Thank you! Mine would surge aggressively unless it was half-choked. Small engine repair shop took 2 weeks to tell me I needed a new carb, wanted $520 (I'm in Canada). I told them no way and brought it home. I just found your video, took me less than 10 minutes and it is now running perfectly.
Funny, I had this issue and it took two weeks for the shop to get back to me and was told it would be $502 USD to repair. When you consider the exchange rate it is cheaper to get ripped off in Canada. Cleared the jet for free and now it runs smooth.
My jet seemed to have this hole, but even a small wire could not pass through. I used a very small safety pin to push through and widen the opening. Reinstalled and the surging idle went away. Thank you so much for the helpful video!
PLEASE tag this video for EU3000is as well because it WORKED! Same basic setup. I was pulling my hair out, messed with it for 2 1/2 hours and still couldn't get the idle to stop surging. I had to fiddle with the choke to get it to run smooth which I know is not the right answer. I too had pulled the main jet and cleaned it (which is a good idea anyway while it's apart), changed gaskets, added new fuel, to no avail. The instructions in this video are spot on and it fixed my problem. Thank you!!! 5 STARS!!!
Fantastic, my eu1000 was running rough and I took it to a Honda service centre to be repaired, when it was returned it was still running rough. So after watching this video I pulled the injector out and cleaned that hole and guess what, my generator now purrs like a kitten. Gotta love TH-cam. Edit: Sir you have just allowed me to repair another generator. I also have a GenTrax 3.5kva which suddenly started running rough at idle, so thinking it may be the same problem decided to have a go at fixing it. The way carburettor was installed was slightly different but carburettor was same design as Honda. After cleaning injector my GenTrax is also now running smoothly. Many, many thanks for showing us how to correct this problem.
Thank you. This was very helpful. Main and Idle jets, and emulsion tube were gummed up in mine. Petcock was also 95% blocked. Clean carb + clean petcock and it runs like new.
OMG, I had to run mine with half choke and full throttle to stop the rough running and surging. ECO Throttle wasn't really usable at all. this was after the shop did a "tune up". Too busy to take it back across town. This video is worth its weight in GOLD! Took fifteen minutes from start to finish after I watched the video. ECO Throttle works great and no more rough running and surging and NO CHOKE needed (after warmup) THANK YOU my friend. You have done a great service for the RV community!
Thank-you also! I did exactly what you said and the generator was fixed exactly as you said it would be. I blew out the jet with a butane, lighter refilling can. The generator is running like a charm
Thanks for this video! , my apparatus went up and down of turns that opened the air, with which I had to work in starter mode, I did as I saw you and now rolls better.
THANKS! I tried cleaning the carburetor, fuel treatments, etc. I was dreading doing a complete carburetor tear down. Shops talked about replacing the carb. After I informed them how much a Honda carb. cost (they figured it was cheap like most small engines) I took my generator home. I couldn't believe how quick and easy it was to perform this on my two generators! You could not see a hole in the pilot jet. Luckily I had a set of welding tip cleaning wires. I used the smallest and still had a difficult time getting it through. The generators are running like new again! It blows me away that a hole not much bigger than a hair can have that much impact!
Thank you so much for this video. My EU200i idled rough twice. The first time I drove a half hour to a certified Honda repair shop and paid $120. The second time, I found this video and got it running great again in under an hour. Outstanding job explaining everything well with a clear video.
We have used the th-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Finally! I have been on forums, watch dozens of videos on cleaning carb, fuel additives....etc, with only marginal results if any. I am sure that there is a cost of time and inconvenience to make a video to post. As I have done many times, when I find the solution in a video, I will try the solution and if it works, I don't always include a thank you to the person that made the solution video. So sometimes, posting may be a thankless exercise, and may result in people like you deciding to not go through the trouble of posting video. I just want to make sure you know, and I represent countless of others that you have helped and will help when they find this post, that I am so grateful to learn how to get my generator back working the way it should. Good Job!
Great video! One thing I did as add a dab of orange Dykem Cross Check Tamper Proof Torque Marker. It helps keep the screw from moving. Found mine was backing out. Caused the generator to not want to start.
Great Video explaining the fix for the surging idle. I found when I checked the orifice with a small gauge wire that it was clear, but I used a slightly bigger wire that just fit the orifice and I could feel a step in the orifice nearest to the cross drilled hole in the plastic jet so I pushed a bit and forced past the step and that is what finally fixed the surging problem on normal speed idle without load. Before doing this I made sure the orifice was clear and put things back together but the surging continued. Good luck to you all and thanks to X2Coug for the video.
Thanks, just repaired a surging eu2200i on eco throttle. Exactly the same method. Runs perfectly now. I used a single steel thread from a steel wire brush which worked perfectly to remove the debris from that really tiny hole in the black plastic insert.
