Honda 5hp Outboard

DIY How to Clean a Carburetor on a Honda 5hp Outboard Motor

Here is a great video on how to properly clean a Honda 5 hp outboard carburetor

Video Transcript

Okay, so I'm going to show you how to remove a carburetor. We're going to need a ten millimeter socket to unscrew the screw that is holding the throttle cable, and also, an eight millimeter socket to unscrew the two screws that is holding the carburetor together.

The first thing we want to do is we want to take the line that supplies the fuel for the carburetor. We take that off. Also, on the bottom, where the in-take is with another hose, take that off. With your ten millimeter socket, unscrew the screw that is located on top of the in-take. Just like that. You don't need have to take it all the way off.

Now, take your eight millimeter socket and start unscrewing the carburetor off. We have the carburetor off, and angle the carburetor so we can remove the throttle cable and also the choke mechanism. This is the lever for the choke. It goes just like that. Just take out the screws from the carburetor and the in-take - just like that - and we're going to clean the carburetor.

Here is the carburetor from the five-horsepower Honda. We're going to be taking it apart. It's two flip screws located right here and right here. We're going to unscrew that. Then, after you unscrew those, you're going to take the bowl off.

You want to get a flathead and match up a flathead that fits snuggly right in there. Not too big, not too small, it needs to fit right on there so you don't strip or break anything. It's best if you get WD-40 and you squirt some right on top of it and let it soak for about four minutes and then get right into it, but mine's loose so I know it will come out easily.

You want to get the flathead, get right on the jet. You want to turn it counter-clockwise to remove it. This is what you're going to get. This little piece. As you can see, you can't see direct sunlight through it. This is clogged and this is why this engine wasn't running properly. It's a very tiny hole, as you can see. You need to get a needle or if you've got an air compressor, blow some air through it so it clears it up.

Right in the carburetor, there's another part that we're going to remove. There we go. It finally came out. Here's another piece that we're going to clean and make sure that it's not clogged up or anything, but this is the main thing on all small motors, on all outboards with carburetors, or any small lawn mower, anything that has a carburetor.

This is the main thing that clogs up. It's a very tiny hole that the gas passes through, and a lot of times, small particles in your bowl will get sucked up in there. As you can see, there's a lot of small dirt in here. It will get sucked up in the jet and what will happen, it will clog up and your engine won't run right.

Another thing is you want to make sure that your float is working properly. There's a lot of times that your float will stick either in up or down position. Make sure that your float is working. Another way to determine if your float is working is this is where the gas flows. You can put your mouth on it and you're going to blow air through it. As you can see, it lets you blow air right through it. That means in that position, the float is working.

Now turn is upside down and blow through it again. If you can't blow through it, that means your float is 100% working. Down, you can blow through it. Upside down, you can't blow through it. That will determine if your float is working or not.

Another good idea is maybe you want to spray some WD-40 right in here. On this little needle thing that the float works on that allows how much gas to enter the carburetor so it's working good, so it won't stick at all.

As you can see, I've cleaned the hole and you can see the sunlight coming through it. That's how it should be. See that? That means it's unclogged and your engine's going perfectly now, so you want to screw - you want to put this back in. Screw this back on. I could see that there is some dirt and stuff located in the carburetor, so what I'm going to do now is get a carpet cleaner and I'm going to get it all out. Want to get a rag and go inside and clean it out.

Once that's complete, we're going to assemble the carburetor back up. Put in your two fill-up screws back. A Phillips Screwdriver, I'm going to tighten down the bowl. Once you've down that, install your carburetor back on your engine.

First thing first, we're going to attach - what is this? This is the throttle cable. It just loops right in here. Put the carburetor at an angle just like that, and also the choke lever mechanism, just like that. Next thing, I'll hook up the fuel just like that. Make sure your - it's a small clamp right here. I'll put it back where it was, just like that. Overflow hose, I'm going to install it. On the bottom of this hose, there's a small hole where it goes through and it comes out at the bottom of the motor.

This is the in-take for the carburetor. On the bottom right here, this is where this hose connects. We're going to connect that and then we're going to - actually, I'm going to take the screws out. It's going to be easier.

Take one of your screws, push it through, the in-take to the carburetor. I'm going to get my eight millimeter socket, screw it in so it holds, and get you other screw and do the same thing for the other side. Now I'm going to tighten up the screws. Last thing is last, under the throttle cable, push it up there, tighten this bolt, and that bolt is a ten millimeter. Just tighten it snug and tight just like that.

That's how easy it is to carburetor back on and to clean it. Now, I'm going to start the engine.