My Dad used to take everything apart and rebuild them. Car engines , outboards, etc. I loved watching him. He passed 4 years ago. This was like hanging out with Dad. Thanks for that.
Mister expert Your skills are much more valuable than any material thing.Unfortunatelly We are liviving in the world with wrong value system.In my country Serbia ther is one very wise sentence. It is better to.know how to do than to have. Warm regards to Mister with golden skillful hands
I'm compelled to agree with so many others here who applaud the job you did on this and also the fact that you took the time to vid-doc it so carefully. You set up the shots, had good camera angles, everything in focus, no waste of the viewer's time watching you muck about with the camera. Your audio was crisp and clear, no wind noise, etc. like so many others have. You have to be a careful, professional person to even make a video of this kind. You also have to be a caring person because it was 50% more effort to share this with the world so nicely as you have done than it would have been to simply do the repair work and not share. So many people today say "they care" about others while doing absolutely nothing for anyone but themselves. But teaching and sharing of knowledge like this DEMONSTRATES a caring for others, for strangers. G_d bless and well done.
I couldn't agree more... to everything you said. And thank you James. I've fixed both of my EU2000i's because of this video and all of your excellent and thorough content. The first repair was exactly the same problem as yours. The second one needed a few more internal parts but the job was essentially the same. Since I don't do this type of work often, your video is a great refresher(especially love the torque values) very handy. Keep up the good work!!
@@dondayton387 Very unlikely. They run with detergent oil. I fully expect James checked they were free, anyway. Perhaps James could have checked ring wear and maybe re-rung it, but it looks good and (as he said) it ran cleanly once the assembly lube had burned off. Maybe a compression test, after running it for a period under full load, would have been good - at the completion of the repair - but the purpose of the video was to demonstrate the repair procedure, not whether the engine was totally restored to the ‘as new’ condition. I would certainly not nit-pick as I thought the video was a fantastic example of how practical a repair, such as this, was in the real world for anyone contemplating such a task.
The thing that impresses me the most,is how someone can design something this small and generate power from it. But also this is not your first rodeo. Great job everyone.
I disagree. This guy can clearly do the repairs in his sleep. I would say more like 300% more effort to do the filming and narration. Though I'm sure he does get a little bit of money from our subscriptions to his channel in compensation.
I’ve been working on small engines for almost 40 years. I still find these videos useful. Things he refers to as antique, I still consider new. I recently well, about 5 years ago purchased an eu2000. I found this video extremely useful. Sure, a consumer may not want to pay the expense, but it’s nice seeing how it’s done. James did a nice job here. The criticisms in some dcomments are really not necessary. He is providing a service here. Let’s just appreciate that.
@Peter Evans Which is why the seller sold it, but I agree way way way too much labor to fix this. Almost looks to be designed as a throw away if something goes wrong with the engine unless you live in China or India where you can pay some guy $1/hr to fix it.
personally owning this exact model and treating it like my first born child, it really hurt to see someone abuse the living hell out of it, thanks for bringing it back to life and SUPERB job on all the documenting, the torque specs on all the bolts had me going this guy went ALL the way damn....
Some people just dont give AF. If they treat generator this way, they do the same with everything else, including people. Throwaway culture - just buy another. Great. Stay gold.
I usually don't comment, but I have to say I LOVE that you don't put "youtube" music or any music on your videos. You have great content and I don't have to watch with the volume/mute button in my hand. Thank you for the great videos......
Agree 100 percent Just raw video with narration is PERFECT. We HATE elevator music. . It's completely pointless and distracting. Project farm uses it, but it's at such a low level that it's actually humorous. If he didn't mention the artists, I wouldn't even notice it was there. Don't ever add music
With the comments that have been made, what else is there left to say? Mr. James Condon is nothing less than a surgeon and artist! May he continue to entertain and inform us for years to come. Thank You, James
This sir is among your most impressive tear downs and overhauls. When you view the complexity of the engine design it is no wonder the shop wanted to charge the owner his first born to repair it. Very well done my friend.
@Review Master 150 an hour, take your hand off it slapper. Victa lawnmower mechanic would get 35 dollars an hour. Mate I'm a bullshitter and you cant bullshit a bullshitter. 150 Tuggs a minute maybe. Good onya Victa PULL START.
Your comment made me laugh out loud. What a great video by James Condon. I am pretty good at small engine repair, but I would not attempt that repair. As I kept watching James disassemble that Honda, I kept saying oh no, oh no. Wow!!!!!
As masters of small engine design, I have to wonder why they came up with this design. Shan't be buying one of these, no matter how attractive the price or features. It's too far to go to save the price of a head gasket and as for an internal timing belt.....words fail me. James ,you're a better man than I.
@@jcondon1 Agree with you on that!! This would have been at minimum $250.00 in labor plus parts costs if I had to do the work. People that cough at the price tag get a rude awakening when they realize that neglect and poor maintenance costs big bucks. Someone doing the work takes time out of their life that they will never get back, all because someone felt that they could abuse their equipment and then think they can get a cheap repair. I coughed when I heard you payed $250.00 for it, I would have asked no more than $150.00 or I walk. I am glad that you took the time to make the video, as I had to work on an identical Honda with no spark, ended up being a bad coil, and it was in pretty clean and mint condition. I only billed for a couple hours, new coil, spark plug, carb cleaning, and starter rope for $100.00. The coil was $55.00 alone, some parts are not cheap!! Some people complain about throw away society, but sometimes it has to make economic sense. At $250.00 the purchase cost, multiple hours even at $10.00 an hour, plus parts costs; can equal 50% of new, and for how neglected the generator is; it could fail within a year for something else going bad due to the neglect. I have been there, done that too many times. Taking a huge loss, just to save some money, that I end up just ditching it on the road for free, and having to buy new. With all the money I spent, being at least 50% of new, I found I am better off not going in deep like this job would have been.
Thank you for this very concise and complete video. I recently did a partial outer panel tear down to replace a broken bracket where the pull cord T-handle mounts. I would have no problem attempting a complete tear down following this video in the future.
I have that unit and was very glad to see "under the hood". Your patient, thoughtful manner of wrenching was a good example for younger would-be repair people.Thanks for a nicely done video, demonstrating that our "throw away" mindset isn't always the best approach.
This is a perfect example of the excellent use of computer-aided design CAD, I'm 62 and back in the 70s, this wasn't doable. It's extremely efficient and makes for a device that's very compact and much cheaper. I can't wait to see what they will come up with in 20 years If I live that long.
@@Badger1776 45 is still young. I'll be 70 this year and have just rebuilt kitchen cabinets that were damaged when a 3 year old Whirlpool dishwasher failed and leaked under them. No cabinet retailer in town would touch it because the synthetic stone countertop was in the way. I built the cabinets under the countertop without disturbing it. Two of my grandparents lived into their 90s; my father's mother died at age 99. I retired from IT field support with a Fortune 100 electric company when I was 67. The job was full of adventure; I used to say we "took Computer Age skills to the end of Bronze Age roads at any time in any weather." Tower work at 9000 feet in freezing weather with 35 mph wind; digging the snow cat out of deep puddles of powder, being the guys who got called when things were really going wrong.... I miss the glory days but I don't want to go back. I earned retirement, and a whole lot of that earning was done after age 45.
