Honda EU20i Generator problem

**dmdigital** · 14th February 2010, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by Fluids

A really sooty plug (black) generally means overfueling (or under airing) ... choke left ON after starting is a common one ... I sell these things at work. Seen it lots of times.
Remove the airbox, look down the carby throat, move the choke lever. Is it all as you expect ? I have seen 1 or 2 with a choke butterfly loose and staying partly closed when in the OFF position.

It's not burning oil, or blowing smoke when it's running ?? (Especially under heavy loads).

A blocked air filter, yeah maybe, but it would need to be REALLY REALLY blocked to make it run like you described ...

To check the oil alert switch (which btw is inserted from inside the crankcase - switch - loom inserted thru hole in bottom of crankcase - switch sits vert' in bottom of crankcase - need to split the crankcase to get at it) - drain the oil, remove spark plug, keep HT lead attached, ground plug to gen' frame, turn engine switch ON and pull recoil swifty ... oil alert should light up (should hold ON for approx' 2 sec') and there should be NO spark. Repeat with oil in crankcase - Light should stay OFF, and you should have spark at the plug. If so, switch is OK.

The ECO throttle control is a stepper motor ... see the white (?) cap ontop of the carby with the wires ?? It's all mounted on a black plastic mount ontop of the carby. Right behind the choke lever. The stepper motor is controlled by the inverter.

They all seem to cough occaisionally on ECO. Alot of these EU20i's get used on ECO all the time with small electrical loads, and they can glaze the bore. You should, every 3rd or 4th tank of fuel, run a full tank through with the ECO off, when you can, and change your oil every 50Hrs, not 100Hrs as is recomended.

I've just run off a copy of the service manual from the DVD for you, but it's 11.5MB in size ... too big to email. The DVD manual can only be reprinted as a graphic pdf ... won't print as a readable/searchable pdf.

Idea's ?

Kev..

Thanks Kev, PM sent. I'll run a full tank next time with out ECO on, I let it run for about 30 minutes in that way when I got it going and it all seems fine, so I suspect it must have been a stuck choke.

**LandyAndy** · 14th February 2010, 08:25 PM

Hope its all sorted Derek.
I have a brand new 2.0 I havent finished running in yet.
What Fluids is saying matches what the Honda Shop told me.
Oilchange at every 50hrs max.
DO NOT use eco all the time,needs to run at full speed to prevent glazing.Rep suggested using the non eco during the day when camping then use eco at nite.
DO NOT use synthetic oil,honda oil only whilst under warranty.
Make sure it is stored for transport empty,ie tip fuel back into jerrycan AND drain carby(has tap and drain tube).I think this was more of a fuel spill issue rather than to preserve the fuel system.
Try the US HONDA website for a workshop manual.It seems the US make the suppliers provide online manuals.Very handy for ANY power tool etc as they dont appear on the matching aussie websites.
GOODLUCK
Let us know how you get on.
Andrew

**Blknight.aus** · 14th February 2010, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Fluids

Actually, it generates 3 phase AC, converts to DC by a regulator/rectifier, which then supplys the inverter

so its a star wound alternator then?

**Fluids** · 14th February 2010, 08:53 PM

Hey Andrew, and all ...

Synthetic oil ... not even outside the warranty period. Honda Japan don't reccomend the use of synth oil in any of their small air cooled 4 strokes. I looked into this for a client doing RAAF contract work (far north Qld - HOT!) where the EP3100 generators were running 24/7 ... that meant an oil change every 4 days ! .... and they didn't! ... they bought the machines in for service ... they had done 1080Hrs from new (45 days non-stop - they refueled them while they were running!

) ... without even doing the 1st 20hr oil change !

.... didn't that oil look suspect!

A good run in would be 3 tanks of fuel, at 60% load, with ECO throttle turned OFF, then every 3rd/4th tank also with ECO OFF.

DO NOT tip the unit upside down to drain the fuel. Syphon it out of the tank if you have to, then run the machine to clear the fuel lines and carby of fuel (yes, you can also drain the bowl, but running it dry works better). There's a diaphragm driven fuel pump (by crankcase pressure) hidden behind the front cover above the recoil starter. Same type used as a lift pump on ride-on lawn mowers. Leaving the fuel in for more than 3 months is asking for trouble ... any _less_ idle/storage time, just top-up and run, otherwise, empty, drain, run and store. Spill shouldn't be an issue - the Run/Stop switch is also a fuel tap (+ the vented cap).

... and watch out for the US spec' manuals & parts lists ... the US machines have different spec' to OZ delivered machines ... not ALL parts are interchangeable/same. Honda make this machine in more than a dozen different spec's depending on intended country/market.

Cheers
Kev..

**Blknight.aus** · 14th February 2010, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Fluids

I looked into this for a client doing RAAF contract work (far north Qld - HOT!) where the EP3100 generators were running 24/7 ... that meant an oil change every 4 days ! .... and they didn't! ... they bought the machines in for service ... they had done 1080Hrs from new (45 days non-stop - they refueled them while they were running!

) ... without even doing the 1st 20hr oil change !

.... didn't that oil look suspect!

Welcome to my world...

**Fluids** · 14th February 2010, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

so its a star wound alternator then?

Yes.

Kev..

**dmdigital** · 14th February 2010, 09:12 PM

Kev, what's a recommended oil then? Preferably Castrol as it's easy to obtain.

Manual recommends any 10W/15W-40 for temps where I live so would Castrol Magnatec be OK as I know this is supposedly OK for my Honda mower (model 196D)???

**Fluids** · 14th February 2010, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

Welcome to my world...

Thanks

Frustrating, isn't it ?

Makes you wonder ... customers buy a new EU20is for $2k+ (or those EP3100's) and are too lazy to changeout 400ml of oil every 50hrs (or even 100hrs!!) Not like it's the national debt for a service!

We even offer to fit Hr run meters at COST so they can track service intervals, and 9 out of 10 clients turn the offer down

... and when you get one of these in for a possible trade in it's like a pandora's box as you've no idea how long it runs for ... I've heard reports from Honda of machines logging over 8500 hrs (that's 24/7 for 365 days roughly) ... "what's that sir ... you wanna trade in a 1yr old EU20 ?? "

Hey Andy ... and all. There's a good suggestion ... FIT AN HOUR RUN METER !!

Kev..

**Blknight.aus** · 14th February 2010, 09:28 PM

my record observation was a 44gallon drum on a couple of crates with a fitting soldered to the bottom running a 1.6kva diesel genny. ran for about 12 days near full load before it siezed solid.

"but we checked the oil when we started it"

Brand new genset according to the log book indicating it was purchased less than 6 months prior.

on that note where do you plug the hour meter onto?

**LandyAndy** · 14th February 2010, 09:28 PM

Thanks Kev
Good idea,I saw them at the Honda shop when I bought mine.
Are they easy to fit???
Andrew

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