Honda EM3500X Owner's Manual

Thank you for purchasing a Honda generator. This manual covers operation and maintenance of EM3500SX/EM3500X gen-

erators. All information in this publication is based on the latest product

information available at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission. This manual should be considered a permanent part of the generator and t-e

main with the generator when sold. Pay special attention to statements preceded by the following words:

ADANGER:

structions are not followed. m Indicates a strong possibility of severe personal injury or loss of

life if instructions are not followed.

CAUTION: Indicates a possibility of personal injury or equipment damage if

instructions are not followed.

Indicates severe personal injury or death will result if in-

NOTE: Gives helpful information. If a problem should arise, or if you have any questions about the generator,

consult an authorized Honda dealer.

m The Honda generator is designed to give safe and dependable service if operated according to instructions. Read and understand this Owner’s Manual before operating the generator. Failure to do so could result in person-

al injury or equipment

GENERATOR SAFETY

1. COMPONENT IDENTIFICATION

2. PRE-OPERATION CHECK

3. STARTING THE ENGINE

GENERATOR USE. ......................................

STOPPING THE ENGINE ...................................

High altitude operation ..................................

MAINTENANCE..........................................2 6

7. TRANSPORTING/STORAGE

8. TROUBLESHOOTING.

WIRING DIAGRAM.......................................3 9 1

10.

SPEClFlCATlONS........................................4 1

‘1 1.

INSTALLATION OF OPTIONAL PARTS

12. WARRANTY SERVICE

13.

....................................

............................

..................................

....... ,

...................................

.........................

..............................

.....................

3 6

8 .12 .17 .24 .25

.35 .37

.42 .48

0 Place the generator on a firm, level surface: avoid loose sand or snow. If the

generator is tilted or overturned, fuel spillage may result. Also, if the generator is overturned or sinks into a soft surface, sand, dirt, or water may enter the generator.

0 To prevent fire hazards and to provide adequate ventilation, keep the

generator at least 1 meter (3 feet) away from buildings and other equip-

ment during operation. Do not place flammable objects close to the gen-

erator.

0 Know how to stop the generator quickly, and understand the operation of

all the controls. Never permit anyone to operate the generator without

proper instructions.

Do not allow children to operate the generator. Keep children and pets away from the area

operation.

0 The generator is a potential source of electrical shocks if misused. Do not

operate the generator in rain or snow. Do not let the generator get wet, and do not operate it with wet hands.

Gasoline is extremely flammable and is explosive under certain conditions. Do not smoke or allow flames or sparks where the generator is refueled or where gasoline is stored. Refuel in a well-ventilated area with the engine stopped.

Exhaust gas contains poisonous carbon monoxide. Avoid inhalation Of exhaust gases. Never run the engine in a closed garage or confined area.

The muffler becomes very hot during operation and remains hot for a while

after stopping the engine. Be careful not to touch the muffler while it is not. Let the engine cool before storing the generator indoors.

Connections for standby power to a building’s electrical system must be made by a qualified electrician and must comply with all applicable laws and electrical codes. Improper connections can allow electrical current from the generator to backfeed into the utility lines. Such backfeed may electrocute utility company workers or others who contact the lines during a power outage, and when utility power is restored, the generator may e

, burn, or cause fires in the building’s electrical

system.

Read these labels before you operate the generator.

ANNfltN Li YOlIUN AWAY1 ot NUAlNl Lt PLt,”

llNSPtCClONAR PAM COMBUSlIELf OlRRAYAOO

PANAN

MOTOR ANItS Of tCNAN

/WARNING ~~,~~~~~~A~~~~~~N~~~~~ST GAS CONTAINS

ATTENTION NEPASUTlLlSEROANSUNENDliOlTFERMEACAUSE

DU RISQUED'EMPOISONNEMENT DU GAZ.

ATEN(j()N NO LO USE EN LUGARES CERRADOS PORQUE EL

MONOXIDE DE CARBON0 ES VENENOSO.

ENGINE SWITCH

CHOKE ROD

OIL ALERT LAMP

ENGINE SWITCH (EM3500X)

PI LOT LAMP

VOLTAGE SELECTOR SWITCH

AC CIRCUIT

BREAKER

GRIP

DC CIRCUIT

DC OliTPUT TERMINAL

AUTO THROTTLE SW ITCH (EM3500SX)

OIL DRAIN PLUG

GRAND TERMINAL

/OIL FILLER CAP

FUEL TANK CAP

FUEL METER

SPARK PLUG CAP

MUFFLER

CAUTION: Check the generator on a level surface with the engine stopped.

1. Engine Oil

CAUTION: Engine oil is a major factor affecting performance and service life. Non-detergent and 2-stroke engine oils are not recommended.

Use Honda 4-stroke oil an equivalent high-detergent, premium quality motor

oil certified to meet or exceed U.S. automobil manufacture’s requirements

for Service Classification SG*SF/CC.CD. Motor oils classified SG.SF/CC*CD will show this designation on the container.

SAE low/30 is recommended for general, *all-temperature use. Other viscosities shown in the chart may be used when the average temperature in your area is within the indicated range.

