Honda EU2200i Rough Idle on Eco Mode ? A Fix.

[@TheMickeymental]

I tried your fix without success. I went to the local Authorized Honda Power Equipment service center and was told it was most likely fuel tank debris had fouled the carburetor. Thank you for the video.

[@MAXIMUSMINIMALIST]

My brand new Honda does it and the dealer took two more of them out of the box brand new right off the truck and they do the same thing I am so pissed off at Honda!!!!

[@TheMickeymental]

@@MAXIMUSMINIMALIST It seems that since they started using the big box stores the quality has slipped. I have an Eu2200i that is four years old and it runs great. I wrote Honda and they said it would be covered under warranty. I am in Florida and I was waiting for hurricane season to be over. I am glad I did. Hurricane Helen is headed directly at me, should be here in about an hour. Best of luck to you and your problem.

[@brentg6210]

I brought my new 2200 right back into Honda and told them it runs rough on eco . They just said that’s how they run .. well i wasn’t convinced . Glad I found this video . While digging around there’s also a guy who said he fixed the problem by turning out the fuel screw on the carb , cutting the tab and turning out about 3 or 4 turns stopped the rough idle . I’ve heard it might be a lean miss from the strict emissions settings on the carb . But this spark plug gap is much easier I’ll try this first !

[@1minibean]

They told me the same thing. Hopefully this resolves your issue as it did for me. The change was instant.

[@JP-py9xs]

Changed the gap from.19 to .28 now runs perfect 🎉

[@clou1969]

Yep had to fix my spark plug gap as well on my EU2200i. Was rough idling the dealer had prepared my generator before I pick it up. They never noticed it was rough idling. Yep Honda shall run smooth just like that!

[@1minibean]

Hopefully this works for most owners.

[@clou1969]

@@1minibean very easy fix.

[@grantottaviano7445]

Just did this with my old EU2000i, 10/19/23 at 3:08pm PST, existing gap was .019. Went to .024 and now it’s smooth as silk.

[@1minibean]

Yup - got to do everything your self these days. 😆

[@JesusRamos-1224]

I have four Honda EU 2000 (2) Eu2200(2) Three of them have a Hutch Mountain system(runs with Propane too) They recommended the NGK Iridium spark plug, works super good.

[@1minibean]

From what I'm reading from other 2200 owners, rough idle on Eco mode seems to be a common thing. Luckily for me, regapping the plug did the trick instantly. The iridium at .024 and also the stock ngk .024-.028 was an instant success too for me. Hopefully others have the same results.

[@rebellucy5610]

Thanks for doing this video. Bad fuel is the go to for trouble shooting and nice idea to check the plugs.

[@1minibean]

Yes, and since I had premium ethanol free fuel for the first tank I knew it was something else.

[@GH-wt7ww]

Great information thanks for posting.

[@1minibean]

Thanks for the comment, Hopefully this will work for others with this common issue.

[@JP-mu5ic]

I have a new 2200, LPG converted, never been run on petrol/gas. It too has a rough idle on Eco, so tried your remedy of setting the spark plug gap. At first I thought it a success, idling not perfect but much better. BUT, as soon as I replace the plastic cover the bad idle starts again. Placing a rag bundle over the plug access hole (instead of the plastic) gives the same bad idle. My only conclusion is air starvation of some sort. ???? I notice in your demo you hadn’t replaced the plastic cover and wondered whether yours might do the same. Thank you for your video and time.

[@1minibean]

Hi, thanks for the reply. I know some other owners running LP gas use the Iridium plug I show here. I would order this plug and install. I don't think ventilation is off. I have noticed that the more I use it and break in the engine, the better it runs. Use the Iridium plug and run it for a few hours at a time and I believe it will tighten up. Also with a good load on it. Let me know how you make out.

[@JP-mu5ic]

@@1minibean Thank you again for your thoughts and advice. To be fair, the machine is brand new and may well benefit from some running in. I will source the iridium plug also. With the ventilation question, the opening and closing of the plastic spark plug access does make a significant difference, so I won’t be discounting that just yet. If there are any significant developments (or not!) I’ll be sure to let you know. Greetings from England UK.

[@1minibean]

@@JP-mu5ic Sounds well. The rag over the top vs. the cover I wouldn’t recommend as this case is designed to intake/air for cooling purpose. Any restriction most likely will cause issues with overheating and warping of the cast aluminum components. If anything, more open air flow is even better. Run that animal with a 75% load for a good 1 to 2 hrs., then flick it down to eco mode and I think it will surprise you . Cheers from N.Y.

