OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions on Other Engines Victa V40 Chinese 4 stroke running issues

I picked up a fairly new Victa LawnKeeper V40 that someone had put out for rubbish collection. Apart from broken pull cord there was no apparent damage to it.

I repaird the cord and after about 10 pulls she started, blowing black smoke and coughing a bit before turning off again..

Its very hard to start and even if it does it turns off after only a few seconds of running. Does anyone know what the most common issue with these mowers is?

Cheers

v40 as in the 2stroke or the chinese made honda copy 4 stroke?

Chinese made 4 stroke copy of honda engine.

You did remember to move the speed control lever off the choke position the moment it started, didn't you? If you don't it will blow black smoke, rich-load, and stall.

ditto grumpy! thats just what i was thinkin...

nope i didnt.. now it doesnt start

interesting....interesting......hrmmmmmm....

well start with the triangle..... air fire gas

does it have air....fire....gas? is the gas gone off? is the fire so-so.. is the air clogged..?

I would start with cleaning the plug, running it with the choke on would have carboned it right up, a fine wire brush should bring it up nice.

Then start it again making sure you open the choke (the outer butterfly on the carby) see how it runs.

Be warned these engines will commonly chew out their timing gear, so I wouldnt hold onto it for an extended period of time.

If you choked it to death several times running, it is pretty well clagged up with soft carbon and will need some care to get it running properly. As Joe said, clean the plug first. Then the mission is to burn out the crud you have filled the combustion chamber with. If the weather is mild (not cold) you might get lucky if you choke it to start, then un-choke it as soon as it starts, hoping to burn the garbage. As soon as it runs, the soft carbon will fly around the combustion chamber and is quite likely to lodge in the spark plug again, shorting it out and stopping the engine. If that happens you have to clean the plug again, and repeat the process. Meanwhile by rich-loading it over and over again, you have washed all the oil off the cylinder walls over and over again, causing them to be somewhat scuffed by the piston rings.

Then write on the workshop wall 100 times: I will not allow any engine to rich-load.

I put a different spark plug in it last night, new air filter, choke on and she started first go! Pulled the choke back as soon as started and now it runs great

Hi luvpsi, great to see you got it all sorted...as this thread is now complete, I will now close it. If any member has anything to add, just PM a moderator.