i have tried everything that i know to do to get it started. my engine wont start or is extremely hard to start and wont run well in damp humid conditions. makes it a little difficult hunt the morning flight. i replaced all the o-rings in the carb about a week ago. replaced fuel line. i know its not the fuel. put new fuel in it yesterday. it acts like its trying to flood. drain the bowl on the carb and no change. makes a deep gurgeling noise and back fires through the muff. as soon as the sun come out and burns the dew off i have no problem starting it. took the boat to the river for a test run after i cleaned the carb and fuel pump and it started fine, but got a couple miles up river and the engine dies, fires right back up and runs ok for another mile and dies again . ran for another couple miles with no probs. tried to start it this morn to make a hunt and back to no go. any ideas ? i am probly going to take it to a local lawnmower shop and have them look at it. thanks for any help guys.

Before you take it to the shop spray the coil wires & plug boots
with tire wet .
start the motor & spray it in the fan to coat the coils
see if this helps

Reckon' it could be as simple as the fuel filter ??

i called and talked to the guy at the mower shop and he said to try spraying the wires and everything with a spray silicone. i guess tire wet is about the same thing? anyhow, did that this afternoon before i left for work. i'll try to strart it up when i get home in the morn. i thought about the fuel filter but during the heat of the day , the motor starts fine, barely bump the key and it fires right up. he told me if spraying the wires down doesn't work to bring it in and he would take a look at it. hopefully this will make a difference. i appreciate everyones help in the matter.

well, looks like i'll be calling the shop. tried cranking the motor and nada, but later today when i get up, it'll fire just fine. only does this when its damp. there is some dew on the boat and motor right now. well guys, thank for the help anyhow.


bull

If you'r having problems starting in the morning WHEN IT'S DAMP, I would be 99% sure that it.s an ELECTRICAL problem, not fuel.

Are you getting spark when it does this? We used Honda motors for ALL of out power equipment at my Fire Department. Fans, Hurst Tool, generators, etc. The major reason... Easy starting!

Sounds like a problem with the wires or coils, like the man said ... OR ..... moisture in the key switch?

i'm about 99% sure it's an electrical prob. talk with the guy at the shop, he called honda and a " lengthy talk " with them. they said to try disconnecting the ground from the key switch. i did that and it didn't work. i pull the plugs and check to see if they are sparking and they are. i found a hot wire that was coroded off. looks like it went to the rectifier/regulator. not sure if this has an efect on the ignition coils or not. i believe the rectifier is more for the charger part of the engine. i'm going to try to get up before the shop closes and call him. i dont really want to take the coils off, i'm afraid i wont be able to get the gap set correctly. i'm not a mechanic by any means.

ok, i've been looking at all the wires on my engine, cant find anything obviously wrong, other than the voltage regulator/rectifier. so i started spraying water on the wires and starting the engine. when the plug wires and/or ignition coils are wet/damp the engine sputters and back fires like it did the other morning. so i think i've narrowed the problem down to that. i'm goin to try to keep the plug wires and ign coils dry tonight and see if it starts any better in the morn. i'll let yall know tomorrow. who knows, maybe this will help somebody in the future.



bull

My truck will do that when the plug wires are old and/or distributor cap/starter button get old. Just a thought, sounds like the moisture is making a problem out of something that's weakened like that.

well, i got up at 4:30 this morning with lots of dew on the boat. i covered up the engine last night and when i tried to start it, it fired right up. so it looks like new ignition coils are going to be ordered mon along with a voltage regulator/rectifier. thanks for all the help and input on this.


bull