[Fstbttms]

Here's my tale of woe:

I loaned my Honda EU2000i generator to a "friend". Before I loaned it out, it ran like a top. Always started on the first or second pull, 100% reliable, no problems what so ever. It has a 4-stroke, 1 cylinder gas engine.

When it was returned to me, however, it did not run so well. It does not want to start cold and when it does, will only run (and not very well, at that) when the choke is fully closed. Any attempt to open the choke (regardless of engine temp) results in the engine dying immediately. When questioned, my "friend" indicated that the engine died soon after she started using it and she took it upon herself to change the oil (why, I don't know) and install a new spark plug. I've checked the plug for type and gap and they are fine. She claims she did nothing else to the engine.

Based on all that, does anybody have a clue what this person could have actually done to it or why it will now only run when fully choked? Thanks.

 

[PorFin]

Hmmmm....

Fast,

I've absolutely no specific reason to think this, but what the heck -- I'll take a swag!

Are you sure your buddy didn't mistakenly run diesel through it instead of mogas? That could kind of explain the mysterious oil & plug changes...

 

[SteveInMD]

It sounds like a blockage in the fuel system. Does the fuel system have an on/off valve that's partially off? Can you see any crud in the fuel tank? Does it have a fuel filter? If all that checks out I would suspect a clogged jet or injector.

 

[Fstbttms]

My friend owned this unit before selling it to me, so I assume she knows not to put diesel in it. But I am now starting to suspect old or dirty gas and will pull the carb off and soak it in carb cleaner overnight. I can find no fuel filter other than the debris filter in the fill spout.

 

[JohnRPollard]

This "friend" wouldn't happen to be a woman scorned?

 

[Joesaila]

Bad gas / water?

Sounds like bad gas or water. Drain gas tank, carb bowl and add new gas. Make certain there is no leak in the fuel line too.

 

[Fstbttms]

This "friend" wouldn't happen to be a woman scorned?

Not unless I'm an old lesbian lover of hers.

 

[ronspiker]

By any chance did she run 2cycle gas through it? Cleaning the carb and fuel line should fix it. A friend of mine ran 2cycle through my 4 cycle weed eater and it had the same problem until I took it apart and cleaned it out.

 

[Quickstep192]

I think maybe your friend used old, cruddy gas. In my experience, Honda's carb jets can clog easily from contaminated gas. During my last clogged jet problem, I would take the carb completely apart and soak it in carb cleaner. The motor would run like a top for a week and then go south again (same symptoms as yours). I'd clean it again and get another week. It was recommended that the carb be cleaned in a ultrasonic cleaner and that was the only way to really clear a clog. I didn't have an ultrasonic cleaner, so I ended up buying a new carb body and that resolved the problem.

 

[Fstbttms]

By any chance did she run 2cycle gas through it? Cleaning the carb and fuel line should fix it. A friend of mine ran 2cycle through my 4 cycle weed eater and it had the same problem until I took it apart and cleaned it out.

If you mean did she mix gas and 2-stroke oil and fill the tank? I doubt it. Again, she owned this generator before selling it to me, so I assume she knows it takes straight gas.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

My friend owned this unit before selling it to me, so I assume she knows not to put diesel in it. But I am now starting to suspect old or dirty gas and will pull the carb off and soak it in carb cleaner overnight. I can find no fuel filter other than the debris filter in the fill spout.

Gasoline is just as good as a solvent as carb cleaner. If it is really clogged up you are going to need to take it apart and rebuild the carb. Especially with a fine machine such as a Honda, its going to be able to handle its own though thick and thin, but when it can't you are going to have to get serious and do the deed. No tapping it with a hammer is going to fix it!
But if you are intent on running something through the carb I would recommend Mystery Oil over carb cleaner any day.

 

[Rockter]

Run it to put a wee bit of heat in it, take the plug out, and then check the compression.
A hand-held compression meter is about £20 here in the UK.
For a four cycle motor, expect something of the order of 115 psi.

 

[sailingdog]

When did you get the sex-change operation done???

Not unless I'm an old lesbian lover of hers.

It sounds like she may have used contaminated gas, which is far more likely now that E10 gasoline is pretty much everywhere. It has a much shorter shelf-life, especially without stabilizers than did the older MTBE-based formulation.

 

[timebandit]

Before you start taking things apart drain the bowl and just add fresh gas.

If that does not cure the problem then remove the carb and blow out all the passages and jets.

I see no need to use a cleaner since the gas has not been setting for years and if it is an object pluging up something then cleaners won't dislodge it.

 

[Fstbttms]

I see no need to use a cleaner since the gas has not been setting for years and if it is an object pluging up something then cleaners won't dislodge it.

I did buy a cleaning kit (the kind with a gallon can of solvent and a parts basket) and intended to use it. But as I started disassembling the carb, it became apparent that I was going to need new gaskets. So I called the local Honda generator sales outfit to see about availablity. Not in stock, I would have to order them. We started talking about my problem. The guy said these carbs are (surprisingly) so cheap that usually you just toss them rather than spend time and money trying to fix them. He said they ran about forty bucks! I said, "Hell, the carb cleaning kit cost half that! Order me one!"

Well, once the guy got into the catalog, it turns out they actually are about $100 (California emissions regulations, don'cha know) but I bought one anyway. It should get here today. I will still tear down the old one and clean it to see if that was the problem of not. I also tore down my lawnmower carb (also a Honda) and it was all varnished up. The cleaning kit made short work of that!

 

[GaryHLucas]

I hope your generator carb is built like my Honda Lawn mower, which had a similar problem. Removing the gas tank, air filter, the carb, dismantling the carb, required just one 10mm wrench! What beautiful design, so easy to work on.

 

[Quickstep192]

Source for Honda Parts

Just FYI, I've gotten parts for my Honda Outboard from this place several times with very good results. I notice they have Honda small engine and generator parts as well.

Honda Outboard Parts

 

[AllThumbs]

First, turn the high and low needle valves in all the way, counting how many turns each goes in. Then remove the high and low needle valves. Put the straw from a WD 40 can in the needle screw holes and give them a blast of the WD 40. This will dislodge whatever is in there. Replace the needle valves, bottoming them out carefully and then backing them out until they are back to where they started. The engine is guaranteed to run if the fuel is fresh.

Eric

 

[Fstbttms]

Update- Because they are relatively cheap, I bought a brand new carb for the generator and bolted it up last night. The generator started right up, ran like a champ and the choke works as it should. Problem solved. Thanks for all the help.
Anybody need a used carburetor for a Honda EU2000i generator?

 

[fullkeel7]

Fast...thanks for the update. Successful conclusions are always good to read about.