My Champion 4000/3000 Model C46535 only has about 30hrs on it and ran perfect out of the box, these days it's been running rough or surging when the choke is fully open, it'll smooth right out with the choke at the halfway position but I'd like to get it back to running right with the choke off, any ideas on why this is happening ?

I'm not familiar with Champion Generators. Does yours have a fuel filter? If it does, change it.Also, try adding Seafoam to the fuel tank.It may be gummed up from sitting and not being used.Always try the simple things first when diagnosing a problem.Let us know when you figure out the problem.

many generators will bog when a large load is placed on them such as running a/c on high along with water heater on electric. using microwave or other power draining 110 volt devices. Turn everything off and see if it makes a difference.

I would go for a hail mary and give it twice the recommended amount of seafoam.No go - then it is carb cleaning time.

pursang wrote:any ideas on why this is happening ?How long has it been sitting with gas in it?

The engine is a Honda clone made in China. I have 2 of these engines one on the Champion Generator and another on my log splitter and had same problem with both engines. Carb needs cleaning. There is one jet that has been the main culprit for me. It is located under the black idle adjustment screw. Under the screw is a black plastic press in plug. Remove the screw and carefully pry out the plug. In the bottom of the plug is a small hole .It must be clean and able to blow air thru it. This has worked several times for me. You can find it on You Tube for more info. Sorry for the long reply.

Champion Running Rough | Good Sam Community

26 Replies

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Oct 12, 2020
ScottG wrote:
Use a heavy dose of Seafoam.
My Honda gen ran like garbage from new but after running SF through it the eng was smooth. I now run it all the time.

X2 my 16 year old Honda EU2000 does that from time to time and Seafoam clears it up. Carb has never been apart
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 11, 2020
Can is probably clogged
easy to get at and clean
Then put some seafoam in the tank
pursang
Explorer
Oct 11, 2020
I finally got around to fixing the problem, I removed the black plastic plug located under the idle screw and cleaned the idle jet, as you can see in the video the lever for the govener above the pull starter is now steady and the engine is running smooth again.

p0fKBfvLatQ[/MEDIA]][MEDIA=youtube]p0fKBfvLatQ[/MEDIA]
pursang
Explorer
Oct 11, 2020
I finally got around to fixing the problem, I removed the black plastic plug located under the idle screw and cleaned the idle jet, as you can see in the video the lever for the govener above the pull starter is now steady and the engine is running smooth again.

p0fKBfvLatQ[/MEDIA]]I finally got around to fixing the problem, I removed the black plastic plug located under the idle screw and cleaned the idle jet, as you can see in the video the lever for the govener above the pull starter is now steady and the engine is running smooth again. [MEDIA=youtube]p0fKBfvLatQ[/MEDIA]
Thermoguy
Explorer II
Aug 30, 2020
Buy Ethanol free gas from now on. My son has a Chinese made quad. It seems like if it sits for more than a few days the carburetor gets clogged. Ethanol free gas has fixed that to some extent.Do a search in your area for gas stations that sell ethanol free gas, it is super unleaded and a little more expensive, but I run it in all my yard equipment now.

My Champion is dual fuel. I have yet to put gas in it. Propane doesn't use the carburetor.
pursang
Explorer
Aug 30, 2020
I would like to thank everyone for your advice and input it is greatly appreciated, it's been years since I started this thread but since my generator is rarely used and runs well enough to get the job done when it's needed I've been in no rush to make the repairs, until today, as people have mentioned the problem was a clogged idle jet, the orifice in this jet is the smallest I've ever come across, I used the smallest sewing needle I could find and even it was too large to fit all the way through the orifice, but as seen in the 2nd video it worked well enough for the engine to run smoothly on full open choke.

https://youtu.be/P1z2OpgFJ54

https://youtu.be/p0fKBfvLatQ
Gulfcoast
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
You can buy a NEW carb on eBay for $20 to $30... problem solved.

Just be sure to buy one for your exact Champion model number.
pursang
Explorer
Oct 06, 2016
Didn't find anything obvious blocking the jets and blew them out with 100psi as well as the carb, guess I might have to pull off the carb again and double check, is there any chance it could be a governor problem ?
gtnsmlr
Explorer
Oct 05, 2016
Common symptoms of a genset that sat too long, clean the carb.
2oldman
Explorer II
Oct 05, 2016
pursang wrote:
I just replaced the gas recently so probably only sitting for a few months.
Only? That would be bad news for my Honda 2k. Perhaps your owner's manual talks about long-term storage and fuel.

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Champion Running Rough

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