Honda Generator Maintenance

[hookman]

The biggest problem with Honda generators is Carb fouling from leaving them sit with gas in them. The shop my son works in highly recommends putting SeaFoam fuel stabilizer in all your gas as this also cleans the fuel system. They recommend this for all your small bore Toys and tools. It is available at Walmart and most Auto Parts Stores.

[nosticks]

I use a similar product Sta-Bil in the fuel always as the Honda Gen does sit for periods of time. If it's a planned long time, the carb has a simple drain on it. Also, I buy my gen fuel at a local marina as it has no ethanol. This has worked well for me and the gen is seldom more that a single pull to start it after a period of storage.

[DarMar]

SeaFoam here as well. We use it all our small engines around here, can't imagine life without it.

[TLightning]

I use Sta-Bil over the winter in all my small engines...mower, weed wacker, blower, chain saw, etc.

[pineranch]

I use non ethanol on all small engines plus stabalizer. Tired os replacing the plastic tubing etc.
Mike

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by hookman

The biggest problem with Honda generators is Carb fouling from leaving them sit with gas in them. The shop my son works in highly recommends putting SeaFoam fuel stabilizer in all your gas as this also cleans the fuel system. They recommend this for all your small bore Toys and tools. It is available at Walmart and most Auto Parts Stores.

Sea-foam was recommended to me by a small engine shop in Carlsbad, NM also. I used to get gummed up when my generator wasn't run often enough. So now all I do is put a little Sea-foam in the tank, crank the generator a couple times and then leave it set. About three hours later I crank her up and she starts right off. I also use Sta-Bil in the gas. Can't say enough good things about Sea-foam.

Orv

[jhudson]

quote:Originally posted by nosticks

I use a similar product Sta-Bil in the fuel always as the Honda Gen does sit for periods of time. If it's a planned long time, the carb has a simple drain on it. Also, I buy my gen fuel at a local marina as it has no ethanol. This has worked well for me and the gen is seldom more that a single pull to start it after a period of storage.

X2, This is what I do with my both my Honda 2000 generators. Always starts on the first pull come summer.

[Phil P]

Hi

After use I drain the fuel tank, run the engine until it quits, and then drain the carburetor.

I then put ½ pint (Honda EU200i) of Ave Gas or 100 LL aviation depending on what little airport you get it from and run the engine again until it quits and drain the carburetor again.

I do this to all of my gas engines law mowers and generators etc when I put them in storage after use. They store without any deterioration of the fuel system for years this way.

Phil P

[DQDick]

Seafoam for me and drain the carb after every use.

[Trailer Trash 2]

I use stable for Ethanol for short periods of time less than 3 months. if longer I drain the gas out and drain the carburators.

[mlh]

A neighbor owns a golf cart and lawn mower shop and tells me Sta-Bil clogs up the carburetors on small engines. When he disassembles the carburetors there is a red coating left inside.
Lynwood

[RichR]

I turn the gas off and let it run to empty.

[Phil P]

quote:Originally posted by RichR

I turn the gas off and let it run to empty.

This still leaves fuel in the carburetor bowl. Honda provided a drain in the bottom of the bowl with a tube that goes out the bottom of the cover. It takes a little screwdriver to open the drain and let the last of the fuel out.

If you are using gasoline with alcohol in it you still have a problem in the tank. Storage for more than a month or so results in the fuel going bad.

Phil P

[gkidsdlite]

If you are fulltiming and using your gen every few days, you probably wouldn't have to worry about it would you? I don't plan on ever having to worry about it sitting for months at a time, hopefully I will be out there seeing a new place as much as I can.

[Phil P]

quote:Originally posted by gkidsdlite

If you are fulltiming and using your gen every few days, you probably wouldn't have to worry about it would you? I don't plan on ever having to worry about it sitting for months at a time, hopefully I will be out there seeing a new place as much as I can.

Hi

You will find reports of the fuel with alcohol in it going bad in as little as 2 weeks and as long as a month.

Without some kind of treatment to stabilizer it is quite short lived.

In my case we use the Hondas once a year for a week. On very few occasions have we needed them in between the February event. The lawn mowers get shut down for the winter in October and returned to service in April. The big gasoline generator we only use for extended outage at the stick house so it will get stored some times for 4 or 5 years.

I have learned how to store gas engines for extended periods of time.

Phil P

[Trailer Trash 2]

I have 3 Generators 2, 2000 watt Hondas and 1, 4000 watt Honda with a electric start for my emergency home back-up electricity, they are for the freezer and frig. I fire them up monthly and put them under load for a half hour. that also keeps the float bowl from getting gummed up and they are always easier to start.
As I said in my earlier post I use stable for ethanol fuel now, but I'm going to try Seafoam it seems that some of the other post are sold on its performance over Stable.