In my opinion this is the best generator Honda EU2000i. I have one, that I use for four month after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico September 2017. I used 17 hours daily. I change oil every 2 weeks and clean the filter. This machine rocks!!!! Thanks James for the video, it will be my references.
Been a mechanic for nearly fifty years. Never seen the inside of one of these before. Thanks for sharing your repair. Only negative thing I can say is…clean as you go. That carb was pretty filthy externally and I would have never reinstalled as dirty as it was. Same with some of the plastics. But other than that, awesome video! Really enjoyed it!!!
@@jcondon1 also liberal use of compressed air before opening helps avoid contamination, cleans away a lot of the crud and in my experience generally working with clean parts makes the entire job more pleasant.
Back in the 90s I worked for about a year and a half as the small engine and generator mechanic for a concrete construction company in Phoenix. If it wasnt registered for the road it was in my end of the shop. I spent many an hour doing these repairs although our smallest gen set was 6 kw. Most were 8. Most Honda but some Generac. All the big (12 kw up) gen sets and light plants were Generac Diesels. Excellent machines. Those guys were very hard on the equipment. They ran 6 to 10 hours a day 5 sometimes 6 days a week. This video brought back memories. Thanks and be safe.
Me Too Vince! I was doing research on Geni's and ran across his channel. Now I just watch a video every other night just for the entertainment . This guy is an amazing mechanic!
My hat is off to you! That is the most complicated piece of equipment l have ever seen. I couldn't have done that ever! It looks great and is ready to hit the streets.
Wow! That was a labor of love (or necessity). Now I know why the Honda generators are so quiet - the sound gets confused and cannot find it's way out. Impressive repair.
I have an eu3000 I bought new in 2002 I believe. We used it in our RV and traveled all around the US. But now, after an hour or so, the red overload light comes on. This is only with 2200 watts. Gonna order the manual. Thank you for such an interesting, inspiring, well done video!
Thank you very much for this video. I'm in the process of reparing one of these that was as dirty as yours. I already replaced the cam pulley, the lobe was severely worn down and off center. Runs great now, but smokes like a train on startup. I will replace the valve seal on the intake valve (exhaust valve doesn't have one). Should take care of the problem. In case anyone is interested the service manual is available for download, just Google search it. The parts are readily available and also relatively inexpensive for this generator. Worth the fix if you have the time and tools and a little skill. 👍
In my opinion, this is your best video so far. I’m sitting on three of these Honda’s needing major repair and you just took a lot of the guess work out of it for me. Great job as always, James.
I have the exact same model, with at most, 20 hours on it. I have no place watching this video, as I can’t ever imagine mine getting that neglected, or even attempting to fix it if it did. But Bloody hell, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video. ASMR for generator nerds
I watched the entire presentation and it was past my bedtime. IMHO the important thing here is: hey, I did it with my own two hands. That my friend is priceless! Thank you !
I bought my Honda EU3000 in 2015 and use it mainly for my camper. I'm pretty sure I got close to 1000 hour on mine and it runs like a champ! I've convinced several of my friends to get on because of the quietness and dependability of the Honda. From the looks of the inside of the motor .... looks like I need to start running seafoam as a regular maintenance routine!
That generator has had a really hard life James ! When you get it done you can check they amount of hours it has on it. Sort of . You watch the green light on the front panel when you start it. Each blink is 100 hours. When you find head on that engine , let me know !😊
Wow! Very Impressive work. The hair dryer test at the end reminded me of once on Catalina Island, at Two Harbours. We were chatting with the mechanic who had a shop there. A guy came running up to the shop with a small generator like this one. He was desperate! The generator had failed and his wife was in a rage because she couldn't dry her hair. We found out the next day the mechanic saved the day. We mechanic types can come in handy.
Thanks for the detailed tear down and rebuild of this very dirty Honda 2000i. I appreciate the engineering of this very useful machine, which I also own. I was shocked at the abuse the generator has endured during its' short life. No wonder it no longer functioned, but you have given it renewed life and and saved it from the junkyard. Bravo on a job well done!
I don't know how you made this a hour plus video? I would have been done in 15 minutes... After 15 minutes of trying to get it apart, I would have said "I'm done!!!!!!" :) Great video again! Always look forward to see what you bring home. This was a nice change of pace from the normal gen. Never seen one of these taken apart... till now
At this point I would end the project in the trash ! James as the other guy said he would never attempt to rebuild I also wouldn’t have the patience you are one of a kind !
Outstanding video and excellent presentation. I have the same generator and was interested to see its inner workings. I am very impressed with not only your trouble shooting techniques and your technical skills, but your videography skills as well. Thanks for accepting the challenge of repairing the generator and thanks for sharing.
I am SO IMPRESSED with your knowledge, skills, and PATIENCE in dealing with such a TEDIOUS tear down and reassembly. I have a 2200i; seeing your work on this 2000 gives me greater incentive to take the best care of my generator, lest I be tasked with the kind of work you demonstrated here so well. Thank you SO MUCH for this, and all, your instructive videos!
I have always thought that the Honda generators are kind of best in class small units, but what they are like when they are running is 50% of the story, watching your videos of their repair has given me an appreciation of how well built they are and relatively easy to work on - I know this issue was quite serious and needed a full strip down, however the other videos like the needle float one showed that parts are generally available for them, they seem well supported and are designed in a way that they are serviceable. Thank you for your extremely useful and well made content that you continue to produce, it's an asset to the internet.
You are a marvel to watch the work you do! I would never get a generator torn down and put it all back together so perfectly!?you have incredible knowledge and patience!
Your attention to the production value here is huge! From lighting to camera angle, your vision is a big help. Thank you for making this a great value. The time I spent watching is well worth it.
Good Video! I have one of these Honda EU2000's. Very durable and reliable. It's amazing how dirty, and muddy that one was you were working on. That Gen has a lot of hours on it. Amazing! You do amazing work too!! Made me happy to see how well built the little Honda's are!
They usually break when the caring owner puts a Chinese magnetic dipstick in them and the magnet falls out when they expend from the heat. Then it breaks up the oil slinger.
You can see the two slinger "blades" thru the dipstick hole (flashlight) as you slowly pull the recoil start with the Genny tipped on an angle to move the oil away. Most likely to happen with the Alaska crews high runtime engines and VERY COLD startups when the oil is much thicker. That should be the 1st inspection on buying a used one.
Jim I use this type of generator on the daily, I actually keep two on my truck. It was nice to see where the sausage is made. I’m asked constantly by bosses if I’d like a different type of generator they say they can get bigger ones cheaper from other brands. For what I need and the weight of these they’re perfect and rarely have issues. Thanks for the video.
James: First class video! I am working my way through ALL of your videos. I wonder why you did not clean the carb & especially the voltage regulator board. Dust & dirt are often conductive, & more especially the electrolytic caps are temperature rated for operation & lifetime. A 5 degree reduction in temp garners a considerable number of hours of extra operation. In addition, the grime on the boards is a trap for moisture, & other airborne contaminants, which often are or become acidic or conductive in nature. I offer this as information ...NOT as criticism. A truly great & informative video, the same as the rest of your offerings. My thanks, & I am sure you have the thanks of many others who have watched your videos & have or will have saved considerable money by fixing their generator faults themselves. Primo effort James. Cheers! Brian
57:34 when I disassemble these for repair I always hit the plastic including the back side of the control board with a spray of foaming carpet cleaner. As it foams it removes a tremendous amount of dirt and grime. Plus it gives the plastic a nice shiny look. Then I hit all of the electrical connections with Deoxyit D5 before plugging in the connectors.
