Honda 90: fast idle question

Valkyrie · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject: Honda 90: fast idle question

Hi Brats,

Marcia and I are planning on doing the Erie Canal in about a month and while puttering around with the boat today I put the muffs on the Honda 90 and fired it up.

It started okay after not being run all winter, but the idle is running about 1800-2000 rpm with the fast idle control in its lowest position. It had never run this high at idle before and I wonder how this would develop over the winter.

Any ideas out there? If it's a simple adjustment I could attempt that myself, but am not very mechanically inclined. I just want to make sure it's okay for the Erie Canal and doubt that they would accept an "idle speed" of 2000 rpm's.

Thanks,

Nick
"Valkyrie"

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject: Fast Idle

Nick,

Any chance the choke on the engine is part way out??? No other ideas.

Steve

Kena B · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject: hmmmm

Nick,

I guess I would look and see if the idle stop (on the throttle linkage) is actually hitting the stop. I could see the linkage getting a bit "gummed up or slugish" setting for a long cold winter. If it is hanging up, maybe try and free it up w/ WD-40 or carb cleaner. (I have had this happen on a snow machine before)

Just a thought!

Don

Dan McNally · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 10:15 pm Post subject:

Just a thought here, normally the engine idles at a higher rpm when run out of water with the muffs on then when in the water. If I remember correctly the the factor is about 1/3. The stated numbers do seem a little high I would expect to see about 1200 to 1300 if every thing was working correctly.

Regards,

Dan,

Valkyrie · Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for all of your replies. I check it out soon and let you know what the problem was.

Regards,

Nick
"Valkyrie"

Captains Cat · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:54 am Post subject:

Nick, not too sure about the 90 but on my 45's, there was a simple one screw adjustment for idle. Could be the linkages are stuck a little, try some WD40 or something and work them back and forth when shut down. Too high an idle will cause a "clunk" when engaging gears. Too low and you run the risk of the engine quitting when you most need it on docking. But you know that! Laughing

The adjustment is at the bottom of the linkage under the hood, should show in your owners manual.

charlie

Valkyrie · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject:

Okay, problem solved.

A while ago I had the rubber boot through which the engine cables, hoses and so on pass through replaced due to rot. This necessitated the removal of a bunch of stuff. The throttle cable was not reconnected correctly and was sloppy, causing higher revs than normal and the throttle would not return to normal position. It was an easy fix once found.

Word of advice: I have since learned that they make a split boot which negates the need for the removal of anything. If one can't be found, next time I'll just cut a standard model, install and then glue the darn thing!

Thanks for your suggestions. Hope this helps someone in the future.

Everything is now up to spec on Valkyrie and the countdown to ten days on the Erie Canal stands at three weeks!

Nick
"Valkyrie"