My lawnmower has a Honda GCV 160 engine which stalls after being used for a few minutes. There is black smoke from the exhaust and the plug is sooted up. It will restart after a short time, but then just stalls again. The Alko lawnmower is new and the fault has just developed after being used about 6 times. What is the problem?

Barry Smith, July 2007

errrrr.....you ARE taking it off the choke position a few seconds after it has fired up aren't you??

pleasant, January 2010

I thought I had this problem but it appears the fuel off tap is marked in a confusing way and when it seems to be marked as "not off" it is "off" and vice versa

Derek, May 2008

sounds like either the choke is on/jammed, or the carbeurettor has a blockage.
try clearing out the carb

stephan, August 2007