Very good Video, I've been a Mechanic for nearly 30yrs but I still enjoy watching an Engine being stripped & the Fault found & Remedied & I've learnt we're never too old to learn.
Thanks for showing the tear down. I have an earlier model of this gen with less than 50 hours. I learned the hard way not to store it with fuel in the carb bowl. Some cleaning and a new pilot jet brought it back to working great. I hope I never have to go down as far as you did with mine but now I have the confidence I can do it.
You my friend did a great job on this generator. When I saw the state of the engine, I said you just lost your money...but you fixed it and I am sure it has many years left. Video was well shot and your explanations were thorough. Great job!
Awsome work good to record the process so It went back together correctly,,lots of bits and pieces. This process explains why the original owner ran from the repair shop.
Why did I watch this video all the way through? I am never going to take one of these apart! But I was fastinated. I like the way you presented it. Thanks
Thank you for taking the time to post this video. I used it step by step for a total rebuild of the engine. The torque specs and various challenges you had saved me a pile of time and frustration. This looks far more complicated than it really is in practice. Again thank you. Chad Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Canada
Nice to see the inside of one of these. As for the comments complaining about the complexity of this generator, Honda is considered a top of the line generator and very reliable. How much time it takes to fix it doesn't matter when it doesn't need to be fixed.
I have learned that cheap gasoline is not the way to go for small engines - it is a contributor to the carbon (along with non-synthetic oil.) The extra dime a gallon for World Standard - formerly Top Tier - gasoline brands is worth it.
0417'24/2143h 🇺🇸 Very well executed R & M. An engine never dies, but can be killed.That's my motto. Thanks to James an expert with millions of patience. Bravo, my friend, I join with all the people who watched your presentation with patience !
James, when you said “We’re in” maybe later on you could add “Now I’m committed!” I have one like that. I added an hour meter (Red to match) so I don’t have to guess the hours between changes. Also I document maintenance on inside of cover with a sharpie. Good video.
Wow! What a project! I bought mine new in 2013 and used it this week for 4 days during a huge power outage, worked great. When I bought it, I added a simple hour/tack meter and I'm glad I did. In watching this great video, I don't think that I would want to replace the timing belt! I take good care of mine, it looks like brand new. Thanks again for the great video.
I believe the compression release is there to relieve the head pressure when pulling the rope to start so you don't have to fight against full head pressure when trying to start. Once started, centrifugal force causes the small metal lobe to receed into the bottom of the cam lobe allowing for full head pressure in running mode. Ingenious design.
The number of parts on this engine is astounding. And every single detail on it has been thought of by engineers during the development process. Simply amazing! Not to mention that you can put it back together again 😮.
You Sir are an absolute magician! To get it apart was a feat of immense skill, But to put it back together Well that was something else Thank you I have promised myself I will NEVER go beyond gaping the plug & changing the air filter on one of these after watching this video 😅😁🙌🙌
Man alive!! I got to the 22 minute mark and I was tired. 🤣🤣 I remember you tore down another small genny like this and it seemed just as tedious. However the end result was you had a working unit. Okay....back to watching the remainder.😁 Well done. Watched right to the end. Whew!!😁😁 That was some level of tear down and reassemble. Cleaned up nice too. With all the work you put in....that's a keeper 👍
It’s a lot easier to take all the shrouds off first then, unplug everything , takes me about 20min or less to have case split.it’s not a race just saying I do these daily and, if a repair is internal I take it outside for a very good pressure wash and from there it’s a breeze, so much work is held up when you’re fighting dirt, But my guy. I love your videos you’re super underrated for sure!
I got a similar size Yamaha generator that i had to do repair on. It was equally ridiculous to tear down. I ordered about $100 in switches, new fuel shut off valve, new rubber feet and new decals and just repainted the cover while I had it off. So now it runs and looks like new.
Great video on an DIY Honda gen repair. You did a great job showing the positives of buying low cost and the variables (diagnostics) that a home DIY (with good skills & tools) might have to endure in a repair/parts costs. Skills, tools. aptitude, & patience were well shown.
Man, you’re amazing. You saved that little generator from going to landfill. It’s just beautiful to see her purring away again happily. Really enjoyed your video, Man. ❤
Hi James, I have one of these Honda EU2000 units and while I hope I never have to dismantle it as much as you did, It's good to know how it all comes apart and more importantly, how it should go back together. Great "How to" TH-cam James. Thank you so much for shooting it and sharing it with. us. Saved for future use. Much appreciated mate. KMDC from Oz
I've gone through 2 of these in my off grid life so far...My first one I put an hour meter on and at 17,000 hrs it needed a new timing belt..then at 35,000 hrs I gave it to a friend who still uses it to this day... Yes the hours are correct, I hooked it up to a larger fuel cell and ran it 24hrs a day for years and years, stopping for oil changes only
You have the patience of a saint! That had to be the filthiest generator you’ve worked on to date. Tearing that generator down to work on the valves OMG! Bob P.
I bought one of these about fifteen years ago and, with proper maintenance, it looks and runs like new. You can't go wrong with one of these unless you really need more power. I figure mine will last for another fifteen or twenty years (like me) and I'll never need to do this kind of repair on it, but it was cool to see how it's put together on the inside. Thanks!
Fantastic video!! That was a lot of work for a valve repair. Those type of engines aren’t my favorite. But watching you go through it was like an artist creating a masterpiece. I love watching your videos. Always interesting and I come away with learning something new. Keep up the awesome job!!
You are a MOST AMAZING mechanic, James!! Best small engine service video I have ever seen....So many good things, like torques settings, set your approach apart from the crowd! Very Nice Video Sir! Saving your video for the day I hope never comes. I have these twin models and use in parallel for my little RV, Best advice: change your oil VERY regularly & with great care and buy ethanol-free fuel if it is atl all possible. I have run OMC two-stroke outboards for over 50 years with nothing more than a starter ropes, gear oil, spark plugs & some fuel lines!
Just as I started watching this video, first thing that poped into my mind is the start assest got stuck in start position. Honda gens feature a compression release lever that makes it easier to start. At so many rpms, it auto closes so the engine can run normally.
Excellent attention to detail. Watched all the way thru. Was captivated by the engineering of this small engine w/o a removable head. Wow so much work! You wouldn’t expect in an OHV motor that the valves are the deepest dive into the engine. Very interesting video. Excellent technical videography. Everything very professional. KUDOS.
Great video and it makes the previous owners decision pretty clear about selling the unit. I imagine the labor cost would have come really close if not exceeded the cost of a new unit. The design of the generator is elegant but, at least to me, looks as if the intent was this is expected to be a disposable piece of equipment. I have done automotive engine work as well as aviation overhauls. Personally I wouldn't want to tackle this one. This is a great example of "old school" mechanic work.👍
I was thinking the same thing, but you'll never have a bad head gasket with this design and no rods to get bent. But you really can't do much repair work to this motor without taking off the sump cover, what a pain.
