hit ur carb with gum out until it almost stalls out then let it get back to speed and after a min do the same thing over do this 4 to 6 times then turn the engine off after letting it run normally for 10 mins and let the engine sit for at least an hour before putting it back into use. also add seafoam ever second tank of gas just 1 or 2 capfulls is good. every once in a while give it 3 cap fulls to clean the carb. also ad a cap to your oil each time you change it. always use synthetic, clean ur spark arrestor every 100 hrs and the same for your oil. add 2 capsfulls of stp complete fuel system cleaner to your gas tank after each oil change. change ur plug and clean your air filter every 1000 hrs or as needed. i have over 5500 hours on my champion 1500 watt genny. this has been another small engine tip from Ed TV
You need to warm the intake air to the carburetor, and likely reduce the cooling airflow over the engine as well. When gasoline (or any liquid) vaporizes it absorbs heat (gets colder). If the air and fuel are too cold to start with, there isn't enough heat to vaporize all of the fuel. The unvaporized fuel does not burn, so the effective mixture is too lean. The extra choke is adding more fuel to compensate for that which does not get vaporized. The problem with this, besides poor economy, is that that extra fuel washes the oil off the cylinder wall, as well as finds its way down into the crankcase where it will dilute the lubricating oil, reducing its effectiveness. These effects will likely wear out the engine in a remarkably short period of time. The intake air (going to the carburetor) needs to be heated by either flowing past the exhaust manifold, or possibly by being drawn from the engine cooling air discharge. The latter might be easier to implement.
I live off grid in Alaska and use a Honda 2000 generator. I have had the same problems with the surging. In the winter, I store the generator inside over night, I put some duct tape over the air intake (nearly covering the entire air intake), also put Heet (about 2-3 tablespoons) in the tank when there is a lot of moisture in the air. This takes care of it. I run mine down to -30 with no problems. Also, make sure you change the oil regularly on mine that is every 100 hours which is about every two weeks.
I see other have posted not to use ethanol in your gas. I have worked on Small engines for years. So I have run into this many times. The motor struggles to run. Lets make it easy to understand your fuel system on the Generator. All brands work the same way. Example: Take a glass jar and fill it with gas about 3/4 way. Put a lid on the jar and keep it outside in a safe place. Let it sit over night. In the morning look at the bottom of the jar for beads that might be rolling around. The beads are water. Now think about your fuel system in the generator Or any small motor from a lawnmower to a roto-tiller. the lowest "Bottom of the jar" is the carburetor bowl. The water gets in the way of the gas that the motor needs. The Jet in the carburetor that controls how much gas goes into the motor is very small. It does not allow a larger molecule of water to enter Or it just blocks gas from getting in. Cold weather makes this 10 times worse then a hot day. I would say have the carburetor bowl checked for water then cleaned out. It should run fine in cold weather. Also use 10-20 oil in the cold. Less rolling resistance from your oil. Also try "Not" using premium fuel, Its for high compression motors. Please let us know if this helps.
I have the Honda 3000 as well and it runs like a champ in any weather. I'd suggest taking it to the Honda Repair Center and have them diagnose your problem. Could be anything from tune-up, cleaning, to even re-jetting if you have elevation. It will be an education you will be able to take with you down the road and worth the investment.
I had the same problem in the summer months . Started putting a good carburetor cleaner in every second tank of gas . That did the trick for me . Those carburetors can clog up since they have very small jets . Change your oil to 5w30 for the winter months and use synthetic oil . No need to buy expensive oil from a Honda Dealer . Your gas could also have some water in it . You never know .
Not a solution to the bitter cold, but also try to use ethanol free gas and fuel stabilizer. I use Seafoam occasionally in my small engines as well. That often helps them run better.
Good call! We are stoked to be able to buy ethanol free premium at the pump which I all we use. New engine should t need seafoam already I wouldn't think but it's not out of the question. All gas today is really bad gas. Not as good as it once was.
I jut watched your Honda cold weather video. Did you check basics ? Pinched fuel line, clogged fuel line, fuel filter, restricted exhaust (many generators have spark arrestor that clogs…easily cleaned and re-installed ! ), loose wires (or corroded..use anti oxidant ), and #1 talk to the dealer and other Honda owners with a similar unit…if possible. Once the Honda warms up it should run without the need for additional choke. You are making the mixture air/fuel richer via choke ….a temp fix BUT just that temporary ! Fuel consumption will probably increase per running on choke . Did you buy the generator new / used ? Dealer / private ? I'm enjoying watching your videos…just subscribed (1/13/16)and you seem to be doing very well. What is your water supply / reserve ? How much gas do you store for the generator ? What did you do before moving to Idaho ? Good luck in your journey….the journey is often much better than arriving at the destination. walt
Along with what another commenter said about water condensing in your float bowl, cold temps makes air more dense, which in turn makes your engine run leaner than normal conditions. Which is why using the “choke” aka blocking some air flow, helps the engine run smoother.Ideally you would want to put bigger main and pilot jets in when winter comes.
Hey there, This is breather tube icing. if it becomes totally blocked your gen will spit out all the oil and seize. This is why Honda makes the breather tube heater. To compensate you can try to block some of the inlet vents with that towel to make it run hotter, or place a light bulb (CAREFULLY) inside by the breather tube to keep things defrosted. I wouldn't chance it the way you are, because once it does totally freeze you will be in for a hell of a repair bill or a new gen. This is a known thing up here in Canada. Which is why as some others mentioned Honda includes this standard.
