Honda 2.3 Outboard...rough

[Vara]

Very low hrs, is running a bit rough/lumpy, reading posts on here it is likely to be the carb gumming up.

Is it worth trying an aerosol/fuel additive carb cleaner on it or should I bite the bullet and do a full strip and clean?

 

[Davy_S]

Is it worth trying an aerosol/fuel additive carb cleaner on it or should I bite the bullet and do a full strip and clean?

Be very carefull of using squirty carb cleaner, carb cleaner is a solvent, it will attack any rubber o-rings in the carb. Hondas and Yams use o-rings. This will give you problems later. ie the float bowl drain will leak, the main jet holder will disintegrate. Carb cleaner is best used when you have stripped the jets out, you can then leave the jets to soak overnight. This works really well.
The eggwhisk Honda is no big deal to strip down, do it!
Sorry if it is not what you wanted to hear.
Vic will probably be along shortly with a diagram. (he is good like that)

 

[fastjedi]

When mine suffered carb problems after an extended period laid up, it would start but only run (badly) on choke. It took me several goes at stripping the carb and blowing it through with an air line ... although i did the bare minimum strip to avoid making things worse!

 

[simonfraser]

Mine ran rough few weeks ago, eventually checked oil, dry as a bone .....

Can't remember last time a 4 stroke used any oil, I run it like 5 mins

 

[Lakesailor]

Strip and clean. And probably again.
Remove carb and take it home. If you don't have your own airline go to a garage. You can't beat a good blow job.

 

[sailorman]

Mine ran rough few weeks ago, eventually checked oil, dry as a bone .....

Can't remember last time a 4 stroke used any oil, I run it like 5 mins

even if oil didn't show on the dipstick,there would have been some oil in the sump. these engines rely on splash lube & not a pump

 

[Vara]

Strip and clean. And probably again.
Remove carb and take it home. If you don't have your own airline go to a garage. You can't beat a good blow job.

Thanks for the replys, looks like a strip and blow job, a service I know I can get in Dover, but not Canterbury.

 

[FullCircle]

Thanks for the replys, looks like a strip and blow job, a service I know I can get in Dover, but not Canterbury.

No funny quips this time, but.....

Col, I always ran my Honda dry, turning the fuel off about 75m from the boat/pontoon. Didn't have another problem for over 5 years until I got rid of the beastly thing.

 

[Vara]

No funny quips this time, but.....

Col, I always ran my Honda dry, turning the fuel off about 75m from the boat/pontoon. Didn't have another problem for over 5 years until I got rid of the beastly thing.

On the three occasions I've used it I've done exactly that, so I'm quite surprised its gummed up.

 

[fireball]

Our outboard (not honda) stopped running reliably - it would rev and then die - not responding to the throttle or choke - did a strip & clean - no difference - ended up replacing the fuel and the sparkplug and it worked fine ...
I suspect it was dodgy fuel - bought earlier this year from an independent station - probably didn't like storage (although no different to last year) ...

 

[dingdongs]

i believe theres a drain under the carb which will remove bowl for a browse and assume you have fresh fuel too.normally quick fix on this engine.