[GenKnot]

Honda will only talk to a dealer mechanic.

Hmm. This is very disturbing. I did not know that!

Considering what you pay for a Honda, they should be glad to help you.

 

[GenKnot]

Really? This is why they have invested in an extensive dealer and service network. Unlike the China knockoffs that don’t and have no other option than to try working directly with the customer.

Yeah, really. Not everyone lives near an authorized Honda dealer, or can easily take their generator to one. An option should be offer phone support.

 

[GenKnot]

And for this issue, what would you expect Honda to do for this person over the phone?

For this issue they probably couldn't do any better than the dealer that is getting support from Honda. So this is an anomaly.

 

[GenKnot]

I've called Honda several times (I have 14 Honda small engines) and never had an issue with them support-wise.

So you CAN call Honda support after all. Whew!

 

[GenKnot]

Of course you can.

That's what I thought, but post #27 said "Honda will only talk to a dealer mechanic." First time I ever heard someone say that.

 

[GenKnot]

Purchased new battery and did the same thing as I said previously. When it did it again I tested voltage on the battery I removed and it was 13.5 volts.

Sounds as if the battery is good.

he starter solenoid got sticky from not being used enough.

Nah. The starter solenoid should not get sticky.

After installing new battery I repeated the start sequence several times and it got better.

Just guessing, but that sounds more like an oil issue. What oil are you using and what is your current temperature?

 

[GenKnot]

it did the click 3 times started and ran in gen mode for 1 hour. Then 2 hours later power went out again and it did 2 fails and then started.

So, it sat for about 1hr between those runs and cooled off. You will usually know if it oil related if it starts okay at higher temps. Sometimes these gens just don't spin well at 17 degrees!

If 5W-40 isn't doing well enough for you, I would try 0W-40. I run Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 European and so far I like it. It has outstanding specs! BTW, Mobil also makes a 5W-40 European version, but it is not as good as the 0W-40 IMHO.

 

[GenKnot]

Altho I dont think the oil is your problem, (but hey, I could be wrong), you really should double check the oil your using as a 30 weight is whats recommended for general use. Myself I run a quality grade of synthetic 5w-30 year round on all my OPE, including temps much lower than 17F.

I agree that the oil viscosity may not be the problem, but @highaltmgm said he "believes" the gen has 5W-40 in it. So, changing it will eliminate that as the possible issue. Often the batteries that are put in these gens have a marginal CCA rating. At 17F it may be on the ragged edge of the battery's ability to spin the gen well enough.

Also, many of the gen manuals have charts that stop at 40C (104F). Stopping a chart at 40C is not realistic for many parts of the country. We get well above 104F here in Dallas and that is ambient temp. The air temp inside an enclosed gen goes well above ambient. An oil with xW-40 (and even xW-50) is often recommended for higher ambient temperatures. Here is a chart from a Westinghouse 12000DF as an example and it is not even an enclosed unit...

Oil is never-ending debated topic, so I won't try to say what is the best oil for a generator, I can only say what I am having success using. I don't even think there is a "best" oil for a generator. The Mobil 1 FS I mentioned is the factory fill for some million dollar European exotic cars and even some high performance Corvettes and has to meet some very tough standards. The "40" for the Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 is on the lighter end of the 40 viscosity range. For example, Amsoil 10W-40 small engine oil has a 100C viscosity of 14.5. The Mobil FS has a 100C viscosity of 13.8.

 

[GenKnot]

Considering the $ outlay of the 7000 I'd be inclined to follow the manufacturers recommendations.

I wish that were true...that the manufacturer had the best maintenance recommendations. But I don't believe it.

I have three certified auto mechanics in my family and they all tell me the same thing. The manufacturer's recommendations are not necessarily the best. It is often a sales/marketing trade-off that comes into play. One of the best examples they give me is the "lifetime" fluids and spark plugs. There is no such thing if you want to go beyond 10-year/100K miles. It makes it sound good up front to buyers when they feel the car is basically maintenance-free. Most of the owner manuals have a "*" buried somewhere in the service recommendations. Its in there for a reason...so that the dealer can reject a warranty claim.

 

[GenKnot]

I like the Synthetic Small Engine Oil from Amsoil too. Particularly due to the anti-wear ZDDP ingredient, amongst other attributes, which is difficult to find anywhere. 😉

Yup, that is a good oil, but what is the ZDDP amount? The Mobil FS 0W-40 has a relatively high ZDDP rating for a car oil. ZDDP messes with catalytic converters (which the 7000 has), so they have cut back on the amounts in car oils. Here is Mobil 1 10W-30 compared to Mobil 1 FS 0W-40...

 

[GenKnot]

I am using the recommended oil 5W-40

Good deal. You should be fine at 17F.

How often should I start and run? How long? With load? I have started 10 times in a row last couple days with no issues.

With a smart charger/maintainer on the battery it can go longer between starts (like months) IMHO. Without a maintainer, then the gen should probably be run monthly to charge the battery. It needs to be run for 20-30 minutes to allow the battery to recharge and to allow moisture in the oil (if any) to be driven out. A load (like maybe a space heater) gets the unit up to temp better in cooler weather than running it unloaded. If the gen still gets a little grumpy starting in cold weather, then it may be best to bring the battery indoors to keep it warm. The CCA goes down when the battery is cold.

 

[GenKnot]

why would i get gas in the cylinder in the first place when I'm not running it

Possibly the fuel injector is leaking.

this engine doesn't have a fuel shut-off valve that I'm aware of. is there a float somewhere to replace?

It is fuel injected and uses a fuel pump, so there is no float.

See this post for the service manual...

https://www.powerequipmentforum.com...rum.com/threads/honda-eu7000-generator-anti-theft-ideas.24752/page-3#post-88211