Honda Generator surging - any ideas?

Most small generators use a mechanical system to control the engine speed according to load - I'm not sure what the newer "inverter" gens do. The ?capacitor? you can see may be to do with the ignition system or possibly suppression of same.

I would check the carb again very closely. Are you sure you don’t have any air leaks?

Mike Harding

Hi,

It definitely sounds like you did something that makes the governor not work properly. It should move quite freely and change the motor speed as it does.
I think there is a small vane that gets pushed by the cooling air and it is held back by a spring. If it does not move freely, the motor may over rev. Some of these hondas also have a 50hz/60hz switch that basically alters the tension on the governor spring and makes the motor run faster for 60hz. The capacitor is part of the voltage regulation, but it only works properly if the motor runs at the correct speed.

Cheers

Hehehe,
New gaskets?!? I wish... I can't even buy the right size tyre for my 4Runner here! Sounds like both you and Mike are pointing me in the same direction, though, Phil, so I'll have to have another look at all of that. Gasket goo's looking good...
Thanks very much to you both for your input!
Tim

I has some gasket material in the garage - if you have sensible access to the postal service I'd be quite happy to post some across to you if you send me a mail address? Failing that you could try making new gaskets from card or leather - maybe thick paper too? Gasket goo does work, sometimes, but it's a bit hit and miss and a devil to clean off.

Mike Harding

mike_harding@fastmail.fm

PS. Want to tell us what you're doing out there - how, when and why etc?

Have to agree with Mike on the gasket goo...be especially careful in fuel areas...has a nasty habit of finding its way into jets!!! I too would love to know what you are up to there?

Hi Mike, Phil,

Sorry to take so long to get back to you - we also have had no phone service for the past two and a half months, so I am reduced to carrying the laptop down to town (4 kms down a 4wd track) and borrowing a friend's phone to do emails etc.

Anyway, the genny first - thanks to you guys, I went home and partially stripped it again on Sat, and then used some red gasket stuff that's been good for me in the past (not sure what it's called) on the inlet manifold, and that seemed to fix the surging - but then it sounded starved for fuel. So off with the fuel tank, and clean it out (there's no fuel filter in this thing, would you believe?) and I also found a bit of a blockage in a drain line that seems to come from the top of the carbie - don't know what it does. Put it all together, and voila! - works beautifully. Even better, the laser printer still seems to work - I guess not all the good smoke ran out, there must still be a little bit left! :-)

What am I doing here? I'm a missionary pastor, looking after a small congregation here on Tanna island, and also doing Bible translation work into the local language. So we live in a little village about 4 k's inland, 200 metres or so above sea level, where the church is. We've been here for nearly nine years now, but will probably head back to Aust at the end of this year - my oldest daughter will be heading into year 11, so we think we need to head back for their schooling. She's the only one who wants to go, though (she's right into computers, and loves the idea of ADSL) - the other four kids would all rather stay in Tanna! It's a great lifestyle for kids - and for adults too, as long as you don't get too frustrated when things break down, or don't go to schedule :-)

Thanks again for your help,
Tim.

Excellent! Glad you got it running again Tim. And the laser printer survived to tell the tale :)

Had to look Tanna up in the atlas (unsurprisingly :) Now that is what I call _remote_ but it sounds like a beautiful spot to live and to raise children - I suspect they will find it a big change when they come to Oz. Need any Western aid type workers on the island, I'm looking for a total change of life?

Go well.

Mike Harding

Bravo! kesh!

Top answer.

Eddy

Hey Tim, Good luck with the gennie mate. You're not originally from Narrandera by any chance?