1. Remove the oil filler cap and’check the oil level.

2. If the level is low, fill to the top of the oil filler neck with the recommended oil.

NOTE: .The Oil Alert System will automatically stop the engine before the

oil level fails below the safe limit. However, to avoid the inconvenience of an

unexpected shutdown, it is advisable to visually inspect the oil level regularly.

OIL FILLER

CAP

OIL FILLER HOLE

\ I

60 80 lOOoF

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 4o”c

Ambient temperature

2. Fuel

Check the fuel meter and refill the tank if the fuel level is low.

Your engine is designed to use any gasoline that has a pump octane

number (y 1 of 86 or higher, or that has a research octane number of

91 or higher. Gasoline pumps at service station normally display the pump oc-

tane number. We recommend that you use unleaded fuel because it produces fewer engine and spark plug deposits and extends the life of exhaust system components.

Never use stale or contaminated gasoline or an oil/gasoline mixture. Avoid getting dirt, dust or water in the fuel tank. Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause persistent “pinging” or heavy “spark knock” (a metallic rapping noise) which, if severe, can lead to engine damage.

CAUTION: If “spark knock” or “pinging” occurs at a steady engine speed under normal load, change brands of gasoline. If spark knock or

pinging persists, consult your authorized Honda dealer. Failure to do so

is considered misuse, and damage caused by misuse is not covered by

Honda’s Limited Warranty.

Occasionally you may experience light spark knock while operating under heavy

loads. This is no cause for concern, it simply means your engine is operating

efficiently.

Fuel tank capacity: 17.0 Q (4.5 US gal)

FUEL METER

FUEL FILLER CAP

Gasoline is extremely flammable and is explosive under certain conditions.

Refuel in a well-ventilated area with the engine stopped. Do not smoke or allow flames or sparks in the area where the engine is refueled or where gasoline is stored.

Do not overfill the fuel tank (there should be no fuel in the filler neck). After refueling, make sure the tank cap is closed properly and securely.

Be careful not to spill fuel when refueling. Spilled fuel or fuel vapor may.ignite. If any fuel is spilled, make sure the area is dry before star-

ting the engine.

Avoid repeated or prolonged contact with skin or breathing of vapor.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

GASOLINES CONTAINING ALCOHOL

If you decide to use a gasoline containing alcohol (gasohol), be sure it’s octane rating is at least as high as that recommended by Honda. There are two types of “gasohol”: one containing ethanol, and the other containing methanol. Do not use gasohol that contains more than 10% ethanol. Do not use gasoline containing methanol (methyl or wood alcohol) that does not also contain cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors for methanol. Never use gasoline containing more than 5% methanol, even if it has cosolvents and corrosion inhibitors.

NOTE:

Fuel system damage or engine performance problems resulting from the use

of fuels that contain alcohol is not covered under the warranty. Honda cannot endorse the use of fuels containing methanol since evidence of their suitability is as yet incomplete.

Before buying fuel from an unfamiliar station, try to find out if the fuel con-

tains alcohol, if it does, confirm the type and percentage of alcohol used.

If you notice any undersirable operating symptoms while using a gasoline

that contains alcohol, or one that you think contains alcohol, switch to a gasoline that you know does not contain alcohol.

3. Air Cleaner

Check the air cleaner elements to be sure they are clean and in good condi-

tion. Clean or replace the elements if necessary (page 29).

CAUTION: Never run the engine without the air cleaner. Rapid engine wear will result.

ELEMENT

1. Make sure that the AC circuit breaker is in the OFF position, and that nothing is

connected

to the DC terminals.

The generator may be hard to start if a load is connected.

AC CIRCUIT BREAKER

2. Turn the fuel valve to the ON position.

DC TERMINALS

FUEL VALVE

3. Pull the choke rod out to the CLOSE position. (EM3500X only)

CHOKE ROD

4. Make sure the auto-throttle switch is in the OFF position, or more time will be required for warm up. (EM3500SX only)

AUTO-THROTTLE SWITCH

5. Start the engine

With recoil starter: Turn the engine switch to the ON position.

ITCH

<NGINE SWITCH

(EM3500X)

(EM3500SX)

Pull the starter grip lightly until resistance is felt, then pull briskly.

CAUTION: Do not allow the starter grip to snap back against the engine. Return it gently to prevent damage to the starter.

STARTER GRIP

With electric starter (EM3500SX only):

Turn the engine switch to the START position and hold it there until

the engine starts.

NOTE:

Do not use the electric starter for more than 5 seconds at a time. If the engine fails to start, release the switch and wait 10 seconds before operating the starter again.

If a relay box is attached for remote control operation, make sure the

switch on the relay box is turned off, or the engine will not start.

If the speed of the starter motor drops after a period of time, it is an indica-

tion that the battery should be recharged.

ENGINE SWITCH

6. When the engine starts, allow the engine switch to return to the ON position.

ENGINE SWITCH

7. Push the choke rod to the OPEN position as the engine warms up. (EM3500X only)

CHdKE ROD

8. If you wish to use the auto-throttle system, turn the auto-throttle switch

to the AUTO position after the engine has warmed up for 2 or 3 minutes. (EM3500SX only)

NOTE: The choke is operated automatically whenever a battery is connect-

ed to the generator’s starting circuit.

AUTO-THROTTLE SW ITCH

+ 39 hidden pages

Honda EM3500X Owner's Manual

CONTENTS