Small Engine Gurus? Ice storm plus no start generator

[wake74]

I have a 7500 watt generator with a Honda GC340 11 HP motor. Hasn't been run in a while. At least a year. Will run if I put gas down the intake or if spray starter fluid in it. Dies immediately tho.

Lots of gas in float bowl when I take out the float drain.

I have done a few car engine swaps, can comfortably use INPA on my BMW but know nothing about small engine repairs.

Going to pull carb and try to bench clean first.

Power is flickering and the wonderful noise of trees snapping in the background, so any advise welcome.

thanks

 

[theoldwizard1]

• Drain the fuel. Put it in your car. Fill with fresh fuel.
• Shut off the fuel (pinch the hose with vice greips)
• Drop the fuel bowl (center nut)
• Clean the bowl (do NOT get carb cleaner on the O-ring; it will swell and you won't be able to get it on until it dries out)
• Clean the main jet with a very thin wire (like from a wire brush)
• Spray carb cleaner up the tube that the main jet screwed into
• Re-assemble
• PRAY

If that doesn't clear it You will have to remove the carb and do a full rebuild. Likeley there is a clog in the main jet (#31), main nozzle (#10 a,k,a, emulsion tube) or pilot jet (#32).

The whole carb is about $86 on Amazon Honda 16100-ZE3-814 Carburetor (Be30B E)

Its a good idea to buy some extra gaskets and keep them on hand

If the fuel line from the tank does NOT have a shut off, BUY ONE. Then whenever you run it, shut off the fuel and let the engine run the carb dry.

You should try to start and run it every 2-3 months. If you don't use a full tank of fuel in a year, drain it (put it in your car) and refill.

 

[Showkey]

^^^^^^^^^^^. What he said ^^^^^^^^^^^

Plus when storing, try to get non ethanol fuel, use a fuel stabilizer, drain the carb, pull the engine over until piston is at top dead center.

 

[oldmxracer]

You are on the right track.

First how old is the gas in the tank and float bowl, have seen them run again with just new gas in the system. Gas goes bad fast now.

Next I would pull and clean the carb. You can look up a parts fiche and see the jets in this carb that might need to come out to be cleaned.

 

[wake74]

Thanks for the very detailed advice. . Finished stripping the carb down. Main jet was blocked. Reassembled and fired immediately. Purring like a kitten.

Going to go put a load on it now to cycle the genset.

Why do we only do these things when it is 30 degrees and icing?

I didn't realize carbs were so cheap. Time to order new one.

I bought this used about 12 years ago. Has less than 100 hours on it. I have only put about 10 on it.

It's actually a neat Tri-fuel model as it will on nat gas, propane or gasoline. Never ran it on anything but gas tho.

 

[404]

That honda carb has a drain screw, shown in the part diagram posted. When I put my honda engine gen away (right after use while it is still hot) the carb gets drained by the screw, the oil is drained. Every time I use the gen it gets new oil. I use an external gas tank that is removed when the gen is stored, inside, when not needed.

For the OP take the carb off, apart, boil in water with a little vinegar or lemon juice. The diagram shows where everything goes. Hopefully there is no hole or defect in the float.

 

[Hessian]

• Clean the main jet with a very thin wire (like from a wire brush)

• 
  
  Mostly sound advice with the BIG exception of this.
  
  
  The only PROPER way to clean a carb without damaging internal parts is with SOLVENTS and compressed AIR, nothing else!

 

[oldmxracer]

Hell, I do not think You need a new carb, just better storage habits !

My old 1976 Dayton 4000 that I bought years ago for $80 will start run and make power tonight if I need it !

Glad to hear that You got it running !

 

[Streetbu]

If it won't run at all, then your main jet is plugged. Remove the float bowl, blow air straight thru the jet. Most likely the idle circuit is plugged also, but try just that first. Shouldnt take more than 10 minutes at most.

