Honda Generator

[Dick Langendorff]

I have a Honda Generator EM5000SX. Yesterday when I started it, it ran fine. We are getting ready to go on a trip and wanted the generator as a back up in case we didn't have elec. at the site. Purchased a new battery so I wouldn't have to pull the cord. I starts up fine, but won't keep running. It acts just like it is running out of gas. Changed the filter, drained the gas tank and put in fresh gas. Still acts the same. There is an electrical solenoid on the bottom of the carb, which is the gas shut down. Similar to the Fuel Shut Down on my '89 Dodge Cummins. Could it be that this solenoid is bad and not letting gas fill the carb bowl? How can I check it? Any suggestions?



Thanks for any input.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Check the oil level on the crankcase. May have a low oil shutdown. bg

 

[Dick Langendorff]

Yes, I checked the oil level, and it is full.

Maybe a bad sensor?

 

[Skydiver]

I would bet that it is a fuel restriction. Runs till out of fuel the shuts down. Right?

When it shuts down does it spit and pop until the engine dies? Next time it is running, just as it starts to die close the choke. If the engine revs back up then it is a lack of fuel problem.

Pull the bowl off the carb. and that will give a pic. of what is in the tank.

 

[EEdmondson]

Loosen the fuel fill cap? Easy stuff first.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Yes, I checked the oil level, and it is full.

Maybe a bad sensor?

Yes, could be bad sensor. My neighbor has one(not Honda) and it showed right at full in the filler neck, I added maybe a half cup of oil and it runs like a charm. If the generator is not level and tilted away from the side where the sensor is lacated it will cause the same problem. bg

 

[Dick Langendorff]

Thanks for everyones input. It now works fine. I drained the tank and put in new gas, cleaned the gas and air filters, checked the shut off solenoid, it works, cleaned the carb.



It now works like it is supposed to.



Thanks again and have a happy Holiday.



Dick Langendorff

 

[wcoomes]

My Honda Snowblower seems a bit sensitive to stale gas, too.

 

[kscheffler]

You need to use fuel stabilizer in all gas engines. Fuel has a life of less than 60 days with out stabilizer. Use stabilaid...

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Lots of folks think that just running the tank empty of fuel will remove all gasoline from the fuel system - WRONG!



The residual gasoline left in the bottom of the carb/float bowl AFTER the engine starves out and stops can easily turn to varnish or other nasty residue - and the NEXT time you try to start the engine, you get all the above symptoms this thread started out with!



One spring, I *filled* my garage/shop with used motorcycles, from Honda 175 up to a 750 - ALL of them were victims of bad gas left in from the previous Fall season when last used - and with Honda shop prices so high, the owners figured they were better of dumping the bikes than $pending the $$$ to get them fixed. I had about 15 of them accumulated - cleaned out the fuel systems and fixed any other incidental ills - and sold them all for enough profit to buy myself a nearly NEW Honda 750, with enough left over for some nice accessories.



Yeah - Stabil added to the last tank of fuel, or in that jerry-can is a VERY good idea!

 

[CumminsBu]

Yeah - Stabil added to the last tank of fuel, or in that jerry-can is a VERY good idea!

Just like that commercial!

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