Me too, did the same. 0,30 mm wire from a steel brush. The Pilot jet is #35, I think it means 0,35 mm. The hole required some force, the jet seemed to be so solid, as if there were no hole at all. Honda part # is 99204-ZE00350. The idling became much better, but I think it is not perfect yet. My Honda EU20i is from 2003. I used too old gasoline, code 95E10 (10% ethanol) and left the inverter in my cabin last November and not draining the tank and fuel system for more than 6 months. I had problems with all my small engines. Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮.
James condon has a fantastic channel that covers all the points of failure on many different brands of generators. Surging is usually a dirty carb or fuel starvation from vapor lock or some other supply issue.
Awesome video ! My EU2000i was surging and local Honda service center quoted $200 to resolve surging and rough idle - I followed this and -> fixed ! Big thanks 🙏!
I was skeptical that a hole so small would have that much of an impact on the performance of the generator at idle speed. However, after this repair, it is now running smooth as the day I bought it. Thanks posting this video!
Thanks for the video. I'm an old time small engine guy (had a mower/saw shop back in the '70's, but have little Honda experience. Knew what I was looking for (crud in the jet), but wasn't sure where to look, not having any manuals on this unit. Your vid saved me a carb teardown and a lot of time. 10 minutes. Runs great! Easy peasy! 😁 Thanks again!
Excellent thanks. Away on our Motorhome, no electrical output on Honda, rough running up and down, took it to bits as you show and had to cut up a bit of cable to push in the pilot jet, one strand went in easy but 2 didn't, put it back together and we have power again. has to be on slight choke though so as soon as I get home I will do it again with better equipment. Thanks for the help (and to the commenters who confirm the fix)
Thank you very much. I actually looked at my clogged jet a long time ago, not realizing it was in fact clogged. Thought it was manufactured like so. This was very helpful! It restored my Honda's Eco-Mode idle!
Thanks! Fixed my 14 year old EU1000i. Purchased the Aokus pilot jet #35 on Amazon for $13. Measured wire brush strands with a micrometer and found the .013" too large, but a .0115" an easy fit. Next time I will know which size to use and not damage the old one. Put a 800W load on it in both running modes (standard and econo) and it idles and runs great. Always use fuel additives and try to run it several times during the winter. After 14 years, the jet finally closed up.
Thank you a million times! This solved my problem of the engine surging like it wanted to die either eco-throttle was on or off, but worse when on at slower idle. I changed the oil, spark plug, air cleaners, and fuel filter and this was my last shot and it did the trick. I cutoff a bristle from a wire brush to use as a wire to clean the jet. Thanks again for the video.
thanks for this. Most video tutorials (which are very helpful) miss this part. I'm glad you mentioned the O ring. I missed it the first time around and had gas leaking all over when I put it together again. The O ring got stuck inside the orifice. I neglected to look. Second time, machine purring.
Hi X2Coug. Going down this same road you did. Driving a hole through the jet helped for a short while but was not the answer. Have done some digging. That is not a plugged up hole. It doesn't go all the way through, it isn't supposed to. Tonight I narrowed it down to my coil. I used the repair manual and found out the specs. 7 to 80 ohms for the primary and the secondary windings. Very easy to check with a meter. Secondary - the business side - is more or less O/C. Ordered a new one for $35. So far I am in for 2 new air filters, 2 spark plugs, this coil and a replacement plastic main jet.
Very good explanation of how the idle jet is to be serviced, hard to believe Honda made this orifice so tiny and any bit of varnish or crud will plug it up quick giving you a rough idle and surging. I've had to do this twice over last 2 seasons. I'm thinking about putting a petcock valve in so I can shut the fuel off while the carb drains completely. The float bowl drain is not sufficient in draining the internals. Thanks for doing the video and it's one of the best out there.
the Iron Guts is right. - Excellent and to the point video. I have a Sams Club Max something generator that looks like this one and it will not run without the choke being on. So i;m going to take a shot in the dark and try to clean that jet the way you did. Thanks
Instead of adding a fuel petcock you can add a kill switch that bypasses the main on/off switch. The main switch is dual function; it is also the fuel petcock. So, if you install this kill/bypass switch it renders the main switch as just a fuel petcock. So, then, you can shut the fuel off and let it run until it uses up the fuel in the fuel line and carb. Got mine at Hutchmountain.com it is called "Hutch Mountain Bad Gas Ethanol Gummed Carb Eliminator Switch - Compatible with Honda Eu2000i Generator" for $23.17.
This did the trick for me. while I had the carb disconnected, I placed some wadded paper towel in the engine side of the carb and shot some gumout carb cleaner thru it with the choke open. Also a little shot thru the airways. Cleaned the idle jet as well while I had it out. Genset fired up on first pull, purred like a kitten. Very nice video. Thanks. Oh.. fyi, In addition to using a fuel stabilizer in my generator gas, I add 1 oz of Chevron Techron per gallon of gas as a fuel system cleaner. I run the generator for 30 to 60 minutes every few months and it seems to keep the idle surge issue in check.
