Been a while since I've posted anything here, been kinda busy...Anyhow, I have spent the last month and a bit living at an Alberta government campground with no hookups as I do multiple repairs to an RV resort assaulted by 2 severe hail storms last fall. What a mess!I have been running my Honda EU2000 daily here to make my morning coffee and keep the batteries up etc. and have encountered an issue I'm not sure about.The genny is running errantly, not like I think it should. When it is idling with my TT plugged in, the idle speed is not consistent. It revs up then slows down, revs up then slows down consistently. Vroom Vroom Vroom - annoying as heck as it revs then slows over and over again.This trip is the first time I have used it since I moved to Calgary Alberta from the BC coast. I am wondering if the altitude difference plays a part in it. Surrey BC is close to sea level while Calgary is about 3400 feet above sea level. I bought the genny at the coast and it always ran fine there. But when I got here it runs errantly. I can make it run smoothly by pulling the choke halfway. I really don't want to run it with the choke half on all the time. I got in there and looked to see if there was a mixture screw to adjust but the only one I saw has a stopper on it preventing me from turning it any more than a small amount.Funny thing though, it isn't all the time. It's running right now and it's reasonably smooth.Any thoughts or ideas?

it probably part of the problemalso what about fuel blend, winter versus summerwhat blend is in the Hondahow does it run, with econ mode off ?me i would probably run it with the partial choke and then check the sparkplug to make sure it was not getting fouledand while you cannot adjust the MIX screwis there a throttle stop screw, where you can raise the idle speed a little bit and perhaps smooth out this "hunting" problem

Hi,The carburetor may well be varnished. Try some sea foam. Available at Canuck Tire, Napa and the like.

If the choke helps, it's not the altitude. The choke cuts the air like the altitude does. Your carb needs cleaned. The jet probably has stuff in it. Mine did the same thing a couple years ago only running smooth with the choke half on. I used carb cleaner and compressed air on the main jet, only to have no effect. I did it a second time and the problem was solved.Even though it may be running smooth at times it's probably running lean.

Wiz,I have never paid attention to winter vs summer fuel. I buy gas from the local station and don't give it another thought. Maybe I need to pay more attention but I don't.I almost always run in econo mode as it runs at lower RPM's and I try to not irritate my neighbors. I don't really want to just increase the idle speed,as it does nothing to address the real problem.

Honda's really don't like ethanol gas too well. I use non ethanol gas in mine .

Honda 2000 running errantly - Altitude issue? | Good Sam Community

n7bsn
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
Ya, it's probably not the altitude, I've had that issue when the carb was "varnished". Yes you should use "mid-grade" gas or better. Avoiding Ethanol may not be possible

We will be a Red Deer in a couple weeks, then overnight in Calgary, then on to Prince Albert for a week
SoundGuy
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
Honda offers 3 different main jets for the EU2000i but the stock jet is good for 4500' so I doubt that's your issue. Try SeaFoam in the gas and SeaFoam spray down the carb throat but if that doesn't clear it you'll have to take the carb apart and clean it manually. I too use only non-ethanol in my own EU2000i, which is really easy as Shell premium which contains no ethanol at all is available everywhere here in Canada.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2015
wnjj described what my Champ was doing also.

I fixed it the same way but luckily got it on the first time.
old_guy
Explorer
Jun 11, 2015
Honda's really don't like ethanol gas too well. I use non ethanol gas in mine .
BobsYourUncle
Nomad
Jun 11, 2015
Wiz,
I have never paid attention to winter vs summer fuel. I buy gas from the local station and don't give it another thought. Maybe I need to pay more attention but I don't.
I almost always run in econo mode as it runs at lower RPM's and I try to not irritate my neighbors.
I don't really want to just increase the idle speed,as it does nothing to address the real problem.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jun 11, 2015
If the choke helps, it's not the altitude. The choke cuts the air like the altitude does. Your carb needs cleaned. The jet probably has stuff in it. Mine did the same thing a couple years ago only running smooth with the choke half on. I used carb cleaner and compressed air on the main jet, only to have no effect. I did it a second time and the problem was solved.

Even though it may be running smooth at times it's probably running lean.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jun 11, 2015
Hi,

The carburetor may well be varnished. Try some sea foam. Available at Canuck Tire, Napa and the like.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jun 11, 2015
it probably part of the problem
also what about fuel blend, winter versus summer
what blend is in the Honda
how does it run, with econ mode off ?

me i would probably run it with the partial choke and then check the sparkplug to make sure it was not getting fouled

and while you cannot adjust the MIX screw
is there a throttle stop screw, where you can raise the idle speed a little bit and perhaps smooth out this "hunting" problem

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Honda 2000 running errantly - Altitude issue?

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