns out the carb gasket had a bent over ear on it, which makes for a pretty bad air leak!

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a 13 hp Honda on my band sawmill.It is electric start and always starts in 2 turns of the crank shaft.It has a recoil starter but Ive never used it.Pinching pennies will usually bring trouble.

 

[MarkB_MI]

Hard starting and loping under no load indicates the idle jet is plugged. Clean it out with a piece of fine wire.

 

[IH2444]

Aww come on now. It is not like it is a Ford.

 

[DoubleR]

I brought one of their cheap generators that did the same thing. Called them and was told to replace the spark plug which didn't help. Called again and they said use either to start it. Listen to my wife complain for a year every time we used it camping about how cheap I am and couldn't take it anymore. Got rid of it and brought a honda for 5 times the price but was the best thing I have done in a while. I try to live and learn from my mistakes.

 

[schmuck]

Take it back, try again.