Honda generator won't start.

[JB4310]

I'm not much on starting fluid anymore. I have read too many bad things about starting fluid. I am kind of disappointed in the Stabil thing. This stuff was mixed to last a year and after 8 months it obviously failed. May not seem like a big deal to some but it's pretty serious business to me. Last power outage in February it was pitch dark in a ice storm with no heat and no water. Single digit wind chill. The generator just has to start in these conditions. And not with me playing with a spray bottle of gas with a flashlight. That's not an option.

I know there is lot of naysayers regarding starting fluid, but I've been using sparingly for 30+ years in small engines. Not real good for a diesel especially in high doses Don't ask

I agree stabil is definitely no miracle formula, I've been using it faithfully, but it's just another arrow in the quiver.
I've learned a little from this thread myself, I never knew about the benefits of the non ethanol fuel or the new blue/green stabil product.

As far as needing to fiddle a little with the generator in an emergency outage situation, at least you know what to do now!

JB

 

[whistlepig]

It's pretty remarkable that I spent many hours researching this problem online and reading everything I had on it before asking for help on TBN. The help was immediatley there for me on TBN when I asked for it. Now if you guys think no one is listening to you I, for sure, am not one of them.

 

[BobRip]

Good advice! I doubt that I will run mine every weekend but I will for sure start it every month from now on. And I think high test gas is an option that I will be going to.

Good to hear. Being on a well and with a septic tank sump pump I think the generator is vital. I have three.

 

[JB4310]

I've got 2 Hondas, think I'll take them out and swap the fuel, run them and put a load on them.

One of them is a little 2200 watt, the other is a welder/ generator ~4000 watts. Both are 120 volt only.

Neighbor bought the last Honda the dealer had just before one of the big outages we had here in the North East. I think it's 6 or 8 KW, he paid top dollar, could of bought 2-3 no name gennys for the same price.
I don't have a problem with the fact that Hondas cost so much, more because historically they have been the top of the line. But I was surprised his started acting up, like it was having carb problems after just 25-30 hours. and this was only a week old and all fresh fuel, he even bought new fuel cans.

JB

 

[Sawyer Rob]

All of these gas powered generator "carb" problems are one of the biggest reasons I LOVE my pto generator so much.

When I need it, I just start up a small diesel tractor, hook up the pto shaft and I have power every time!

Why does it work every time? Because that tractor get's used often for other things, so I know it's always ready to go, AND I never have gas sitting around for a generator, going bad!

SR

 

[bigtiller]

All of these gas powered generator "carb" problems are one of the biggest reasons I LOVE my pto generator so much.

When I need it, I just start up a small diesel tractor, hook up the pto shaft and I have power every time!

Why does it work every time? Because that tractor get's used often for other things, so I know it's always ready to go, AND I never have gas sitting around for a generator, going bad!

SR

I went a different way. Like the OP 6 years ago, I have a honda EB6500. I just up-graded it to a EU7000, it's fuel injected and very quite.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

And, you still have to deal with keeping the gas fresh...

SR

 

[bigtiller]

That's not a problem with monthly running and a little Stable in the gas. I role it outside, push the button, it starts, I plug it in and walk away for 30 minutes.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That's pretty much what you have to do with a gas powered generator, if you want to be sure it will be ready when you need it.

Like I said, I use my tractor quite regular, so I know it will be ready when I need it on the generator.

SR