I work on small engines for a living. First thing I would do is have a authorized service tech look at that carburetor as I feel you have a gummed up portion blocking either a narrow passageway or most likely a partially blocked main fuel jet. Haven't worked on one of these specifically it could also be the idle air passageway
make sure you use premium gas in winter also sefoam as someone else said also make sure your gas is winter gas winter gas burns better in winter conditions never have a problem with mine in winter as long as I use winter gas I had a large supply of gas saved for winter one year but it was summer blend and had to add octane booster watch for water use seafoam its great
I see lots of good info on here. Water in the fuel and ethanol are major factors. Another thing to consider is where you're running your generator. I see you like to keep it in your truck. I understand this seems convenient as it keeps the gen out of the weather and makes it easier to access for refueling. The down side is this, "Your generator can't breath." Your air intake and exhaust are on the same end. So your filling the truck cap with exhaust, the air intake on the EU3000i handi is right next to the exhaust on the back. You're feeding exhaust into your air intake. I have the same generator and mine runs fine in the cold. One thing I never do is pour the last 1/2 gallon into the generator. Put the last little bit into your truck so any water that settles in the bottom of the can won't end up in the generator. A little seafoam + stable with fresh air to breath and you should be good to go...
that's an interesting problem, carburetors typically have no automatic a/f "air fuel" adjustment so cold weather "being more dense" is leaning out the mixture, the choke is adding more fuel. good fix. I've seen some older Toyota's have a box around the exhaust manifold and it draws cold air across the hot exhaust to fix this. maybe rig something up in the meantime.
Up here in Canada our Honda gens come standard with cold climate technology which is the breather heater. Since your having issues with cold climate mabey contact Honda direct and inquire to have this option for free, it can't hurt.
+hippykdb So far we have it running great so long as we pull it into the cabin over night, but if we get another cold snap that we can't win we'll probably do just that :-)
Shheeeesh. Thanks for that and the comments below. I've just always assumed (yeah, I know, bad word) that generators were built better. Especially since, where I am, above 0F is considered real chilly but not bitter cold.
And also, just an FYI… installing the optional "breather heater kit" is incredibly easy, like 10 minutes easy, and you'll NEVER have this problem again. And you SHOULD install it because keeping even just a little bit of choke on all the time is really bad for your generator and will greatly affect the life of it. And just so you know, I do have an EU3000i handi as well:) and it runs perfectly in the dead of winter:)., and yours can too! I asked my dealer for it upon me picking up the handi and put it in myself before I even ran it for the first time.
I have had the same problem......use premium fuel...no ethanol....i also converted to tri fuel propane.....worked like a charm but you sacrifice some wattage capacity. So...premium fuel is the easy fix....and tri fuel conversion....all work well in single digits from experience......
I see a lot of engines run this way with water in fuel also. Ethonal is horrible fuel for small engine. It will be interesting to see what the dealer says.
Fortunately we can and do buy ethanol free premium at the pump. Small perk living here! Back in Oregon it was illegal and you couldn't get the stations to sell it without signing your life away. So that's all good. If it was water I doubt adding a little choke would improve it but ya never know. Small engines are finicky and have lots of personality. Will update when we learn more.
+Pure Living for Life Be careful running it for long-term it could damage the engine for sure. Today's carbs clog up easily with trash. So get that thing to the shop so you don't void warranty :)
I have a 3000 and it runs fine at -40, But you can not use marked gas, Honda says you can use marked , not so. B,C, interior mite be dryer, I never take it in the cabin, condensation in gas, I also found out when start up, Honda likes choke. I live off grid three months , Oct, Nov, Dec. and you got the right tool, ( backhoe and the LT-15 Have fun, Gary
For what its worth a lesson i learned years ago the hard way is to never purchase any carbureted engine in small equipment that doesn't have a manual choke separate from other controls. Many companies on there lower end models have a fuel plunger instead of a choke and i got burned twice especially in cold weather applications. I now pay more and get a model that has a choke. Nice life style!!
Your generator needs adjusted. It should run just fine regardless of the weather. If you are running fuel with ethanol that's another problem carburetors don't like ethanol. You shouldn't have to run the generator with the choke on, its a sign that the carburetor and/or fuel system needs cleaned. With it being so cold, I bet you are getting the moisture in the fuel freezing, causing a partial blockage in the carburetor. Ethanol fuel attracts moisture, and it settles in the carburetor bowl. I'd pull the thing apart take the bowl off and dump out what's in there, clean it out good, get a can of carburetor cleaner and spray up into the carburetor and clean it out as well, or remove the carburetor and give it a good cleaning, just don't get the carburetor cleaner on the bowl gasket it will cause the gasket to swell and you'll have a heck of a time getting it back together.
I have to add to the additional comments about using Stabil or other fuel stabilizer because of Ethanol in the gas. You should be able to locate non-ethanol fuel suppliers around you and use that in your small engines, they and you will be happier. If not at least use Stabil or something like it.
+Plan Bee Orchard & Farm Will do! I guess long-term, when we have our house and our generator as a backup and to top off our battery bank when solar isn't working, we would store it in a secure, protected area that is also kept somewhat warm. Kinda funny though because it seems that off grid and colder climates go hand-in-hand! Plenty of folks in warmer climates that are off grid, but what about all those people who are WAY further North than us and in harsher climates?
I had a older Honda generator that did the same thing I added a heat tub like the older cars have to pull hot air off the muffler once the muffler heated up it ran fine
If you are running a propane heater in your camper, please be sure it is venting ok. Your RV cover may not be allowing the carbon monoxide gases to escape properly.
I don't recall you mentioning the altitude at your location, but if it runs well in summer I don't think it's an altitude issue. I think you run it every day, so I doubt it's stale gas. It does sound like ethanol in the fuel which is retaining water. For the record, I have a 3000is that starts and works like a dream in any temp. But it does come from the factory with a carb heater. I would suggest not running it in Eco till you get it dialed in more. It also could be the fact your unit doesn't have a fuel shut off and when you shutdown the generator, it leaves fuel in the carb that is clogging the jets etc with a varnish like gum I would run some cleaner through it, and let it run dry as often as you can. Always using a product like stabil might help.
