Honda 2.3 problems...

[PetiteFleur]

My Honda 2.3 started playing up a few days ago - started fine but stopped a few minutes later, kept starting then stopping after a few seconds so rowed the rest of the way... On return journey to shore it ran OK without any problems. Took home and stripped the carb. Opened drain screw on carb first and water visible - removed carb bowl and 'pink' blobs found. Stripped rest of carb, cleaned and reassembled. I've used Premium petrol with Honda additive for the last couple of years. What's the pink blobs? Having lunch so not run it yet. Pic shows the water(other wouldn't load!)

 

[kieron riley]

possibly rust ,the fuel bowl is made from mild steel

 

[PetiteFleur]

Update - definitely not rust, the inside was clean, the pic shows the water, the other pic showing the pink blbs didn't upload! Ran it for several minutes and it ran ok. Will try on Thursday when I go to our boat.

 

[Fantasie 19]

How old is the fuel??

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Just wondering what consistency are the pink bits.
Jelly like ?

 

[Oily Rag]

It may be worth changing the spark plug. It worked for me!

 

[PetiteFleur]

Update 2
fresh fuel about a fortnight ago - E5 and have ordered a new spark plug yesterday.

 

[Steve65]

Fuel/ ethanol residue. Two week old fuel in a float bowl will have water in the bottom of the float bowl.
An interesting You tube video shows a guy emptying five litres of e10 into a glass fish tank.
He then adds 1 litre of tap water, mixes it up and leaves it a couple of days.
The water sinks to the bottom of the tank and then the water is siphoned and is now 1.5 litres.
What he has done is removed all of the Ethanol out of the fuel,but unfortunately all of the octane also.
You can add octane booster back to the fuel ready for use, but beware most octane boosters are Ethanol.
A tip is always drain your float bowl after use...do not run it dry as you will still have water inside the bowl

 

[Zippysigma]

A lot of outboards in our area have been stopping after a short while. the local engineer says a common factor is they all bought the fuel from one garage over a short period. It was just on the standard petrol, not the premium, so even "new" fuel could have an issue.