OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Honda Engines Sanli (C)Honda - Problem Fixing Valve Lash

I bought this Sanli with a Honda engine and on inspection found the rocker for the exhaust valve sitting on the bottom of the valve housing. Somehow the push rod guide had been broken as you can see in the photo. I was told the mower had not done much work and after setting the valves I was able to get it to start before I realised the guide was broken. I thought that would be an easy fix but I'm having trouble undoing the bolts that hold it on. A socket won't reach and a ring spanner doesn't fit cleanly because of the engine walls. I thought of a tube spanner but my experience of those is that they are usually pretty weak and I think it would warp before undoing the nuts. There are lots of people here who take engines apart and would know how to do this and I'd appreciate your advice. It's probably easy when you know how, I hope. The alternative is to cut out a new guide and fit it over the existing broken one.

G'day sparker,
The tool you need for that one is a 'deep socket'.
Like this:



You can buy them singly from trade tool shops, or in sets, for the various drive sizes. Even Bunnings have the sets.

I'd tend to agree with you on tube spanners - they do have a tendency to split at high torques.

Thanks Gadge. I just went up to Supercheap and they had them. The nuts are already off now.

It is a pretty common occurrence for them to wear through the side of the guide plate because often the valve lash is not set properly at the factory. You can buy them as a spare part on ebay as genuine Honda ones or heavy duty ones for racing engine versions of the Chonda. Or you could just make one out of 2mm plate if you have the tools.

I didn't know that. I thought that part would be a hard one to scrounge. I ended up welding it with some "white metal" and propane torch. However, after all that, cleaning the carburetor, adjusting valves etc. I started it up and there was this clunking sound. It was worse on start-up but I could still hear it a little when it was idling. It got worse again on any acceleration. I think it is a bearing. What do you think? Tossing up whether to have a go at it.

Until you pull it down it you won't know if it is worth fixing. It could be a gudgeon pin about to tear the piston in half, a big end bearing on the way out or something in the governor mechanism come loose. I have a couple of dead ones laying around here that I might be able to scavenge a part from for you if you go ahead with the repair.

Thanks Aussietrev. I generally toss them if they require internal repairs. I am mechanically challenged for that type of thing. I'd only do it if I thought it might be a learning exercise.

Well you won't get anything much simpler than a Chonda to pull down, and there are heaps of how to's on the net as many people use the 5 and 6 horsepower versions for racing go karts. If it is going to scrap anyway you may as well pull it down and at least find what makes that sort of noise for next time.

I think I will do it! I don't want to put you on the spot but can you recommend a "how to"? I actually have 2 engines-one is a real honda (from a mate, who said there was a bang and then lots of smoke from it) and then there's this one. If I have a good guide I think I might have a better outcome. Maybe I'll video it and put it up here. Give everyone a laugh, lol.

You were right, just 8 bolts holding the oil pan on and everything is then exposed.

If you just google Honda Clone rebuild tips you will find heaps of how to's and forums dedicated to making the little buggers scream. 14HP and 6000 RPM is achievable for not much money from the 6HP variants.