Honda GX200

[rpolanco]

I picked up an original GX200 and it ran good for a good half an hour. It recently started dying while riding and now it doesn't even start unless the choke is on. I start it with full choke but dies after about 10 seconds. I changed the air filter, carb, and sparkplug and I'm stumped. Ideas?

 

[Hellion]

Well, engines require choking for starting, when cold and sometimes when warm/hot.

Brand new carb? Factory replacement/OEM carb or what?

It wasn't the sparkplug.
Or air filter.

EDIT: make sure you turn off the choke after it starts.

 

[BigWes]

You changed the carb? you just happened to have one laying around? was there trash in the fuel tank by chance? I mean it could be a lot of things but it sounds fuel related. That little filter at the bottom of the tank isn't clogged with rust or debis is it? is there rust or debris in the tank? it only takes a little bit to get in there and stop up the main fuel jet. I mean thats what it sounds like. I hate trying to troubleshoot without being there in person and I like tinkering with carbs. I would rather look and listen myself. but even with that filter in place trash will often pass that filter and clog the jet. it only takes a few minutes to clean the jet. I wouldn't have changed the carb. Now you have another carb with an unknown low side idle air mix going on and it aint gonna run right until that carb is adjusted for its current application. Anyway, it's likely something simple so dont do anything drastic to the engine or you'll just cause more problems. start simple and do one thing at the time. and dont forget to check that low oil shutoff...and the oil for that matter.

Wes

 

[landuse]

I would also guess that it's some junk in the tank that got into the carb. Putting a new carb on wouldn't solve the problem. Junk would just get into the new one and do the same thing

 

[rpolanco]

I checked my gas tank and there are little streaks of sand. I'm going to flush out the tank and fill it up with fresh gas. Anything else you would recommend doing?

 

[Hellion]

You probably contaminated your carburetor with the sand.

Flush the tank by all means. Remove it and shake it, slosh it around with water and dish soap inside. Let air dry completely.

Don't necessarily throw away the gas if it's just dirtied with sand or other particulates. Filter it several times through a filter or a piece of cotton T-shirt.

Or keep it for cleaning dirty engine parts like Donyboy73 on YT.