OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Honda Engines Honda GC160 Governor help...

I just did this post as an addition to a previous thread....thought it may be better as it's own post. Sorry for any confusion.

I was hoping for a bit of basic information. I have a Honda gc160 motor on a pressure washer and my governor arm does not move back to the idle position, it stays in full throttle position. When I push the control arm down to slow, the idle spring just goes slack. There seems to be nothing to push the governor arm back away from the carburetor. What is supposed to move the governor arm to the slow position...is the governor control arm spring supposed to move it (looks like it only is used to pull the arm to the fast position, but not meant to push it back), is the throttle valve on the carb supposed to push it back, or is there supposed to be tension on the governor shaft that rotates it back counter-clockwise?

When the governor arm is off the shaft (and the r-pin removed), the shaft will turn freely counterclock wise, and can be rotated back clockwise...but there is no tension on this shaft.

Thanks

Sounds like the governor is not set correctly. There should be a lock nut on the governor arm at the swivel point if it is like most motors, I'm not familiar with the Honda's, that you loosen off, set the throttle butterfly to full open and turn the governor, usually by a screwdriver slot in it, to the full clockwise position and tighten off the lock nut. When the engine is not running the throttle butterfly should be full open. The governor operates to close it down as revs increase. Someone more familiar with the Honda's will probably be able to give you more info.

Hi Aussietrev...thanks for replying, I really appreciate the help. I know its difficult when there are not pictures (I'm not that smart yet) but I am adding a link to a honda page which gives an overview of the setup. I'm not sure if I'm doing this right...

Honda

In the picture relating to the governor, the control arm has a spring linking it to the governor arm. When the control arm is up (full speed), it pulls the governor arm towards to carb, which opens the throttle valve. When the control arm is pushed down, the governor arm does not move. It stays up against the carb and therefore the throttle stays open. I can push the governor arm by hand (it is not stuck or jammed), but there is nothing pulling it away from the carb (which would close the throttle).

The bolt on the bottom of the governor arm is tight and attached well to the governor arm shaft.

I'm used to motors that have a spring on the bottom of the governor arm which pulls it back away from the carb. So I'm at a bit of a loss as to what is supposed to pull the governor arm back into place.

I apologize if the link does not work.

As far as I know, Govenors are basically arms which use the air rushing off the fan to push them outward. As the paddle part of the arm is pushed outward, the throttle position is lowered to maintain steady engine rpms. When it detects the engine rpms are lowered while the throttle is set high, it will raise rpms. I could be wrong though. I'd check the condition of your throttle springs and the tabs which the linkages connect too.

Thanks ProXu1Victa. The current springs are in pretty good shape. My confusion is that all the springs pull the governor are towards the carb (full throttle position). There are no springs pulling it back away from the carb. I'm looking at specs on line, but can't see anything meant to pull it away.

I know I'm not describing this well. I found a video on Youtube where a person is having the exact same problem.

Honda governor arm

not a great video, but hopefully helps.

Thanks again, truly appreciate any feedback.

Operating exactly as designed; although, you may the static adjustment not set.

There is a little misunderstanding how the governor works on the Honda GC160 engine. It is not a air vane type. It is instead is a rotating gear with flyweights driven by the crankshaft rotation that pushes pin against a bellcrank lever. As engine speeds up these flywheel pushes bellcrank and lever against the spring tension to lower the engine's rpm by closing the throttle butterfly vane in carburetor until the spring tension and flyweights balances out each other. If the governor static position on the bellcrank is not set right there will be no control your rpms. If this setting is out too much the engine go into runaway and very possibly self destruct.

and the light switch just went on....thanks AVP.

The governor position must be off, because when I started it last year the engine ran extremely fast. And when I started pushing in the choke, the motor would backfire. So I assumed something had to be wrong with that arm because it has no tension on it when the motor is off, and didn't move when the control arm is moved up and down. But now I see the tension comes when the motor is running.

so now I will try and scale back the governor shaft arm, and see if I can slow down the rpms.

There is a lot of oil in the air filter compartment, and the motor tends to backfire through the carb. The plug was very sooty. So I'm assuming I have other problems to deal with as well. I guess a carb cleaning and valve check will be next.

One last question on the governor...the governor shaft arm was turned all the way clockwise when the governor arm was pushed against the carb (full throttle)...is there a standard amount that these motors should be turned back counterclockwise to slow the motor to the proper speed (ie 10 degrees from full)? I don't have a tacometer to measure speed, so I will be guessing somewhat.

Thanks again to all...truly appreciate your time and patience.