+dddire straits I have a hunch it's simply carb icing. Could be condensation or water in the fuel. It's not ethanol as we use ethanol free fuel from an exclusive pump. Happily this problem was solved by keeping the generator inside at night. All good now! :)
Wonder what the harbor freight one does in the cold? I wouldn't be very happy. It's probably that EPA stuff running the engines really lean to save on fuel and emissions.
Suggestion: Do not use E85 unleaded fuel on a Honda. 0 to 10% is recommended. I have a fuel station near that sells "No-ethanol" fuel which works better. The other thing during winter is inspect your air filter to see if it is iced/frosted or not. Just a couple of thoughts you've probably already checked.
Bingo! We run only no ethanol premium which is sweet we can get right at the pump here. Back in Oregon you can't. So stoked about that. I think there was ice build up in the carb. It had been raining like crazy and the gen got some rain on it during the windstorm debacle. Then it all froze including whatever got in or on the generator. Can't win em all, but keeping it in the cabin has made all the difference. Runs great so far. Might talk w the local dealer still and see if they know a thing or two.
+Pure Living for Life In canada here water froze in the carb is an issue , PLUS the hondas come with a spark plug wrench , check the plug for wear and or build up , air filter cleaning and fuel filter swap out from poor gas / junk in gas .
Been there, done that; it's no fun. Had to put the headphones on to carefully listen to the engine - it's running too lean. The carburetors on anything being sold today are very leaned out so they can pass an emissions standard. Also, gasoline engines have to use a progressively richer mixture with decreasing temperature to run properly, something you won't find on a portable generator. There are a few things you can do to reduce the cold weather operational problems however. The carburetor must be kept pristine clean. Some gas residue can add to the lean problem so, I recommend shutting off the fuel and running the carburetor dry at engine shutdown each day. Obama gas is especially bad. Adding alcohol to gasoline causes rapid fuel deterioration, and long term fuel system & engine damage. I add Marvel Mystery Oil to all my gas to mitigate these problems. I also open up my spark plugs gap to .04" from the .028" typically specified, it allows the engine to ignite the lean mixture a little easier. If the engine won't fire at all due to extreme temperatures, I inject propane from an unlit blowtorch into the carburetor to get the engine to fire for a minute or so, until the cylinder heats up enough to the point where it will start to run on gas. The proper fix however, would be to modify the carburetor air intake so it picks up heat from the engine. Regrettably, all portable generators use lawn mower quality engines (meaning they are not terribly reliable) so, they will let you down sooner or later. In situations where going without power will cause great problems, I would recommend at least one additional source of backup power. A reliable generator system uses a diesel engine running at 1800 rpm.
the main reason governed engines like this "hunt" for the RPM is it's running too lean (hence why added a little bit of the choke makes it run better...the colder air is more dense than warmer air thus making it run "leaner"...hope that helps you understand a little bit better! ~jeff
What about if when you were finished with it for the day put it inside the cabin (just keep it away from the wood stove). Then when you want to use it take it outside and its already toasty warm.
What if you would have shut it inside the pickup with the tailgate and cap door closed? Should have then built up enough heated air with the exhaust warming the back bed area of the pickup to keep it running (??)
Is there anyway you can slightly restrict the air intake with some duct tape or cardboard? Not sure if you can buy another jet to install for the winter time. Might be a PITA to do 2x a year, but a thought. Is there an air screw on the carb that is easy access? Sometimes you can tweak it and it might be just enough to get it to run right.
Hi nice generator. Try using a hotter spark plug or a lower viscosity synthetic oil. Can you some how use the engines own exhaust to keep the unit warm, instead of buying kit? Good luck.
you guys are living the life i want! lol. looking to get a truck and camper this coming year. what kind of house are you planning on building? im going to build a monolithic dome. you should look them up if you havent heard of them.
I bought one these and had this issue right out of the box, never ran right when it got to cold so i took it back, friend of mine had a harbor freight 10kw generator head in his garage he bought to build his own generator with and never did, so he gave it to me, so i shopped around for motors to run it and ended up buying a wrecked motorcycle to run it after coming across a guy on a forum post his setup were he used an older model kawasaki ninja 250 with the tire removed from the rear rim, then using a homemade tension setup on the belt he ran the belt from the rear tire of the motorcycle to the generator head, the motorcycle was mounted on a stand so it couldnt move w/ a box fan directed at the engine to keep it cool during operation...and he stated he had been running this setup for 11yrs with only maintenance of changing the oil every 6 months of usage..... so i went down to my local coparts auction and picked up a 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 636 with running engine, but bent front frame and damage front forks and suspension for $280 bucks+ the auction fees i dont remember.. I did very similar setup and belt drive the motorcycle off the rear wheel to spin the generator head using a belt tensioner setup.. i run it in 4th gear and just barely turn the throttle above idle to get the generator led indicator in the green... its fuel injected so it runs very smooth and quiet at these rpms and the motor is designed to last 40k miles easily, so i expect great life out of the motorcycle engine.. the only issue i had since setting it up was the radiator developed a crack, most likely already damaged from the wreck, but the motor shut itself off when it got hot through the ecu.. replaced the radiator with a used one off ebay and its been running fine ever since..
I have to say, I think I would prefer to own an inverter generator that has separate power and choke controls. If you don't mind me asking, how much did the generator cost? I live in Cambodia, and found an EU20i (same as the US version 2000i), for $924 USD, locally.
