Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Keystone Tech Forums > Technical Corner
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-22-2010, 03:01 PM   #1
antiqfreq
Senior Member
 
antiqfreq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Soperton, Georgia
Posts: 1,540
problems starting generators

We seem to always have trouble initially starting our generators. We have 2 Honda EU2000i's........

It is start then stall, start then stall, etc., etc., etc.,

After about five starts and running 10-15 seconds.....they will stay running.

Both do it, and no matter how you handle the choke mechanism - it is the same results.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,

Jody
__________________
2007 Keystone 291RLS
2003 Ford F250, 4x4, SB, CC
7.3L diesel, Banks Exhaust Brake
ISSPRO pillar gauges
Pullrite 15K sliding hitch
2-Honda Eu2000i's in toolbox
2012 Polaris 400
2012 Polaris 330
antiqfreq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2010, 06:05 PM   #2
Ruffus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Fulltiming
Posts: 423
Generators

Hey Jo
I'm not sure about the Hondas but I had a Briggs that did the same thing after sitting for several months, turned out it was old gas gumming up the flapper valve on the carburator. Took the breather off, sprayed a little WD40 on the mechanisim and we were off and running.
Jim
__________________
Jim, Sharon & Riley
2018 Keystone Alpine 3500Rl
2016 Ford F-350 Dually
Curt Q24 hitch for in bed puck system
Fulltimng.
Ruffus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-22-2010, 07:58 PM   #3
Festus2
Site Team
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
Sounds like the carbs are gummed up.
__________________
2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
Festus2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-26-2010, 01:08 PM   #4
antiqfreq
Senior Member
 
antiqfreq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Soperton, Georgia
Posts: 1,540
The DH decided to try ( at my son the mechanics recommendation ) to try something called SeaFoam which is supoposed to be carburetor cleaner and you put it in with your gas. He tried it, but yesterday made NO difference....still had problems.
Today, at our property in central Georgia, it was 24 degrees when we woke up.......gens did the same thing.
( OF COURSE, I WAS TOO COLD TO START ALSO.......(:


Jo
__________________
2007 Keystone 291RLS
2003 Ford F250, 4x4, SB, CC
7.3L diesel, Banks Exhaust Brake
ISSPRO pillar gauges
Pullrite 15K sliding hitch
2-Honda Eu2000i's in toolbox
2012 Polaris 400
2012 Polaris 330
antiqfreq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2010, 12:33 PM   #5
rjsurfer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 452
Definitely gummed up carbs, mine did the same thing after having the gen for a few years. Gumout helped but the real cure is to open the carb and clean out the jets and passageways. It's not hard, just don't disconnect the the throttle cable assembly it's a pain to get it back together correctly. All the work can be done with cable attached.

Another symptom is the generator works OK with the choke partially closed even when warmed up.

Ron W.
rjsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2010, 06:51 AM   #6
antiqfreq
Senior Member
 
antiqfreq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Soperton, Georgia
Posts: 1,540
Paid $250 to have cleaned up - no work still!

Okay,

We paid $250 to have carbs cleaned, new spark plugs and got the story from the repair guy about how to start in higher altitudes.

Next day they both started right up. Now we are 3 hours further north
and elevation about 7000 feet and they won't start and we are dry camping and it is 33 degrees out.

Any other ideas on how to start these things before our batteries go dead.

DH wants to drive the 3 hours back to take back to the repair guy!

Thanks, JO
__________________
2007 Keystone 291RLS
2003 Ford F250, 4x4, SB, CC
7.3L diesel, Banks Exhaust Brake
ISSPRO pillar gauges
Pullrite 15K sliding hitch
2-Honda Eu2000i's in toolbox
2012 Polaris 400
2012 Polaris 330
antiqfreq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-28-2010, 10:09 AM   #7
PSDave
Junior Member
 
PSDave's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Buena Park, CA. Lat: 33.851° Lon: -118.025° El:047'
Posts: 17
Hard Starting Honda Gen set:

