Help getting my generator running properly

[tenchy]

Hope this is OK to post here..

I have a small Honda EG550 generator which I left unattended for years (yes my bad).
So I drained out what (if anything) was left in the tank and put new petrol in. The ultra reliable thing started after only several pulls. But it is not running right. It was doing what it is in the video below.

So I left it a while, and when I came back to it it would start and run no problem with choke on in the full position, but as soon as I moved it off choke it died. I then took float chanber off and jet out and cleaned the jet, which wasn't blocked but was a little furry looking. Everything else looked pretty spotless.

Put it back together, started her up and after a while eased her off choke and it was running lovely. Result, I thought.
But then it started doing what it does in the video below. In this video the choke is off as it is warmed up.

Some googling suggests this could be the governor? But I'm not finding anything on how to fix it.

 

[wristpin]

It's what's called hunting and suggests a restricted fuel supply - weak mixture probably caused by gumming in one of the very small passages within the carb body, often hidden behind a Welch plug.
Is your carb has an adjustable jet with a restrictor cap to stop fiddling, carefully cut off the cap ( side cutters end on) and try a bit of adjusting.
If that fails find someone with an ultrasonic cleaning tank - preferably heated - and give it a half hour session with detergent and changing its orientation mid session.

 

[tenchy]

Thanks for the reply. Not really sure if I have one (adjustable jet and cap).
This is meant to be the carb I have on mine. I have checked and cleaned the trap (21) and cleared jet (23). (11) never came out, it liked to stay where it was.

 

[wristpin]

Numbers 2 11 23 24 and five are all likely candidates for trouble plus the ones that you can't see - ultrasonic is probably the way to go.

 

[tenchy]

thanks. 2 looks like what was attached to the float. point seemed clean, though I didn't check the orifice it mates with.
I'll have to see if getting someone to ultrasonically clean it is economical for me as I doubt it's worth much these days. I have a newer inverter gennie now, but had hoped to get this going as it has done very little hours really.

 

[wristpin]

We used to charge £10+vat if batched with several other carbs, week turnround; or £20 same day. Has to be worth a try.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Hunting, as all ready said.
Keep running it, it may clear.
Have you looked on the shelf of local car accessories shop for an additive. I can think of the name, but it was a one shot deal and would clean the carb out.
Might be worth a look.

 

[tenchy]

We used to charge £10+vat if batched with several other carbs, week turnround; or £20 same day. Has to be worth a try.

Oh that's not bad, I could wear that.

Hunting, as all ready said.
Keep running it, it may clear.
Have you looked on the shelf of local car accessories shop for an additive. I can think of the name, but it was a one shot deal and would clean the carb out.
Might be worth a look.

You mean like Redex or something? I know my mate always used to run some through his bikes for a clear out.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@tenchy
Something like that, for the life of me I can not recall the name. But any good car accessories place will sell it.

 

[Bladevane]

Hunting might be caused by the governor feedback linkage. In essence what is happening is the governor sees a speed decrease then opens the throttle but a little too much so the speed increases above its set point. The governor responds by closing the throttle but a little too much so the speed drops below its set point. And on and on....... I'm not familiar with this exact engine but there might be a screw adjustment on the feedback linkage spring. Try adjusting it either way when the engine is running to see if it gets worse or hopefully better.

 

[tenchy]

Hunting might be caused by the governor feedback linkage. In essence what is happening is the governor sees a speed decrease then opens the throttle but a little too much so the speed increases above its set point. The governor responds by closing the throttle but a little too much so the speed drops below its set point. And on and on....... I'm not familiar with this exact engine but there might be a screw adjustment on the feedback linkage spring. Try adjusting it either way when the engine is running to see if it gets worse or hopefully better.

thanks. I will look at that.

 

[the snooper]

This always happens if you leave fuel in the carb and cleaning the main jet usually cures it

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@tenchy
Of thank you. No thank you.
You post made me think that I had not when my Honda pump for a long time.
So I pulled it out, yes stale fuel, dumped that and filled with fresh fuel.

Same as yours after swearing cursing. Once hot and off choke it hunts, 1/2 to 3/4 choke runs sweet, but rich.
Plug out, cleaned that. Will need a new one, a few dribbles of 2 stoke into bore.
Better, but still that hunt.

I have a pint container with Redexe, unleaded and what says carb cleaner. it is a few months old, but better than nowt.
Dain tank, again.
3 pints of fresh fuel and the mix, then pulled her over, HT lead of. Had a coffee.
Struggle to get it going, but she did.
How much smoke?

After 5 to 10 minutes of running the hunting faded away and she humming away nicely. When she was running some penetrating fluids on all carb linkage, it did not seam to do much, if anything. But it will help in the long term.

Oh yes, found the air filter felt damp. removed that and fitted an old spare.

Toped the tank with fresh, got to be nice to Mrs Vark now, she got me another gallon.

Sat there now happy as a pig in sh1t.

 

[penfold]

Ultrasonic cleaning may well shift it, although it's worth getting a tin of carb/brake cleaner and seeing if a wazz of that doesn't sort it out.

 

[Spark plug]

Bring back good old 4*

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Check the fuel supply to the carburettor as well, could be that the filter or tap (if fitted) is furred up.

 

[wristpin]

Hunting might be caused by the governor feedback linkage. In essence what is happening is the governor sees a speed decrease then opens the throttle but a little too much so the speed increases above its set point. The governor responds by closing the throttle but a little too much so the speed drops below its set point. And on and on....... I'm not familiar with this exact engine but there might be a screw adjustment on the feedback linkage spring. Try adjusting it either way when the engine is running to see if it gets worse or hopefully better.

Hunting caused by a weak mixture causes the scenario outlined above but fiddling with the governor is not the answer , it may mask the problem but not cure it. If the engine is hunting the first thing to do is to hold the governor arm still. If that cures the problem it may well be a governor problem but if erratic running continues its back to carburettor contamination.
If the engine was running OK when last used the governor is unlikely to have "gone off" through storage but fuel systems will.

 

[Turbo]

Get a tin of carb cleaner, remove everything that blocks a port & spray the carb cleaner down every orifice. Let it soak for a while & spray it again. Repeat this a few times and finish by blasting the ports with an air line. It that doesn't work an ultrasonic clean will likely be your next step.
BTW I would try and get item 11, the emulsion tube out if you can as its likely to be blocked.

 

[wristpin]

Quote
"Get a tin of carb cleaner, remove everything that blocks a port & spray the carb cleaner down every orifice. Let it soak for a while & spray it again. Repeat this a few times and finish by blasting the ports with an air line. It that doesn't work an ultrasonic clean will likely be your next step.
BTW I would try and get item 11, the emulsion tube out if you can as its likely to be blocked."


Be careful with the air line. Blow it through the inlet port and the float needle seat can be ejected never to be seen again!

 

[zx9]

Bring back good old 4*

There is a place in Hithergreen that sells an equivalent from the pump, last time I drove past it was about two quid a L.
There is a list of a dozen or so UK suppliers http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/legislation-and-fuels/fuel-information/ half way down the page.