+Pure Living for Life Hi, I just subscribed to your channel, but I have to disagree with you. Propane has an octane rating of 104, while Premium unleaded gas has an octane rating of 92-94 depending on additives. Buy Seafoam additive in the gallon jug and use it in all of your engines, it will act as a fuel dryer and conditioner. It also is a fuel system cleaner. it was developed for the military during WWII and still works great.
A little late I guess, but would a thinner oil make a difference? I saw you use 10W-30, but in the past I've found even 30 weight once it's warm can bog down if its cold enough outside...
Nope they run great in winter , you just need to get it tuned up or run some cleaner in the fuel to get the water out or dirt out. you going to burn up that unit running her lean like that..
+Neil Shubert Exactly what this generator needs is a simple tune up and a good carburetor cleaning. Its running like crap because the carburetor is dirty, one of the jets is partially clogged with crap from most likely burning ethanol fuel....every year I spend several months repairing small engine equipment for people who just love to use ethanol fuel then worse yet they let it set in the equipment all winter.
+William Todd (williamtodd) I love your channel, and your efforts! I have found this fuel additive called FA that will combat the Ethanol, the other helper is to buy the highest Octane possible!
PJ Jackson I've tried stabilizers in the past and haven't had much luck. I find it a much better solution to just run the equipment out of fuel so there's no chances of having bad fuel come spring.
+Tim Hall There's nothing to check really. It's likely there was some moisture in the gas from the stations tanks or we were experiencing carb icing. Something common on all carbs at low temps. If we are still heavily dependent on it by next winter we may install the 10w carb heater on it to see if that helps keep the icing down. We found when we brought it inside it wasn't an issue which means it's likely temp issues not water in fuel. Either way it was a short lived problem once we started keeping the generator inside at night and life is dandy
This is so funny.... I have a large Honda snowblower that has the same problem. It has been this way since I purchased it. It always runs better with a little choke in the cold weather. It appears to be a Jetting problem. Let me know if you find a solution.
I don't think this has anything to do with the cold. These Honda generators are notorious for having very fussy carburetors. The classic symptom is needing partial choke to run smoothly. These is some junk in that carb that needs to be cleaned. It only takes a tiny speck of trash to mess things up.
The fireplace don't work, the generator don't work and it's freaking below freezing. Sure hope you guys don't turn into ice cubes. If it were me, I'd bail until spring time!
Well, as of today, the generator is working great, the fireplace is working great, and although we have more sub-freezing days in the forecast, I think we are ready for round two! I think our systems will hold up for us throughout the next cold snap. Wish us luck, we will try to not turn into ice cubes! But if you don't hear from us in a couple weeks, check on us would ya?!
it needs a bigger Main jet in the cold weather the air is more dense. that why when you choke any motor is your closing off the air going in the carb making the fuel mix more rich check out jetsrus.com they have them . i went 2 sizes up on mine runs perfect
I don't see any disadvantage of having "choke" and "on" being on the same switch. You're still able to apply a little bit of choke while it's on just like you could if the choke and on were separate… If anything, it looks like it's easier. Sorry I know you're frustrated in this video, but I feel like you kind of contradict yourself when you say that "the problem is that the choke and on are on the same switch"… then you proceed to do exactly what you would've done with a generator that has a separate choke like you apparently want at this point. Just sayin… love your vids btw.
I am not that big a fan for small Honda engines of any kind. A. You pay way to much for the name. B. When things go bad they go really bad and it costs lots to fix. I use hi test in all my small engines. I always shut my gas off to the carburetor when shutting down. I keep the tank topped off. When cold weather hits and the engine starts poorly or runs crappy I always suspect ice and or water in the gas and use a de-icer. Regular maintenance, the easy stuff in the manual works good also. There is my 2 cents worth I hope it helps.
Tim Lipinski - Dude, this is a great generator even for cold weather, it just needs a breather heater kit, they cost like $90 online, it's a genuine Honda part and it totally solves the problem! Every other small engine I've had has done this before when the intake air was too cold.
hit ur carb with gum out until it almost stalls out then let it get back to speed and after a min do the same thing over do this 4 to 6 times then turn the engine off after letting it run normally for 10 mins and let the engine sit for at least an hour before putting it back into use. also add seafoam ever second tank of gas just 1 or 2 capfulls is good. every once in a while give it 3 cap fulls to clean the carb. also ad a cap to your oil each time you change it. always use synthetic, clean ur spark arrestor every 100 hrs and the same for your oil. add 2 capsfulls of stp complete fuel system cleaner to your gas tank after each oil change. change ur plug and clean your air filter every 1000 hrs or as needed. i have over 5500 hours on my champion 1500 watt genny. this has been another small engine tip from Ed TV
You need to warm the intake air to the carburetor, and likely reduce the cooling airflow over the engine as well. When gasoline (or any liquid) vaporizes it absorbs heat (gets colder). If the air and fuel are too cold to start with, there isn't enough heat to vaporize all of the fuel. The unvaporized fuel does not burn, so the effective mixture is too lean. The extra choke is adding more fuel to compensate for that which does not get vaporized. The problem with this, besides poor economy, is that that extra fuel washes the oil off the cylinder wall, as well as finds its way down into the crankcase where it will dilute the lubricating oil, reducing its effectiveness. These effects will likely wear out the engine in a remarkably short period of time. The intake air (going to the carburetor) needs to be heated by either flowing past the exhaust manifold, or possibly by being drawn from the engine cooling air discharge. The latter might be easier to implement.
I live off grid in Alaska and use a Honda 2000 generator. I have had the same problems with the surging. In the winter, I store the generator inside over night, I put some duct tape over the air intake (nearly covering the entire air intake), also put Heet (about 2-3 tablespoons) in the tank when there is a lot of moisture in the air. This takes care of it. I run mine down to -30 with no problems. Also, make sure you change the oil regularly on mine that is every 100 hours which is about every two weeks.
