Dredge motor surging/rough running

[Sick4gold]

Only a year old Honda
Probably has 20-30 hours on it, oils been changed frequently being a new engine
Recently the engine doesn't want to stay running on idle ( throttle at minimum ).
When I give it a little throttle it dies unless I go past half throttle then it seems to run well.
Any tips please would be appreciated.
It is not bad gas or a dirty air filter and the spark plug is clean and gapped correctly.
I believe somethings wrong with fuel system somehow?

 

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[okbasspro]

Jet in carb is dirty. There is a long jet in the carb that has a bunch of holes they have a tendency to get gummed up if you run ethanol fuel or if it sits with fuel in it. Carb cleaner and a fine wire to clean out holes and your good to go.

 

[russau]

yep! I had that same problem with my Honda 6.5 H.P. and it was the fuel getting gummed up. I cleaned it out and I NOW store all my gas engines with True Fuel and I run it and then turn the fuel valve off until it dies because of lack of fuel. this works everytime and im never having any fuel related problems from now on! I was told that the fuel in the Mid-west was the worst fuel in the Country.

 

[Gold Maven]

i drain the gas and run dry all my small engines, it's a good way to insure they all run next time i need them.

 

[toolmanbutch]

You may also want to switch to non Ethanol Fuel. Many small engines with Alum Carbs will have a tendency to not run well after prolonged use of Ethanol Fuel.

 

[toolmanbutch]

You may also want to switch to non Ethanol Fuel. Many small engines with Alum Carbs will have a tendency to not run well after prolonged use of Ethanol Fuel.

Only a year old Honda
Probably has 20-30 hours on it, oils been changed frequently being a new engine
Recently the engine doesn't want to stay running on idle ( throttle at minimum ).
When I give it a little throttle it dies unless I go past half throttle then it seems to run well.
Any tips please would be appreciated.
It is not bad gas or a dirty air filter and the spark plug is clean and gapped correctly.
I believe somethings wrong with fuel system somehow?

 

[russau]

You may also want to switch to non Ethanol Fuel. Many small engines with Alum Carbs will have a tendency to not run well after prolonged use of Ethanol Fuel.

Any engine that I don't run often or im storeing , I use the True Fuel (non-ethanol) to keep it ready for the next time!

 

[nh.nugget]

The ethanol is corrosive, up here in HN. we have crappy gas also. I have found that if I use the additive for alcohol like the sta-bil brand and leave the gas on so the carb doesn't dry out no problems. When the alcohol evaporates it turn into white powder inside the carb that's what gums up the works when you go to use it next season. Trust me had the carb apart on my 4-wheeler to many times for the same reason. Don't use it much now I leave the gas on no more problems.

 

[Sick4gold]

Thanks so much
Any ideas where I can find instructions on cleaning the jet/carb?
I'm a younger guy and don't know much about things not fuel injected.
You guys rock and if nobody's told you lately, hope you find a huge nugget from karma

 

[russau]

get a can of carb cleaning spray. remove the bowl on the bottom of the carb.remove the float so you don't bend or damage it. unscrew the jet and spray the carb and jet holes several times and let it soak inbetween spraying it. then use a air compressor to blow it out and give it another squirt of carb cleaner or let it soak in a carb cleaning solution and again spray it out with air. and next time use some gas stabilizer and turn your fuel off while running your engine and let it die on its own when done using it for the week or season. once you get into a habit of doing this your carb problems are over!

 

[Reed Lukens]

Here

 

[russau]

Here

I know your wondering why the audio was off about the half way mark! well Reed spoke of his secrate location on Hollywood Blvd. and had to blup it out! GOOD THING I CAN READ LIPS!

 

[motohed]

The other thing I will suggest , is if you have a small airport around buy yourself some aviation gas and mix it 50/50 with the ethanol gas , I run strait av gas in my high performance offroad motorcycles , works great .

 

[NeoTokyo]

If you live in Nor-Cal (Redding) Northern Lights has unleaded non ethanol fuel for sale.

 

[ARC]

When storing your gas powered equipment of any kind...
Turn off gas cock valve IF it has one...
Then start engine and run until it dies from gas starvation.

Also good to unscrew the "bowl drain" on the bottom of the carb to remove any fuel that MAY still be inside.

IF storing for extended period of time... remove ALL gas from tank... carb and let air dry.
Then reseal and store.

 

[motohed]

It's definately a dirty jet situation , not a float situation , The floats main purpose is to meter the fuel in the bowl at the corect hight in the bowl for the jets to pick up . If the engine won't idle than its low speed jets , If it won't run out at high speed , or the engine runs out , hot at high speed [ IE lean Condition ] , then it's the high speed jet . I can get into a lot more but , this is the simple version , I have very deep experience with carbs .

 

[GrizzlyGremlin]

Had the same problem, bad gas and a dirty carb.

 

[motohed]

The other reason I like aviation fuel , is that it already has the long term storage inhibitors already in it . I like to fly too , I've been thinking about getting my pilot licience , I miss going with a buddy of mine that had his .

 

[polekaat]

There are stations all across the U.S. that sell non-ethanol gas. You pay a little more at the pump, but it's worth it in the long run. Easy to find using Pure-Gas.org : Map of Ethanol-Free Gas Stations in the U.S. and Canada . I run non ethanol fuel in all of my small engines now and most of my carburetor problems have ceased!

polekaat

 

[motohed]

Sorry none in New England , atleast I have'nt found any yet .