Hello-

I have a 2000i also, but in addition, I carry an extra I-State group 27M (Deep Cycle) and a Kyocera 85W solar panel with a small regulator - for those "Just In Case" situations. Just my 2.00 worth (inflation )

PSDave
__________________

2010 Cougar 26SAB X-Lite 5er, 2x Honda 2000i, 2x Kiocera 85W solar, 40A Xantrex reg.
-----
'06-6.0 F-250 PSD AOD, CC, 4x4 SB
AirRaid intake
BANKS Six-Gun iQ (pre-turbo Pyro)
BANKS Monster Diesel Dual Exhaust
BANKS SPEED BRAKE
SNOW Performance Stage 3 MPG-MAX Meth/Water injection (with another pre-turbo Pyro!)
Ride-Rite Air Bags (wireless)
Gear Vendors OVER/UNDER DRIVE
OilGuard bypass oil filtration system
Pullrite 18K Super Glide (auto) Hitch
Retrax bed cover
Otherwise Mostly Stock
PSDave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2010, 07:52 AM   #8
antiqfreq
Senior Member
 
antiqfreq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Soperton, Georgia
Posts: 1,540
Since the DH changed the oil to a thinner oil for higher elevations ours start fine now.

Guess if we get south to hot weather again, we'll change back to the original stuff.

Making sure it is always topped off with the oil has helped also. No problems starting now.

Jo
__________________
2007 Keystone 291RLS
2003 Ford F250, 4x4, SB, CC
7.3L diesel, Banks Exhaust Brake
ISSPRO pillar gauges
Pullrite 15K sliding hitch
2-Honda Eu2000i's in toolbox
2012 Polaris 400
2012 Polaris 330
antiqfreq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2010, 09:39 AM   #9
Firecapt
Senior Member
 
Firecapt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 109
The problems you are having just don't seem right! Especially after having both generators "professionally" repaired. Did you take them to a certified Honda shop for repair?

I use a fuel stabilizer in my generator's gas tank since the gas sits for long periods (sometimes for months) between uses. One thing I do religiously is start and run the generator under load at least once a month between actual usage.

The oil that I use in all my 4 cycle tools and the generator is an Amsoil synthetic product (note the temperature ranges). See here:

http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/ase.aspx

The synthetic is slipperier, has an affinity for metal (doesn't completely run off between uses), and has a greater resistance to heat breakdown than conventional oils.

Since generators and other garden tools are air cooled, the need to find an oil that stands up to the higher heat is very important.
__________________


2007 Ford F-250 Superduty Crew Cab
2006 Cougar 289EFS
Frank, Martha, & Ryan

"Happy Trails to you 'till we meet again"
Firecapt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2010, 04:08 PM   #10
antiqfreq
Senior Member
 
antiqfreq's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Soperton, Georgia
Posts: 1,540
Yes, they went to a certified honda repair person.
And after putting in the different oil they start fine.
Previously they were used maybe every 2-3 weeks.
Now they are used at least once a week for 2-3 days
as we dry camp alot since fulltiming in February.
No problems at all now. We are about 7,000 elevation
now and no problems. Upstate Utah now, going to
Colorado next week for 8 days, then heading south
towards Quartsite for a few days then further west.
Running fine now.
Thanks,

Jo
__________________
2007 Keystone 291RLS
2003 Ford F250, 4x4, SB, CC
7.3L diesel, Banks Exhaust Brake
ISSPRO pillar gauges
Pullrite 15K sliding hitch
2-Honda Eu2000i's in toolbox
2012 Polaris 400
2012 Polaris 330
antiqfreq is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2010, 04:11 PM   #11
Firecapt
Senior Member
 
Firecapt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 109
Glad to hear you are back up and "running." You might consider a premium synthetic oil for the future, it's far superior to regular oil and a must for air cooled equipment.
__________________


2007 Ford F-250 Superduty Crew Cab
2006 Cougar 289EFS
Frank, Martha, & Ryan

"Happy Trails to you 'till we meet again"
Firecapt is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.