I see other have posted not to use ethanol in your gas. I have worked on Small engines for years. So I have run into this many times. The motor struggles to run. Lets make it easy to understand your fuel system on the Generator. All brands work the same way. Example: Take a glass jar and fill it with gas about 3/4 way. Put a lid on the jar and keep it outside in a safe place. Let it sit over night. In the morning look at the bottom of the jar for beads that might be rolling around. The beads are water. Now think about your fuel system in the generator Or any small motor from a lawnmower to a roto-tiller. the lowest "Bottom of the jar" is the carburetor bowl. The water gets in the way of the gas that the motor needs. The Jet in the carburetor that controls how much gas goes into the motor is very small. It does not allow a larger molecule of water to enter Or it just blocks gas from getting in. Cold weather makes this 10 times worse then a hot day. I would say have the carburetor bowl checked for water then cleaned out. It should run fine in cold weather. Also use 10-20 oil in the cold. Less rolling resistance from your oil. Also try "Not" using premium fuel, Its for high compression motors. Please let us know if this helps.
I have the Honda 3000 as well and it runs like a champ in any weather. I'd suggest taking it to the Honda Repair Center and have them diagnose your problem. Could be anything from tune-up, cleaning, to even re-jetting if you have elevation. It will be an education you will be able to take with you down the road and worth the investment.
I had the same problem in the summer months . Started putting a good carburetor cleaner in every second tank of gas . That did the trick for me . Those carburetors can clog up since they have very small jets . Change your oil to 5w30 for the winter months and use synthetic oil . No need to buy expensive oil from a Honda Dealer . Your gas could also have some water in it . You never know .
Not a solution to the bitter cold, but also try to use ethanol free gas and fuel stabilizer. I use Seafoam occasionally in my small engines as well. That often helps them run better.
Good call! We are stoked to be able to buy ethanol free premium at the pump which I all we use. New engine should t need seafoam already I wouldn't think but it's not out of the question. All gas today is really bad gas. Not as good as it once was.
I jut watched your Honda cold weather video. Did you check basics ? Pinched fuel line, clogged fuel line, fuel filter, restricted exhaust (many generators have spark arrestor that clogs…easily cleaned and re-installed ! ), loose wires (or corroded..use anti oxidant ), and #1 talk to the dealer and other Honda owners with a similar unit…if possible. Once the Honda warms up it should run without the need for additional choke. You are making the mixture air/fuel richer via choke ….a temp fix BUT just that temporary !
Fuel consumption will probably increase per running on choke .
Did you buy the generator new / used ? Dealer / private ?
I'm enjoying watching your videos…just subscribed (1/13/16)and you seem to be doing very well.
What is your water supply / reserve ? How much gas do you store for the generator ? What did you do before moving to Idaho ? Good luck in your journey….the journey is often much better than arriving at the destination. walt
Along with what another commenter said about water condensing in your float bowl, cold temps makes air more dense, which in turn makes your engine run leaner than normal conditions. Which is why using the “choke” aka blocking some air flow, helps the engine run smoother.Ideally you would want to put bigger main and pilot jets in when winter comes.
Hey there, This is breather tube icing. if it becomes totally blocked your gen will spit out all the oil and seize. This is why Honda makes the breather tube heater. To compensate you can try to block some of the inlet vents with that towel to make it run hotter, or place a light bulb (CAREFULLY) inside by the breather tube to keep things defrosted. I wouldn't chance it the way you are, because once it does totally freeze you will be in for a hell of a repair bill or a new gen. This is a known thing up here in Canada. Which is why as some others mentioned Honda includes this standard.
I work on small engines for a living. First thing I would do is have a authorized service tech look at that carburetor as I feel you have a gummed up portion blocking either a narrow passageway or most likely a partially blocked main fuel jet. Haven't worked on one of these specifically it could also be the idle air passageway
Keep at it, you guys! Keep your spirit and vision in sight.
make sure you use premium gas in winter also sefoam as someone else said also make sure your gas is winter gas winter gas burns better in winter conditions never have a problem with mine in winter as long as I use winter gas I had a large supply of gas saved for winter one year but it was summer blend and had to add octane booster watch for water use seafoam its great
I see lots of good info on here. Water in the fuel and ethanol are major factors. Another thing to consider is where you're running your generator. I see you like to keep it in your truck. I understand this seems convenient as it keeps the gen out of the weather and makes it easier to access for refueling. The down side is this, "Your generator can't breath." Your air intake and exhaust are on the same end. So your filling the truck cap with exhaust, the air intake on the EU3000i handi is right next to the exhaust on the back. You're feeding exhaust into your air intake. I have the same generator and mine runs fine in the cold. One thing I never do is pour the last 1/2 gallon into the generator. Put the last little bit into your truck so any water that settles in the bottom of the can won't end up in the generator. A little seafoam + stable with fresh air to breath and you should be good to go...
that's an interesting problem, carburetors typically have no automatic a/f "air fuel" adjustment so cold weather "being more dense" is leaning out the mixture, the choke is adding more fuel. good fix. I've seen some older Toyota's have a box around the exhaust manifold and it draws cold air across the hot exhaust to fix this. maybe rig something up in the meantime.
Up here in Canada our Honda gens come standard with cold climate technology which is the breather heater. Since your having issues with cold climate mabey contact Honda direct and inquire to have this option for free, it can't hurt.
+hippykdb So far we have it running great so long as we pull it into the cabin over night, but if we get another cold snap that we can't win we'll probably do just that :-)
Shheeeesh. Thanks for that and the comments below. I've just always assumed (yeah, I know, bad word) that generators were built better. Especially since, where I am, above 0F is considered real chilly but not bitter cold.
