OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Honda Engines GXV140

Hi grumpy

Thanks for your suggestion. It worked, the hub is in.
However my (more like our) little adventure continues. Sometimes its easier to climb to the top of the mountain than returning down.

I am not too sure how the PCV mechanism works. From the name I am assuming it controls the oil pressure. Setting that aside I now have a challenge with the big clutch spring. I don't seem to have strength with my left hand to compress the spring to insert the clutch cable into slot. I have the cable in its anchor at the handlebar end , but have loosened the top nut to give it slack. Is my feeble left arm the culprit, or am I missing something else?

Also, because the spring contraption just fell apart when I took the cable off I am not sure that I am doing this properly. See pic




[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/3hbjpdu1u8ey9ql/GXV140Leak11.tiff[/img]

Firstly I have a pair washers (spring plus flat - red oval in pic) and I have no idea where it goes (foolish me). The left end of the rod with the sleeve (see pic) sits on the mounted bracket. The right end of the spring rests on the moving arm of clutch lever. If I look at the rod that goes inside the spring the right end has hole in it and is dirty (blue arrow). I am not sure what holds the the right end of the spring in place (beside pressure) since it seems to just resting on the lever. Also I am not sure what the hole is for. And I am assuming that when the spring is compressed and the cable is in place, the end of the rod is dirty because it sticks out.

Hoo boy, kurb

The PCV is the Positive Crankcase Ventilation system. It uses the engine's crankcase as a vacuum pump. As the piston goes up and down, the crankcase effectively increases and decreases in volume. The PCV valve is simply a one-way valve that lets air out, into the air cleaner, but does not allow any back in. The only way air can get into the crankcase to replace the air pumped out, is in the form of blow-by from the combustion chamber, leaking past the piston rings. The whole purpose is to ensure that blow-by cannot escape to the atmosphere, since it is rich with pollutants. The PCV system is not related to lubricating the engine. Most mower engines do not have a pressurised oil system: they just have a rotating slinger or a dipper on the bottom of the connecting rod, to splash sump oil around the crankcase.

You need a diagram to help you assemble the clutch parts. Note which way up the Belleville spring goes in: if you put it in upside down, the clutch will be permanently disengaged and the blade will not rotate.

Here is an illustrated parts list showing how the whole mechanism goes together, including the return spring, washers etc:


I haven't actually seen this mechanism, but I'm wondering if you can assemble it by first unscrewing Item 5 on the diagram, the bolt which holds down the bracket, Item 4. You may be able then to assemble all the parts with the spring uncompressed, then compress it by doing up the bolt (Item 5).

Hello grumpy,

I FINALLY figured out how to replace the big brake clutch spring. When I initially removed it I had taken the clutch cable off its moorings on the handle bar, then with mower on its side I pressed on the brake arm to compress the spring which allowed to remove the clutch cable at the end of the brake arm. The spring contraption just fell out. In re-installing, the reverse process simply proved too difficult to execute.

To solve the problem I first re-installed the breather, the fuel tank and crank pulley. I re-attached the clutch cable on it mooring on the handlebar bar. Then I removed both handlebars to allow me to turn the mower around to lie on its head. This allowed me to use gravity to hold the spring and rod in place.I placed the end of a hammer on the brake lever and bore my weight down on it to press hard on the spring while guiding the top end of the rod with a thin screw driver to into the hole in the brake lever. I could then press deep enough onto the spring and my friend could then easily put the clutch cable in. Phew!



[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/xed23mjxjklmgol/GXV140Leak13.tiff[/img]

And now she's purring like a kitten again! Thank you grumpy for all the help.

[img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/y1fjfrydu6m03bp/GXV140Leak12.tiff[/img]

Thanks for reporting back, kurb, that gives this thread a clear outcome and makes it useful to other people in the future.

One point which I'm sure you just left out of your report, but I'll note it as a warning to readers of this thread: it's important to drain the oil before you turn the engine upside down, or the PCV compartment under the flywheel will fill with oil, which may then run through the breather hose and carburetor into the combustion chamber, causing a possible problem when you try to start the engine.

I'll close this thread.