I have to do the same thing to my Honda 2KW every now and then. The good Corn Syrup Gasoline we have to use these days is probably the reason.
I use the lowest grade of gasoline - Probably should run high test every now and then... Someone told me a few years back that the AMOCO White gasoline would be good gas to use in small engines??? Don't know if that is still true or not...
I just dump some Sea Foam and Sta-Bil in it when it starts acting up and I good to go here... I have had my Honda 2KW Generator since 2008... Still starts on first or second pull.
Roy Ken