Hard starting Honda 2000s

Mine's been like that since new. In fact it took 18 pulls to get it started when I took it out of the box. And it has been a dog to start ever since. It's ok if you start it after 1 day but like you say, let it sit a few days or a week and you pull and pull.
My buddy takes his Yamaha out in the spring after letting it sit all winter without and fuel treatment and it starts in 1 pull.

The only good thing I have to say about my honda is it pours out power better than the Yamaha does. It just has better reserve current capacity.

My 2000 is much the same. I found that if I turned the knob(on/off knob) from off to on and just let it sit for a a minute or so before trying to start, it would start in one or two pulls (with the choke on). I don't know if this will resolve your problem but it seems to have made a difference for mine. Hope it works for you.

I have noticed some types of small engines start better if you wait just a moment between pulls. Pull it the first time then count to about 5 and pull it again. I would also verify that the choke is all the way on. After that I would look at a repair manual to see if it has an adjustable float level and verify if it is correct.

Mine was same until I ran a load of sea foam in it. Now I put the econo mode on off, choke it and it starts on first pull. Before it was quite frustrating and even had to pull the plug out before it would start.

Carvin Marvin wrote:
Mine was same until I ran a load of sea foam in it. Now I put the econo mode on off, choke it and it starts on first pull. Before it was quite frustrating and even had to pull the plug out before it would start.

lol. That may be it right there. Don't assume people have read the owners manual.

I got mine in 2008 and it starts with one or two pulls... My generator sits secured in the tail gate corner of my covered and locked bed cover. Maybe all of this movement of gasoline in the generator tank helps me starting so easy... About all the maintenance I ever do is change the oil once a year. It is always run a good 30 minutes or so each week doing something for me...

My neighbor has two of them and one of his starts easy after sitting and the other one doesn't...

Most everyone I talk to about the generators blames the corn syrup with the Ethanol Blend...

Roy Ken

I had a Honda generator that was a bear to start. I disassembled the carb and discovered varnish throughout. Apparently it had set on the shelf quite awhile before being sold and the test-run gasoline had varnished and congealed in the system. I soaked everything in carb cleaner; then re-assembled; ran it with seafoam through it. Unit has cranked on first pull ever since! (I use stabil in my gasoline and annually run seafoam through it.)

I was told by a dealer that rocking the generator from side to side will cause the vacuum fuel pump to fill the carburetor. I haven't tried it, but it seems that starting is easier after the unit has been hauled around.

Turn the knob to start position, and rock the generator a bit to shake things up, or look for a little fuel to seep out of the overflow for the float bowl at the lower left hand side, onto the ground. If you get a tiny dribble, the carb bowl is full, and it should start right up.

Read the owners manual, and drain the float bowl between usage for storage purposes, if you think your fuel is loaded with ethanol.

My Eu2000i's start easy, in or out of eco mode, with full choke, if I let them sit with the on off switch in the on position for a bit.

If I drained the carb float bowls, it's 10 to 12 full pulls to fill the carb with enough fuel for it to start and catch. Otherwise, it's almost always first pull.

Also, check your oil level too, make sure it's where it's supposed to be.

I drain my carb after every use. I only run non-ethanol fuel in it that I get from a local marina. I run stabilizer all the time.
The only thing that has helped is running some Seafoam through it. At least after that it runs smoothly and will start within 2~3 pulls from day to day.
Finally, yes, I know how to read and know the procedure for starting it. :R

I suspect most of the issue is caused by Honda leaving a residue of fuel in it from the factory - but I think they have design issues as well.