And also, just an FYI… installing the optional "breather heater kit" is incredibly easy, like 10 minutes easy, and you'll NEVER have this problem again. And you SHOULD install it because keeping even just a little bit of choke on all the time is really bad for your generator and will greatly affect the life of it. And just so you know, I do have an EU3000i handi as well:) and it runs perfectly in the dead of winter:)., and yours can too! I asked my dealer for it upon me picking up the handi and put it in myself before I even ran it for the first time.
I have had the same problem......use premium fuel...no ethanol....i also converted to tri fuel propane.....worked like a charm but you sacrifice some wattage capacity. So...premium fuel is the easy fix....and tri fuel conversion....all work well in single digits from experience......
I see a lot of engines run this way with water in fuel also. Ethonal is horrible fuel for small engine. It will be interesting to see what the dealer says.
Fortunately we can and do buy ethanol free premium at the pump. Small perk living here! Back in Oregon it was illegal and you couldn't get the stations to sell it without signing your life away. So that's all good. If it was water I doubt adding a little choke would improve it but ya never know. Small engines are finicky and have lots of personality. Will update when we learn more.
+Pure Living for Life Be careful running it for long-term it could damage the engine for sure. Today's carbs clog up easily with trash. So get that thing to the shop so you don't void warranty :)
+Ron Hart good call. So much to learn. Everything has its little quirks. Thankfully have a dealer right in town.
in a phrase...Oil viscosity...and a tuneup(carb adjustment) - that's what you are effectively doing with the switch position...
I have a 3000 and it runs fine at -40, But you can not use marked gas, Honda says you can use marked , not so.
B,C, interior mite be dryer, I never take it in the cabin, condensation in gas,
I also found out when start up, Honda likes choke.
I live off grid three months , Oct, Nov, Dec. and you got the right tool, ( backhoe and the LT-15
Have fun, Gary
change your oil to lower number in oil. 5w30 or even 0w30. keep 10w30 for warm months
For what its worth a lesson i learned years ago the hard way is to never purchase any carbureted engine in small equipment that doesn't have a manual choke separate from other controls. Many companies on there lower end models have a fuel plunger instead of a choke and i got burned twice especially in cold weather applications. I now pay more and get a model that has a choke.
Nice life style!!
Your generator needs adjusted. It should run just fine regardless of the weather. If you are running fuel with ethanol that's another problem carburetors don't like ethanol. You shouldn't have to run the generator with the choke on, its a sign that the carburetor and/or fuel system needs cleaned.
With it being so cold, I bet you are getting the moisture in the fuel freezing, causing a partial blockage in the carburetor. Ethanol fuel attracts moisture, and it settles in the carburetor bowl. I'd pull the thing apart take the bowl off and dump out what's in there, clean it out good, get a can of carburetor cleaner and spray up into the carburetor and clean it out as well, or remove the carburetor and give it a good cleaning, just don't get the carburetor cleaner on the bowl gasket it will cause the gasket to swell and you'll have a heck of a time getting it back together.
I have to add to the additional comments about using Stabil or other fuel stabilizer because of Ethanol in the gas.
You should be able to locate non-ethanol fuel suppliers around you and use that in your small engines, they and you will be happier. If not at least use Stabil or something like it.
I use premium fuel for all my small engines, I have a $300 Chinese generator that I have started and run at minus forty Celsius with no problem.
Your adjustment for the carburetor main jet needs to be 2 sizes larger. I've owned a motorcycle shop for 30 years.
Seen this problem with many brands of Generators. Seen some that wouldn't even start outside. Keep us posted on the solutions you find.
+Plan Bee Orchard & Farm Will do! I guess long-term, when we have our house and our generator as a backup and to top off our battery bank when solar isn't working, we would store it in a secure, protected area that is also kept somewhat warm. Kinda funny though because it seems that off grid and colder climates go hand-in-hand! Plenty of folks in warmer climates that are off grid, but what about all those people who are WAY further North than us and in harsher climates?
When it is cold, the air is thicker, so with your pre selected choke positions, your engine is running lean.
I had the same problem with a Honda EU2000I, however that model has a manual choke lever.
I had a older Honda generator that did the same thing I added a heat tub like the older cars have to pull hot air off the muffler once the muffler heated up it ran fine
Try reflectix! ducting insulation. it will hold the heat. We use it for pot cozies for backpacking..
Hey I was thinking, why not build a tiny green house type covering for it?
Startron- by Starbrite- works wonders cleaning a carb of ethanol residue... and a small bottle treats a lot...
Arch oil AR6 200 food oil additive and they also make a fuel additive. Keeps motors going .
If you are running a propane heater in your camper, please be sure it is venting ok. Your RV cover may not be allowing the carbon monoxide gases to escape properly.
I don't recall you mentioning the altitude at your location, but if it runs well in summer I don't think it's an altitude issue. I think you run it every day, so I doubt it's stale gas. It does sound like ethanol in the fuel which is retaining water. For the record, I have a 3000is that starts and works like a dream in any temp. But it does come from the factory with a carb heater. I would suggest not running it in Eco till you get it dialed in more. It also could be the fact your unit doesn't have a fuel shut off and when you shutdown the generator, it leaves fuel in the carb that is clogging the jets etc with a varnish like gum I would run some cleaner through it, and let it run dry as often as you can. Always using a product like stabil might help.
+dddire straits I have a hunch it's simply carb icing. Could be condensation or water in the fuel. It's not ethanol as we use ethanol free fuel from an exclusive pump. Happily this problem was solved by keeping the generator inside at night. All good now! :)
Wonder what the harbor freight one does in the cold? I wouldn't be very happy. It's probably that EPA stuff running the engines really lean to save on fuel and emissions.