[@JP-mu5ic]

@@1minibean Just to clarify the rag business. I cover the access hole for a few seconds = bad idle Remove the rag = better idle. Same with the plastic cover plate!

[@1minibean]

@@JP-mu5ic Interesting....sounds like the body/case needs more ventilation.....?

[@VinylTherapy]

Thanks for the video. Just ordered one, should be here Monday. If it runs rough, the plug gap is the first thing I'll check. How has it worked for you after 3 years? Any issues? Thanks again.

[@1minibean]

💯 Flawless. Starts every time. It’s my go to.

[@VinylTherapy]

@@1minibean Good to hear, thanks again.

[@markrethus4063]

If this doesn’t work (It didn’t for me) Check the black plastic idle jet, it should have 2 O rings on it, 1 above and 1 below the hole. Mine was missing the top one from the factory. Causing the air leak and rough idle.

[@1minibean]

On a Honda carburetor, that black plastic one piece jet is the Pilot Jet. Even though there is 3 ring gaps, there is only one O Ring on these, and it’s at the bottom. I’ve never seen 2. But if it worked, that awesome. I can see where an additional O Ring on top might prevent air getting in. When the Pilot jet gets clogged with the slightest debris, the main characteristics will be surging at idle. My issue was just a choppy inconsistent idle. Thanks for the Tip !

[@gorillamotors]

How did you determine what model of the NGK Iridium you needed? Or does it really make a difference as long as it screwed into the spark plug hole?

[@1minibean]

I cross referenced this plug many years ago, and it has worked for me. Hopefully it makes a difference for others too. But the stock plug also works good for my generator if it’s properly gapped. It was poorly gapped from the factory, and ran like crap until I properly gapped it.

[@mr.wilson8340]

I have one of these terrible generators. My generator had the rough idle. I took into the shop for warranty and the woman at the front desk unscrewed the fuel cap and told me I had old, bad gas. I asked her how she knew that without sending it to the technician. She pointed at what she called “white residue” under the fuel cap. I didn’t see a thing, but she denied warranty on the basis of bad fuel. The generator is used almost daily and filled with ethanol free fuel. Guess the gas station had bad gas. lol The only reason I bought the EU 2200 I was the good price. Should have spent the extra money for the Yamaha,. Honda’s day has come and gone. Their equipment has declined in quality to the point that I won’t buy their products again.

[@1minibean]

Thats why I didn't bother returning it, I knew I'd just get jerked around. Try this spark plug gap, or try the plug I recommend in this video. I'm thinking it will change the way it runs. Thanks for commenting man !

[@rebellucy5610]

Shops hate warranty work because they are unable to rip off Honda like they do customers.

[@1minibean]

@@rebellucy5610 Ha, not to mention many times it doesnt come back fixed anyways. Especially if they cant duplicate a problem.

[@MAXIMUSMINIMALIST]

I just bought one of these in July and do the search for this problem obviously because on Eco mode it vibrates so bad I can't imagine it lasting very long. I opened up the spark plug gap and it didn't make any difference at all. My dealer was Murdochs Which is a very upstanding chain mostly in Colorado Wyoming Montana and Texas so I brought it to their shop and told them about the spark plug gap they had never heard about that. They took off the covers to check the motor mounts and the balancer which is external to make sure nothing was loose and said there's nothing they could do really and said they were not aware of the problem but they did take another one out of the box and it did the same thing. At Murdochs they take them all out of the box and put oil and gas in them then put them on the shelf like that but apparently at least at this location they never ran it on Eco mode. They were really cool about it in fact since that's how they sell them out of the box they offered to take two more out of the box and everyone did the exact same thing!!! I am extremely disappointed with Honda. Harbor freight had their really good best sale of the year on their copycat version and I passed on it to spend more money on the Honda because I wanted the best I wanted superior quality and I wanted something that will last nearly forever and now I have a premium priced generator that is destined to fail due to extreme vibration.

[@kalhoon]

Dial gages can be all over the place for gap

[@billmalec]

If you changed the gap on an iridium plug, you ruined it. All iridium plugs are gapped correctly in the box. If you notice it isn't correct, return it for another. If you change the gap, you've ruined it.

[@ken2633]

I'm surprised that by changing to Iridium plug your EU2200i doesn't dance when idle on Eco mode 👍

[@1minibean]

I got good results from both plugs with proper gapping. The iridium plug installed seems to make the engine sound a bit better running.

[@cwkie3776]

Turn your idle screw in a turn.

[@1minibean]

On my Yamaha that worked. On this Honda, it didn’t.