On Mar 19, 9:26�pm, deuce wrote:
I have a Honda EB3000C generator with a Honda GX200 motor. �It's only
a couple of years old and has very low hours. �I decided to drain the
fuel and refill with fresh fuel. �It had sat for about a year. It
wouldn't start at first but I sprayed a shot of Gumout into the carb
bore and it started on the next pull. �So I let it run for about 10
minutes and it ran beautifully. �I decided to drain the carb so I
siphoned out must of the fuel in the tank, restarted the motor and
shut the fuel supply valve off. �It ran for about three additional
minutes but instead of stumbling and dying like I expected it started
to backfire very loudly so I quickly turned it off. �I thought maybe
some water had gotten into the fuel so I drained the sediment cup and
the carb bowl. �I put some fresh fuel in the tank and tried to restart
it. �It would start and run maybe 2 seconds, then backfire and die.
Thinking there still may be some water in the carb I redrained �the
sediment cup and the carb bowl and tried to restart. �Same thing, run,
backfire and die. �I added a little Heet to the fuel, repeat drain and
restart - same thing. �I'm thinking the original backfire episode may
have damaged something but before I tear into it further I thought I'd
solicit any experience anyone might have with a similar problem.
Thanks in advance.

Like others have said, change the plug first just to be sure.

Unlike what others have said, lean mixture can create a backfire
condition.

The generators that I have worked on that have sat for a year and
wouldn't start is almost 95% due to dirty carbs. The carb has to be
disassembled completely and EVERY passage clean. On a Honda, you'll
most likely need to get a small wire and run it thru the pilot jet
after removing the jet.

Also, drain all gas out of tank, check for rust. It will be a waste of
time to clean the carb is the tank is rusty.

Hank