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**azflycaster** · 05-09-2008, 03:38 PM

I went to change the oil in my Honda EU1000i today and the engine was stumbling while I was warming it up before I changed the oil. I went ahead and changed the oil, cleaned the air filter, checked the plug and cleaned the exhaust screen. I also dumped the fuel and added fresh. Every thing looked fine, but it still stumbles. It is very noticeable when on Eco throttle. The stumble is at a regular about one second interval and it recovers right away. When Eco is off it just seems to run rough, but I am sure it is related. The generator is two years old and has about 25-30 hours on it. Any ideas?

B25guy · 05-09-2008, 03:50 PM

Usually a dirty carb or dirty plug or both. Do you keep Stabil in the gas when storing?

**azflycaster** · 05-09-2008, 03:57 PM

I use Sta-Bil in the gas and the plug looked good, maybe a little rich. Cleaned the plug. The gas in the generator may not have been treated. I remember that I loaned it at a rally earlier this year and they filled it up for me. If the carburetor is dirty any simple way to clean?

jayray5 · 05-09-2008, 04:03 PM

Sounds like old gas. Drain the old stuff, fill with premium, add octane booster, and run for a few minutes in eco and then for about 10 minutes under a load.
If it doesn't get better you may have to clean carb and re jet it. Hope this works for you--Try to run premium for a couple tanks to keep it clean. I feel for you as I have been there.

john hd · 05-09-2008, 04:33 PM

rich

i don't know if you have ethanol in your gas down there, try some without if you do.

my bike runs cooler and better without it up here.

john

3Ms75Argosy · 05-09-2008, 05:07 PM

Search for stumbles... I believe this has come up before. My EU2000 does this as well after storage if I didn't use Stab bul in it. Just run it for awhile on high.. it'll go away.
Marc

silverback · 05-09-2008, 05:49 PM

Richard,
I spray a bunch of carb cleaner in the EU 2000 and mix Techron in the gas (try not to use Stabil). And I never let the gas get too old, try to run it for a half an hour every couple months max.That worked for me.
-Ken

**azflycaster** · 05-09-2008, 06:03 PM

Dumped the old gas, filled it up with some 91 octane ($3.59 a gallon), added some Vavoline fuel system cleaner and let her run.

15 minutes on high throttle and she is running smooth again.

Lesson learned: Keep the gas fresh and run the generator once a month.
BTW, I just switched over to Moble1 oil...

Thanks for all the help!

Fyrzowt · 05-09-2008, 06:17 PM

Wow, I wish I could buy REGULAR at $3.59 per gallon. (Never thought I would say that)

Glad you found the problem.
Dave

overlander63 · 05-09-2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Dumped the old gas, filled it up with some 91 octane ($3.59 a gallon), added some Vavoline fuel system cleaner and let her run.

15 minutes on high throttle and she is running smooth again.

Lesson learned: Keep the gas fresh and run the generator once a month.
BTW, I just switched over to Moble1 oil...

Thanks for all the help!

Regular gas here is $3.64/gallon, it's too bad you can't send me some...
I've been using Mobil 1 in our 2000 for several years now. It seems to help, as the oil is cleaner when I drain it.

2airishuman · 05-09-2008, 08:55 PM

good outcome...

now run it under 50-70 % load for a couple of hours.

always try to use mid grade and for the monthly run provide a load.

i use it to power a vacuum cleaner in the truck, which may be more than the 1k can handle...

and the concentrated techron or bg44k will really cleaner her up! i use this before the oil change, 2x yearly.

cheers
2air'

DFord79 · 05-09-2008, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Dumped the old gas, filled it up with some 91 octane ($3.59 a gallon), added some Vavoline fuel system cleaner and let her run.

15 minutes on high throttle and she is running smooth again.

Lesson learned: Keep the gas fresh and run the generator once a month.
BTW, I just switched over to Moble1 oil...

Thanks for all the help!

Lesson number 2...Don't loan out tools, etc. I know this sounds selfish but I would bet thats where the dirt etc.? came from. I have stoped loaning anything. It NEVER comes back as I loaned it. The only one who I loan to is my Son. I know....I am narrow minded and selfish....but I learned the hard way.

I am too fussy.....so what I do is if someone wants to use my tiller for example...(last year neighbor) I tilled the soil for him..glad to do it..but I am not loaning anything anymore.

overlander63 · 05-10-2008, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFord79

Lesson number 2...Don't loan out tools, etc. I know this sounds selfish but I would bet thats where the dirt etc.? came from. I have stoped loaning anything. It NEVER comes back as I loaned it. The only one who I loan to is my Son. I know....I am narrow minded and selfish....but I learned the hard way.

