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mrad's avatar
mrad
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2015

When did the eu2000's become so hard to start

We had a 2008 eu2000 that we used to power our fish house in the winter. The thing always started on the first or second pull unless it had sat for 3-4 months. Then maybe 7-8 pulls. Two weeks ago we sold and bought a new one. Out of the box it took well over 100 pulls to get it started. Called the dealer and they said to take out spark plug and pour some fuel in it. We didn't feel we should have had to do this with a new genny, but decided to do it and it did start but was wanting to oscilate and needed to have the choke on a little ways to stay running. Dumped the gas out and went and got some non-ox 91 octane. It ran a little better but still not great. It still has under 5 hours and I will be changing over to synthetic oil and hopes this helps. I read the earlier post about "hard starting honda 2000". Is this common with the newer Hondas? The older one always started easy, we just figured it was starting to get a lot of hours on it and were able to trade into the new one for under $200 and got a three year warranty to boot.

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  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Jan 11, 2015
    100 pulls is silly. Our H3000 from 2002 starts with pull start (battery died first year) every time except if sitting too long like three months, then several pulls and fussy choke setting required. Then fires right up.

    After that first time, then back to normal with one or sometimes even two pulls.

    Love my 2002 Honda! Change the oil once a year, whether it need it or not.
  • mrad's avatar
    mrad
    Explorer II
    Jan 11, 2015
    Just put a 1,200 watt load on it and it started sputtering like the choke was suddenly turned on. Looks like a call to Honda on Monday.

    My Champion 3100 inverter that santa brought me is looking like a better buy every day.
  • jmiller's avatar
    jmiller
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2015
    I have a 2008 and a 2014 both start on second pull. No problems here. Take it back to dealer its under warranty.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Jan 10, 2015
    I think that you may have some debris in the carb from when it was made or residue from testing. You should either clean the carb or insist that the dealer do it.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Jan 10, 2015
    Mine took 18 pulls straight out of the box. It has always been a dog to start although running a bunch a SeaFoam through it helped some.
    I suspect part of the problem is that honda leave a residue of fuel in it that dries up. I also suspect it's just bad deseign and they should dump that out-dated carb on the new ones and EFI it.
    Still it's very disappointing for such an expensive product.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Jan 10, 2015
    HOnda EU-2000i has a fuel pump, You need to work it enough to pump fuel into the carb.. A "Prime" (or primer) would help.

    After the initial start there is a rule of small engines.

    THREE PULLS MAX

    If you pull 3 times and it is not running,, See the service guy cause something is wrong.

    With the engine warm.. 1 pull should do it..

    I have watched kids trying to start a lawn mower pulling and pulling and pulling for like 30 minutes.. Climbed down off the roof I was nailing on,, Got a box of nails, set it on the platform of the power ladder.. Flipped the shorting bar off the spark plug.. Took TWO FINGERS that's all, just two fingers, and pulled the rope..... ONE TIME.. Ran the nails up the ladder, flipped the sorting bar back and climbed up after 'em to keep on nailing.

    I kind of enjoyed that.

    And yes, I serviced small engines at one point in my life.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Jan 10, 2015
    I still have my 2008 Model purchased from Mayberry sitting secured in the tailgate corner of my truck bed under a locked FOLD-A-COVER hard plastic folding cover. It still starts on first or second pull... The only maintenance I have ever done is change the oil..

    Its been over a month since I have started it so decided just a couple of days ago to run it for awhile since cold weather has set in. Started right up.

    I suspect the corn syrup in the gasoline is the big culprit for the hard starting.

    Don't know what to say about a brand new one doing that...

    Roy Ken

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