Thank you for this! I recently picked up a used EU2000i that had the Eco-mode stumble/ rough idle issue unless half choked. This fix worked. Light gauge guitar e-string fits perfectly to clear.
Ah where was this video in 2016 haha I cleaned my grandpa's eu2000 probably 4 times thinking "why the hell isn't there a pilot jet!?!?" Then I finally figured it out myself sometime in 2017. I just made a video on my eu2200 of doing the same damn thing, searched to see if anyone else had videos showing the pilot jet being cleaned and here yours is #1 on the recommendations. Owell I'll still upload it for people searching eu2200i problems but for the record it is the same exact carb setup
Thanks for this. My generator would only run on full choke. Poked a safety pin through the gummed up hole on the jet and it did the trick. Works fine again.
Good idea, thank you. I didn't have any wire that fine but fortunately was able to clean the jet with carb cleaner and compressed air, but I'll remember that next time.... just saw a post that said he used a wire from a wire brush.
Amazing video. I thought my generator would shake itself to pieces it was idling so rough. This fix worked. I now have a small kit attached to the carry handle with operator's manual and a pill bottle with the fine wire needed to open up the jet. My hat off to you.
Much thanks for your time to make this very useful video to help others who are not talented in that area and can save money by fixing the problem themselves. Your a good soul indeed for sharing your knowledge.
Having a similar/same issue with a brand new EU2000i. It ran just a little rough for the first two hours but now is horrible (didn't use again for a month). The fuel is the same I use in my Honda mower with no ill effects so... I've had two previous EU2000i's (the first was stolen) that ran amazingly with no issues (made in Japan). This one is made in Thailand, from the FWIW file. Thanks for the video!!!
Just wanted to add that this ignition coil is the new potted type. I have a Mazda MPV minivan and it has 6 small potted ignition coils. They ALL failed and had to be replaced. The symptom is loss of power and rough running. They go intermittent just like the Honda. Once ignition coils never needed replacing or it was very rare. Nowadays they are as fallible as everything else.
I have a Kipor IG1000 with a similar hunting problem. I left it too long with petrol inside after last winter. This is a fabulous video. I hope the process is as simple with mine. Thank you very much indeed.
Sweeeeet!! This worked perfectly for my Honda eu1000i gen-set! Thank you so much brother I owe you a beer! And a little side-note: if you are doing this on a Honda 1000 pull the engine case breather off of the plastic airbox piece not the case. It’s different than the 2000 and it a pain to put back IN the case.
My brand new Honda shakes so much in Eco mode I don't see how it's ever going to last very long. I checked the spark plug gap like some videos are saying and it was a little bit on the low side but opening it up didn't make any changes. I checked the hole in the carburetor jet and it was not clogged because I could see light coming through from LED flashlight but I did run a piece of wire through it anyway when I put it back together it did the exact same thing I've already left bad reviews on Amazon for these generators I can't believe I spent the extra money for a Honda because I wanted the best and now I got JUNK!!!!!!!!
Thank you very much!! My 2000i was rough and would cut out after running only a few minutes. Thanks to your good video, I confidently followed your lead and within a half hour, the problem was resolved and running well. My idle adjust screw was at 4 ⅛ turns.
Thanks for posting this video. My 2200i runs smoother. I found three strands of copper speaker wire twisted together was just the right size to ream out this orifice. BTW, my idle was running rough from the very first time I started it. As in from brand new. Maybe it was bad gas. Anyway this fix produced a vast improvement. Nicely explained.
Great video love the details and close-ups super helpful save me money and a lot of time dealing with the dealership thank you so much for your great detailed information
Many thanks to this gem of knowledge. I was able to clean out the hole with air intake cleaner. Fixed the surging and the hesitation/erratic idling under load. I am amazed.
Thanks. If you have taken your generator for servicing because the engine speed is not consistent (sometimes call surging) then this is the fix you want. The fix that was recommended was replacing the carburetor. While replacement will fix the problem, all you need to do is follow the video to repair your generator.
Yeah, I actually fixed it before making the video so I didn't get a chance to film the before condition. The next time it gets gummed up I'll film the before and after and edit the video.
I own six of these units which I keep at different locations for emergency power back up and they all had this same issue and I couldn't figure it out. Thanks to your video within a few hours all were running perfectly.
