Honda EM2200 Generator Won't Start

Hello everyone...Just purchased a used Honda EM2200 generator powered by a GE 200 engine. When I first tried to start it and opened the fuel supply to the carburetor, it was leaking heavily from the carburetor area. I removed the carburetor bowl and found the inside so filthy and gummy and the float was sticking. I freed up the float and cleaned the the bowl and everything else in sight. When I tried pulling the air filter out to inspect it, it crumbled to dust right in between my fingers. Carb. bowl still needs a gasket as it leaks and I left the air filter out until I can get the engine to run.

Engine won't run, so I checked for a spark at the plug and found NONE. Tried a new spark plug still nothing. The engine switch was on and there is oil in the crankcase. Compression measured 90 PSI and I think that is satisfactory, but not sure, as I don't have the specs available. Measured the resistance at the exciter coil and found it to be 1.5 ohms. Have yet to measure the CDI resistance and I again I don't know what the specs are supposed to be.

Engine switch continuity test checked okay. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Alex

 

Unplug the kill wire from the coil, make sure the plug is touching metal on the engine, and check for spark then. If still no spark, replace the coil.

 

Cheese, Thanks for the tip. That's exactly what a local small engine mechanic suggested as well. I did just what you and him suggested and sure enough, no spark. I believe the CDI coil is bad. Confirmed that as well, by measuring resistance across the red and black wires that connect to the exciter - I was getting an open circuit at times and some times erratic readings ranging between 77 ohms and 196 ohms. The interesting thing is that the coil is expensive and runs about 231 bucks. I can buy a brand new comparable generator for that kind of money with at least a one year warranty. Any ideas if I can find a cheap after market coil that crosses over to Honda's GE200 engine? I wouldn't mind buying a used one if I can find it... Thanks again, cheese.

 

$231 won't get you anywhere near a comparable generator. It might get you a junk chinese one (you will be disappointed) with a similar watt rating, but nowhere even in the same zip code as far as quality. I don't have much honda literature. I wonder if a g200 is the same engine design as a ge200? If so, coils can be had for less than $100. Check on ebay for used ones too.