You are doing a great and thorough job. For me, a real education watching you. I admire your knowledge and approach (and Patience!). Watching you clean up the valves in your hand drill made me think of how I used to do (shade tree mechanic valve jobs) on auto engine heads. I'd chuck the valves stems in my drill press, "grind" them using a handheld side grinder with a broke in worn flap disc while they spun in the drill press (taking care to match the original valve grind angle). Putting the valves back in the heads, I'd chuck the stems in my (handheld) electric drill and spin them with valve compound back and forth to "grind" the seats. It was crude backyard stuff, but they sealed real well, at least for a while, and the valve jobs cost me only the effort.
Great video showing the quality construction of these little Honda engines - thanks! Lesson learned, use high quality fuel and perform regular maintenance so you can hopefully avoid having to do this. Basic routine maintenance has kept my $125, 25 year old Briggs and Stratton mower running. I’ve heard that an occasional shot of Sea Foam can clean up carbon deposits but can’t verify if that’s a good idea or not on these motors.
James, this is an amazing, and wonderful video. You are a real professional. I like the way you handled all the parts, very gently, no need for overpowering brute force. Your diagnosis of the engine problem and the required repairs is spot on. This is a fantastic video to watch and I enjoyed every second. I think it might help some of my family members who have similar generators an who might need to do similar repairs. Thank you for an amazingly well done repair and a video documentary of truly outstanding quality. This is a 10 out of 10 repair video.
@@jcondon1 I've commented elsewhere about the excellent quality of your video production etc. But, I wanted to know what's the name of the brush you used to clean the piston and head with and where can you find same? Thanks
I caught the first video today, and honestly, I'm kind of hooked in watching your videos. I just learned so much since you give a really good explanation of what you're doing.
Excellent job! I'm amazed by how much more work is required to take apart these inverters compared to a regular generator. When I was much younger my father showed me how to remove the spark plug and feed a piece of rope into the cylinder jamming the piston. This takes away the need to strap the flywheel and puts two hands on the ratchet. Maybe this is not a safe practice but it always worked for me. Thank you so much for your videos.
This job can be done in about an hour once you know what you're doing. He's now got a generator that's worth at least $1,000. The control board and outer plastics are worth $240 alone. At one point I was doing about 30 of these a year.
I'm surprised you didn't clean the carb, you always clean the carb :) I think the seller may have gotten the better end of this deal. I wonder how many hours total the repair took. I'm impressed, you are the man JC!
LOL...I was thinking the same thing...at least use Carb Cleaner on the outside. It is quite possibly just my OCD kicking in. Personally...I think it took 20 man hours to repair it, 16 hours to disassemble and clean it and 4 hours to assemble it. That was one dirty machine and he made it look easy to do it. I would have sold it also.
I was a generator mechanic in the Army , I had extensive training before I was sent to Vietnam .I was with the 101st airborne division. My job was to keep the generators running and maintained. The most common problems were water in the fuel followed by dirty carburetors magnetos with bad points or coils and then diodes in the stator assy.I had 10 kw gas generators with 4 cyl air cooled boxer engines that resembled VW engines but were not, and a 30 kw diesel also. These generators were switched on and off duty but 2 were running at all times to keep our company area and our radio gear on line at all times.The generators made a lot of noise. When years later I heard this model Honda run with the inverter technology and how quiet and light it is I had to have one for my home.I haven't used it much, but when I used it it has been flawless. I loved your video and see how it comes apart,hopefully I won't ever need to tear mine apart but your video was great! "You are a great mechanic and are very skilled,thanks for sharing. Len DiChiara honda run with
I bought my EU2000i in 2005. I used it for racing circle track, drag racing and eventually land speed racing. I've been using it around the ranch since then as well.....I've kept up with the basic maintenance, nothing out of the ordinary. It doesn't smoke or stumble, it works as good as day one. I was sad to see that one you got in the video there, so beat up and tired.....I feel a lil guilt over the fact my lil genny hasn't had a proper day at the mower shop where I bought her...you know... a spa day, to get the oil changed and new filters. I guess after 16 years, she's earned it. Thanks for a great video man.
My Dad used to take everything apart and rebuild them. Car engines , outboards, etc. I loved watching him. He passed 4 years ago. This was like hanging out with Dad. Thanks for that.
May your pops rest in peace. Thanks for sharing your memories have a good day fella
Mister expert Your skills are much more valuable than any material thing.Unfortunatelly We are liviving in the world with wrong value system.In my country Serbia ther is one very wise sentence.
It is better to.know how to do than to have.
Warm regards to Mister with golden skillful hands
Hopefully he taught you something as well
I'm compelled to agree with so many others here who applaud the job you did on this and also the fact that you took the time to vid-doc it so carefully. You set up the shots, had good camera angles, everything in focus, no waste of the viewer's time watching you muck about with the camera. Your audio was crisp and clear, no wind noise, etc. like so many others have. You have to be a careful, professional person to even make a video of this kind. You also have to be a caring person because it was 50% more effort to share this with the world so nicely as you have done than it would have been to simply do the repair work and not share. So many people today say "they care" about others while doing absolutely nothing for anyone but themselves. But teaching and sharing of knowledge like this DEMONSTRATES a caring for others, for strangers. G_d bless and well done.
I couldn't agree more... to everything you said. And thank you James. I've fixed both of my EU2000i's because of this video and all of your excellent and thorough content. The first repair was exactly the same problem as yours. The second one needed a few more internal parts but the job was essentially the same. Since I don't do this type of work often, your video is a great refresher(especially love the torque values) very handy. Keep up the good work!!
Rings could be gum.d up
@@dondayton387 Very unlikely. They run with detergent oil. I fully expect James checked they were free, anyway.
Perhaps James could have checked ring wear and maybe re-rung it, but it looks good and (as he said) it ran cleanly once the assembly lube had burned off. Maybe a compression test, after running it for a period under full load, would have been good - at the completion of the repair - but the purpose of the video was to demonstrate the repair procedure, not whether the engine was totally restored to the ‘as new’ condition.
I would certainly not nit-pick as I thought the video was a fantastic example of how practical a repair, such as this, was in the real world for anyone contemplating such a task.
The thing that impresses me the most,is how someone can design something this small and generate power from it. But also this is not your first rodeo. Great job everyone.
I disagree. This guy can clearly do the repairs in his sleep. I would say more like 300% more effort to do the filming and narration. Though I'm sure he does get a little bit of money from our subscriptions to his channel in compensation.
I’ve been working on small engines for almost 40 years. I still find these videos useful. Things he refers to as antique, I still consider new. I recently well, about 5 years ago purchased an eu2000. I found this video extremely useful. Sure, a consumer may not want to pay the expense, but it’s nice seeing how it’s done. James did a nice job here. The criticisms in some dcomments are really not necessary. He is providing a service here. Let’s just appreciate that.
@Peter Evans Were here to learn which is it's own reward not count beans.
@Peter Evans .... I feel you could put your time and effort to more use elsewhere. I don't believe economics was the main aim.
