Honda 50 running on two cylinders

[Nettech]

When we had our new 26x out last time, I noticed the engine seemed to run rough, and would want to die when throttling up. This was real bad in reverse, so it did not help my docking! I have found out running it at home, that it is not running on the number 1 cyl. It has plenty of spark, gets fuel to the carb, but no go. I read something somewhere that the jets in these are real small and clog easy. Has anyone else run into this? There is NO ONE around me that works on Hondas. Lucky me. Any advice?

[Scott]

pull the plug wires, crank the motor and pull the # 1 plug and quickly smell. If its not getting fuel it will be dry and burnt smell not fuel. If it is wet and smells of fuel clogged jet isnt your problem.

On edit:

All jets are small and eay to clog

Second edit: or whipping a dead horse II,

Search first, All motors have essentially the same design. We've been over this a bunch. On that note is your vent in your fuel tank open. When a motor starves for fuel one carb will drop out first, usually the hardest to pump to.

[Nettech]

Yea, vent is open, plug is dry as a bone. I can drain the bowl, and it will fill back up. I can also loosen the bowl drain while it is running, and I get a steady stream of fuel.

[argonaut]

I read something somewhere that the jets in these are real small and clog easy. Has anyone else run into this? There is NO ONE around me that works on Hondas. Lucky me. Any advice?

BTDT. Luke and many others as well. Noone wanted to work on mine either. Buy EFI, non-Honda next time.
Search here on "honda 50 carb" and you'll see whan I mean.

For now, sounds like fuel gets to the carb, just doesn't get to the intake.
(you've eliminated missing spark...)
On the bright side 2 of your carbs work.
A solvent like Seafoam might break up your clog. Drain bowl, spray seafoam inside, then let it soak at least overnight. Pray.
If you decide to rebuild 'em yourself have a service manual and replacement jets. The carbs are simple but are a b--- to get off and back on. Taking off the intake manifold make it easier. Half day to get 'em off, half hour a piece to clean out green glop, then R&R jets (3), needle valve, and float. Use new gaskets. Thanks Honda!
And yes, the jets are incredibly tiny and tend to crack at the end, which can be seen with a magnifying lens.

[Frank C]

BTDT. Luke and many others as well. Noone wanted to work on mine either.
Buy EFI, non-Honda next time. Search here on "honda 50 carb"
and you'll see whan I mean.

Hmmm - and argonaut's a Honda owner!
Yep, seen plenty of discussion here about carb problems. I insisted on EFI because within 4 hours on trailer, we have opportunity for either Bay sailing or high altitude sailing at Lake Tahoe.

Turns out the other benefits are nice too. I paid extra for Suzuki's full six-year warranty, but it expired un-used. The only problems I've had were caused by the three musketeers ... me, myself, and I!

[craiglaforce]

On my Tohatsu, it was easy to pull all three carbs. Took about an hour to remove the linkages, and move the oil tank out of the way, then 2 bolt on each carb and off they come. Took them to Marina office and the helpful help pulled the bowls off and put them into a solvent wash machine for about an hour. SPend another hour putting them back on and ran better than new.

Also a good time to change (or add) a high quality fuel flter to the fuel hose and also replace any old brittle hose or primer bulbs.

Good luck.

[LOUIS B HOLUB]

Nettech...my Nissan 50 HP did the exact same thing. I could only get about 2500 to 3000 rpms. A local marine shop did a carb cleaning, and it runs fine now. It revs easily to 5500 plus rpms, and idles great now.
The Marine Dealer also recommends keeping the engine level so that the carb. floats are positioned level (during storage).

[Luke]

Netteck, if you need to clean your carbs, you may like to read my comments posted:
Mon May 16, 2005 12:49 pm, Post subject: Argonaut's Honda 50 carb rebuild

Argonaut posted about a common (according to my Honda dealer) hairline crack issue with Honda carbs:
"Also, the slow jet, a long fine tube with a small orifice at the bottom, had hairline cracks in the bottom end running to the orifice.
The cracks are literally hair fine and require a 3X lens to see, but show up as cracks under a jewelers loupe.
Maybe not enough to cause problems, maybe just enough to make her run rough. "

Be sure to calibrate the carbs after the cleaning or rebuilding. I recently purchased the Honda carb-synch gauge set. It is much easier to use than the mercury gauges I used last year.

Luke
DreamChaser
1999 26X
Honda BF50
Currently located at Crandon Park Marina, Biscayne Bay, Miami Florida

[argonaut]

Luke, if you get a chance please post where you found your gauge set, I'd like to synch the carbs on my BF50A and almost bought the triple tube set.

[Luke]

Tim,

The Honda Marine dealers will not sell the gauge set to customers. I got the part number for the "marine" gauge set and called a Honda motorcycle shop. They sell the same unit to motorcycle owners. Cost me $220.00
Part number 07LMJ-001000A

Please check your private email on this website.

Luke