Hi all....tried to "boondock" on the side of the road and one of my 2 Hondas keeps overloading and shutting down. I'm using the Honda parallel kit wired into a standard 30amp receptacle/box made for Champion generators.....gotta check but I'm pretty sure the wires for the connections inside the box were also 10gauge. The ref is set to gas, single 2000 will run the 15k a/c but nothing else. Last night we were able to watch TV, dvd player and plug in cell phones when we started having the problems. I'm also using an extended run fuel tank. Should that be vented to the "open" position on the gas cap? When the genny shuts down I turn the switch off and back on, unscrew the gas cap a bit (hear a little hiss), then start....sometimes I need to choke it but it sounds fine. A few minutes later it will overload and shut down.Here's a quick pic if you see anything I may be missing...Thanks in advance for all your help

If you're hearing hissing, something is not right in the vent setting positions, or you have a fuel line obstruction from main tanks to honda tanks.That is in no way generator overload, its fuel starvation to one of the generators.

It sounds like you're creating a vacuum in the fuel tank. There needs to be a vent of sufficient airflow to replace the fuel that's being drawn from the tank.If there is an open/close vent on the cap I would open it just enough to keep the tank from creating a vacuum and that should solve your problem.

rsqfyrmedic wrote: one of my 2 Hondas keeps overloading and shutting down. I'm using the Honda parallel kit wired into a standard 30amp receptacle/box made for Champion generators...Overloading is one thing, starving for air (venting) is another. Overloading will make a gen race RPM, then quit and show a red light. Gasping for fuel will cause sputtering and surging.

I agree with Flyfasteddie.The extended fuel tank needs an open vent as the gas is withdrawn by the generators.The gas cap on the generators needs to be hand tight/air tight or it will not draw gas from the extended run tank.If the extended run tank does not have a vent, loosen the fill cap a little.It needs to pull air in.Pat

That little knob in the center of the extended tank fill cap needs to be all the way open - that's the vent.

HELP! Honda2000's in parallel overloading.... | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jun 09, 2014
Short story: On my Workhorse there was a recall (fuel clip) many got a letter with a new clip enclosed but thanks to the Dealer not doing what he promised I did not, I got, instead, an E-mail, can't enclose hardware in an E-mail.. normally...

I went to the local authorized service center and told them I wished to come in in 2 weeks, get the oil changed (65 bucks slightly rounded) and the clip recall done.. "Sorry we can not get the part that fast" Told them to schedule, i'd get the part.

Went home and called Alan, Turns out I lived between his house and his office so he stopped in that evening on his way home.. With the part. I taped it to his business card and 2 weeks later handed it over to the service folks.

Alan and I chatted about engine "Upgrades" (chips) and he told me how he had had to refuse warranty coverage on an engine that had been Chipped and "Upgraded" several ways.. NOTE: The upgrade was not a Banks or a UltraPro.

Later that week I'm talking to Joe, Joe is a friend of mine from the Moose Lodge I belong to and... Works for a Ford Dealer.. He too had had to tell a customer warranty coverage was denied for his chipped and upgraded engine.

I've heard, from a Ultra Power dealer that Alan denied claims for some of their customers as well but either they (Redlands) or Ultra Power made it good.

Oh, Alan.. Customer service manager (nationwide) for Workhorse....

I got GREAT service from that dealer after that .. at least till they went out of business and I moved (At the same time as it turns out).
NinerBikes
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
rsqfyrmedic wrote:
Hopefully it is just the head gasket and/or bent rods....I can't even think about a new motor right now. Major downer here. Hoping to salvage what was supposed to be the best vacation ever....fingers crossed, thanks for the good wishes....keep 'em coming...think we're going to need them.:(

Get rid of the tune, the motor was never designed for it, and you'll have a lot more trouble free miles.

A motor is, what $15 to 20 grand? Over a stupid chip tune. Yep, the numbers don't make sense. Nor does chipping or tuning your truck... I would never buy a chipped or tuned diesel truck. Period. It invites abusive driving.
rsqfyrmedic
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
Hopefully it is just the head gasket and/or bent rods....I can't even think about a new motor right now. Major downer here. Hoping to salvage what was supposed to be the best vacation ever....fingers crossed, thanks for the good wishes....keep 'em coming...think we're going to need them.:(
BurbMan
Explorer II
Jun 09, 2014
Classic head gasket or intake gasket...white smoke is coolant in the combustion area. A catastrophic failure could let enough coolant in to hydrolock the motor which would likely result in bent valves or rods.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
rsqfyrmedic wrote:
Edge tuner....towing power level 2....50 extra hp I think. It has 212k miles on it and has been running great! Crazy.

Tuner, plus towing, plus white smoke.... and it stopped running... water, hydrolock, and worst case scenario, time for a new motor. Best case, bent rod, cracked piston and a bore that's still usable after having a wreck happen inside it.
rsqfyrmedic
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
Edge tuner....towing power level 2....50 extra hp I think. It has 212k miles on it and has been running great! Crazy.
RCMAN46
Explorer
Jun 09, 2014
rsqfyrmedic wrote:
'02 Chevy 2500 duramax diesel...not sure but it think it's the injectors. We heard a loud bang then the exhaust poured out white smoke and the engine died....praying I didn't blow a hole in the piston. We'll know more tomorrow. ...fingers crossed. Either way, this is gonna hurt.:(

Is the engine stock or does it have some kind of programmer?

How many miles?
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Jun 09, 2014
rsqfyrmedic wrote:
'02 Chevy 2500 duramax diesel...not sure but it think it's the injectors. We heard a loud bang then the exhaust poured out white smoke and the engine died....praying I didn't blow a hole in the piston. We'll know more tomorrow. ...fingers crossed. Either way, this is gonna hurt.:(
I wish you luck!!
rsqfyrmedic
Explorer
Jun 08, 2014
'02 Chevy 2500 duramax diesel...not sure but it think it's the injectors. We heard a loud bang then the exhaust poured out white smoke and the engine died....praying I didn't blow a hole in the piston. We'll know more tomorrow. ...fingers crossed. Either way, this is gonna hurt.:(
Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Jun 08, 2014
Gotta ask. What happened to truck?