@Peter Evans The guy now has an excellent $1000 generator for about $300
@Peter Evans Which is why the seller sold it, but I agree way way way too much labor to fix this. Almost looks to be designed as a throw away if something goes wrong with the engine unless you live in China or India where you can pay some guy $1/hr to fix it.
He is so calm and careful. I could sit here for hours.
personally owning this exact model and treating it like my first born child, it really hurt to see someone abuse the living hell out of it, thanks for bringing it back to life and SUPERB job on all the documenting, the torque specs on all the bolts had me going this guy went ALL the way damn....
I have the eu2000 and eu2200 both are excellent portable generators. Used them recently during Hurricane Ian.
Some people just dont give AF. If they treat generator this way, they do the same with everything else, including people. Throwaway culture - just buy another. Great.
Stay gold.
Pleasure to watch a professional 👍
I usually don't comment, but I have to say I LOVE that you don't put "youtube" music or any music on your videos. You have great content and I don't have to watch with the volume/mute button in my hand. Thank you for the great videos......
Agree 100 percent
Just raw video with narration is PERFECT.
We HATE elevator music.
. It's completely pointless and distracting.
Project farm uses it, but it's at such a low level that it's actually humorous.
If he didn't mention the artists, I wouldn't even notice it was there.
Don't ever add music
i agree !!!!!!!!!! just a honest video :)
absolutely agree...Thanks for sharing
NO WAY I’d sit here on the toilet for an hour if any music played 😤 👎
I completely agree. Music is a serious distraction. These videos ( I never miss one) are superb and don't need any distraction.
With the comments that have been made, what else is there left to say? Mr. James Condon is nothing less than a surgeon and artist! May he continue to entertain and inform us for years to come. Thank You, James
I love your comment about James being a surgeon. So true
This sir is among your most impressive tear downs and overhauls. When you view the complexity of the engine design it is no wonder the shop wanted to charge the owner his first born to repair it. Very well done my friend.
Does not make sense to pay someone to do this repair.
@Review Master 150 an hour, take your hand off it slapper. Victa lawnmower mechanic would get 35 dollars an hour.
Mate I'm a bullshitter and you cant bullshit a bullshitter. 150 Tuggs a minute maybe. Good onya Victa PULL START.
Your comment made me laugh out loud. What a great video by James Condon. I am pretty good at small engine repair, but I would not attempt that repair. As I kept watching James disassemble that Honda, I kept saying oh no, oh no. Wow!!!!!
As masters of small engine design, I have to wonder why they came up with this design. Shan't be buying one of these, no matter how attractive the price or features. It's too far to go to save the price of a head gasket and as for an internal timing belt.....words fail me. James ,you're a better man than I.
@@jcondon1 Agree with you on that!! This would have been at minimum $250.00 in labor plus parts costs if I had to do the work. People that cough at the price tag get a rude awakening when they realize that neglect and poor maintenance costs big bucks. Someone doing the work takes time out of their life that they will never get back, all because someone felt that they could abuse their equipment and then think they can get a cheap repair. I coughed when I heard you payed $250.00 for it, I would have asked no more than $150.00 or I walk. I am glad that you took the time to make the video, as I had to work on an identical Honda with no spark, ended up being a bad coil, and it was in pretty clean and mint condition. I only billed for a couple hours, new coil, spark plug, carb cleaning, and starter rope for $100.00. The coil was $55.00 alone, some parts are not cheap!! Some people complain about throw away society, but sometimes it has to make economic sense. At $250.00 the purchase cost, multiple hours even at $10.00 an hour, plus parts costs; can equal 50% of new, and for how neglected the generator is; it could fail within a year for something else going bad due to the neglect. I have been there, done that too many times. Taking a huge loss, just to save some money, that I end up just ditching it on the road for free, and having to buy new. With all the money I spent, being at least 50% of new, I found I am better off not going in deep like this job would have been.
Wow. What a delight watching u save this little lost genny. Thank you!
Thank you for this very concise and complete video. I recently did a partial outer panel tear down to replace a broken bracket where the pull cord T-handle mounts. I would have no problem attempting a complete tear down following this video in the future.
I have that unit and was very glad to see "under the hood". Your patient, thoughtful manner of wrenching was a good example for younger would-be repair people.Thanks for a nicely done video, demonstrating that our "throw away" mindset isn't always the best approach.
This is the kind of tear down and disassembly that is priceless. So precise. I applaud you sir and thank you for your time.
This is a perfect example of the excellent use of computer-aided design CAD, I'm 62 and back in the 70s, this wasn't doable. It's extremely efficient and makes for a device that's very compact and much cheaper. I can't wait to see what they will come up with in 20 years If I live that long.
Man when I hit 45 I hope I kick the bucket. And you want to go until 80?
@@Badger1776 .... When you're 45 you WILL want more !!
@@Badger1776 45 is still young. I'll be 70 this year and have just rebuilt kitchen cabinets that were damaged when a 3 year old Whirlpool dishwasher failed and leaked under them. No cabinet retailer in town would touch it because the synthetic stone countertop was in the way. I built the cabinets under the countertop without disturbing it.
Two of my grandparents lived into their 90s; my father's mother died at age 99.
I retired from IT field support with a Fortune 100 electric company when I was 67. The job was full of adventure; I used to say we "took Computer Age skills to the end of Bronze Age roads at any time in any weather." Tower work at 9000 feet in freezing weather with 35 mph wind; digging the snow cat out of deep puddles of powder, being the guys who got called when things were really going wrong.... I miss the glory days but I don't want to go back. I earned retirement, and a whole lot of that earning was done after age 45.
I like it. Waste not, want not. Someone will get a lot more use out of it. Nice job James.
In my opinion this is the best generator Honda EU2000i. I have one, that I use for four month after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico September 2017. I used 17 hours daily. I change oil every 2 weeks and clean the filter. This machine rocks!!!! Thanks James for the video, it will be my references.
Been a mechanic for nearly fifty years. Never seen the inside of one of these before. Thanks for sharing your repair. Only negative thing I can say is…clean as you go. That carb was pretty filthy externally and I would have never reinstalled as dirty as it was. Same with some of the plastics. But other than that, awesome video! Really enjoyed it!!!
Thanks. I actually washed everything several times in the kitchen sink. I think a parts cleaner or larger ultrasonic was needed for this one.
Rings. No point in having the piston out and not doing rings.
@@jcondon1 also liberal use of compressed air before opening helps avoid contamination, cleans away a lot of the crud and in my experience generally working with clean parts makes the entire job more pleasant.
And a very informative good job - thanks!
snaplash
You’ve never been to a factory in India 🙀
Back in the 90s I worked for about a year and a half as the small engine and generator mechanic for a concrete construction company in Phoenix. If it wasnt registered for the road it was in my end of the shop. I spent many an hour doing these repairs although our smallest gen set was 6 kw. Most were 8. Most Honda but some Generac. All the big (12 kw up) gen sets and light plants were Generac Diesels. Excellent machines. Those guys were very hard on the equipment. They ran 6 to 10 hours a day 5 sometimes 6 days a week. This video brought back memories. Thanks and be safe.
Watched the whole thing. Don't even own a generator nor ever have. Thanks for the entertainment, James. Top job, sir.
Me Too Vince! I was doing research on Geni's and ran across his channel. Now I just watch a video every other night just for the entertainment . This guy is an amazing mechanic!