Just want to add my thanks to X2Coug... I’ve had to run our Honda on choke for the better part of 2 years and this has it purring like a kitten again. Well put-together and great explanations in the video. Thanks again!!
i also owe you a beer,even though i am not very mechanical i was able to get my generator running like new again,it took me a bit longer because i dropped a screw but i got it done. i live in Canada and have the cold climate model so there is insulation on the vent tube that needs to be removed and that is a bit of a pain because the insulation impedes your view.like George K suggested i used a bristle from a wire brush and it worked well. PS apparently there is a screw on the bottom of the carb bowl you can loosen and that will drain the fuel after you shut off the generator, i think i will try that and see if it helps, anyway thanks again for the post it was very helpful . ,
I just noticed this problem with mine. I will do this as soon as the temperature gets better than 24 degrees. Thanks for the clear video and information.
Make sure u put a touch of lube on pilot jet o-ring before attempting to press back in. Very easy to damage[and difficult to get back in place] without.
Great video. I initially tried to just spray carb cleaner through various passages and that didn’t work. I cleaned out the jets as you instructed and now it runs like new and purrs like a kitten at eco idle.
Thank you for showing us this. I have the same generator and it is running fine. But it just started doing something odd. I start it and then it stops after a couple of seconds. When I start it again it can run for ten hours without a problem. One thing about starting it, I am not sure if I remember correctly. But I think you are supposed to start it on high. Anyways, it seem as yours is running a bit more quiet than mine. Mine is making quite a lot more noise than yours when it is running on high. It has done that from when it was new. I also have a generic 1000W pure sinus wave generator (a chinese one). It is always surging somewhat when it is running. I don't know why. I have only used it a few times. But it starts. The first one I got was almost impossible to start. So I kept it as a spare to the Honda. However I am not sure how well the electronic devices are doing on it. But they are still alive. The Honda shop will not touch it :-)
Great video. Thank you! I haven’t tried it yet, but will. I’m experiencing the same issue. Surging and then it stalls. Is the jet clogged due to debris in the gasoline or is it just from fuel sitting in there without being run frequently enough? I’ve got two of these units and they are running rough, but I need them due to power outages from Beryl. Thanks again!
I had the same problem and fixed it a much easier way. I added Super Tech Small Engine Fuel Fix to my gas. It cleaned the carb and problem is gone. He carb was setup by Honda when the generator was new. One would think it never needs and adjustment if the carb is kept clean.
Easy job being careful... NOTE: I found the deposits are at the far end of the final deep opening of that tiny hole. Pushing a tiny drill down the hole you will find resistance at the very end of the hole as it enters the pass through hole.
Hi!!! Thank you For Your vídeo it Was so useful. I’ve a question, does the jet a second o-ring? a larger than the small one it has near the lower end. Thank you in advance.
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Thank you! Mine would surge aggressively unless it was half-choked. Small engine repair shop took 2 weeks to tell me I needed a new carb, wanted $520 (I'm in Canada). I told them no way and brought it home. I just found your video, took me less than 10 minutes and it is now running perfectly.
That's because they are crooks and thieves
Funny, I had this issue and it took two weeks for the shop to get back to me and was told it would be $502 USD to repair. When you consider the exchange rate it is cheaper to get ripped off in Canada. Cleared the jet for free and now it runs smooth.
Good example of why i fix my own things. This one plagued me for ages hopefully its a fix
Mine was doing the same exact thing! This was the fix!! Awesome video!
My jet seemed to have this hole, but even a small wire could not pass through. I used a very small safety pin to push through and widen the opening. Reinstalled and the surging idle went away. Thank you so much for the helpful video!
PLEASE tag this video for EU3000is as well because it WORKED! Same basic setup. I was pulling my hair out, messed with it for 2 1/2 hours and still couldn't get the idle to stop surging. I had to fiddle with the choke to get it to run smooth which I know is not the right answer. I too had pulled the main jet and cleaned it (which is a good idea anyway while it's apart), changed gaskets, added new fuel, to no avail. The instructions in this video are spot on and it fixed my problem. Thank you!!! 5 STARS!!!
Fantastic, my eu1000 was running rough and I took it to a Honda service centre to be repaired, when it was returned it was still running rough. So after watching this video I pulled the injector out and cleaned that hole and guess what, my generator now purrs like a kitten. Gotta love TH-cam.
Edit: Sir you have just allowed me to repair another generator. I also have a GenTrax 3.5kva which suddenly started running rough at idle, so thinking it may be the same problem decided to have a go at fixing it. The way carburettor was installed was slightly different but carburettor was same design as Honda. After cleaning injector my GenTrax is also now running smoothly. Many, many thanks for showing us how to correct this problem.
Thank you. This was very helpful. Main and Idle jets, and emulsion tube were gummed up in mine. Petcock was also 95% blocked. Clean carb + clean petcock and it runs like new.
