honda generator

[The motor guy]

Honda generator leaks fuel after being shut off. I used my generator today and ran it about half load for about 35 minutes and after I shut it off it started leaking fuel big time from the carb. It was leaking from this drain looking thing right behind the carburetor. So I think they engineered that into it in case this happened. It doesn't have idle control but I'm wondering if maybe this happened cause I shut it off shortly after flipping the breaker and stopping the load? Should I let it run with no load for a few minutes before shutting it off next time? Last time I ran it I only ran it for about 5 minutes. It's brand new and I was just testing it out. It didn't pour fuel the first time I ran it a week ago. I turned off the fuel valve and it stopped as soon as I did that.

 

[morepwr]

What you did shouldnt have done a thing to the fuel delivery. It sounds more like the float is stuck down or there is a piece of dirt in the needle and seat that is causing more fuel to flow in than is needed so it flows out the vent or overflow. Does it sit a lot between uses? Clean out the carb and make sure the fuel tank is clean and it should be fine. Depending on the model you should be able to get the float bowl off the bottom of the carb and then you can remove the float and clean out the needle and seat with some carb cleaner. It isnt very hard but you have to be careful as the parts are small so dont do it on a lawn or someplace that will make it hard to find parts if they slip out of your hand.

 

[The motor guy]

It's brand new. Just put fuel in it a week ago.

 

[jmb106]

Sounds like the float bowl loosened up or the drain in the float loosened up. Both bolts should be 10mm.

 

[morepwr]

If its new then something must be loose as stated above.

 

[dave123]

I am going with the sticky float E10 gas? I do like to run MMO 2oz per 5 gallon gas. If it were me I would shutdown with VPracing Small Engine Fuel before storage.

 

[Rand]

if its 1 week old have it repaired under warranty or return it.

 

[The motor guy]

I don't think anything was loose but i'll take a look tomorrow. Does warranty cover the carburetor? I thought they normally don't.

 

[The motor guy]

Yeah. I don't know I'm not a big fan of having someone work on something that's brand new since people always end up losing bolts and screwing up other things etc.

 

[The motor guy]

The bowl was dry. All the gas came out of the overflow.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I don't think anything was loose but i'll take a look tomorrow. Does warranty cover the carburetor? I thought they normally don't.


There should be an emissions warranty that covers the carb for 2 years. Regardless of the other warranty.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: dave123
I am going with the sticky float E10 gas? I do like to run MMO 2oz per 5 gallon gas. If it were me I would shutdown with VPracing Small Engine Fuel before storage.


Do you think this is just a one time thing and won't happen again? I remember one time I rebuilt a carburetor on a lawn mower and it poured fuel out when I got it back together and then it never did it again and that was like 5 years ago. It is new so maybe it needs a little bit of time to break in a little?

 

[The motor guy]

I guess I could always take the bowl off and see if it's hung up or something. It runs great other than what happened here. It didn't leak until I shut it off. I'd rather do it myself then take it to a shop where they will keep it for 3 weeks warranty or not.

 

[Donald]

I would try and return it (if it was bought local) saying it was defective out of the box. You should have 30 days to return it for a new one before the actual warranty kicks in. Let them get it fixed and sell as used.

 

[The motor guy]

I didn't buy it local.

 

[crainholio]

Honda's warranty should cover this at your local dealer if it's a defect.

 

[SOHCman]

Could this be a feature? As in to prevent the fuel from being dumped into the engine if the float sticks? Or perhaps its a vacuum operated valve that dumps the fuel fromthe carb bowl so its automatically ready for storage after it's ran???

Not likely but its a thought.

 

[The motor guy]

How can I fix this? It has a warranty as far as I know but I don't feel like letting somebody jack around with this thing and keep it for a month. When I turn the fuel valve on it pours fuel out of some kind of overflow thing behind the carb. I'm assuming the float got stuck open somehow. So I guess the only way to fix it is to pull the bowl off and see what's causing it to hang up? It ran great for half an hour and then when I shut it off it started pouring fuel out for some reason. What would cause it to run fine and then pour fuel out after shutting down?

 

[jmb106]

for the 2nd time get a 10mm wrench and remove the bowl, or take it back to where u purchased it and demand a new one! fix it or replace it!

 

[Nayov]

Same thing happened with my Craftsman. It was new at the time, but the stuck float drained the gas tank. Removed bowl, cleaned it or something and the problem hasn't reoccurred years later.