Amongst to many plaudits for your skill and patience, your macro videography is just awesome!
I don't even have an EU2000i but I've watched 3 full length videos on them from you because they're so well done.
My hat is off to you! That is the most complicated piece of equipment l have ever seen. I couldn't have done that ever!
It looks great and is ready to hit the streets.
Wow! That was a labor of love (or necessity). Now I know why the Honda generators are so quiet - the sound gets confused and cannot find it's way out. Impressive repair.
LOL !!!!!!!!
I have an eu3000 I bought new in 2002 I believe. We used it in our RV and traveled all around the US. But now, after an hour or so, the red overload light comes on. This is only with 2200 watts. Gonna order the manual. Thank you for such an interesting, inspiring, well done video!
Of ALL the instructional videos that I have ever watched this one tops them all. It is clear and very comprehensive. Thank you.
Thanks
I always wanted to know how the Honda generator inside look like. Thank you for the detailed demo.
Thank you very much for this video. I'm in the process of reparing one of these that was as dirty as yours. I already replaced the cam pulley, the lobe was severely worn down and off center. Runs great now, but smokes like a train on startup. I will replace the valve seal on the intake valve (exhaust valve doesn't have one). Should take care of the problem. In case anyone is interested the service manual is available for download, just Google search it. The parts are readily available and also relatively inexpensive for this generator. Worth the fix if you have the time and tools and a little skill. 👍
In my opinion, this is your best video so far. I’m sitting on three of these Honda’s needing major repair and you just took a lot of the guess work out of it for me. Great job as always, James.
I have the exact same model, with at most, 20 hours on it.
I have no place watching this video, as I can’t ever imagine mine getting that neglected, or even attempting to fix it if it did.
But Bloody hell, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video.
ASMR for generator nerds
I watched the entire presentation and it was past my bedtime. IMHO the important thing here is: hey, I did it with my own two hands. That my friend is priceless! Thank you !
Wow! One of the best videos I have seen. Very professional video and mechanics. Thank
You for taking all the time to film and document your work!!
When it comes to generators you are the man! You must have more patience and perseverance than anyone I've seen.
I bought my Honda EU3000 in 2015 and use it mainly for my camper. I'm pretty sure I got close to 1000 hour on mine and it runs like a champ! I've convinced several of my friends to get on because of the quietness and dependability of the Honda. From the looks of the inside of the motor .... looks like I need to start running seafoam as a regular maintenance routine!
That generator has had a really hard life James ! When you get it done you can check they amount of hours it has on it. Sort of . You watch the green light on the front panel when you start it. Each blink is 100 hours. When you find head on that engine , let me know !😊
This is the first I've ever heard of this. My light is solid 'on' when I start mine. Does this mean it has under 100 hrs. on it?
@@SmithFarmTilton I have a 2017 model and this is what it says in the owners manual . Mine blinks once , and from my amount use it seems about right .
In my manual it is on page 18 , I have anew EU2200 that has blue tooth and it keeps the actual hours which I check on my phone !
Looks like 600+ hours from when he started it up
@@TheXxRenzxX when he took it apart looked like 2600 hrs with all that carbon.
Wow! Very Impressive work. The hair dryer test at the end reminded me of once on Catalina Island, at Two Harbours. We were chatting with the mechanic who had a shop there. A guy came running up to the shop with a small generator like this one. He was desperate! The generator had failed and his wife was in a rage because she couldn't dry her hair. We found out the next day the mechanic saved the day. We mechanic types can come in handy.
Thanks for the detailed tear down and rebuild of this very dirty Honda 2000i. I appreciate the engineering of this very useful machine, which I also own. I was shocked at the abuse the generator has endured during its' short life. No wonder it no longer functioned, but you have given it renewed life and and saved it from the junkyard. Bravo on a job well done!
I don't know how you made this a hour plus video? I would have been done in 15 minutes...
After 15 minutes of trying to get it apart, I would have said "I'm done!!!!!!" :)
Great video again! Always look forward to see what you bring home. This was a nice change of pace from the normal gen. Never seen one of these taken apart... till now
At this point I would end the project in the trash ! James as the other guy said he would never attempt to rebuild I also wouldn’t have the patience you are one of a kind !
Outstanding video and excellent presentation. I have the same generator and was interested to see its inner workings. I am very impressed with not only your trouble shooting techniques and your technical skills, but your videography skills as well. Thanks for accepting the challenge of repairing the generator and thanks for sharing.
I am SO IMPRESSED with your knowledge, skills, and PATIENCE in dealing with such a TEDIOUS tear down and reassembly. I have a 2200i; seeing your work on this 2000 gives me greater incentive to take the best care of my generator, lest I be tasked with the kind of work you demonstrated here so well. Thank you SO MUCH for this, and all, your instructive videos!
I have always thought that the Honda generators are kind of best in class small units, but what they are like when they are running is 50% of the story, watching your videos of their repair has given me an appreciation of how well built they are and relatively easy to work on - I know this issue was quite serious and needed a full strip down, however the other videos like the needle float one showed that parts are generally available for them, they seem well supported and are designed in a way that they are serviceable. Thank you for your extremely useful and well made content that you continue to produce, it's an asset to the internet.
You are a marvel to watch the work you do! I would never get a generator torn down and put it all back together so perfectly!?you have incredible knowledge and patience!
Your attention to the production value here is huge! From lighting to camera angle, your vision is a big help. Thank you for making this a great value. The time I spent watching is well worth it.
Good Video! I have one of these Honda EU2000's. Very durable and reliable. It's amazing how dirty, and muddy that one was you were working on. That Gen has a lot of hours on it. Amazing! You do amazing work too!! Made me happy to see how well built the little Honda's are!
They usually break when the caring owner puts a Chinese magnetic dipstick in them and the magnet falls out when they expend from the heat. Then it breaks up the oil slinger.
You can see the two slinger "blades" thru the dipstick hole (flashlight) as you slowly pull the recoil start with the Genny tipped on an angle to move the oil away. Most likely to happen with the Alaska crews high runtime engines and VERY COLD startups when the oil is much thicker. That should be the 1st inspection on buying a used one.
Jim I use this type of generator on the daily, I actually keep two on my truck. It was nice to see where the sausage is made. I’m asked constantly by bosses if I’d like a different type of generator they say they can get bigger ones cheaper from other brands. For what I need and the weight of these they’re perfect and rarely have issues. Thanks for the video.
They are very good and reliable generators. This one is the exception.
James: First class video! I am working my way through ALL of your videos. I wonder why you did not clean the carb & especially the voltage regulator board. Dust & dirt are often conductive, & more especially the electrolytic caps are temperature rated for operation & lifetime. A 5 degree reduction in temp garners a considerable number of hours of extra operation. In addition, the grime on the boards is a trap for moisture, & other airborne contaminants, which often are or become acidic or conductive in nature. I offer this as information ...NOT as criticism. A truly great & informative video, the same as the rest of your offerings. My thanks, & I am sure you have the thanks of many others who have watched your videos & have or will have saved considerable money by fixing their generator faults themselves. Primo effort James. Cheers! Brian
James commented early on in the 3000 comments that he did lots more cleaning of screen...and replaced the carb after doing the vid. Runs well now.
