How to Tune Up a Honda Lawn Mower | GC/GCV Engines

This video quickly shows you how simple and easy it is to tune up a Honda lawn mower with a GC/GCV engine. At the time of publication it cost less than $20.00 to complete the tune up and took about 30 mins start to finish. PARTS AND TOOLS LISTED BELOW.

Materials and Tools (Affiliate Links):

OIL CHANGE

Before you begin servicing your lawn mower, make sure to pick up the correct parts. Honda has conveniently created a tune up kit for most gc and gcv engines that includes 12 oz of 10W-30 oil, an air filter, and a replacement spark plug.

In addition to the tune up kit you may also need a 13/16” spark plug socket, a 3/8” drive torque wrench, a 3/8” drive ratchet wrench, a spark plug gap too, rags, oil pan and funnel and disposable gloves.

Honda recommends changing the oil every six months or 50 hours of use. For me, this is usually once a year. If the engine is used under heavy load or high outdoor temperatures it’s recommended to change the oil more frequently.

For best results, drain the oil when the engine is warm. Warm oil drains quickly and completely. If necessary, let the engine run for a few minutes until it has warmed up to operating temperature.

To reduce the chance of scratching the side of the mower deck or wheels when tipping, place a piece of cardboard or drop cloth on the ground.

First, turn the fuel valve OFF. This will reduce the possibility of fuel leakage.

Wipe the oil filler area clean, and then remove the oil filler cap/dipstick.

Place a suitable container next to the mower to catch the used oil, and the tilt the mower on its right side. Use CAUTION as the oil may be hot. The used oil will drain through the filler neck. Allow the oil to drain completely, then tip the mower back up and wipe up any spills.

Fill with the recommended oil as shown on the chart for the average temperature in your area. The oil I used was 10W-30. Do not overfill. Allow a couple of minutes for the oil to settle in the engine and then measure the oil level.

AIR FILTER
Press down on the cover tabs and remove the cover. Remove the air filter from the air cleaner housing. Inspect the filter and replace if damaged. Reinstall the filter and cover making sure both tabs are fully locked in place.

SPARK PLUG
Allow the engine to cool. Disconnect the spark plug cap and remove and dirt from around the spark plug area. Remove the spark plug with a 13.16 in (21mm) socket and inspect for normal wear. NOTICE: and incorrect spark plug can cause engine damage. For good performance, the spark plug must be gapped properly. Measure the spark plug gap and correct in necessary.
Install the spark plug carefully by hand to avoid cross threading. After the spark plug seats tighten with a 13/16 in (21mm) socket and torque to 14 ft-lb. Finally, reinstall the spark plug cap.

Turn the fuel valve back to the on position. Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes and check for leaks and proper operation.

I hope this tutorial was helpful in giving your Honda a tune up. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below. Also please consider hitting the like button and subscribing for more tutorials like this one.

Thanks for watching!

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damages that may occur due to improper operation. This video is strictly documentative and should not be used for anything other than reference. Do so at your own risk.

Music:

[Thecelestial]

I do this every year, I love my mower!

[carynalomar]

Perfect step-by-step instructions....I just saved about $100 in an easy DIY project. Thanks!

[whatajoke]

Excellent tutorial! As a woman with few tools-this looks very straight forward! Great step by step instructions! Thanks….

[jims]

To check the oil level on a Honda engine, you do not screw the dipstick in at all, just clean off the dipstick, place the dipstick in the hole up to where the threads touch all the way around, pull it out and read it. This is in the engine manual, which you might need to download from Honda.

[ewilliams]

Awesome tutorial I followed it step by step, saved money and learned something new thanks bro!!

[heinzkitzvelvet]

I changed my oil 4 times last year. Of course, it was brand new then. I bought a magnetic dipstick for it and only use Royal Purple full synthetic oil. That dipstick does a phenomenal job pulling the metal out of the oil.

I'm a fanatic about my mower, so I check and clean the air filter before each mow, sharpen my blades every 30 days, run non-ethanol gasoline only, installed a tachometer/hour meter before I started it the first time and keep meticulous records in a maintenance log book that I make entries into after each time I run it.
I also wash her down and scrape under the deck after each mow as well.

Last year when I bought it, I also added a checkmate lawn striping kit to her as well. The kit did a good job, but this year I'm adding a brush and tines to the kit to get even better, deeper stripes.
I love my Honda so much, I named her Kathryn. LOL! Cheers 👍

[fucheduck]

according to my dad(whom I learned most engine repair in general) you need not change the spark plug at every tune up only if it is horribly black! Oil Change once a year and I personally pull the crank a few times to drain all the excess above or below the cylinder and valves. also when you have run the new oil in and run the engine for a while, I'd recommend revving the engine up using the throttle lever(it is set and spring loaded-just bypass this for the tune up purpose) this will get all the oil distributed into the engine and get it used to tuning the new oil also if you turn off the carb(Honda feature) it will drain the gas out of your carburetor so you can store it. don't mow after a tune up if it is hot out, especially if you rev up for the final task, instead store it and mow a different day allow the engine to set and rest.-yes even engines need to do this-in spire of what you think, for gaskets and oil to set in the metal innards and joints of the piston, crank shaft and valves. hot out I just got through tuning up my Honda GCV160 for my Troy-Built lawnmower!

[philippetroschke]

Also is was September 2018 and it’s now October 2019 soo 1 month overdue as I cherish my tools, I thought I had to add this follow up message

[philippetroschke]

Your video was very helpful thank you, used mine for a few weeks last year and this is its first season, soo I will follow your video to the letter. Is this kid available through Honda Canada ?

[berylcallahan]

Thank you so much. It been a long time and i'm back on track now thanks to you. I have one question tho, how do I change out my old gas from last year? Is it necessary?

[garciaful]

very good video, you got it all done in 4 min, well done

[johnbiggerthan]

Can you siphon the oil out instead of tilling

[MovieTubeMe]

This is general maintenance but not what I think of as a tune up. If this is all a service is then no reason to take it to mower place for servicing but there is more to it isn't there? Its that more that we need to know about.
I am small woman, never had muscle power or arm length to lift ANY mower. The few times our mower went in to be looked at husband loaded it into car and service staff took it out.
I want to learn how to detect at least what it is needs fixing beyond the three things you show here.
So where do you learn that? Where do you find electronics required to detect and tune up modern mowers?

[desirelines]

The tune-up kit includes 12 oz. of oil, but the manual for the GCV on both my Honda mowers has a capacity of 0.55 liters of oil which is 18.6 ounces. Why is there a discrepancy?

[roymcmillan]

What about the drive? Is there a belt to replace or is the mower gear driven with the front or rear wheels?

[robertross]

You are checking the oil level INCORRECTLY. After you fill the crankcase, you don't screw the dipstick in. You simply insert the dipstick and then check the level. After the level is correct you then screw the dipstick in tightly. Read your manual and you will see you have been doing it incorrectly.

[TroutFink]

Should have started the mower after you turned off the fuel valve to drain the carburetor from any remaining fuel.