Splitter only running on Choke

[cat-face timber]

Yesturday, me and my Grandson got my Mom some Firewood (Pinyon) and we started splitting it for her with her Splitter, Well the Splitter was hard to start and when it finally did it would only run on Choke.
The weather was cold, windy and snow/rain mix.
We splitted all the wood we got her.
The Splitter is about 10 years old and has a Honda engine.

Why would it only run on Choke, even after it warmed up I tried to push in the choke and it would stumble and die, unless I pulled the choke back out.

 

[srb08]

I had the same problem last year with my Honda generator. I drained the gas and replaced with fresh, problem solved.
I hope your problem is this simple.

 

[linebergert]

The jet is clogged. Need to clean the carb.


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[cat-face timber]

The jet is clogged. Need to clean the carb.


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Is there Carb kits like there are for saws?

 

[nathon918]

Is there Carb kits like there are for saws?

yeah they make kits but most if the time it isnt needed, they usually just need to be cleaned... could probably just pull the fuel bown off, pull the float/needle, and pull the main jet, clean them up and put it back together...

 

[chucker]

dirty pickup filter(brigs in tank/mounted carb) , dirty shut off valve, plugged needle and seat and that's about it other than water in old gas!!

 

[linebergert]

Usually don't need a kit. Just drop the bowl. Pull jet and clean. I use a torch tip cleaner. Spray all orifices with a good quality carb cleaner then use blow gun and blow out orifices. That should fix it. Hondas have real simple carburetors.

 

[cat-face timber]

Thanks so much guys

 

[jthornton]

The jet is clogged. Need to clean the carb.


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Yep, my buddy has a power washer that had the same symptoms and I had to take the carb apart and clean it.

JT

 

[HD2010]

I agree with everyones solutions. Drain fuel and clean carb.

 

[cantoo]

Clean the air filter while you are at it.

 

[Oliver1655]

Sometimes you can run them with the choke on & they will self clean, especially if it is water in the fuel. If you are running it with the choke on & it starts to run rough, try turning the choke off & see it has.

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

Clean the air filter while you are at it.

Don't forget the muffler bearings! They're the greatest reason why an engine will not idle!

 

[cat-face timber]

Don't forget the muffler bearings! They're the greatest reason why an engine will not idle!

Well crap I forgot to grease and pack the muffler bearings, where are they at again.

 

[cantoo]

I have headlights on mine and sometimes it is hard to start, that's the 1st clue that the fluid is low.

 

[cat-face timber]

I have headlights on mine and sometimes it is hard to start, that's the 1st clue that the fluid is low.
View attachment 336967

Is that only a Canada thing, where can I get some

 

[cantoo]

Cat-face, not sure if it's available in AZ or not. Do you have a Royal Purple dealer nearby, they sell it too. It's pretty pricy though.

 

[MofoG23]

If you have access to an ultrasonic cleaner, pull it apart and drop it in for a couple hours. I've found that is the best way to restore a carb....

 

[4seasons]

Most of this has been said already but since I used to work in a small engine shop I can tell you what we did. If it would not run without the choke on it was almost always a clogged carb due to bad fuel. The ethanol in fuel today absorbs water and gas goes bad much quicker. When it starts setting up the tiny openings in your carb get clogged with varnish. Sometimes fresh gas and carb cleaner is all it needs. Next step is to take the carb apart and drop it in an ultrasonic cleaner. If that didn't fix it we replaced the carb with a new one. Most of the small engine carb kits were as expensive as the new carb anyway and the varnish will set up in places that you can't get cleaned out sometimes. We never rebuilt a carb the whole time I worked there.

 

[esshup]

4seasons, I hear ya. The carb on my honda splitter motor was varnished up and I tried cleaning it with a can of hog wash that I had. That wouldn't cut the varnish. I did some looking, and a new carb was just under $20. Lets see.....work at cleaning it for how long? or just replace it? Guess what happened.