cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Honda EU2000i Throttle Control Motor Replacement!

copplecrown
Explorer
Explorer
Hi, new here, but wanted to post information about the throttle motor on the 2000i generator, since I don't see much information on the Web about it.

Bought my Honda 2000i generator a few years back and from day one had starting issues. I always blamed this on today's fuel, despite the fact I was adding marine grade sta-bil or sea foam. I had replaced gaskets that had become misshapen due to ethanol and cleaned out the tiny idle jet with a strand of electrical wire, quite a few times. Kind of did the trick but still I never thought it ran right compared to what others who owned it were saying.

The problem was the idle control motor. It's in the white plastic shroud on top of the carb and is actually easy to service. Two phillips screws attach it to the carb, 3 small tabs release the cover, where you can detach the electrical plug, and two more phillips screws attach the small motor to the housing. Keep note of the position of shaft that sticks out the bottom because that is what opens and closes the throttle on the carb and fits inside a small slot on the carb throttle lever link. When you install the new motor, you'll want to make sure it is at the same "o'clock" position.

After reading much information here about other more expensive possibilities (faulty inverter, etc) I decided to just go for it and order a new throttle control motor from a boating supply company in Georgia that had it for $20 less than everyone else, paying $50. It took about 5 minutes to install the new motor and the genny fired up on the first pull. I let it warm up with the eco throttle off, then switched it on. It dropped rpm's and idled nicely. I then plugged in a ceramic heater and it compensated rpm's to accommodate the heavy load and let it run for a while with no issues.

After shutting it off, I decided to perform an autopsy on the old throttle control motor. I pried the metal tabs that held it together and found out that the main gear had stripped out and wasn't able to spin the shaft to tell the carb what to do.

Since I don't see much out there on this topic, I assume most people don't have the difficulties I did with the 2000i, but it has never run better. Chances are, I had gotten gasoline into the throttle control motor when I had pulled the carb before and was cleaning it, but that's just a guess. It could have been one faulty cog in any of the gears that could have caused the main drive gear to strip, but there you have it.

Sorry for the long post, and happy camping to all.
7 REPLIES 7

copplecrown
Explorer
Explorer
Mine is an EACT-###### also, and was acting the same. I did find a place locally that sells ethanol free gasoline, mostly for the boating crowd, but it's so expensive most people don't buy it. As a result, I had concerns the fuel was old when you bought it.

The source I used for parts is boats.net. You may not be able to check the gears on the idle control motor, other than spinning the shaft to see if it moves freely and smoothly, with some resistance.

ASCTLC
Explorer
Explorer
I'll have to check the gears on mine. Serial# starting EACT - ###### I bought it new last year but it encounters intermittent surging, and dying if it's under load. The jet is clean and the fuel is clean and fresh, and non-ethanoled fuel too.

copplecrown
Explorer
Explorer
I've never seen that. Thanks for posting it. Most I found was recalls/tech bulletins for honda power equipment and not much there.
Mine is newer than 2010, but still had a white label on the throttle control motor, manufactured by mitsubishi. Strangely enough, the replacement motor was also white, different manufacturer. Honda part# 36165-ZLO-D31.
The generator runs great now. But I wish I had seen that bulletin a long time ago!

robert_at_honda
Explorer
Explorer
FYI, there was a Service Bulletin issued by Honda for a damaged throttle control motor:

ScottG
Nomad
Nomad
Thanks for your post!

copplecrown
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for that update. I can reach the throttle link from the left side on top of the carb and can push it fully open from there. Found this out when the old one had failed and ultimately couldn't get any power from the unit at all. When manually manipulating the throttle link, the increase in rpm was enough for the green light to come back on.

SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Explorer III
I would presume that the Honda is like a Yamaha. You need to 'set' a new stepper motor after install by sticking your finger in the carb air inlet and physically holding the throttle plate full open and starting the engine. When it catches, remove your finger. That 'sets' the stepper motor so it 'remembers' the full open throttle position and allows proper partial throttle modulation. Thats SOP on a Yamaha, I presume the Honda is the same. Right from the Yamaha shop manual btw.
2015 Backpack SS1500
1997 Ford 7.3 OBS 4x4 CC LB