How to Adjust the Idle in a Honda OHV Lawn Mower
The best way to adjust the idle on your Honda OHV lawn mower is with a single cylinder handheld tachometer. There are two adjustments for the idle on the Honda mower. When you use a tachometer to adjust the throttle stop screw, you will ensure that you have enough RPMs to maintain idle and still have fuel efficiency. Tachometers are available at auto parts stores and home improvement centers.
Place the Honda mower outside on level ground. Locate the throttle stop screw and the pilot screw. The throttle stop screw is directly under the air cleaner assembly on the carburetor. The pilot screw is a flathead screw located to the lower left of the pilot screw.
- The best way to adjust the idle on your Honda OHV lawn mower is with a single cylinder handheld tachometer.
- The throttle stop screw is directly under the air cleaner assembly on the carburetor.
Start your Honda mower and allow the engine to reach operating temperature. The engine will need to run approximately two minutes to warm up.
Place the throttle lever to the low setting. The low setting will have a picture of a turtle on the indicator plate by the handle. Attach the wire from your tachometer to the spark plug wire.
Turn the pilot screw with a flathead screwdriver until the engine will idle without shutting off. The engine should maintain a steady speed while idling.
- Start your Honda mower and allow the engine to reach operating temperature.
- Place the throttle lever to the low setting.
Turn the throttle stop screw with a Phillips-head screwdriver until the the engine reaches the standard idle speed of 150 RPMs. Turn the throttle stop screw in small increments until the tachometer reads 150 RPMs.
Adjust The Idle On A Briggs & Stratton Lawn Mower
Briggs & Stratton manufactures a variety of small engines for use in lawn equipment, including lawn mowers, roto-tillers, pressure washers and other items. A Briggs & Stratton lawn mower engine uses a carburetor to mix the gasoline and air that is pulled into the cylinder for propulsion. Tighten the idle adjustment screw, found on the side of the carburetor, by turning it clockwise just to the point where you feel it lightly touching the seat of the carburetor. Back the screw off (turn counterclockwise) from this point one-and-a-half turns. Replace the air filter and air cartridge on the carburetor and tighten the set screw clockwise to lock in place. Start the engine, set it to half-throttle and allow it to warm up for about five minutes. Turn the idle adjustment screw slowly in a clockwise manner until the engine's RPMs begin to slow. Remember this position, and turn the screw counterclockwise past the original point, listening for the engine to begin slowing again. Check the engine idle speed with a tachometer. For aluminum-block engines, the engine should idle at 1750 RPM.
- Turn the throttle stop screw with a Phillips-head screwdriver until the the engine reaches the standard idle speed of 150 RPMs.
Warning
Keep hands and feet away from mower chute while adjusting idle speed.
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References
Warnings
- Keep hands and feet away from mower chute while adjusting idle speed.
Writer Bio
Kenneth Crawford is a freelance writer with more than 10 years of experience. His work has appeared in both print and online publications, including "The American Chronicle." Crawford holds an associate degree in business administration from Commonwealth College.
