Honda did the same thing with those rubbish OHC models, I bought 2 of them new many years ago and they were impossible to start without starter fluid. As a result I will never buy another Honda product, once bitten twice shy. Sooner go with a Chonda, at least you are not paying top dollar for a name and that is all they are now
I haven't had much to do with the little vertical shaft Honda engines. (Most home owners around here use John Deere ride-ons or Chonda push mowers.) The clapped out GXV160 I keep running for a customer usually needs a new spark plug every few weeks to enable it to start and burns oil like anything.
Otherwise, the main problem I've noticed with the Honda GX's is they nearly all flood the sump if the fuel tap is left on and tend to burn heaps of oil when they hit 5,000 hours.
However, they are easy to start, unlike the Briggs & Stratton engines with the Vacu & Pulsa jet carbies! This is why most farmers down here went to Honda's. Why wear yourself out trying to start a Briggs when you can buy a Honda with a proper carby that will start easily!