OMG, I had to run mine with half choke and full throttle to stop the rough running and surging. ECO Throttle wasn't really usable at all. this was after the shop did a "tune up". Too busy to take it back across town. This video is worth its weight in GOLD! Took fifteen minutes from start to finish after I watched the video. ECO Throttle works great and no more rough running and surging and NO CHOKE needed (after warmup) THANK YOU my friend. You have done a great service for the RV community!
Great! Glad it helped you out :)
Thank-you also! I did exactly what you said and the generator was fixed exactly as you said it would be. I blew out the jet with a butane, lighter refilling can. The generator is running like a charm
Thanks for this video! , my apparatus went up and down of turns that opened the air, with which I had to work in starter mode, I did as I saw you and now rolls better.
THANKS! I tried cleaning the carburetor, fuel treatments, etc. I was dreading doing a complete carburetor tear down. Shops talked about replacing the carb. After I informed them how much a Honda carb. cost (they figured it was cheap like most small engines) I took my generator home. I couldn't believe how quick and easy it was to perform this on my two generators! You could not see a hole in the pilot jet. Luckily I had a set of welding tip cleaning wires. I used the smallest and still had a difficult time getting it through. The generators are running like new again! It blows me away that a hole not much bigger than a hair can have that much impact!
Thank you so much for this video. My EU200i idled rough twice. The first time I drove a half hour to a certified Honda repair shop and paid $120. The second time, I found this video and got it running great again in under an hour. Outstanding job explaining everything well with a clear video.
We have used the th-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Finally! I have been on forums, watch dozens of videos on cleaning carb, fuel additives....etc, with only marginal results if any. I am sure that there is a cost of time and inconvenience to make a video to post. As I have done many times, when I find the solution in a video, I will try the solution and if it works, I don't always include a thank you to the person that made the solution video. So sometimes, posting may be a thankless exercise, and may result in people like you deciding to not go through the trouble of posting video. I just want to make sure you know, and I represent countless of others that you have helped and will help when they find this post, that I am so grateful to learn how to get my generator back working the way it should. Good Job!
Thanks for the nice comments! I'm glad this video helped you fix your generator.
Great video!
One thing I did as add a dab of orange Dykem Cross Check Tamper Proof Torque Marker. It helps keep the screw from moving. Found mine was backing out. Caused the generator to not want to start.
Great Video explaining the fix for the surging idle. I found when I checked the orifice with a small gauge wire that it was clear, but I used a slightly bigger wire that just fit the orifice and I could feel a step in the orifice nearest to the cross drilled hole in the plastic jet so I pushed a bit and forced past the step and that is what finally fixed the surging problem on normal speed idle without load. Before doing this I made sure the orifice was clear and put things back together but the surging continued. Good luck to you all and thanks to X2Coug for the video.
I followed this video and got it working as it should. Thanks for sharing !
Thanks, just repaired a surging eu2200i on eco throttle. Exactly the same method. Runs perfectly now. I used a single steel thread from a steel wire brush which worked perfectly to remove the debris from that really tiny hole in the black plastic insert.
Me too, did the same. 0,30 mm wire from a steel brush. The Pilot jet is #35, I think it means 0,35 mm. The hole required some force, the jet seemed to be so solid, as if there were no hole at all. Honda part # is 99204-ZE00350. The idling became much better, but I think it is not perfect yet. My Honda EU20i is from 2003. I used too old gasoline, code 95E10 (10% ethanol) and left the inverter in my cabin last November and not draining the tank and fuel system for more than 6 months. I had problems with all my small engines. Greetings from Finland 🇫🇮.
Great information! I had trouble getting the jet pressed back in, but a little oil on the o-ring solved the problem.
James condon has a fantastic channel that covers all the points of failure on many different brands of generators. Surging is usually a dirty carb or fuel starvation from vapor lock or some other supply issue.
Thanks I'll check it out
Awesome video ! My EU2000i was surging and local Honda service center quoted $200 to resolve surging and rough idle - I followed this and -> fixed ! Big thanks 🙏!
I was skeptical that a hole so small would have that much of an impact on the performance of the generator at idle speed. However, after this repair, it is now running smooth as the day I bought it. Thanks posting this video!
Solid work man. Never knew idle jet was that plastic thing.
Yep… thank you sir… this is exactly the solution for our EU2000i. It solved the idle surging. 😊👍🏼
Thanks for the video. I'm an old time small engine guy (had a mower/saw shop back in the '70's, but have little Honda experience. Knew what I was looking for (crud in the jet), but wasn't sure where to look, not having any manuals on this unit. Your vid saved me a carb teardown and a lot of time. 10 minutes. Runs great! Easy peasy! 😁
Thanks again!
Excellent thanks. Away on our Motorhome, no electrical output on Honda, rough running up and down, took it to bits as you show and had to cut up a bit of cable to push in the pilot jet, one strand went in easy but 2 didn't, put it back together and we have power again. has to be on slight choke though so as soon as I get home I will do it again with better equipment. Thanks for the help (and to the commenters who confirm the fix)
Happy this helped!