I am too fussy.....so what I do is if someone wants to use my tiller for example...(last year neighbor) I tilled the soil for him..glad to do it..but I am not loaning anything anymore.

Where I work, most everyone has their own tools, but I have many specialty tools you don't find every day that they need to borrow. I keep several pages of a legal pad with each person's name on it, and write down the tool they borrow. If they borrow the same tool twice, the third time they have to buy one of their own.

Jaxon · 05-10-2008, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

good outcome...

i use it to power a vacuum cleaner in the truck, which may be more than the 1k can handle...

cheers
2air'

2Air, what are you vacuumin' up in there? Bowling balls?

Fyrzowt · 05-10-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

Where I work, most everyone has their own tools, but I have many specialty tools you don't find every day that they need to borrow. I keep several pages of a legal pad with each person's name on it, and write down the tool they borrow. If they borrow the same tool twice, the third time they have to buy one of their own.

I like that system.
Years ago (1976-1980) I worked in a small engine repair shop. Out of that experience I also developed the policy of not loaning out power tools. There are too many people who don't have the concept of checking the oil, or of making sure you use mixed fuel in a 2-stroke engine, etc. It always amazed me how many people would simply return the equipment to the owner instead of having it repaired - especially when it was something that they had done to create the break-down.
I do loan out other tools from time to time. They usually come back...

Dave

ts8501 · 05-10-2008, 10:16 AM

I have the exact same unit. I have had it for 5 years now, and have had the exact same problem twice. Here is what I have learned, and how I now avoid the problem, and what you need to do.

Your carb jets are dirty. This is from the gas and/or Sta-bil. Clean or get the jets cleaned. Then in order to avoid the problem, do the following:

1) Before storing for more than a couple of weeks, run out all the gas out of the unit. Do not store it with any gas remaining. Run it until it stops from lack of fuel.

2) Do not use Sta-bil. I know this sounds wrong, but since you are not storing, you will not have to use Sta-bil. Sta-bil seems to add to the jetting problem.

3) Buy only the lowest octane unleaded fuel. Do not use any premium grade. The little guy can't handle the higher octanes.

Since doing 1-2-3, I have not had any further problems. A Honda Certified Tech gave me the information. I was tired of servicing the rough running unit every year!

-Tim

thecatsandi · 05-10-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts8501

I have the exact same unit. I have had it for 5 years now, and have had the exact same problem twice. Here is what I have learned, and how I now avoid the problem, and what you need to do.

Your carb jets are dirty. This is from the gas and/or Sta-bil. Clean or get the jets cleaned. Then in order to avoid the problem, do the following:

1) Before storing for more than a couple of weeks, run out all the gas out of the unit. Do not store it with any gas remaining. Run it until it stops from lack of fuel.

-Tim

Ok this counters what I have been told. Evaporating gasoline leaves behind "varnish". That is why you want it a full as you can get it.

**azflycaster** · 05-10-2008, 02:29 PM

Sounds like we have some conflicting information. Let's see:

Sta-Bil is good/bad?
Keep the tank full/empty?
Gas should be low/high octane?

Fyrzowt · 05-10-2008, 02:41 PM

As posted in an earlier post, I worked in the small engine repair business from '76-'80. Technology changes, but at that time the recommendations were:
Regular fuel in a 4 stroke, drain the carb and run it out of fuel prior to storage.
While it's true that "evaporating" gasoline leaves varnish, if there is no gasoline in the tank/carb to evaporate, there will be no varnish.
Dried out gaskets however,can be a problem if you run the carb dry.
I know nothing about Sta-bil other than hearsay.
Dave

2airishuman · 05-10-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

...Gas should be low/high octane?

owners manual suggests "octane rating of 86 or higher"

i try to avoid fuel with much ethanol content, for all the obvious reasons.

so in the winter that often means using premium fuel, which has NO negatives for the genset,

except price.

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

...Keep the tank full/empty?

really depends on the definition of 'storage'....

IF intentionally mothballing the genset, for 4-6 months or longer, i'd drain it.

but 2 months with a full tank should not be harmful, if the ethanol % is kept low...

Quote:

Originally Posted by azflycaster

...Sta-Bil is good/bad?

IF long term storage is necessary AND draining/burning all the gasoline isn't possible,

a little stabile in ONE tank should NOT be a problem...

i don't routinely put stabil in the fuel can however.

must be a slow weekend here.

cheers
2air'