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[B and C]

I've got my own small space heater but thanks. I'll only need electricity for it and a coffee pot -) I do have to be back down south before next weekend though. Then onward to Q the following week.

 

[maki2]

The USA is busy buying up Black Friday deals this weekend so I am grateful that I have some orders that came in from other countries.

But speaking of black friday deals Amazon is having a Black Friday sale discount on Luci Lights with prime shipping. Nice, useful, compact size, lightweight,  and fun to use gift for you or for friends and family.

Speaking of lights, I want a more powerful headlamp, I am going to browse and  look for a sale on one of those. Although it sure has been nice this week having bright moon light all night long. That is for sure a pleasure in the desert..

 

[maki2]

Well darn, my l ittle used honda generator does not want to stay running smoothly for very long. No trouble starting it yhough. . Not too surprising I know  for sure from having it serviced that  it could use a new carburetor, that was the onlynissue it has. Guess I will order one while I am here around Quartszite for a while longer. Not new enough of a part for a repair place or Honda dealer to keep on hand in their stockroom.  Easier to buy it myself and then either do the install myself with help from a youtube channel,  or get a friendly fellow traveler to help or hire the installation task from a repair service center. Well worth reparing it.

 

[bullfrog]

Maki2 there are some good videos showing how to clean the carb as well. Usually something is plugging the main jet, the tube above it or the hole if there is one in the housing (cast tube) they go into. Basically you remove the float bowl by taking out a single 10mm bolt to expose the cast tube. If you look into the bottom of the cast tube where the bolt came out of you will see the main jet. It is brass and has a hole in the middle with a common screwdriver slot. Carefully unscrew it without damaging it the internal threads in the cast tube or the slot in the jet. There is a brass tube in the cast tube as well. Spray Gumout Carburetor Cleaner through all the holes and up the cast tube. Usually the hole in the side of the cast tube is plugged as it is close to the bottom where varnish usually forms. Also spray any holes or slots in the main throat of the carburetor. Reinstall the tube, main jet and float bowl. Make sure the float needle has not dropped out of it’s seat and the float pivots smoothly as you install the float bowl. Don’t over tighten anything you take loose as the float bowl has a gasket at the top and the 10mm bolt or where the bolt hole does also. Turn on the gas and let it sit a few minutes to check for leaks. No leaks, start it up. There should be several people that have had to do this in the LTVA so ask someone to show you if you run into something you are unsure of. You are planning getting a new carb anyway so what have you got to loose? Wear good safety glasses or a face shield when spraying cleaner, have lots of rags around and maybe a mirror if you decide to remove the float bowl while the carb is still mounted.

 

[abnorm]

I have Carb Cleaner at Sparky camp..............I'll show you.......

 

[maki2]

I have Carb Cleaner at Sparky camp..............I'll show you.......

We can certainly give it a try and I appreciate the offer.. I will bring it over tomorrow if you are going to be around. I have to get some orders in the mail today, so unlikely to make it much before dark starts.

 

[highdesertranger]

hold on before you start tearing stuff apart and buying new parts.

you said it starts good so get yourself some Sea Foam and give it a real good shot in the gas tank then let it run the whole tank out. it should clear it up. I have used this method a lot. sometimes if it's real bad you need to run two tanks.

failing that pull the carb and clean it out. no need to buy a carb.

highdesertranger

 

[Camper]

I would not tear the Honda carb apart..... I'd try carb cleaner and Seafoam for a few days before ordering a new carb from eBay for $30.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Sounds like either water in the gas or a partially plugged main jet if this problem just started, or...if its been running kinda rough since you got there, it might be jetted for high elevations.

Quartzsite is only about 900 feet elevation, which is a low elevation.

 

[Malamute]

Have you double checked to see that the choke is turned completely off after starting? That will cause it to run poorly and stall after its warmed up.

 

[maki2]

I am not going to tear the genetator apart. Just before I went on the road in August I took it into the Honda dealership where they sell and repair these generators. They did a complete cleaning of the carbureter. I have already stated that I did that. I am not making any wild assumptions about what it needs to make it run right. It truly does need a new carbureor, that is the opinion of the professionals who work on them.

I did not have time to leave it with them in August and wait for the replacement carb to arrive. But now I do have the time to get one shipped to me as I am settled into my winter home area. For the moment I am OK just with solar power but there are a few poeer tools that would come in handy. I have hand tools as a backup so the generator is not a screaming hot issue. It is just one that I now finally feel like getting around to dealing with as I have crossed a bunch of other stuff off t he list. The primary one of which was getting to Arizona and arranging to stay at LTVA areas so I can focus on finishing my build at a reasonable pace without having to packup and move every 14 days and then find a new campsite and setup again.