Thank you. My generator was running rough and surging unless choked off. Cleaning the jet worked. Thank you for making the video!
Got it done in about 15min. My Honda has been running smooth for the past two hours now. Thank you!!🤙🏾🤙🏾
Thank you very much. I actually looked at my clogged jet a long time ago, not realizing it was in fact clogged. Thought it was manufactured like so. This was very helpful! It restored my Honda's Eco-Mode idle!
Thanks to you I repaired the generator, must admit I missed that jet after having dismantled the whole carb.........compliments from Malta...cheers
Thanks! Fixed my 14 year old EU1000i. Purchased the Aokus pilot jet #35 on Amazon for $13. Measured wire brush strands with a micrometer and found the .013" too large, but a .0115" an easy fit. Next time I will know which size to use and not damage the old one. Put a 800W load on it in both running modes (standard and econo) and it idles and runs great. Always use fuel additives and try to run it several times during the winter. After 14 years, the jet finally closed up.
Thank you a million times! This solved my problem of the engine surging like it wanted to die either eco-throttle was on or off, but worse when on at slower idle. I changed the oil, spark plug, air cleaners, and fuel filter and this was my last shot and it did the trick. I cutoff a bristle from a wire brush to use as a wire to clean the jet. Thanks again for the video.
thanks for this. Most video tutorials (which are very helpful) miss this part. I'm glad you mentioned the O ring. I missed it the first time around and had gas leaking all over when I put it together again. The O ring got stuck inside the orifice. I neglected to look. Second time, machine purring.
I’ll give it a try. Looks simple enough!
Hi X2Coug. Going down this same road you did. Driving a hole through the jet helped for a short while but was not the answer. Have done some digging. That is not a plugged up hole. It doesn't go all the way through, it isn't supposed to. Tonight I narrowed it down to my coil. I used the repair manual and found out the specs. 7 to 80 ohms for the primary and the secondary windings. Very easy to check with a meter. Secondary - the business side - is more or less O/C. Ordered a new one for $35.
So far I am in for 2 new air filters, 2 spark plugs, this coil and a replacement plastic main jet.
Nice! I’m glad to see there’s a way to clean the jet without dismantling the whole carb as shown in other videos. Thanks for posting this.
Very good explanation of how the idle jet is to be serviced, hard to believe Honda made this orifice so tiny and any bit of varnish or crud will plug it up quick giving you a rough idle and surging. I've had to do this twice over last 2 seasons. I'm thinking about putting a petcock valve in so I can shut the fuel off while the carb drains completely. The float bowl drain is not sufficient in draining the internals. Thanks for doing the video and it's one of the best out there.
the Iron Guts is right. - Excellent and to the point video. I have a Sams Club Max something generator that looks like this one and it will not run without the choke being on. So i;m going to take a shot in the dark and try to clean that jet the way you did. Thanks
Instead of adding a fuel petcock you can add a kill switch that bypasses the main on/off switch. The main switch is dual function; it is also the fuel petcock. So, if you install this kill/bypass switch it renders the main switch as just a fuel petcock. So, then, you can shut the fuel off and let it run until it uses up the fuel in the fuel line and carb. Got mine at Hutchmountain.com it is called "Hutch Mountain Bad Gas Ethanol Gummed Carb Eliminator Switch - Compatible with Honda Eu2000i Generator" for $23.17.
This did the trick for me. while I had the carb disconnected, I placed some wadded paper towel in the engine side of the carb and shot some gumout carb cleaner thru it with the choke open. Also a little shot thru the airways. Cleaned the idle jet as well while I had it out. Genset fired up on first pull, purred like a kitten. Very nice video. Thanks.
Oh.. fyi, In addition to using a fuel stabilizer in my generator gas, I add 1 oz of Chevron Techron per gallon of gas as a fuel system cleaner. I run the generator for 30 to 60 minutes every few months and it seems to keep the idle surge issue in check.
Thank you for this! I recently picked up a used EU2000i that had the Eco-mode stumble/ rough idle issue unless half choked. This fix worked. Light gauge guitar e-string fits perfectly to clear.
Thank you good sir. Honda Genny running like a champ now!
Ah where was this video in 2016 haha I cleaned my grandpa's eu2000 probably 4 times thinking "why the hell isn't there a pilot jet!?!?" Then I finally figured it out myself sometime in 2017. I just made a video on my eu2200 of doing the same damn thing, searched to see if anyone else had videos showing the pilot jet being cleaned and here yours is #1 on the recommendations. Owell I'll still upload it for people searching eu2200i problems but for the record it is the same exact carb setup
Thanks for this. My generator would only run on full choke. Poked a safety pin through the gummed up hole on the jet and it did the trick. Works fine again.
