Small engine question

[fstbttms]

Here's my tale of woe:

I loaned my Honda EU2000i generator to a "friend". Before I loaned it out, it ran like a top. Always started on the first or second pull, 100% reliable, no problems what so ever. It has a 4-stroke, 1 cylinder gas engine.

When it was returned to me, however, it did not run so well. It does not want to start cold and when it does, will only run (and not very well, at that) when the choke is fully closed. Any attempt to open the choke (regardless of engine temp) results in the engine dying immediately. When questioned, my "friend" indicated that the engine died soon after she started using it and she took it upon herself to change the oil (why, I don't know) and install a new spark plug. I've checked the plug for type and gap and they are fine. She claims she did nothing else to the engine.

Based on all that, does anybody have a clue what this person could have actually done to it or why it will now only run when fully choked? Thanks.

[Ex-Calif]

Choking the engine reduces the air vs. fuel supply. To me it would indicate a fuel delivery problem. Check and clean the fuel system including tank pick up, lines and filter.

[rjrendemd]

I bet it got bad gas. Does the gas have a lacquered smell. How old was the gas. My Honda snow blower behaved the same way when my son put year old gas in the tank. Try removing the old gas and putting in new.

[fstbttms]

I am suspecting old or dirty gas now as well. We did put new gas in the day she returned it and that was no help, but I think I'm going to pull the carb and soak it in carb cleaner overnight and see it that does the trick.

[Chief Engineer]

Pull the carburetor off and clean it......I have worked on a couple of these and it was always "bad" gas.....Get a carburetor cleaning kit. It is about the size of a gallon paint can and has a basket that you soak the parts in...Gumout makes one and so does Gunk

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

Pull the carburetor off and clean it......I have worked on a couple of these and it was always "bad" gas.....Get a carburetor cleaning kit. It is about the size of a gallon paint can and has a basket that you soak the parts in...Gumout makes one and so does Gunk

OK, I bought a cleaning kit. Am I correct in assuming the carb gaskets will need to be replaced?

[Therapy]

A lot of carbs have an o-ring that can be re-used.
My outboard has one. Dunno about the generator.

PS. I would have just flushed/sprayed it and tried new gas first.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Therapy

A lot of carbs have an o-ring that can be re-used.
My outboard has one. Dunno about the generator.

PS. I would have just flushed/sprayed it and tried new gas first.

This one has a gasket between the carb and air filter housing and also between the carb and manifold. I did spray it down several time with carb cleaner and new gas was put in the day she returned it to me. Still doesn't run properly.

[Therapy]

I am sure you drained the old gas before spraying.

Possible she dinged it somehow?

Possible leak (air) of some sort. This could be a gasket thing but I don't replace unless damaged or taken off/on several times (check for damage of course).

Does it have a thin central tube inside of the main jet? Sometimes these develop a crack and will cause these symptoms - a Honda guy told me that.

[Ex-Calif]

Once again this sounds like a lean mixture problem. That could be insufficient fuel. If you are sure you have the fuel system sorted it could also be an air leak downstream of the carb.

i.e. in the manifold. Look for loose bolts etc etc. depending on airflow you could use a smoke generator (cigarette or incense) waved near the seams - if you find a place on the manifold sucking you need to fix that.

Another way to test for this is to spray carb cleaner around the joints while running. A change (usually increase) in RPM indicates a manifold leak.

Another thought is to make sure the gasket under the carb to manifold joint is no unidirectional. I don't know your exact unit but sometimes there is a drilled air passage from manifold to carb. If the gasket blocks it you will have issues.

Another way to test for this is to spray carb cleaner around the joints while running. A change (usually increase) in RPM indicates a manifold leak.

[Boracay]

Did she put the oil where it's 'sposed to go or did she put it in the fuel tank?

[David M]

I was just thinking the same. It may have been run for a short period of time without oil. A compression test may be in order.

Its really suspicious why she would change the oil. Could it be to mask over a screw up on her part? Maybe she wanted to top up the coolant so she put coolant down the oil fill? I don't know...just a suspicion.

Do you think she may have added 2-stroke oil to the gas?...not knowing you don't need to.

People do the craziest things sometimes when they don't know any better.

[Celestialsailor]

This also happened to me. A friend borrowed a weed eater from me and not only did he not return it...I had to go get it where upon he told me it would not star. The fuel he put in was black and he told me it was only 3 years old...Geeeez!!! The main jet tube has tiny side holes in it that double as an idle jet. Spray cleaner will not work. You have to dismantle the jets and poke fine wires through them then spray. Hope you get it going.

[perchance]

Dirty high speed jet

[fstbttms]

Update- Because they are relatively cheap, I bought a brand new carb for the generator and bolted it up last night. The generator started right up, ran like a champ and the choke works as it should. Problem solved. Thanks for all the help.
Anybody need a used carburetor for a Honda EU2000i generator?