 

[Milton Shaw]

A lot of honda carbs have two fuel levers on the carb. One is for the choke on or off and the other turns the fuel on and off so you can run it dry. They are easy to get mixed up and not have any fuel getting to carb. Sounds like you have fixed the problem but be aware of the levers. The diagrams are confusing, when you are freezing your N****off.

 

[wagspe208]

Running good!
No need for new carb as others have said.
I always turn off fuel shutoff, and let engine run till it dies. Drain fuel. It is just a quick clamp to get off usually.
Fuel just ***** so bad now days. Other option is to add the red fuel additive... stabil I think to every tank. It won't hurt anything. It will help some.
Wags

 

[holdover]

Same gen for last 15 yrs. Always run the gas out after using, start it a few times a year and use alky free fuel. Also use stabil, even though I drain and replace the fuel at least twice a year. Never fails to start within 3 pulls, even when 10 degrees F. Always start it to be sure in winter when forecast says bad storm coming that might take out power(did that yesterday) Also have a back up generator that I do the same way. I heat with an outside wood stove so I need the power...

 

[mshell56118]

I dont use stabil. I have been useing seafoam in every tank my generator uses and have not hada problem. I had the same issue as you about 3 years ago i finally got it running and ran it hard with seafoam in the tank evver since then it purrs whenever i need it i have een forgot to shut off gas and let it sit for 6+ months and when i remembered that i hadnt ran it in awhile it started right up

 

[Streetbu]

Beating a dead horse here, don't use the red Stabil unless you run NON-ethanol gas! Use the blue MARINE Stabil! Use it all the time, not just when you're storing it. Do this and you won't have issues. I run a small engine shop and see it all the time. Wish they just stopped making the red stuff. It would make life much easier.

 

[pattenp]

It's a bad practice to use metal wire to clean jets. Jets are precision sized and pushing wire through can score and change the size.

 

[sberry]

If it won't run at all, then your main jet is plugged. Remove the float bowl, blow air straight thru the jet. Most likely the idle circuit is plugged also, but try just that first. Shouldnt take more than 10 minutes at most.

This,,, I can get it apart, blown and running again in about that much time, we do this all the time. I almost always bite the bullet and remove the thing its just about as easy. I havnt bought a carb part in decades. Never boiled one in lemon juice.

 

[redmondjp]

It's a bad practice to use metal wire to clean jets. Jets are precision sized and pushing wire through can score and change the size.

This is not an issue unless you are a complete idiot. I use the tiny wire from inside produce bag ties and it is not strong enough to cause any damage to a jet.

 

[wasfuzz]

A lot of honda carbs have two fuel levers on the carb. One is for the choke on or off and the other turns the fuel on and off so you can run it dry. They are easy to get mixed up and not have any fuel getting to carb. Sounds like you have fixed the problem but be aware of the levers. The diagrams are confusing, when you are freezing your N****off.

Been there done that got the t shirt!

 

[theoldwizard1]

It's a bad practice to use metal wire to clean jets. Jets are precision sized and pushing wire through can score and change the size.

If you are using a very small wire (single strand of wire from a wire brush) I would not worry about it.



All you E10 haters, that is all I run (no place reasonably close with E00). I don't think I even put Stabil or Seafoam in the tank of my genset last fall. I just turn the fuel off while it is still running and let the engine **** the bowl dry.

I just started it today (15+ yo, 10hp B&S, pull start) after it had been sitting for about 3 months. Second pull. No sweat.

 

[theoldwizard1]

This,,, I can get it apart, blown and running again in about that much time, we do this all the time. I almost always bite the bullet and remove the thing its just about as easy. I havnt bought a carb part in decades. Never boiled one in lemon juice.

I keep a couple of the paper gasket on hand and maybe one of the bowl O-rings for the various power equipment I own. The carb bowl O-rings swell if you get carb cleaner on them and then they are next to impossible to fit on the rim of the bowl. (I am not certain if they would shrink back down if washed in soapy water and left to dry inside overnight.)

 

[RAYJAY]

i keep a full rebuild kit for mine including a float , the way gas is anymore what it will rust or rot away ...