Good idea, thank you. I didn't have any wire that fine but fortunately was able to clean the jet with carb cleaner and compressed air, but I'll remember that next time.... just saw a post that said he used a wire from a wire brush.
Amazing video. I thought my generator would shake itself to pieces it was idling so rough. This fix worked. I now have a small kit attached to the carry handle with operator's manual and a pill bottle with the fine wire needed to open up the jet. My hat off to you.
Much thanks for your time to make this very useful video to help others who are not talented in that area and can save money by fixing the problem themselves. Your a good soul indeed for sharing your knowledge.
Pulling my hair out after carb cleaning ad still surging at idle...this simple fix cleared it right up, thanks
Having a similar/same issue with a brand new EU2000i. It ran just a little rough for the first two hours but now is horrible (didn't use again for a month). The fuel is the same I use in my Honda mower with no ill effects so... I've had two previous EU2000i's (the first was stolen) that ran amazingly with no issues (made in Japan). This one is made in Thailand, from the FWIW file. Thanks for the video!!!
Just wanted to add that this ignition coil is the new potted type. I have a Mazda MPV minivan and it has 6 small potted ignition coils. They ALL failed and had to be replaced. The symptom is loss of power and rough running. They go intermittent just like the Honda. Once ignition coils never needed replacing or it was very rare. Nowadays they are as fallible as everything else.
It worked thx! BTW, it takes a 5/16” nut driver or socket to remove the 2 nuts and single machine screw.
I have a Kipor IG1000 with a similar hunting problem. I left it too long with petrol inside after last winter. This is a fabulous video. I hope the process is as simple with mine. Thank you very much indeed.
Sweeeeet!! This worked perfectly for my Honda eu1000i gen-set! Thank you so much brother I owe you a beer!
And a little side-note: if you are doing this on a Honda 1000 pull the engine case breather off of the plastic airbox piece not the case. It’s different than the 2000 and it a pain to put back IN the case.
My brand new Honda shakes so much in Eco mode I don't see how it's ever going to last very long. I checked the spark plug gap like some videos are saying and it was a little bit on the low side but opening it up didn't make any changes. I checked the hole in the carburetor jet and it was not clogged because I could see light coming through from LED flashlight but I did run a piece of wire through it anyway when I put it back together it did the exact same thing I've already left bad reviews on Amazon for these generators I can't believe I spent the extra money for a Honda because I wanted the best and now I got JUNK!!!!!!!!
A brand new generator should not do that. Return it if you can.
Thank you very much!!
My 2000i was rough and would cut out after running only a few minutes.
Thanks to your good video, I confidently followed your lead and within a half hour, the problem was resolved and running well.
My idle adjust screw was at 4 ⅛ turns.
Thanks for posting this video. My 2200i runs smoother.
I found three strands of copper speaker wire twisted together was just the right size to ream out this orifice.
BTW, my idle was running rough from the very first time I started it. As in from brand new. Maybe it was bad gas. Anyway this fix produced a vast improvement. Nicely explained.
Just tried this after watching your vid. Worked like a charm! 😊
Great video love the details and close-ups super helpful save me money and a lot of time dealing with the dealership thank you so much for your great detailed information
Many thanks to this gem of knowledge. I was able to clean out the hole with air intake cleaner. Fixed the surging and the hesitation/erratic idling under load. I am amazed.
Thanks. If you have taken your generator for servicing because the engine speed is not consistent (sometimes call surging) then this is the fix you want. The fix that was recommended was replacing the carburetor. While replacement will fix the problem, all you need to do is follow the video to repair your generator.
Thanks for taking the time to help us out. I would have liked to hear it in the before condition and to see the debris plugging the jet. AAA+++
Yeah, I actually fixed it before making the video so I didn't get a chance to film the before condition. The next time it gets gummed up I'll film the before and after and edit the video.
I had the same problem as described I did what was shown in this video and sure enough my issue was solved. Thanks again for a great video
thanks, this fixed my problem! Took me maybe all of 20 minutes to do. FWIW, my adjusting screw was 4.5 turns.
I just super wish we could have heard the before and after! Regardless, super good video and definitely a major help!!!
I own six of these units which I keep at different locations for emergency power back up and they all had this same issue and I couldn't figure it out. Thanks to your video within a few hours all were running perfectly.
Just want to add my thanks to X2Coug... I’ve had to run our Honda on choke for the better part of 2 years and this has it purring like a kitten again. Well put-together and great explanations in the video. Thanks again!!
