Honda generator won't start.

[whistlepig]

The first time I really used my four year old Honda EB6500X generator was this past February during a four day power outage. It ran about 80 hours continuously except stopping for refueling and did great. It wouldn't start today. I am a little upset because of the extra money I payed for a Honda so I wouldn't have this sort of problem. I have always drained the tank and carb after each use. Always used gas treated with Stabil. Fresh gas every year. It appears that I am not getting fuel to the plug. I think the carb is gummed up. I'm not going to fool with this. I'm going to take it back to the dealer Monday.

 

[wdchyd]

Whistlepig,

I bought a new generator this past March and went to start mine back in July and I had the same trouble....

My new generator had less than 2 hrs on it and I knew it wasn't getting any gas also....always used stabilizer in gas too

I found an old windex bottle and misted new fresh gas in the throat of the carb while tweeking on the choke to force it to purge the old gas out of the fuel bowl while it was struggling to run

it took 5 to 10 mins or so to finally clear up the old gas and since it has been fine

Back on Halloween weekend I ended up putting 58 hrs on the generator hour meter without fail during a poweroutage......

They other thing I added was a tee in the gas line with a shut-off on the drop so I could easily drain out the tank in order to change to new gas...

try the spraymist bottle and choke to see if it'll clear up before taking somewhere.......

 

[Travelover]

..................try the spraymist bottle and choke to see if it'll clear up before taking somewhere.......

+1. I keep a primer bottle in my barn for starting stubborn engines and it saves a lot of time. Often you just need to pop off the air cleaner, give it a shot and they'll start right up. Sometimes you need to feed it a little while through the air inlet until the crud in the carburetor passes.

 

[not2old]

I've had the same problem with several of my small engines. I've had great luck turning the motor over with an electric drill. I've never needed more than a couple of minutes before it fires and then a little more until it will run on it's own. After starting this way a few times, they have always been able to pull start again. Mine have all had a bolt or nut on the crank that was used for this. Some easier to attach than others and make sure you are turning the right direction.

 

[wdchyd]

I used to use starting fluid and carb cleaner but realized engines over time don't like it, and they may end up ONLY starting with it over time....:confused2:

 

[tsteahr]

The first time I really used my four year old Honda EB6500X generator was this past February during a four day power outage. It ran about 80 hours continuously except stopping for refueling and did great. It wouldn't start today. I am a little upset because of the extra money I payed for a Honda so I wouldn't have this sort of problem. I have always drained the tank and carb after each use. Always used gas treated with Stabil. Fresh gas every year. It appears that I am not getting fuel to the plug. I think the carb is gummed up. I'm not going to fool with this. I'm going to take it back to the dealer Monday.

The only real solution to prevent carb fouling is to run the unit using some high quality ethanol free fuel designed for small engine applications before storage. The stuff is expensive and tough to find, but your small engine carbs won't foul. Even at $15/gallon it's cheaper than cleaning and replacing carbs.

SEF 94

 

[wdchyd]

I have a marine techy in the area that buys a 55 gal drum of racing gas and stabilizes it......then winterizes boat motors with it.....

He says it's the only way too.....I don't know where he buys it around here though, certainly not in any regular gas stations, race track I reckon

 

[g0rd0]

try takeing out the spark plug and dropping 2 or 3 big drops of gas in there then reinstal the plug and give it a crank, if it fires then repeat untill it continues running.
if it will not fire take the cover off (the one that has the pull cord on it) take off the spark plug wire and follow it back to the coil check for cracks on the wire and coil if there are no cracks turn the fly wheel you will see 1 or 2 smooth spots if they are rusted clean them with sand paper remove the coil and check the pickups they will probbly need to be cleaned also. Put it back together and try to start again.
Not useing these things untill you need them generally is not a good idea, best to at least once a month start up all of those little gas engines you have just to keep them going.

 

[BobRip]

The only real solution to prevent carb fouling is to run the unit using some high quality ethanol free fuel designed for small engine applications before storage. The stuff is expensive and tough to find, but your small engine carbs won't foul. Even at $15/gallon it's cheaper than cleaning and replacing carbs.

SEF 94

I run my generators every two weeks, just like it says in the owners manual. I plug two electric heaters into them to load them up and make sure they actually put out electricity. Then run for 15 minutes or so. Been doing this for 14 years. I did have to clean the carb on one once. It would not run at a stable speed.
The generator head can soak up moisture and short out if it is not warmed up occasionally.

 

[whistlepig]

Whistlepig,

I bought a new generator this past March and went to start mine back in July and I had the same trouble....