When you took it apart I didn’t believe you will be able to put it back together let alone it will run again bravo 👏 my friend
57:34 when I disassemble these for repair I always hit the plastic including the back side of the control board with a spray of foaming carpet cleaner. As it foams it removes a tremendous amount of dirt and grime. Plus it gives the plastic a nice shiny look. Then I hit all of the electrical connections with Deoxyit D5 before plugging in the connectors.
I really enjoy fixing these types of gens too. Guess I just like working with my hands and fixing things. Gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Very good Video, I've been a Mechanic for nearly 30yrs but I still enjoy watching an Engine being stripped & the Fault found & Remedied & I've learnt we're never too old to learn.
Thanks!
And there's no Music, bonus.
I did the same valve repair on my honda 650 watt generator .Starts on the first pull now. Excellent videos you have.
Thanks for showing the tear down. I have an earlier model of this gen with less than 50 hours. I learned the hard way not to store it with fuel in the carb bowl. Some cleaning and a new pilot jet brought it back to working great. I hope I never have to go down as far as you did with mine but now I have the confidence I can do it.
You my friend did a great job on this generator. When I saw the state of the engine, I said you just lost your money...but you fixed it and I am sure it has many years left. Video was well shot and your explanations were thorough. Great job!
Awsome work good to record the process so It went back together correctly,,lots of bits and pieces. This process explains why the original owner ran from the repair shop.
I'm putting new piston and jug on a husq 288 saw in my shop right now. I will imitate your patient style and hope for the same success
Why did I watch this video all the way through? I am never going to take one of these apart! But I was fastinated. I like the way you presented it. Thanks
Considering how much these gensets sell for new, being able to do this to them has to be a valuable service!
Thank you for taking the time to post this video. I used it step by step for a total rebuild of the engine. The torque specs and various challenges you had saved me a pile of time and frustration.
This looks far more complicated than it really is in practice.
Again thank you.
Chad Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Canada
Nice to see the inside of one of these. As for the comments complaining about the complexity of this generator, Honda is considered a top of the line generator and very reliable. How much time it takes to fix it doesn't matter when it doesn't need to be fixed.
Well.....you know...... this one clearly did need to be fixed.
I have learned that cheap gasoline is not the way to go for small engines - it is a contributor to the carbon (along with non-synthetic oil.) The extra dime a gallon for World Standard - formerly Top Tier - gasoline brands is worth it.
Well-engineered devices are both reliable and easy to fix.
0417'24/2143h 🇺🇸 Very well executed R & M. An engine never dies, but can be killed.That's my motto. Thanks to James an expert with millions of patience. Bravo, my friend, I join with all the people who watched your presentation with patience !
James, when you said “We’re in” maybe later on you could add “Now I’m committed!” I have one like that. I added an hour meter (Red to match) so I don’t have to guess the hours between changes. Also I document maintenance on inside of cover with a sharpie. Good video.
The whole time prior to you getting to the bare engine I was saying “he’s gonna be mad when he realizes he has to split the engine.”
Wow! What a project! I bought mine new in 2013 and used it this week for 4 days during a huge power outage, worked great. When I bought it, I added a simple hour/tack meter and I'm glad I did. In watching this great video, I don't think that I would want to replace the timing belt! I take good care of mine, it looks like brand new. Thanks again for the great video.
The over head cam pulley has a compression release build into it. It is a very common failure for those to be worn out. Excellent work!
Thank you for the tip!
I believe the compression release is there to relieve the head pressure when pulling the rope to start so you don't have to fight against full head pressure when trying to start. Once started, centrifugal force causes the small metal lobe to receed into the bottom of the cam lobe allowing for full head pressure in running mode. Ingenious design.
The number of parts on this engine is astounding. And every single detail on it has been thought of by engineers during the development process. Simply amazing! Not to mention that you can put it back together again 😮.
Can't believe you took on this task and all the it mush have taken in clean up and expertise!!!
thank you as i do enjoy watching someone who takes pride in doing a great job the right way
You Sir are an absolute magician! To get it apart was a feat of immense skill, But to put it back together Well that was something else Thank you I have promised myself I will NEVER go beyond gaping the plug & changing the air filter on one of these after watching this video 😅😁🙌🙌
Man alive!! I got to the 22 minute mark and I was tired. 🤣🤣 I remember you tore down another small genny like this and it seemed just as tedious. However the end result was you had a working unit. Okay....back to watching the remainder.😁 Well done. Watched right to the end. Whew!!😁😁 That was some level of tear down and reassemble. Cleaned up nice too. With all the work you put in....that's a keeper 👍
It’s a lot easier to take all the shrouds off first then, unplug everything , takes me about 20min or less to have case split.it’s not a race just saying I do these daily and, if a repair is internal I take it outside for a very good pressure wash and from there it’s a breeze, so much work is held up when you’re fighting dirt, But my guy. I love your videos you’re super underrated for sure!
After watching this video I would not be afraid to tackle a small generator like this one. Thanks
A true and absolute marvel of engineering !
Marvelous engineering packaging.... horrible to repair!
While I like to Tinker, I would not have had the patience to do this. Cheers to you!
I got a similar size Yamaha generator that i had to do repair on. It was equally ridiculous to tear down. I ordered about $100 in switches, new fuel shut off valve, new rubber feet and new decals and just repainted the cover while I had it off. So now it runs and looks like new.
Great video on an DIY Honda gen repair. You did a great job showing the positives of buying low cost and the variables (diagnostics) that a home DIY (with good skills & tools) might have to endure in a repair/parts costs.
Skills, tools. aptitude, & patience were well shown.
Thanks, Jim Condon. I followed your instructions and restored a Honda EU2200I to new condition. Excellent!
Thanks Thomas! Glad to hear you got it up and running.
Man, you’re amazing. You saved that little generator from going to landfill. It’s just beautiful to see her purring away again happily. Really enjoyed your video, Man. ❤
Hi James,
I have one of these Honda EU2000 units and while I hope I never have to dismantle it as much as you did, It's good to know how it all comes apart and more importantly, how it should go back together. Great "How to" TH-cam James. Thank you so much for shooting it and sharing it with. us. Saved for future use. Much appreciated mate. KMDC from Oz
Thanks Keith
Absolutely impressive! Well done!
I've gone through 2 of these in my off grid life so far...My first one I put an hour meter on and at 17,000 hrs it needed a new timing belt..then at 35,000 hrs I gave it to a friend who still uses it to this day... Yes the hours are correct, I hooked it up to a larger fuel cell and ran it 24hrs a day for years and years, stopping for oil changes only
lol, if your running a gas generator continuously for years on end then how economical is your off grid setup? do you have any other source of power?
@@MountainGuerrilla Some living off grid might be doing it because there isn't a power grid nearby not because they want to live as cheap as possible.
Holy s$@&
How much was a timing belt
17k hrs that’s a lot of fuel I’d say mine has abt 200 hrs now had it abt 5 yrs
You have the patience of a saint! That had to be the filthiest generator you’ve worked on to date. Tearing that generator down to work on the valves OMG!
Bob P.
