I think I would leave the spark plug OUT and the drain plug OUT and the filler tube OUT and thoroughly warm that baby up for a day or so until every bit of moisture is gone. Did you drain the bowl on the carb?

After a day or so, try a little starting fluid. I think it will start.

Thanks, Baymee. I thought I had dried the thing out really well. Maybe water is still in there, somewhere. I not proficient enough to fiddle with the carby. but given the number of times I cranked the motor with the plug out I'm hoping that no water was left in it.

I'm also worried that by spraying WD40 into the vents around the pull cord I may have fouled the magneto. I don't know...maybe I'm just a klutz! Anyway. I'll take the lug out again and let it dry out some more.

The crazy thing is that we have been in drought for quite a while now and then suddenly this "storm to end all storms" happens. I suppose you can have too much of a good thing, huh...

Merry Christmas to you.

I suspect water is still in your coil, although from your post I can't get a time frame on the events. Park the mower out in the sun for a couple of days. The warmth will help dry it out.

Yes, by spraying WD 40 into the top of the flywheel area, you managed to eliminate the electric spark from going to the spark plug! Best thing i9 have found is: Take off the flywheel cover, then use some spray Gunk, if available, or another enginer cleaner, scrup it well with an old stiff paint brush, allow to set for a bit, then spray it off well under pressure from the hose. Set it in the sun and allow to dry for several hours, reassemble and give it a try. Bet it starts.

I would guess coil also.
You might want to just remove the shroud so that air can circulate, The "dome" shape probably tends to trap the moisture. Maybe a "conservative approach with a hair dryer/heat gun around the coil.

Thank you to all who posted replies at this crazy time of year...much appreciated. I managed to get the thing going briefly. It spluttered and acted like it had too much choke, then stopped. Lots of black watery gunk ejected from the exhaust, as well. I removed the spark plug again and sprayed it with WD40 and put some down the plug hole. Then I cranked the mower again without the plug in to clear more of the junk inside but I think I'll have to do more than this.

Weed Cutter... The time frame is as follows, the flood was on the 20th of December and I went to work on trying to revive the mower the next day.

I'm going to get some of that spray Gunk mentioned by Rustyj14 tomorrow and I'm also going to pull the plug out and let it dry a fair bit longer...fortunately the sun has returned and we're having some hot days at the moment.

I'm going to look for the carby bowl (...never done this before so I'm not 100% sure where it is, apart from being in the general area where the fuel line meets the cut-off valve...)and just unscrew it a little to let the crap pour out of it, if any. I'll also replace the oil a couple more times if I manage to start that baby up again.

Once again, thanks to all...Merry Christmas to all.

Depending on WHICH model Honda you have, you may have a hex nut on the carb bowl specifically for draining the carb. If you do, it's at a slight angle on the bowl, not the one directly on the bottom of the bowl, which holds the bowl on.

You might also try some Gas Dri (alcohol in some form). Alcohol absorbs water from the gas and just might be the "ticket".

Also look for rust which may have formed on the flywheel magnet and coil pick-up arms.

I would take off the Muffler and bake it, this would remove any moisture sitting on the bottom. keep in mind once you get the mower going change the oil again after 2 hours of running time to remove any more moisture from the engine block.

Once again, thanks to all...I'm overwhelmed by your kindness in trying to help me out. I'm about to go out and have another go at repairing "the beast"...I'll let you know the outcome as soon as I know. Thanks again.

Many thanks to "Nevada Walrus," chief operator of the "the Lawn Mower Repair Man's Power Forum" at
http://lmrmpowerforum.yuku.com/forums/1
His insightful and brilliant advice has meant that my mower is operating again, starting on the first pull of the starter cord like when I bought her two months ago (Before the flood!!!). Many thanks to all others who offered help. Happy New Year to all of you "Up Over" from us guys "Down Under."

So, what exactly fixed it?

Hi Saxman1. This was the "fixing process"...
1/ Remove ALL fluids for the engine. Spray WD40 into the cylinder plughole and on the spark plug.
2/ Spray inside the cowling around the pull cord with CRC Co-contact electrical no-residue contact cleaner (for the magneto...). Spray WD40 into the muffler.
3/ Undo the retaining nut inside the spark plug shoe and remove the resistor and retaining spring. Use the contact cleaner in there, as well.
4/ Wait for God to turn on the sun. Seeing that it's summer down here He obliged accordingly. I left the mower alone for a few days in the very hot garage!
5/ Give the plughole another burst with WD40 and replace the plug, etc... after putting a couple of drops of "Start, you Bast#rd"* into the hole. (*Stuff they sell over here for recalcitrant engines that won't go after becoming wet.)
6/ All new fluids.
7/ Pull the cord and, hey presto! She works!!! :):):)

Ah that Nevada Walrus guy...what a good bloke!!!
Happy New Year to all...

And, a Happy New Year to you, too! Glad we could help!
from: Rusty Jones

Ahhh-

I love our Forum!

Go to a auto parts store and buy a can of seafoam and put a 1oz.of it in your gas tank in your lawn mower,it will keep the moisture out and keep your equip. running good.

Jerry