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Old 02-03-2018, 11:34 AM   #1
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Improperly stored Honda 2000 - how to start?

At the end of the Balloon Fiesta in mid-October, I left fuel in my Honda 2000 generators. I poured Stabil in but didn’t run them.

Pulling the generator now doesn’t want to start.

Any thoughts on what I can do to try and get it working?
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Old 02-03-2018, 11:39 AM   #2
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Empty out the old gas, add new with some Sea Foam. Let it set a while before starting (15-30 minutes).

You might have to clean out the carb if that doesn't work.

I would probably pull the spark plug & check it as well.
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Old 02-03-2018, 11:51 AM   #3
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Tutorial on cleaning eu2000 carb: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/22602186.cfm
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Old 02-03-2018, 12:35 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ependydad View Post
At the end of the Balloon Fiesta in mid-October, I left fuel in my Honda 2000 generators. I poured Stabil in but didn’t run them.

Pulling the generator now doesn’t want to start.

Any thoughts on what I can do to try and get it working?
Doug, Napa sells a product it is called Mechanic in a bottle, I swear by that stuff
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Old 02-03-2018, 12:45 PM   #5
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Unscrew the float screw and spray some cleaner up through the bottom.
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Old 02-03-2018, 01:35 PM   #6
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Following this . . . .
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Old 02-03-2018, 01:44 PM   #7
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Old 02-03-2018, 01:46 PM   #8
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What works for me is drain tank, remove float bowl, refill with fresh gas from gas station and seafoam. Pull several times while being chocked....remove air filter and spray some seafoam/gas mixture into carb and pull start again several times. Remove spark plug, dry and clean, let it sit... again spray mixture into carb and pull start....if it wants to stall keep spraying mixture into carb until it's running on its own... now if that does not work the carb will need to be removed and cleaned and soak in sea foam. Always add stabil to gas cans so that gas will last longer. And lastly if no luck buy a new carb or take to a reputable small engine shop, they maybe able to rebuild or buy a new carb. Good luck
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Old 02-03-2018, 01:50 PM   #9
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If it was ethanol gas left in it, you will probably have to replace the carb. That stuff eats up small engine carbs.
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Old 02-03-2018, 01:52 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by ependydad View Post
At the end of the Balloon Fiesta in mid-October, I left fuel in my Honda 2000 generators. I poured Stabil in but didn’t run them.

Pulling the generator now doesn’t want to start.

Any thoughts on what I can do to try and get it working?
Here's an old mechanics trick that works most of the time for easily accessible spark plugs. Not sure how easy on the honda 2000. If you can easily remove plug and have fairly good access remove plug and thru plug hole place approx. 1 teaspoon of gas thru the hole, replace plug, switch on, give it a pull.
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Old 02-03-2018, 02:05 PM   #11
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Here's an old mechanics trick that works most of the time for easily accessible spark plugs. Not sure how easy on the honda 2000. If you can easily remove plug and have fairly good access remove plug and thru plug hole place approx. 1 teaspoon of gas thru the hole, replace plug, switch on, give it a pull.
X 2 and drain tank first then add the sea foam to the fuel. I have had my pressure washer with a Honda refuse to start every spring and this procedure has always got my engine up and running. Later RJD
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Old 02-03-2018, 02:23 PM   #12
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If you have Stabil in the gas that didn't get to the carb, the gas should be OK. A small engines can be a putz after sitting as you attest.

Try the following in a well ventilated area. I would suggest a few things that have worked for me. Rarely have I had to take a carburator apart. I go through this with a half dozen small engines in the spring. They are:
  • Remove the air filter and squirt a dose of WD-40 into the carb with the straw if the can has one. It may take a few pulls (or cranks) before it starts to sputter. Be patient, it may also take a few squirts of WD-40 before it starts. If it does start, it may pulse. Hold the throttle linkage so that it smooths out. Once is starts to run better, you can let go of the throttle linkage. You can also manually work th linkage if it wants to die.
  • Most often this is enough. If that doesn't work after several tries, give this a try. If your Honda has an adjustable needle valve carefully note the position, unscrew the needle valve one half to a full turn and then back in to the same position. At the bottom of the fuel bowl is another screw. Do the same with that.
  • Tapping the side of the fuel bowl at the bottom of the carb will most often free up a stuck float in the fuel bowl.
  • If the spark plug is accessible, remove it, check the condition, clean and dry it and squirt a dose of WD-40 into the cylinder. If it is not flooded, or not badly flooded, the WD-40 will ignite before gas does.
  • If it is too flooded, you hay have an ignition problem or a fowled plug. You can clean a plug tip area with carb cleaner and fine sandpaper.
  • A shot of carb cleaner down the throat of the carb may clean up what is comes in contact with, but it will not get down into the fuel bowl.
I will never suggest starter fluid as it is way too explosive. WD-40 will work as well, but is a much softer burn accomplishing the same results without damaging the engine. It also lubricates the cylinder walls and rings.
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Old 02-03-2018, 03:03 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by prairiecamper View Post
Here's an old mechanics trick that works most of the time for easily accessible spark plugs. Not sure how easy on the honda 2000. If you can easily remove plug and have fairly good access remove plug and thru plug hole place approx. 1 teaspoon of gas thru the hole, replace plug, switch on, give it a pull.
A shot of WD-40 works really well and lubricates the cylinder wall at the same time. It has an even burn and is not explosive like starter fluid. When the cylinder wall is dry, it does not suck fuel well. A shot of WD-40 down the carb throat also works well. You may have to repeat this a few times to get it running.

Once it starts, it may pulse. Hold the throttle linkage steady to keep it running smoother and work the linkage if it wants to quit. After it runs for a time, you can let go of the throttle linage.

Taping the fuel bowl will free up a stuck float.
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Old 02-03-2018, 03:52 PM   #14
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How to Clean the Carburetor on a Honda Generator

The link in post 3 is/was good. Unfortunately the pictures are gone.
Luckily I saved it to my drive before the pics disappeared.
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Old 02-03-2018, 04:12 PM   #15
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x2 on the Mechanic in a Bottle. I use it in all of my outdoor power equipment.
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Old 02-03-2018, 05:42 PM   #16
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Doug, once you get it started, start to use Mechanic in a bottle, it will do the same as Stabil, but it also cleans as it runs. Stabil is only to keep the gas fresh, much superior product to keep the Honda running without a problem. It like a tune up for your carb. Hope this helps after you get it started.
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Old 02-03-2018, 05:58 PM   #17
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Star-tron does it for me. I've used it for years... no problem.
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Old 02-03-2018, 08:12 PM   #18
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There is a small screw on the bottom of the carburetor which drains the carburetor bowl. No need to take the screw all the way out and the gas will drain down the clear tube. Change the gas in the tank and pull the rope several times. This has always worked for me.
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Old 02-03-2018, 08:19 PM   #19
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I did the same thing on my Yamaha Inverter Generator a few years ago. Yamaha refused to cover it under warranty and I had to pay $200 to get it fixed. Ethanol was the problem. Since then I've never used gas with ethanol in any of my small engines. Fortunately around here ethanol free gas is easy to find. It's about 50 cents per gallon more than regular 10% gas.
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Old 02-04-2018, 12:46 AM   #20
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I have a. Honda 2000 that has set in the garage for a couple of years befor I tried to start it I found gently crank it with the rope several times befor pulling firmly to start ,works every time never had to go thru all the above procedures.
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