I have a Honda 2000i generator that starts every time with a couple pulls if used every 3 or 4 days. If it sits for a week or more, it is really hard to start. Sometimes it takes 25-30 pulls to get it to finally start. My son has one exactly the same in another state and it is doing the same thing.

It has fresh gas, stabilzer, choke is operational, spark. Any ideas on why it takes so many pulls to start it? It almost has to be fuel related but I'm stumped on this one. I've spoken to other owners of these and they say the same thing.

 

Is your generator a EU200i model? When it does start does it surge?

I've found that old gas, even with stabilizer can make an engine harder to start in general. The stabilizer helps prevent the gas from forming varnish but it does nothing to stop the more volatile, easier to ignite hydrocarbons from evaporating away.

If you have a EU2000i I have a few of them and they too have trouble starting if they've sat for a couple weeks without running. It's the same with every one of them. After sitting a full week without running they start on the first or second pull. Go a few weeks or months and it can take many pulls to start.

First make sure your choke is working properly. Easiest is once you get it running and up to full temp move the lever to the choke position. If the engine surges or tries to die it's a good sign it's working.

If your sure your choke is working and still have trouble here is a video that shows you how to take out the carburetor and clean it. The key is the brass tube in the center of the carb that has a series of really tiny holes in the sides. The video shows it around 6 min. If those tiny holes become plugged starting becomes harder. Those holes are so tiny they clog rather easily especially if you are storing the generator long term with fuel in it stabilizer or not.

If your generator sits long periods without being it's best to remove all the fuel. Start it and when it starts to die choke it and keep it running as long as possible by nursing the choke. If your generator is used infrequently and you're not good about removing ALL the fuel before putting it into "storage" I've found avgas (100LL) to work well. It's available in the general aviation area of airports and it survives long term very well without forming varnish or breaking down.

 

Contrary to popular belief, and especially in this case during starting, the idle/transition circuit is more important than the main jet and emulsion tube.
Even with the throttle set to WOT, the governor is allowing the spring on the throttle valve to go slack, so the throttle valve on the carb is near closed or in the idle position. The transition circuit is the primary until around half throttle/engine speed.
In the throat of the carb there are ports and tiny holes that make up much of the transition circuit. This is the area that needs the most attention, along with the main jet.

 

Thank you guys, I will try all of your ideas.