Gummed Up Honda EU 2000 Gen

[1L243]

Almost every year I have a gummed up carburetor where it will only run at full or half choke. I have used seafoam. I have started the Gen up every three months to let it run for 15 minutes and still carb gum problems. I saw a interesting Video on youtube where I think the guy had a great plan for running carb dry before storage. I apologize if this has been covered before. On the EU 2000 (and I assume the 1000 as well) the shut off switch not only turns off the gas but also turns off the ignition which makes it impossible to run the carb dry without draining the tank. if you open up the cover on the EU2000 down at the right corner you will see a couple of plug connectors. The one with the black and green wire, disconnect it. Now when your turn the switch it will cut the fuel but not the ignition.. The EU will run for about 2 minutes and sputter then stop. Actually I am thinking about leaving it disconnected all the time... I still will run a Seafoam fuel additive to the tank. We will see how it goes next year when I go to start it up...

[DarthMuffin]

I use premium (because it's the only type without ethanol around here) with Sta-bil in mine. At the end of the season I just close the fuel cap vent and let it run until it starves for fuel. Way easier than modding in a switch.

[marcsbigfoot20b]

I had the same problem with my brand new 2000i.

After 3 months of sitting it would gum up ever so slightly that you couldn't even tell by pulling and disassembling the carb......but clean it and it ran perfect.

The solution,
Turn off engine, pop off cover, open carb bowl fuel screw and drain. Then turn on choke and pull start 10 times in off position.

[hotpepperkid]

Dave H M wrote:
Hold on there folks. That E 10 is the answer to all ills.

if it weren't for it what the heck would we have to put the blame on? :W

If it weren't for E-10 There would be no reason. Ethanol is a highly corrosive chemical

[dclark1946]

Tvov wrote:

dclark1946 wrote:

Tvov wrote:

77charger wrote:
Al my small engine stuff i just leave the fuel valve on except when transporting never had an issue with gumming or plugged jets.My honda gen gets used atleast once a month.

Most i know who have problems are the ones who drain all the fuel out of carb and let it sit.My guess would be that the carb in mine stays wet vs drying and leaving the residue.

Yes, if you use small engines at least once a month, then you don't have to do any special additives or draining. Storing an engine without running it is the issue.

Not if you store it properly meaning getting all of the gas out. I have four Honda generators that are not used very often and all of them are stored dry (really dry not just running it until it quits the first time). When I need one I put fresh gas with Stabil Marine in it and crank it 13 times or so and it is off and running.

Dick

I
Okay, I think we are talking in circles now!

Ah now we are in agreement.

Dick

[Tvov]

dclark1946 wrote:

Tvov wrote:

77charger wrote:
Al my small engine stuff i just leave the fuel valve on except when transporting never had an issue with gumming or plugged jets.My honda gen gets used atleast once a month.

Most i know who have problems are the ones who drain all the fuel out of carb and let it sit.My guess would be that the carb in mine stays wet vs drying and leaving the residue.

Yes, if you use small engines at least once a month, then you don't have to do any special additives or draining. Storing an engine without running it is the issue.

Not if you store it properly meaning getting all of the gas out. I have four Honda generators that are not used very often and all of them are stored dry (really dry not just running it until it quits the first time). When I need one I put fresh gas with Stabil Marine in it and crank it 13 times or so and it is off and running.

Dick

Okay, I think we are talking in circles now!

[allen8106]

Oasisbob wrote:
Your post surprised me. I have had my trusty Honda for many years and have yet to have anytrouble. I do use STA-BIL fuel stabalizer. Wonder if that made the difference. Sounds like your pilot jet is clogged or gummed.

The key to this dilemma is.[COLOR=]I do use STA-BIL fuel stabalizer.

[dclark1946]

Tvov wrote:

77charger wrote:
Al my small engine stuff i just leave the fuel valve on except when transporting never had an issue with gumming or plugged jets.My honda gen gets used atleast once a month.

Most i know who have problems are the ones who drain all the fuel out of carb and let it sit.My guess would be that the carb in mine stays wet vs drying and leaving the residue.

Yes, if you use small engines at least once a month, then you don't have to do any special additives or draining. Storing an engine without running it is the issue.

Not if you store it properly meaning getting all of the gas out. I have four Honda generators that are not used very often and all of them are stored dry (really dry not just running it until it quits the first time). When I need one I put fresh gas with Stabil Marine in it and crank it 13 times or so and it is off and running.

Dick

[Dave_H_M]

Hold on there folks. That E 10 is the answer to all ills.

if it weren't for it what the heck would we have to put the blame on? :W

[Tvov]

77charger wrote:
Al my small engine stuff i just leave the fuel valve on except when transporting never had an issue with gumming or plugged jets.My honda gen gets used atleast once a month.

Most i know who have problems are the ones who drain all the fuel out of carb and let it sit.My guess would be that the carb in mine stays wet vs drying and leaving the residue.

Yes, if you use small engines at least once a month, then you don't have to do any special additives or draining. Storing an engine without running it is the issue.

[hotpepperkid]

You can thank our lovely government and them ramming E-10 down our throats for all of the small engine problems

[MEXICOWANDERER]

My philosophy is LESS IS MORE.

Had dried out gasket problems on an E1500 so draining was not the answer. Nor was the marine corrosion of potmetal inside the dry carburetor.

Adding garbage atop garbage seems silly. So I drain out all the USA gasoline when I am forced to use it. Every last drop. Then I pour in a half quart of white gas into the tank, start the unit let it run with no load for 30 seconds and shut it off. White gas cannot gum up. Not a tiny bit in a hundred years.

It is not a power fuel it is a storage fluid. Drain out the tiny bit of white gas remaining, install faux-gasoline and start on the 2nd pull. Been doing it for 30 years so have all the north coast loggers in their chainsaws.

[77charger]

Al my small engine stuff i just leave the fuel valve on except when transporting never had an issue with gumming or plugged jets.My honda gen gets used atleast once a month.

Most i know who have problems are the ones who drain all the fuel out of carb and let it sit.My guess would be that the carb in mine stays wet vs drying and leaving the residue.

[Snowman9000]

dclark1946 wrote:

ScottG wrote:
Your better off draining the fuel from the carb because running it dry will not totally empty the bowl and whats left will dry up and leave residue behind.

My Honda generator gas maintenance is as follows:

Use Stabil marine in all gas that goes in the generator
Syphon gas from tank within a month of last use
Drain carb by opening screw on carb underside
Crank generator until it will no longer try to start

Been following this process for several years and have had no more carb issues.

Dick

This is exactly right IMO.

I was hoping someone would mention using Sta-Bil Marine treatment. I think Sta-Bil Ethanol gas treatment is the same.

And that there is a drain screw on the carb float bowl. IIRC it even has a plastic or rubber tube to let the gas run out below the generator. When you have the drain screw open, you have to tip the unit a bit to have the drain be the lowest point.

[Tvov]

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

mbopp wrote:
I siphon the gas out of the tank and then run it until the carb is dry. For insurance I also open the carb drain. And all my small engines get non-ethanol gas.

The ethanol free gas is great......if you can get it.

Soon - your state will be like CA....and not available.

The site for the *few* supposed ethanol free station locations selling same is incorrect for CA.

~

Turns out we are not the only ones grumping about ethanol... seems there is at least a dim light at the end of the tunnel. I did not know gov was even considering reducing (or getting rid of) ethanol:

http://news.yahoo.com/epa-delays-decision-ethanol-gas-161703053.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory&soc_t...