Hi, I got a hand me down lawn mower a couple years ago and it always surged when running. I finally got to cleaning the carb as I always thought was the issue, changed all the gaskets (two were rotten) put it all together and now it surges WORSE. It was liveable before, now it's certainly not. Second carb cleaning this year, second one that goes bad

From what I read, the jet would generally be the problem but I've cleaned the jet twice now, along with the other rod thats in there. All the holes seem clean. I tried running carb cleaner while it's running into the air intake to clean anything which I read could help but no luck. I tried to spray carb cleaner over the parts that should be sealed to ensure no leak and I did not get any different type of noise to show there was a leak.

The lawn mower is a White Outdoor with a Honda Engine GVC160 series
model: GCV160LA S3A NH1
serial: GJAEA 5979917

Am I to the point I should just buy a new carb?

 

Look at the black plastic idle speed screw... underneath it should be a jet that is often missed during carb cleaning. Take it out and run a wire through it. It's a very tiny hole but must be clear for it to run right.

 

I'm not sure I have a plastic screw on it. Which number would it be based on this picture:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1...U9Lam9ZTmd3ZUU

I'm just scared to take out random screws in case they are hard to adjust so I'd like to make sure...

Also the reference sheet for that picture - which conviniently is missing the description of most screws (not sure how it will turn out copy-pasted):
Ref No Part Number Description
1 16010-883-015 GASKET SET
2 16013-ZL1-003 FLOAT SET
3 16015-Z0L-881 CHAMBER SET, FLOAT (CARBURETOR NO.)
5 16028-ZE0-005 SCREW SET
5 16028-ZK7-S91 SCREW SET
7 16100-Z0L-852 CARBURETOR ASSY. (BB62Z B)
7 16100-Z0L-853 CARBURETOR ASSY. (BB62Z C)
8 16155-ZM0-013 VALVE, FLOAT (CARBURETOR NO.)
9 16166-ZM0-003 NOZZLE, MAIN (CARBURETOR NO.)
10 16211-ZL8-000 INSULATOR, CARBURETOR
11 16212-ZL8-000 GASKET, INSULATOR
12 16221-883-800 GASKET, CARBURETOR
13 16228-ZL8-000 GASKET, CARBURETOR
14 19650-ZM0-000 GUIDE, AIR
15 93500-05006-0H SCREW, PAN (5X6)
16 99101-124-0600 JET, MAIN (#60) (CARBURETOR NO.)
16 99101-124-0620 JET, MAIN (#62) (CARBURETOR NO.)
16 99101-124-0650 JET, MAIN (#65) (CARBURETOR NO.)
17 16024-ZE1-811 SCREW SET, DRAIN (CARBURETOR NO.)
24 16015-887-782 CHAMBER SET, FLOAT (CARBURETOR NO.)
26 19651-Z0L-000 GUIDE, AIR

 

If your carburetor looks like that one, then it doesn't have the jet I'm referring to. Many or most hondas do but yours may not. Did you run a cleaner wire through the main jets?

 

I did not run cleaner wire through the main jets, but i did spray them with carb cleaner and also let them soak in it as well.

Should I run a wire through even if I did that? Does a strand of electrical wire work for this?

 

The largest torch tip cleaner that will fit is the most useful tool for the job in my experience. You can get them at lowes, HD, etc... for a few dollars.

 

You need to remove the nozzle and clean the tiny holes in it, I think there are 6 holes, the electric wire will work, I usuall use the wire from a twist tie. have a good one. Geo