EU2000i Gen Surging

[Jerky]

Started up my eu2000i gen set today and it was surging like crazy in the ECO mode. Normal was running good. Found that it would run in the ECO mode with the choke about half on.
Removed the carburetor and cleaned the dickens out of it with carb/choke cleaner in the aerosol can several times then used hot water and dried it with air pressure. Put it back together and it worked like it did when it was new.

If anyone has to do this beware of the little spring about 3/8" long and about 1/8" in diameter. Actually took my other one apart to find out where the spring went.

Dean

 

[Blu-meanie]

My 2000 generators have never experienced this surge, but my woodsplitter with a Honda engine has. I drained the carburator and added a fuel filter. No more surge. Same fix on the Briggs in my riding lawnmower.

Aren't you supposed to have spare parts when done?

 

[LandShark]

Also check the muffler spark arrestor screen for clogging.

 

[Bill Stockard]

My 2000 generators have never experienced this surge, but my woodsplitter with a Honda engine has. I drained the carburator and added a fuel filter. No more surge. Same fix on the Briggs in my riding lawnmower.

Aren't you supposed to have spare parts when done?

I own several Briggs engines on power equipment and have installed fuel filters on all of them to avoid this problem. Also I add fuel to the tank using a funnel with a fine mesh screen. The small jets in the carb are very sensitive to fuel contamination.



Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

I have the Yamaha 3000 that boosts to 3500, when I bought the gen. I asked the salesmen anything I should or shouldn't do. He said the worst thing that can be done is to store the gen. with fuel in the carb shut the fuel off and run the carb dry. I wondered about the seals and gaskets drying out he told me the factory thought of that and they were made from different material than the old motors. I have followed his instructions and I put in a new spark plug every year and change the oil and knock on wood no problems YET. Ive had the gen for 5 years

 

[Matt400]

Started up my eu2000i gen set today and it was surging like crazy in the ECO mode. Normal was running good. Found that it would run in the ECO mode with the choke about half on.

Removed the carburetor and cleaned the dickens out of it with carb/choke cleaner in the aerosol can several times then used hot water and dried it with air pressure. Put it back together and it worked like it did when it was new.



If anyone has to do this beware of the little spring about 3/8" long and about 1/8" in diameter. Actually took my other one apart to find out where the spring went.



Dean

Mine does this, I figured it may be from old gas, thanks for the heads up.

 

[SNGLESHOT]

The BEST thing you can do for ANY generator is put them under load and make them work hard. If you are going to start one up, run it up to operational temp and then put a good load on them. I use an old toaster if you can believe that. Works good. I have two Honda eu2000's with the parallel power cables. They start everytime. I do not empty the fuel and run dry when storing for down seasons. Instead I add fuel stabilizer, mix in real good and let run for 5 min then shut down. I have never had a problem. they start on the second pull. I do however change the oil before storing and add some marvel mystery oil down the spark plug hole to keep tops of pistons lubed and ready. Units are 3 years old now and both still run like new.
PS: make sure you use a GOOD fuel stabilizer.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Mine was surging one time while powering a 3 stage battery charger. I finally figured out the charger was in its desulfate mode and was delivering small surges to the batt. The Honda's eco throttle was trying to constantly adjust to the changing load.

 

[Allnew2Me]

Most issues with surging or starting the EU2000i are related to either old or dirty fuel. Make sure your gas is clean and fresh. If you store the generator for more than a month or 2 without running it then do as Singleshot recommends and add fuel stabilizer to the gas. Stabil or Seafoam work well.

 

[Blu-meanie]

I keep mine filled and only run gas with stabilizer in it. I never drain the carburator, use one of the two probably every two months or so. I put 50 hours on each last year (I added an hour meter). After 8 years, no problems at all. I have around 230 hours total on each.

 

[bcbigfoot]

What I have found is old fuel can slightly corrode the tiny hole in the main jet, this will cause the engine to run slightly lean and cause the surging. Old gas usally isn't a problem in larger engines with larger main jets but these honda's jet's are very small.

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

It may not be old fuel but new fuel with Ethanol that is causing problems. I think Stabil is a must now days for every small engine.

 

[Matt400]

Got mine fixed the other day from the surging, had to clean twice and the second time used compressed air in the passages which did the trick. The carb is so simple you can actually leave the top ECO throttle electrical unit attached so no need to worry about that little spring on the throttle popping out into never-land.

 

[MLee]

I missed this thread, mine had been surging of over a year and a half when mine started this surging. My gen people call it STEPPING, Old gas verses fresh gas, and Sea Foam treatment got mine fixed. Just about took it a repair shop. Saved a buck or two.

 

[SMorneau]

My eu200i surges if it is not run regularly. After a few minutes it calms down. After several tanks it does not surge at all. If I run it empty it will start fine. If I let is sit with fuel in it for any length of time it will surge for a while.

I recently started using non-oxygenated fuel and it seems to be better but the jury is still out.

The first time it did the surging it was so bad I had to run it partially choked with no load for 20 minutes to get it to run with the choke off. That time it had sat for months with fuel.

These days I try and start it every other week or so to avoid this.

 

[SNGLESHOT]

Non-oxygenated fuel??? I am not familiar with that.

 

[Skydiver]

I try to run my 3 generators every 4-6 weeks. I waited too long. My nearly unused 7500 watt 13 horse Honda would not crank last Tuesday. After checking the sparking plug I found it dry. I added a squirt of gas to the carb and it fired up. It died. After 3 more tries I got it to run with the choke on. I turned the gas valve off and allowed it to run until it drained the carb. Then I pulled the fuel line from the gas valve and filled the carb with Quick silver Power tune. Trust me this stuff works 10 times better than ony other carb cleaner. It must be allowed to sit 24 hours. Next day all was fine. My gas is nearly 2 years old, but it was treated with sta-bil. Time to replace the fuel.
You can find power tune at marine dealerships. Many people allow their marine engines to sit all winter clogging carb jets. "Power tune" allows a marine mechanic to clean a carb without using tools. I learned about this majic spray nearly 10 years ago from a mechaninc who made me swear to keep it secrete. SSSHHH.

 

[SMorneau]

Around here non-oxygenated fuel means no ethanol. Great how i have to use the ethanol in my fuel but the farmers don't in there off road equipment. Luckily we have a near by station that has it available for classic cars, off road equipment, etc.

 

[BIGNASTY]

thanks

Also check the muffler spark arrestor screen for clogging.

thanks for info I have a yamaha gen and it started to stutter jumping form low to high. checked spark arrestor and sure as **** it was getting all black bought a new one runs great

 

[AH64ID]

Saw this thread in issue 70 of the magazine.

I too have an EU2000 that surges like mad at low load on ECO mode. All camping season I thought about cleaning the carb, just never had time. I know what to do this winter.

My gen is always full of fuel, and the fuel is always treated. The gen is about 10 years old and probably has 1500+ hours on it, so a carb cleaning will be good regardless. It was only used one month a year for the first 7 years, but probably got 200hrs of use in that one month.

I do notice that the gen overloads before I think it should, and will have it tested at the local Honda for about $5. 00. Has anyone had this issue with their EU2000is? Its probably due to the heavy use it has had.

I will also check the spark arrestor.