Hats off to you for taking a few extra minutes to clean the paint off
It’s the little things
Great stuff, had mine for 12 years, oil changes every 50 hours and it runs like a clock. Thanks this will be helpful down the line
I bought one of these about fifteen years ago and, with proper maintenance, it looks and runs like new. You can't go wrong with one of these unless you really need more power. I figure mine will last for another fifteen or twenty years (like me) and I'll never need to do this kind of repair on it, but it was cool to see how it's put together on the inside. Thanks!
Fantastic video!!
That was a lot of work for a valve repair. Those type of engines aren’t my favorite.
But watching you go through it was like an artist creating a masterpiece. I love watching your videos. Always interesting and I come away with learning something new. Keep up the awesome job!!
You are a MOST AMAZING mechanic, James!! Best small engine service video I have ever seen....So many good things, like torques settings, set your approach apart from the crowd! Very Nice Video Sir! Saving your video for the day I hope never comes. I have these twin models and use in parallel for my little RV, Best advice: change your oil VERY regularly & with great care and buy ethanol-free fuel if it is atl all possible. I have run OMC two-stroke outboards for over 50 years with nothing more than a starter ropes, gear oil, spark plugs & some fuel lines!
These generators are usually very reliable. Hopefully you will never have to do this.
@@jcondon1 Amen and Amen, James!
Just as I started watching this video, first thing that poped into my mind is the start assest got stuck in start position. Honda gens feature a compression release lever that makes it easier to start. At so many rpms, it auto closes so the engine can run normally.
Excellent attention to detail. Watched all the way thru. Was captivated by the engineering of this small engine w/o a removable head. Wow so much work! You wouldn’t expect in an OHV motor that the valves are the deepest dive into the engine. Very interesting video. Excellent technical videography. Everything very professional. KUDOS.
thanks
Great video and it makes the previous owners decision pretty clear about selling the unit. I imagine the labor cost would have come really close if not exceeded the cost of a new unit. The design of the generator is elegant but, at least to me, looks as if the intent was this is expected to be a disposable piece of equipment. I have done automotive engine work as well as aviation overhauls. Personally I wouldn't want to tackle this one. This is a great example of "old school" mechanic work.👍
I was thinking the same thing, but you'll never have a bad head gasket with this design and no rods to get bent. But you really can't do much repair work to this motor without taking off the sump cover, what a pain.
You are doing a great and thorough job. For me, a real education watching you. I admire your knowledge and approach (and Patience!). Watching you clean up the valves in your hand drill made me think of how I used to do (shade tree mechanic valve jobs) on auto engine heads. I'd chuck the valves stems in my drill press, "grind" them using a handheld side grinder with a broke in worn flap disc while they spun in the drill press (taking care to match the original valve grind angle). Putting the valves back in the heads, I'd chuck the stems in my (handheld) electric drill and spin them with valve compound back and forth to "grind" the seats. It was crude backyard stuff, but they sealed real well, at least for a while, and the valve jobs cost me only the effort.
Thank you for the in depth how to. The one tip about hand tightening the permatex gasket then wait an hour to torque, was worth the 72 minutes.
What a complicated, suitcase generator.. never had to do one, and after watching this video, probably never will....Cudos James.
Great video showing the quality construction of these little Honda engines - thanks! Lesson learned, use high quality fuel and perform regular maintenance so you can hopefully avoid having to do this. Basic routine maintenance has kept my $125, 25 year old Briggs and Stratton mower running. I’ve heard that an occasional shot of Sea Foam can clean up carbon deposits but can’t verify if that’s a good idea or not on these motors.
Wow James! Superb! I've yet to see an inverter gen. video even half this good. Thanks.
Glad you liked it!
James, this is an amazing, and wonderful video. You are a real professional. I like the way you handled all the parts, very gently, no need for overpowering brute force. Your diagnosis of the engine problem and the required repairs is spot on. This is a fantastic video to watch and I enjoyed every second. I think it might help some of my family members who have similar generators an who might need to do similar repairs. Thank you for an amazingly well done repair and a video documentary of truly outstanding quality. This is a 10 out of 10 repair video.
Thanks Robert
@@jcondon1 I've commented elsewhere about the excellent quality of your video production etc. But, I wanted to know what's the name of the brush you used to clean the piston and head with and where can you find same? Thanks
I caught the first video today, and honestly, I'm kind of hooked in watching your videos. I just learned so much since you give a really good explanation of what you're doing.
Excellent job! I'm amazed by how much more work is required to take apart these inverters compared to a regular generator. When I was much younger my father showed me how to remove the spark plug and feed a piece of rope into the cylinder jamming the piston. This takes away the need to strap the flywheel and puts two hands on the ratchet. Maybe this is not a safe practice but it always worked for me. Thank you so much for your videos.
Great job, easy to see why repairs cost so much on these generators!
Yes there a dog to work on and I lose money on them, so I fix the easy stuff and try not to over haul them
WOW! That's a lot of work James. Previous owner should have paid you $240.00 to take it away. Use this video on your next negotiations.
The parts to fix it were cheap, but the labor was extreme.
This job can be done in about an hour once you know what you're doing. He's now got a generator that's worth at least $1,000.
The control board and outer plastics are worth $240 alone. At one point I was doing about 30 of these a year.
@@otm646 show me the person that would give you $1000 for that one please
@@otm646 That generator sold for $1000 new. I would say no more than $500 now.
I'm surprised you didn't clean the carb, you always clean the carb :) I think the seller may have gotten the better end of this deal. I wonder how many hours total the repair took. I'm impressed, you are the man JC!
LOL...I was thinking the same thing...at least use Carb Cleaner on the outside. It is quite possibly just my OCD kicking in. Personally...I think it took 20 man hours to repair it, 16 hours to disassemble and clean it and 4 hours to assemble it. That was one dirty machine and he made it look easy to do it. I would have sold it also.
I have the EU1000i. It’s pretty easy to clean the main jet w/o much disassembly.
@@Delekham AT the end of the video the carb looks clean.
I was a generator mechanic in the Army , I had extensive training before I was sent to Vietnam .I was with the 101st airborne division. My job was to keep the generators running and maintained. The most common problems were water in the fuel followed by dirty carburetors magnetos with bad points or coils and then diodes in the stator assy.I had 10 kw gas generators with 4 cyl air cooled boxer engines that resembled VW engines but were not, and a 30 kw diesel also. These generators were switched on and off duty but 2 were running at all times to keep our company area and our radio gear on line at all times.The generators made a lot of noise. When years later I heard this model Honda run with the inverter technology and how quiet and light it is I had to have one for my home.I haven't used it much, but when I used it it has been flawless. I loved your video and see how it comes apart,hopefully I won't ever need to tear mine apart but your video was great! "You are a great mechanic and are very skilled,thanks for sharing.
Len DiChiara
honda run with
I bought my EU2000i in 2005. I used it for racing circle track, drag racing and eventually land speed racing. I've been using it around the ranch since then as well.....I've kept up with the basic maintenance, nothing out of the ordinary. It doesn't smoke or stumble, it works as good as day one. I was sad to see that one you got in the video there, so beat up and tired.....I feel a lil guilt over the fact my lil genny hasn't had a proper day at the mower shop where I bought her...you know... a spa day, to get the oil changed and new filters. I guess after 16 years, she's earned it. Thanks for a great video man.
Thanks. They are usually fairly billet proof.