I had similair surging issue i added seafoam to the gas and that fixed the issue.
Suggestion: Do not use E85 unleaded fuel on a Honda. 0 to 10% is recommended. I have a fuel station near that sells "No-ethanol" fuel which works better. The other thing during winter is inspect your air filter to see if it is iced/frosted or not. Just a couple of thoughts you've probably already checked.
Bingo! We run only no ethanol premium which is sweet we can get right at the pump here. Back in Oregon you can't. So stoked about that. I think there was ice build up in the carb. It had been raining like crazy and the gen got some rain on it during the windstorm debacle. Then it all froze including whatever got in or on the generator. Can't win em all, but keeping it in the cabin has made all the difference. Runs great so far. Might talk w the local dealer still and see if they know a thing or two.
+Pure Living for Life In canada here water froze in the carb is an issue , PLUS the hondas come with a spark plug wrench , check the plug for wear and or build up , air filter cleaning and fuel filter swap out from poor gas / junk in gas .
looks pretty out there with all that snow but I know its slowing your down your work. how about a short video of you're snow covered scenery
+midmo prepper that almost made sense I know it must be slowing down your work is what I meant to say
🤗love the intro music, bring it back please.
Been there, done that; it's no fun. Had to put the headphones on to carefully listen to the engine - it's running too lean.
The carburetors on anything being sold today are very leaned out so they can pass an emissions standard. Also, gasoline engines have to use a progressively richer mixture with decreasing temperature to run properly, something you won't find on a portable generator. There are a few things you can do to reduce the cold weather operational problems however.
The carburetor must be kept pristine clean. Some gas residue can add to the lean problem so, I recommend shutting off the fuel and running the carburetor dry at engine shutdown each day. Obama gas is especially bad. Adding alcohol to gasoline causes rapid fuel deterioration, and long term fuel system & engine damage. I add Marvel Mystery Oil to all my gas to mitigate these problems.
I also open up my spark plugs gap to .04" from the .028" typically specified, it allows the engine to ignite the lean mixture a little easier.
If the engine won't fire at all due to extreme temperatures, I inject propane from an unlit blowtorch into the carburetor to get the engine to fire for a minute or so, until the cylinder heats up enough to the point where it will start to run on gas.
The proper fix however, would be to modify the carburetor air intake so it picks up heat from the engine.
Regrettably, all portable generators use lawn mower quality engines (meaning they are not terribly reliable) so, they will let you down sooner or later. In situations where going without power will cause great problems, I would recommend at least one additional source of backup power.
A reliable generator system uses a diesel engine running at 1800 rpm.
the main reason governed engines like this "hunt" for the RPM is it's
running too lean (hence why added a little bit of the choke makes it run
better...the colder air is more dense than warmer air thus making it
run "leaner"...hope that helps you understand a little bit better! ~jeff
What about if when you were finished with it for the day put it inside the cabin (just keep it away from the wood stove). Then when you want to use it take it outside and its already toasty warm.
What if you would have shut it inside the pickup with the tailgate and cap door closed? Should have then built up enough heated air with the exhaust warming the back bed area of the pickup to keep it running (??)
That is not a cold weather issue. It's a carb issue. Partially clogged idle jet.
A heat exchanger between the exhaust and air intake might be a soulution, if everything else checks out ok.
May be some rain or snow got into the gas tank and froze creating a small restriction.
U2 are awesome stay warm
Any update on the Generator working in Cold weather? Still not working right? what fixed it? THANKS!
Is there anyway you can slightly restrict the air intake with some duct tape or cardboard? Not sure if you can buy another jet to install for the winter time. Might be a PITA to do 2x a year, but a thought. Is there an air screw on the carb that is easy access? Sometimes you can tweak it and it might be just enough to get it to run right.
Hi nice generator. Try using a hotter spark plug or a lower viscosity synthetic oil. Can you some how use the engines own exhaust to keep the unit warm, instead of buying kit? Good luck.
you guys are living the life i want! lol. looking to get a truck and camper this coming year. what kind of house are you planning on building? im going to build a monolithic dome. you should look them up if you havent heard of them.
This is what killed my EU1000
I wonder if using a 10W-30 or 5W-30 synthetic oil would help with this issue.
I bought one these and had this issue right out of the box, never ran right when it got to cold so i took it back, friend of mine had a harbor freight 10kw generator head in his garage he bought to build his own generator with and never did, so he gave it to me, so i shopped around for motors to run it and ended up buying a wrecked motorcycle to run it after coming across a guy on a forum post his setup were he used an older model kawasaki ninja 250 with the tire removed from the rear rim, then using a homemade tension setup on the belt he ran the belt from the rear tire of the motorcycle to the generator head, the motorcycle was mounted on a stand so it couldnt move w/ a box fan directed at the engine to keep it cool during operation...and he stated he had been running this setup for 11yrs with only maintenance of changing the oil every 6 months of usage..... so i went down to my local coparts auction and picked up a 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 636 with running engine, but bent front frame and damage front forks and suspension for $280 bucks+ the auction fees i dont remember.. I did very similar setup and belt drive the motorcycle off the rear wheel to spin the generator head using a belt tensioner setup.. i run it in 4th gear and just barely turn the throttle above idle to get the generator led indicator in the green... its fuel injected so it runs very smooth and quiet at these rpms and the motor is designed to last 40k miles easily, so i expect great life out of the motorcycle engine.. the only issue i had since setting it up was the radiator developed a crack, most likely already damaged from the wreck, but the motor shut itself off when it got hot through the ecu.. replaced the radiator with a used one off ebay and its been running fine ever since..
Wait, so what was the other problem other than the coughing issue we see here??
I have to say, I think I would prefer to own an inverter generator that has separate power and choke controls.
