OT hard starting log splitter

[mikegpage]

i have a new log splitter with honda gcv 160la engine. it will start on a couple pulls at 70 degrees, at 50 degrees it takes 7 or 8 pulls, at 30 degrees it takes 30 pulls if it starts at all, below 30 forget about it,
Any ideas will be appreciated.
is this normal for a log splitter?, would magnetic heaters work? should i try a hoter plug or is that a bad idea??

i put in a new plug, good spark, completely disasembled and cleaned out card, replaced all gas in tank and lines and carb, good fuel flow.i add seafoam to gas, once it starts it runs great.

 

[CJ in Michigan]

Are you pulling out the choke?

 

[Jubilee85]

Mike,
does it by chance have one of those squeeze bulbs? I often forget to hit mine and it makes it hard to start. Do you have a fuel shut off knob? Make sure to give it a few seconds to get fuel to the bowl, choke the hell out of it and then hopefully she'll fire

 

[Colin King]

I'm no small engine expert, but I'm going to suggest that you have either a fuel issue, an air issue, or both. The situation you describe is not normal.

A magnetic heater will not really make a difference. Cold temperatures reduce the cranking capacity of a battery and thicken oil, which in turn requires more energy from an already weak battery to move the internals of the engine. Since this is a pull start, cold temperatures may have some very limited affect on lubrication - but this will be very, very limited - and you'd notice it if it were hard to pull.

What type of air cleaner does this have? If it's an oil bath (like our Ns) or if it's splashed with oil, the cold temps will make it harder for air to pass through, thereby enriching the mixture. You could actually be flooding the engine if this scenario is happening + you are applying choke. Apply less choke.

How about simple air flow restriction from a dirty air filter element? Clean it out in a cup of gasoline.

Try starting with the air filter element off. Try to dribble a little gas directly into the carb and start.

Those would be some of my first steps. I probably can't help much further than that, and I'm sure other folks will have much better ideas.

Colin, MN

 

[mikegpage]

Yes I choke it for a couple of pulls then with choke off for a couple of pulls, if i leave it choked and keep pulling it floods, the float works properly and the needle valve stops the flow of gas

 

[mikegpage]

no primer bulb, i wish it did, air filter is like new3 it is a paper filter

 

[Colin King]

The modern board is not letting be edit my post ...

but I should have written that cold temps will have a very limited impact on startability (instead of lubrication).

Colin

 

[Anonymous-0]

See if it will start with a little ether. Not to much though.

 

[Bob]

Up here on the tundra, those engines have a bad rep for cold starting.

I just hear Brandt (a grain auger manufacturer out of Canada) won't use them on new augers anymore just for that reason.

 

[Paul in MN]

And yet the Techumseh engine (now out of business) has a good reputation for cold starting. It is the most often used engine for snowblower use. As I often split firewood in winter, I have a 10 hp Techumseh on my splitter. But it is direct coupled to the hydraulic pump so the starting problem is a matter of the hydraulic oil temp. If it had a clutch to disengage the hydraulic pump, then the engine would be easy to start. My 975 Bobcat is one of the few models with a foot clutch pedal to disengage the hydraulic pumps for ease of cold weather engine starting. I find that to be quite satisfactory.

With Techumseh now gone, we will be at the mercy of oriental engine manufacturers (+ Briggs made in Mexico and orient). Do they really care about our cold weather starting problems?? Only time will tell.

Paul in MN

 

[Dunk]

Back in the Zippo days...

We would use a squirt or two of lighter fluid in cold weather, or on a stubborn small engine.

Right into the spark plug hole.

 

[Jack L]

I have a Honda engine on my splitter Mike but I don't run it in the winter. Just curious to know what viscosity oil your using and for what temperatures? I change the oil in my generator to 20 W for winter use and change it back to 30 W for summer use.

Jack

 

[mikegpage]

im using 10 30 mobile 1 synthectic, temps are 0 to 90

 

[pdhntr]

(quoted from post at 20:57:17 03/01/09) im using 10 30 mobile 1 synthectic, temps are 0 to 90

I believe my neighbor has the same machine, and I borrow it quite often.

Your description of the temperature and starting problems mirrors ours.

We double checked everything and even put lighter oil in the crankcase and nothing worked. Its a real PITA.

We have narrowed it down to the direct drive hyd pump as Paul above noted. We have tried with success putting a heat lamp on the pump housing for a couple of hours before trying to start, letting the entire unit warm up in a heated garage before using and so on.

Wish I had a better answer for your problem.

Jim

 

[D Squared]

I have a Honda on my pressure washer that has been hard to start since it was new. Rebuilt the carb with no effect. It cost Honda a lot of credibility with me. I put a new OHV briggs on my splitter a year ago. It starts first pull no matter what the temp is. I know that doesn't help you. I'm just venting a little.

 

[pikewi]

It is general consensus around here that Honda is a warm weather motor. I have a 350 Honda ATV that doesn't like to start in the cold. Even after it finally does start it take forever to warm up enough to use. I added a fuel primer direct to carb last fall and that helped alot