My new generator had less than 2 hrs on it and I knew it wasn't getting any gas also....always used stabilizer in gas too

I found an old windex bottle and misted new fresh gas in the throat of the carb while tweeking on the choke to force it to purge the old gas out of the fuel bowl while it was struggling to run

it took 5 to 10 mins or so to finally clear up the old gas and since it has been fine

Back on Halloween weekend I ended up putting 58 hrs on the generator hour meter without fail during a poweroutage......

They other thing I added was a tee in the gas line with a shut-off on the drop so I could easily drain out the tank in order to change to new gas...

try the spraymist bottle and choke to see if it'll clear up before taking somewhere.......

Thanks. I might try this tomorrow. I am not real happy about this right now. My gas lawn mowers and ATV's sit most of the winter with no special treatment. No Stabil, no fresh gas, no draining of the tank, etc. and they start every spring. I baby this Honda generator with every tip that I have ever read on storage and now the darn thing won't start.

 

[tom01]

Did you check the oil? running 80 hours straight probably used some oil and the low oil switch may be open.

 

[whistlepig]

Did you check the oil? running 80 hours straight probably used some oil and the low oil switch may be open.

It does have the "Oil Alert" system on it. I did check the oil. It was low and I added some and it still wouldn't start.

 

[WayneB]

This won't help your present problem, but in the future check and see if there is a drain pitcock on the carb. My Honda has one and you can drain the fuel out of the bowl. Most gas won't go bad in cold weather, it's the darn warm weather that turn it bad quickly. The ports in the carb might be clogged up so depending how bad the only thing you can do is rebuild it. Just my thoughts

 

[whistlepig]

I'm kind of wondering what's going on here. Paid the money for a good generator and babied it every way that I know and with every fuel preservation tip that I have ever read. A generator that won't start is pretty serious business in the country. No water and no heat. And they don't get in a real big hurry to fix the power outages here.

 

[wdchyd]

Thanks. I might try this tomorrow. I am not real happy about this right now. My gas lawn mowers and ATV's sit most of the winter with no special treatment. No Stabil, no fresh gas, no draining of the tank, etc. and they start every spring. I baby this Honda generator with every tip that I have ever read on storage and now the darn thing won't start.

I know exactly where you are coming from Whistlepig , I too was dealing with a new generator too....

WayneB, you make a good point about warm weather too..!!

 

[tsteahr]

I have a marine techy in the area that buys a 55 gal drum of racing gas and stabilizes it......then winterizes boat motors with it.....

He says it's the only way too.....I don't know where he buys it around here though, certainly not in any regular gas stations, race track I reckon

He might be using something like DragonFuel Tarragon 95P. DragonFuel Distributor link Very similar to the SEF94.

 

[wdchyd]

I'm kind of wondering what's going on here. Paid the money for a good generator and babied it every way that I know and with every fuel preservation tip that I have ever read. A generator that won't start is pretty serious business in the country. No water and no heat. And they don't get in a real big hurry to fix the power outages here.

That's one of the reasons I contemplated a PTO generator to run with my tractor.......:confused2:

 

[wdchyd]

He might be using something like DragonFuel Tarragon 95P. DragonFuel Distributor link Very similar to the SEF94.

pretty far for me to travel for a gallon of gas......can this type of fuel be obtained in say 1 or 5 gal cans......I wonder how it would be shipped, UPS wouldn't like it..

 

[whistlepig]

Everyone out here has a generator to power well pumps for livestock as we do. It's just a given to have a generator out here. All the neighbors recommended the Honda's and recommended the best dealer in my area. I did as they recommended. I'm taking the generator back to the dealer Monday. This is a no nonsense kind of guy. I trust him. Generators are as serous as a heart attack in this area and not a hobby toy.

 

[JD 4520]

The only real solution to prevent carb fouling is to run the unit using some high quality ethanol free fuel designed for small engine applications before storage. The stuff is expensive and tough to find, but your small engine carbs won't foul. Even at $15/gallon it's cheaper than cleaning and replacing carbs.

SEF 94

This is the solution along with running your equipment every couple of weeks year round...everything, every engine that uses fuel, runs every two weeks at my house. Takes a little time but saves time and money later.

I have several Honda generators - 3 to be exact, and other Honda products. They are great machines. Also DO NOT use a fuel additive. This is likely contributing to your problem. You have a great piece of equipment but needs to be taken care of.

I have the same generator you have, built my house with it and use it for back up power. Probably have 2500 hours on it.