Will it crank? POLL results

Will it crank

  • Not a chance

    Votes: 2 5.6%
  • Oh, it’ll crank alright

    Votes: 12 33.3%
  • I say it cranks, initially... but a short 4 hours later is another story

    Votes: 22 61.1%

  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .
JsheII3

JsheII3

Long time listener.
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Sep 12, 2018
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  1. Do not currently own
Backstory:

My 2003 Rancher 350 ran low of oil, lost compression, and died. Completely my fault.
I turned to Hondasxs forum for help. Got plenty of troubleshooting tips from the members.

You need to pick up the story HERE...
Read it (Before you vote)
350 Rancher Engine problems

At the present, I have not got it completely back together, but should with 6 hours or so (Friday night)

I’ll post the result on this thread.

Pros and Cons:

Pros
  • It’s a Honda, bulletproof right?
  • YouTube (this video by Partzilla) gave me step by step instructions
  • Hondasxs expert members were engaged throughout the process

Cons
  • I don’t know what I’m doing.
  • I used aftermarket parts
  • There’s a huge hunk of piston still missing down in the case

I’m 50/50 on it, myself.
I can tell you this... no matter the outcome, I’m not taking it back apart, again.
 
GlockMeister

GlockMeister

The Bearded Wonder
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Giphy 3
 
DG Rider

DG Rider

Member: Triple Clutch Club
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Aug 14, 2013
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My 1st rebuild was on a Briggs and Stratton riding mower when I was like 12. Well...sort of. Turns out...after it was too late, the cover was b/s, but the engine was actually Tecumseh. It's a miracle the b/s parts actually fit and ran. Smoked like hell, though.
 
lee

lee

Village Idiot
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Apr 4, 2013
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Ok,,so we are telling engine rebuild stories now?
When I was bearly 16, full of dreams and aspirations but not much else I bought a 71 Fiat 850 Spider from a mechanics lean sale.
The head was off with all the parts thrown in the passenger foot well.
I reassembled the engine and got it running.
Whent for a test drive around the block, when I got to the stop sign half a block from the house I pushed the clutch in and the engine seized.
Walked back to the house and had Dad come help me tow it back to the house.

Turns out the mechanic had instaled new cam bearings but the center one was miss set.
Oil gallery passed threw the center bearing going to the head so lack of oil made the rocker arms seize.
Once the engine was out Dad helped me rebuild the lower end as well.
Drove that car to for a couple of years after that.

Funny follow up.
In 2006 I bought a 1st generation Honda Insight, the funny looking 2 seater.
Guess I still like quercky small cars.
I took it over to let Dad drive it, at the stop sign at the end of the block the engine shuts off and I'm explaining the whole auto stop thing.
Dad looks at me and says "just like the Fiat".
 
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snuffnwhisky

snuffnwhisky

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Sep 21, 2016
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  2. Other Brand
It sounded like a little tick, like the valves needed adjusting. It also sounded like it was spinning over fast when cranking so compression might be low, tight valve maybe? I would recheck rocker arm adjustments and cam timing.
 
H

HondaTech

Guest
It sounded like a little tick, like the valves needed adjusting. It also sounded like it was spinning over fast when cranking so compression might be low, tight valve maybe? I would recheck rocker arm adjustments and cam timing.

It wouldn't idle long enough for me to hear, but it sounded like it has a wrist pin knock to me.

Could just be the audio as well.
 
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JsheII3

JsheII3

Long time listener.
Lifetime Member
Sep 12, 2018
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Mississippi
Ownership

  1. Do not currently own
Hate to sound like a debbie downer, but that thing still sounds rough.
No Debbie downer worries here. I agree. It was better before repair.

I ordered a carb boot/intake because is suspect it’s got a vacuum leak. Choking it makes it rev like crazy.

So I lied about NOT taking it apart again. Well, just not all the way.
 
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JsheII3

JsheII3

Long time listener.
Lifetime Member
Sep 12, 2018
339
1,534
93
Mississippi
Ownership

  1. Do not currently own
It sounded like a little tick, like the valves needed adjusting. It also sounded like it was spinning over fast when cranking so compression might be low, tight valve maybe? I would recheck rocker arm adjustments and cam timing.
I ordered and installed new valves. I didn’t set them or check them. Just bolted it on as they were.
I still don’t know what/ how to check the cam.
So It’s far from tuned. Granted.

But seems better today than it did when I first cranked it. I mean it will idle on its own.

And it does much better after warming up.

Imma keep tinkering with it.
I appreciate all your help.
 
JsheII3

JsheII3

Long time listener.
Lifetime Member
Sep 12, 2018
339
1,534
93
Mississippi
Ownership

  1. Do not currently own
Just an update...

Since rebuild, I've changed the oil 2 times. Oil looks good.

The biggest news, probably, is that I realized that I installed the carb boot UPSIDE DOWN, meaning it wasn't lined up w/ the intake in the cylinder head. I didn't realize it...but that hole in the intake boot isn't centered, so the holes were about 30% misaligned. You can lightly see the reminisce of residue from the incorrect install.
E55C5E13 713B 4031 8E31 224F60368F9F



(That and the O ring was missing.)

B54BE5F2 5AE5 4DDF A27D 77E880A8FDFC


I've got about 12 hours on it since rebuild... and it's not missed a lick. In fact, it's got more power than it used to. And I'm thinking that piston wall missing, might have been ground down, rather than broken off.
 
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