Honda generator won't start

[Morefun]

Hi all!
We've been unable to start our Honda eu2000i generator this last week.
What we've done so far: oil change, new spark plug, cleaned carb, broke down and bought new carb, cleaned filters.
It sounds like it is trying to start but can't. This rig is a decade or so okd, always gets oil changes, filter cleaning, carb cleaning regularly.
Last year I had to replace the pull cord with paracord due to inability to get my hands on proper cord.  When I pull to start it catches, seems normal. Will try tearing down and checking coil and cord tomorrow. Reolace with regular cordbif I can find it local.
So if not the cord, does anyone have an idea what else it might be causing this annoying problem?
Our gen keeps our in house batteries and ac/dc freezer (have no fridge) going. Our solar can't do it alone.

Suggestions?

 

[Morefun]

Lol wow, typos! No power means no computer, so stuck trying to type on cell.

 

[bullfrog]

Oil level sensor requires it be immersed in oil to allow a spark to occur. Make sure you haven’t knocked off the wire to it. If the generator is sitting at a slight angle or the oil level is low the engine will not start due to a lack of spark. Pull the plug and ground the threads away from the hole it came out of with the wire attached to see if you have a spark when you pull the rope, the engine should spin easily and you should have a nice blue spark. If it sparks the ignition is good. Hold your thumb over the spark plug hole , pull the rope. Compression should blow your thumb off the hole. Spray some Gumout carburetor cleaner or starting fluid in the spark plug hole and immediately screw in the plug and tighten, connect the wire and pull the rope if it hits or starts and runs only a moment then you have a fuel problem. Let us know what happens!

 

[highdesertranger]

You mention all these new parts but you didn't mention any troubleshooting you did.

Does it have spark?
Will it start on starter fluid?

Highdesertranger

 

[Morefun]

Oil level sensor requires it be immersed in oil to allow a spark to occur. Make sure you haven’t knocked off the wire to it. If the generator is sitting at a slight angle or the oil level is low the engine will not start due to a lack of spark. Pull the plug and ground the threads away from the hole it came out of with the wire attached to see if you have a spark when you pull the rope, the engine should spin easily and you should have a nice blue spark. If it sparks the ignition is good. Hold your thumb over the spark plug hole , pull the rope. Compression should blow your thumb off the hole. Spray some Gumout carburetor cleaner or starting fluid in the spark plug hole and immediately screw in the plug and tighten, connect the wire and pull the rope if it hits or starts and runs only a moment then you have a fuel problem. Let us know what happens!

Not sure I understand that process but will research. The plug I replaced was only a year old and dirty, so will definitely try your process after a bit of research. *Cheers*

 

[abnorm]

We fix'em in Pirate Camp........justsayin

 

[mattvei]

biggest cause of power lawn mower failures is gas going bad, sitting too long. have you changed out the fuel?

 

[highdesertranger]

Does it have spark?
Does it start on starter fluid?

Highdesertranger

 

[XERTYX]

To check for the spark is pretty simple. Remove the spark plug, put the wire on the plug, touch the screw threads to the hole it came out of at an angle you can look at the gap at, pull the cord and see if a spark jumps between the gap.

I learned how not to do that as a kid. My brother told me to hold it and pulled the cord. Zap.

 

[hugemoth]

I've seen many Honda 2000 Watt inverter generators fail to run more than a few seconds when cold. Cold oil is more viscous and may not satisfy the low oil switch evan though the crankcase is full. Switching to 5/20 or 5/30 synthetic oil often solves the problem.

 

[Cammalu]

Morefun. Are you in Quartzsite? Abnorm offered to check it out for you. Gotta bring it to YARC Camp out here.

 

[Zmann]

...overrated...mine burned oil...lessons learned...

 

[bullfrog]

Just goes to show more of us should have generators! That way more of us could get to know each other better before we start cussing out each other for running them! Lol!!!

 

[Morefun]

To check for the spark is pretty simple. Remove the spark plug, put the wire on the plug, touch the screw threads to the hole it came out of at an angle you can look at the gap at, pull the cord and see if a spark jumps between the gap.

I learned how not to do that as a kid. My brother told me to hold it and pulled the cord. Zap.

What wire?
Thanks, abnorm   You're still down in Q area?

 

[XERTYX]

The spark plug wire. Plug it all back in like the plug was installed. But touch the plug to the metal of the body. Just dont touch the metal part of the plug with your hand. You'll get a shock.

I'm not familiar with that engine but usually the easiest way is to hold the insulation on the spark plug wire and use it as a wand to touch the threads to the hole the spark plug came out of.

Then pull the cord and look for a blue spark between the gap. If theres no spark its electrical. If there is a spark spray a shot of starting fluid into the hole and quickly reassemble. If it wont start on a quick shot of fluid (just a little) then it's over my head. But if it does start then dies it's a fuel issue.

Edit:
Also as mentioned while its disassembled put your finger over the hole and try pulling the cord. It should feel like its blowing your finger away from the hole. If not you've lost compression.

 

[Morefun]

Hole check done. I can feel air blowing but it sure won't blow my thumb away.
Sparked once then never again. 14 tries.
Gas is fresh. Oil, too, and right level.

Any ideas?

We're in Laughlin, was going to head to Pahrump but .... Ugh

 

[bullfrog]

Was the spark plug wet? Slap it against your open palm and see if any gasoline splashes out into your palm. It could be flooded as in getting too much gasoline. Turn off the fuel valve. Get a new spark plug and attach it to the wire but don’t install it. Pull the cord and see if it sparks regularly. It may be the carburetor choke is stuck on or the float inside the carburetor has sunk or malfunctioned or there is foreign material stuck in the inlet valve the float closes allowing large amounts of gasoline to overflow into the cylinder while pulling on the rope. Let the engine dry out by setting a 1/2 hour or so. Check the oil to make sure it is not over full as the excess gasoline in the cylinder may have diluted the oil causing the level to rise, if so change the oil. Pull the rope with your thumb tight over the hole to see if you have enough compression to blow it off. If not and this is an older well worn unit with many hours of use it may be time to take it to a shop or mechanic as it may need to be rebuilt or replaced. If it does then reinstall the plug, turn on the fuel and first try a few pulls with the choke off or open. If it doesn’t start try it with the choke. If that doesn’t work pull the spark plug repeat the above, a wet plug means you weren’t able to fix the problem and it needs to go to a mechanic. It might be worth the trip to meet up with Abnorm.

 

[Tony's Dream]

Nothing more frustrating than small engines. Any little things cause issues.

 

[Morefun]

heh In high school I had the option of taking auto class which taught small engine repair or metal shop. I took metal. Darn it!

Yes, there is gas on the plug. I'll have to work on the problem Thursday as we've appointments, rain, etc for now. I broke down and hit a fullhookup rv park in attempt to save our little ac/dc freezer full of food. Hopefully I can get this working before Tuesday when our week here is up. Gag, really hate RV parks. I hate losing a few hundred in frozen food more

I really appreciate everyone's help! I'll try what you posted, bullfrog, and post results. Right now, off to take a nap. It's been a long day.

 

[Morefun]

Finally got a chance to work on the gen.
Oil's been changed. It looked normal level and I didn't smell any gas in the oil. Changed anyhow.
No spark at all this time.
Tried again a few hours later, still no spark from brand new plug.
Compression moves my thumb. Not sure if that qualifies as a blowing it away, but it does move it off the hole.
And yes, the new spark plug had a bit of gas on it.

Suggestions?