 

[highdesertranger]

just trying to help out Maki. I am curious as to why they say it needs a new carb. I didn't remember that from your other post. it takes thousands of hours of use to wear one of those carbs to the point it needs replacing. Honda's are pretty durable I have never had to replace a carburetor on a Honda. I have many small engines and I do all my own service and repair.

I have,

Honda water/hooka pump combo
Briggs and Stratton(BS) water/Hooka pump combo
Echo blower/vacuum combo
2 Suzuki ATV's
Stihl chain saw
Husqvarna chain saw
Stihl string trimmer/chain saw trimmer combo
Honda EU2200i generator
Honda 3500 watt generator
Shindaiwa demo saw
BS trammel
Tohatsu out board
Honda pressure washer

plus I keep a supply of small engines on hand for fast change out in case of major engine failure. at the moment I have 2 Hondas and 4 BS.

I keep all these running and serviced so I think I know what I am doing.

highdesertranger

 

[tx2sturgis]

Like HDR, I disregarded the statement that 'it needs a new carburetor' since that is either BS from the tech or somehow the carburetor is damaged by some impact, or so old that you have to look hard to find rebuild kits for it...even then they should be available...somewhere. 

Also like HDR, I have been working with and repairing small engines for almost forever...started when I was 12 years old with minibikes and scooters and lawnmowers...etc.

Sometimes it IS cheaper to bolt on a new carburetor because the carb is $35 (as an example) and the rebuild kit is $39...which might be how the tech justified the 'new carb' diagnosis. Or he charges as much or more to disassemble and clean the old one...and that's possible. 

There are other issues that can make a genset start easy but run rough beside what I already stated (poor fuel quality or jetted too rich or too lean) These are in no particular order:

Dirty air filter

Worn/fouled/loose spark plug

Loose or cracked spark plug boot

Spark plug wire has aged out...cracked, replaced with poor quality etc

Deteriorating or plugged fuel line

Dirty or clogged fuel tank inlet screen.

Fuel tank not venting or gas cap vent plugged

There are other issues that can cause rough running but the carb jet and needle and float is always suspect.

And also like HDR...we are only trying to help.

 

[user 423]

..hooka pump combo

Hmmm. Interested to know how that operates.

 

[travelaround]

So nice everyone is willing to help Maki with her generator! Desert life must be wonderful... wish I could actually be there someday.

Right now, the focus is Happy Camp life and my daughter's baby is due in three days. I tried to get her to let me wash the Thanksgiving dishes and that was "no thanks" ... what in the world is wrong with letting an old lady wash dishes? Hmmm? But okay, just trying to help a little.

Today my grandson fell off his bike, chipped a tooth, had a panic attack.. but came to my van for help. Makes me feel like someone special. I couldn't get them on the phone so I walked him back to his trailer. My van isn't set up for a bike or a passenger. Then my granddaughter caught her thumb in the door and wanted to be taken to the hospital for a little scrape that wasn't even bleeding. I gave her my new first aid kit. I figured they will need it more than I do. I can get another one later.

 

[maki2]

Dont beat up on me because I want to invesdt in a new carburetor for an old generator. That is my choice to make and it is most certainly a sensible choice as buying a brand new genuine replacement carb with every piece in the assembly being brand new is not that much of a cost difference than getting a rebuild kit.

I will repeat one more time, the carburater was recently serviced by a professional shop. The plug is good, the gas is good, the wiring is good. I went to a very reputable company, no one was trying to rip me off.

 

[bullfrog]

HDR you must spend more time doing maintenance than panning! Lol!!! Maki2, we are just trying to expand your areas of expertise. It is really sort of fun to take things apart to see how they work and if you can fix them, especially if you are gonna throw them away anyway. By playing with the old one you may gain enough knowledge to fix the new one if it eventually gives you trouble or repair the old one to keep as a spare. You could gift wrap the old one and give it to HDR as a gag Christmas present! Lol!!!

 

[bullfrog]

travelaround sounds like you have your hands full. We sure are missing our grandkids but have been doing video calls. Being older we are hiding until we can get the vaccine.

 

[highdesertranger]

[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]here's a link to the Honda one I have,[/font]

[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]http://www.keeneeng.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=P185CHKAC[/font][/SIZE]


[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]and here it is set up last summer,[/font]

[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]View attachment 27374[/font]

[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]of course I wasn't using the Hooka part as I wasn't dredging but I was Highbanking.  that pump was pushing water about 300 feet off the creek with about a 40 head.  damn impressive.  and yes I had to pull the carb off it and clean it up when I first started in the spring.  [/font]

[font=Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]highdesertranger [/font]

 

[highdesertranger]

I don't know what happened to the Picture I will try again,



as I said above here it is set up last summer. I mostly use the Honda as it is much more fuel efficient. it runs about 4 hours on a tank at about 7/8 throttle. I don't even like running the BS at more than 3/4 and it will only run about 3 hours on the same amount of fuel.

highdesertranger