OMG. it worked. I fixed mine while you were going through the video. YAY!!!
i also owe you a beer,even though i am not very mechanical i was able to get my generator running like new again,it took me a bit longer because i dropped a screw but i got it done. i live in Canada and have the cold climate model so there is insulation on the vent tube that needs to be removed and that is a bit of a pain because the insulation impedes your view.like George K suggested i used a bristle from a wire brush and it worked well. PS apparently there is a screw on the bottom of the carb bowl you can loosen and that will drain the fuel after you shut off the generator, i think i will try that and see if it helps, anyway thanks again for the post it was very helpful
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I just noticed this problem with mine. I will do this as soon as the temperature gets better than 24 degrees. Thanks for the clear video and information.
Great lighting and good camera focus! Thank you.
Nice direct explanation in a short time. Thank you. I’m confident I can repay mine now.
It definately got it to start right up ,thanks . No more pulling 12X !
The only thing I could find to go through the hole was a small needle
Thanks a lot for the video and the step by step process !,,, Just fixed a 2 year old problem on my generator. Awesome.
Excellent video and I was able to fix my surging problem by following what you did. Thanks!
Make sure u put a touch of lube on pilot jet o-ring before attempting to press back in. Very easy to damage[and difficult to get back in place] without.
Good idea. Thanks.
Thanks for the info, mine wouldn't run off choke until I cleaned the jet. Working great now without having to keep it choked.
Glad it helped!
Thank you so much for the video! I watched this before I started working on my generator and this was the solution!
Great video. I initially tried to just spray carb cleaner through various passages and that didn’t work. I cleaned out the jets as you instructed and now it runs like new and purrs like a kitten at eco idle.
Nice job! You made it look so easy to do! I can't wait to get off work to fix my generator! THANKS!
Thanks, 10 minutes and mine is running smooth, much appreciated!
Thank you for showing us this. I have the same generator and it is running fine. But it just started doing something odd. I start it and then it stops after a couple of seconds. When I start it again it can run for ten hours without a problem. One thing about starting it, I am not sure if I remember correctly. But I think you are supposed to start it on high. Anyways, it seem as yours is running a bit more quiet than mine. Mine is making quite a lot more noise than yours when it is running on high. It has done that from when it was new.
I also have a generic 1000W pure sinus wave generator (a chinese one). It is always surging somewhat when it is running. I don't know why. I have only used it a few times. But it starts. The first one I got was almost impossible to start. So I kept it as a spare to the Honda. However I am not sure how well the electronic devices are doing on it. But they are still alive. The Honda shop will not touch it :-)
Thanks for the information,now my generator works
Great video. Thank you! I haven’t tried it yet, but will. I’m experiencing the same issue. Surging and then it stalls.
Is the jet clogged due to debris in the gasoline or is it just from fuel sitting in there without being run frequently enough?
I’ve got two of these units and they are running rough, but I need them due to power outages from Beryl.
Thanks again!
not sure, but mine will start surging if it sits too long without running
That rocks...idle bad and going on a trip. Had it fixed in 15 minutes. Thanks a bunch!!
Me too.
Helpfull. Have always had issues with main jet. Taking off bowl and needle valve then unscrewing main jet and atomizer and cleaning
Fantastic fix for surging engine. Thanks.
Thank you. My 2200i had the same issue. Used a string from a guitar .010. Funny how .013 was too big.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH! This fixed my EU3000i Handi.
Thanks VERY much! That rough idle drove me crazy (because I expect perfection from Honda)
I had the same problem and fixed it a much easier way. I added Super Tech Small Engine Fuel Fix to my gas. It cleaned the carb and problem is gone. He carb was setup by Honda when the generator was new. One would think it never needs and adjustment if the carb is kept clean.
Easy job being careful... NOTE: I found the deposits are at the far end of the final deep opening of that tiny hole. Pushing a tiny drill down the hole you will find resistance at the very end of the hole as it enters the pass through hole.
Cointrip carb cleaner and blow it out with compressed air.
Thank you for taking the time to post this. It was very helpful, and well explained.
carby clean. did it a second time, then found this . cheers mate. brilliant fix
Thanks so much for the video, made fixing mine very easy, it started surging at idle and full throttle....
Thank you so much for making this video… you saved me some money 🙂 I appreciate it
Thanks man, this fixed my Honda generator. Stoked!
Great video! Would the same apply to the EU2200i ?
Probably, I have not tried this on a EU2200i though. Not sure what the difference is between the 2000 and 2200.
Perfect video. Fixed thank you
Great video. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting this video. It saved me lots of money and your video was easy to follow. My eu2000i idles perfectly now.
Perfect video, need to do this to mine now, i thought i was hairy guy, good job
The 50 thumbs down must of been Honda repair shops !!! 👍
Excellent Thanks I just returned from a trip where mine started throttling as well. Figured crap in carb..
Thank you Sir ! ✌️❤️😀
Great video! Nice even idle after following this presentation. Thanks
Hi!!! Thank you For Your vídeo it Was so useful. I’ve a question, does the jet a second o-ring? a larger than the small one it has near the lower end. Thank you in advance.