Honda 2.3 starting problem, slightly different

[RichB1]

Hi there, slightly different problem from others posted. Have a 2005 Honda 2.3 HP. It's hardly done any hours - intermittently used for a few years then spent 6 years (literally) in two mechanics' yards, either being ignored or "waiting for parts". Was told the carb was history, so ordered a new carb and fitted it this week - ran perfectly first time I pulled the cord, no bother. Went to do sea trials, confidently toting my "new" outboard, down at the harbour, with an audience, and of course it didn't fire at all. I'm now dimly remembering that the original problem I took it to the mechanic in the first place was this intermittent problem, that it would fire up with no problem, run for a few minutes, then conk out and refuse to start at all. So brand new carb, new fuel, I need to check the ignition side, obviously. Beyond the spark plug, what else needs checking?

 

[Dunx]

Kill switch connections..

 

[Steve65]

Has it been runnon Aspen?
Has it been serviced, if not put a new plug in it

 

[RichB1]

Think the problem is mix in carburetor. Fitted new spark plug (and new gasket). Started, but ran very badly and wouldn't idle at all - eventually conked out. Took new spark plug out and it was pretty black already. Have been looking for a tuning guide how to adjust mix (I think the mix screw is on the bottom of the carb), but can't seem to find anything?

 

[Steve65]

Think the problem is mix in carburetor. Fitted new spark plug (and new gasket). Started, but ran very badly and wouldn't idle at all - eventually conked out. Took new spark plug out and it was pretty black already. Have been looking for a tuning guide how to adjust mix (I think the mix screw is on the bottom of the carb), but can't seem to find anything?

Hi , is the carb original, has anyone had ot to pieces or cleaned the jets.
The slow running mixture screw is in the middle ot the carb, but sounds like no.amount of adjustment will rectify the issue.
It could be the float needle valve isnt shutting the fuel off and flooding the carb

 

[RichB1]

Hi , is the carb original, has anyone had ot to pieces or cleaned the jets.
The slow running mixture screw is in the middle ot the carb, but sounds like no.amount of adjustment will rectify the issue.
It could be the float needle valve isnt shutting the fuel off and flooding the carb

The carb is brand new, out of the box. Someone told me that the fuel mixture screw is set up for brand new engines (this a 2005 - but it has hardly done any hours) and might need adjustment for an older engine? Does that make sense?

 

[Steve65]

Hi,
Is it a brand new genuine Honda, or aftermarket?

 

[Steve65]

The mixture would be the same on any aged engine

 

[RichB1]

Genuine Honda part. Sourced from a place in Germany, having got the right part number from Honda Ireland. When I first put the carb on and ran it, the engine worked beautifully - I was delighted with myself. It was only when I went to put it on the boat, having been lying down (on the right side) in the back of the car, that it wouldn't start. Then at home it started perfectly again, but started dying. I've replaced the plug and the carb gasket (new airbox gasket on order) in an attempt to fix this problem, but it's now actually running worse. Also going to investigate a drip of petrol from somewhere. There's a short rubber tube coming out of the engine, rear of the carb set-up but on the same side. Someone said that's the crankcase breather. Does that actually go anywhere/do anything?

 

[Steve65]

Petrol drip is as i mentioned previously....dirtht needle valve seat, rubber tube into the airbox is crank breather. You do not need to fit an airbox to carb gasket, they serve no purpose

 

[RichB1]

Thanks for your idea on this - I'm not ungrateful - but I would have to disassemble the carb to get at this part, presumably? That seems nuts. It has only run, from new install on fresh petrol, for about ten minutes. If I have to strip the carb down every ten minutes of running time I might as well give up with it. I thought Hondas were supposed to be reliable??

 

[RichB1]

If the rubber tube from the crank breather was not located back into the hole in the airbox, what would that do? (It wasn't, it was just hanging down between the airbox and the cylinder head.)

 

[Steve65]

If the crank breather was not in the airbox oil could leak when running from underneath the engine.
How much was the carb?

 

[RichB1]

Carb was about €160. Am beginning to think chucking good money after bad! Took it to another mechanic who's old school. Told him the story. He said it's probably not a carb issue then, but compression seemed low to him (judging with his finger while I cranked it) so he suspects some other more fundamental problem. I will post what his diagnosis is. Thanks again for your help.

 

[Steve65]

Valve clearances will need adjusting, its part of a major service