If you don't mind me asking, how much did the generator cost? I live in Cambodia, and found an EU20i (same as the US version 2000i), for $924 USD, locally.
Maybe pick up a tri-fuel conversion kit and run propane?
Not out of the question! Propane is so much more reliable in the cold. Not as much power though. :( Always good to have options!!
+Pure Living for Life Hi, I just subscribed to your channel, but I have to disagree with you. Propane has an octane rating of 104, while Premium unleaded gas has an octane rating of 92-94 depending on additives. Buy Seafoam additive in the gallon jug and use it in all of your engines, it will act as a fuel dryer and conditioner. It also is a fuel system cleaner. it was developed for the military during WWII and still works great.
A little late I guess, but would a thinner oil make a difference? I saw you use 10W-30, but in the past I've found even 30 weight once it's warm can bog down if its cold enough outside...
Not food oil but GOOD oil additive.
Can u switch to propane with this model? we did with our 5000 and runs better in cold weather in Southern Oregon.
or, once you get that sweet running spot put a small heater fan blower to heat the air a round the intake !!!
put a heating blanket on the outside or insulation around all but the panel and the exhaust. or
Nope they run great in winter , you just need to get it tuned up or run some cleaner in the fuel to get the water out or dirt out. you going to burn up that unit running her lean like that..
Did you check out Briggs & Stratton before you bought this one? I don't know, just asking before we buy one and make the same issue
I have the same problem, and a talented shop managed to tune it up and clean it up so it did not do this any more. Find a good old school mechanic!
+Neil Shubert Exactly what this generator needs is a simple tune up and a good carburetor cleaning. Its running like crap because the carburetor is dirty, one of the jets is partially clogged with crap from most likely burning ethanol fuel....every year I spend several months repairing small engine equipment for people who just love to use ethanol fuel then worse yet they let it set in the equipment all winter.
+William Todd (williamtodd) I love your channel, and your efforts! I have found this fuel additive called FA that will combat the Ethanol, the other helper is to buy the highest Octane possible!
PJ Jackson I've tried stabilizers in the past and haven't had much luck. I find it a much better solution to just run the equipment out of fuel so there's no chances of having bad fuel come spring.
I had great stabilizer called FA and it was amazing but I cant find it anymore. Next time I will get a diesel generator!
I have run my EU at 9 degree F with no problems. Check your fuel.
+Tim Hall There's nothing to check really. It's likely there was some moisture in the gas from the stations tanks or we were experiencing carb icing. Something common on all carbs at low temps. If we are still heavily dependent on it by next winter we may install the 10w carb heater on it to see if that helps keep the icing down. We found when we brought it inside it wasn't an issue which means it's likely temp issues not water in fuel. Either way it was a short lived problem once we started keeping the generator inside at night and life is dandy
Non Handi has a variable choke.
We don’t have that problem in Florida
One word could be"diesel" New ones work very well in all weather
This is so funny.... I have a large Honda snowblower that has the same problem. It has been this way since I purchased it. It always runs better with a little choke in the cold weather. It appears to be a Jetting problem. Let me know if you find a solution.
Oh Noooo : ( I hope you can get one that works better.
I don't think this has anything to do with the cold. These Honda generators are notorious for having very fussy carburetors. The classic symptom is needing partial choke to run smoothly. These is some junk in that carb that needs to be cleaned. It only takes a tiny speck of trash to mess things up.
Yup Hondas have very picky carbs, careful - partial choke is going to wash down your cylinder walls causing premature wear.
The fireplace don't work, the generator don't work and it's freaking below freezing. Sure hope you guys don't turn into ice cubes. If it were me, I'd bail until spring time!
Well, as of today, the generator is working great, the fireplace is working great, and although we have more sub-freezing days in the forecast, I think we are ready for round two! I think our systems will hold up for us throughout the next cold snap. Wish us luck, we will try to not turn into ice cubes! But if you don't hear from us in a couple weeks, check on us would ya?!
it needs a bigger Main jet in the cold weather the air is more dense. that why when you choke any motor is your closing off the air going in the carb making the fuel mix more rich check out jetsrus.com they have them . i went 2 sizes up on mine runs perfect
Replacement parts.com thy have video's blockage,screen in tank,or carburetor
I don't see any disadvantage of having "choke" and "on" being on the same switch. You're still able to apply a little bit of choke while it's on just like you could if the choke and on were separate… If anything, it looks like it's easier. Sorry I know you're frustrated in this video, but I feel like you kind of contradict yourself when you say that "the problem is that the choke and on are on the same switch"… then you proceed to do exactly what you would've done with a generator that has a separate choke like you apparently want at this point. Just sayin… love your vids btw.
change the oil
I am not that big a fan for small Honda engines of any kind. A. You pay way to much for the name. B. When things go bad they go really bad and it costs lots to fix. I use hi test in all my small engines. I always shut my gas off to the carburetor when shutting down. I keep the tank topped off. When cold weather hits and the engine starts poorly or runs crappy I always suspect ice and or water in the gas and use a de-icer. Regular maintenance, the easy stuff in the manual works good also. There is my 2 cents worth I hope it helps.
Why not just get a bigger and better one?
Thank you ! NO Honda Generator for cold weather. And NO Ethonal for a generator or long term storage. Will look for a real back up generator. tjl
Tim Lipinski - Dude, this is a great generator even for cold weather, it just needs a breather heater kit, they cost like $90 online, it's a genuine Honda part and it totally solves the problem! Every other small engine I've had has done this before when the intake air was too cold.
Carb icing
Its not the cold weather. It's a carb issue.
i don´t want to be an idiot but is that surprise that honda engine doesn´t work in cold weather?
THAT'S disappointing
Replacement parts.com thy have video's blockage,screen in tank,or carburetor