Honda E40

[ZackaryMac]

I bought a used Honda E40 tiny generator from a local guy the other day. It's all there, though spark is very weak and it won't run (yet).

Some info on this rare and unusual generator:
40 watts (yes, 40 !!) at 120v, 180Hz
8kg in weight (near 20lbs)
17cc 4 cycle engine
It was made by Honda for Sony so you could use it to make their micro TV portable, back around 1963. It was Honda's first portable generator. Generating coils are about the size of your fist. Permanent magnet rotor. The ignition coil is bigger than the cylinder. Aluminum muffler. Voltage guage. I presume it runs around 3000 to 3600 rpm.

No spark...strange way they wired the ignition. Power from the generating coil for the ignition goes to the ignition coil AND the points. The ignition coil doesn't have a separate ground for the primary side. The points stay open most of the time, and when they close, they actually short the generating coil, collapsing the field in the ignition coil. Strange. I need to have an isolated ground on the primary if this is ever going to run on it's own again. Parts and parts diagrams appear non-existant at this point.

A neat find. Reasonable shape, certainly not "Mint", but quite decent.


Just thought someone might find it interesting.

[Ed Radtke]

Thats a standard energy transfer ignition.The ignition coil should already be grounded on the primary,internally.Clean points well and replace the condenser and it should be very hot.Also if the shoe on the points is worn down it will greatly affect output because the source coil has to peak in magnetic saturation at exactly the right time in relation to the points.

[Tom Cwach]

I have one of those E40s. Is yours red or blue-green in color?

I think it was about 1967-1968 they came out. Your are correct about the Sony TV connection.I have seen a Sony ad with a man watching a TV out in a field with a E40 behind the TV. Most are red but some were painted blue-green to match the new CB750 motorcycles in 1969 and given to dealers as sales incentives.

Its been about 7 years since I have run mine but I remember the speed control knob is also the choke knob. Pull it out to choke.

I belive the points are the same as some of the 125-150 twin motorcycles.

[IanR]

Found this site that verifies the Sony TV connection. Quite a few other neat things as well.
http://world.honda.com/collection-ha...h/n_h_all.html

[ZackaryMac]

This one is red.
I imagine it's very quiet. Probably run for a while on a 5 gallon can of gas.
Likely the gas would go stale before it ran out.

Ed, thanks for the info on the ignition system. I've never seen this type before. If I remove the coil (therefore separating the primary ground, and grounding the plug to the coil), I can get it to spark ok this way, which of course is not going to work when assembled.
Timing has been all over the place (points gap), so it looks like I'll have to experiment a bit. I'm determined to hear it run on it's own. Problem is, I'm just stupid enough to not give up.
I don't even know if it'll run a compact flourescent light, due to the stange output frequency (Honda rates it at 180Hz). Incandecent for sure, however, with only 40 watts...still more fun than the E300.

Tom, interesting about the choke. I didn't pay attention to the movement of the knob (!) much. I'll have to remember that hint when I get it near flash point.

Thanks for the response guys. I'll let you know how it's coming along.

[ZackaryMac]

I did finally get the old thing to fire up. Ignition system is ok. I removed the head gasket and sealed the head with Copper spray. Looks like the compression was a little too low to make it work. Since there are ZERO replacement parts available, this is better than nothing. The rings/piston/cylinder looked fine, however I guess it wasn't fine enough. I thought about it one day, and realized maybe the compression wasn't high enough to fire up, so I removed the head gasket. Hard to tell with a 40+ year-old 17cc 4 stroke engine.
Had a hard time getting it to stop leaking gas. It has a metal needle and brass seat, and NO WAY would it stop leaking. Polishing and cleaning it to death did nothing. This has the tiniest needle I've ever seen. It comes to a point where I figure a repair on something that replacement parts are no longer available becomes a "fix it or f*** it" type repair, meaning trying something that isn't conventional may either work, or you ruin the original parts with the attempt, making the subject useless. So I drilled the bore of the seat with a hand drill and required drill to fit a small power saw rubber tipped needle. With some dressing up the hole where the needle tip seats, it finally stops leaking. This needle is a small size for power saws, but reasonably bigger than the original.

Amazing thing is, it runs a compact florescent light no problem, even with 180hz. It sounds a bit noisy, possibly bottom end. Maybe it's the nature of them, but I think it's more than that.
It's going to stay that way. It runs.

[ZackaryMac]

I realized the other day, after going here:
http://world.honda.com/collection-ha...h/n_h_all.html
that my generator is actually a E80, not a E40, according to the pics at least.

Gee. TWICE the power than I thought!

[BRiggs5S1952]

are you interested in selling it? I have a Honda e300 im kinda strating a collection

[Larry H]

Hi BRiggs,
I think we are almost neighbors with like interests! If you wish you could call me at 525 4971. Usually best between about 6 and 9 PM.
Larry

[rraypo]

Hello there all and a great day to you. Just found this thread, so sorry I am late in replying. I too have a Honda EU80 generator. Mine is complete and runs fine, yes, all 80watts of it. There is nobottom end engine noise and in fact, it's pretty quiet. It's way cool, way tiny and you are correct, there are no parts and no information at all on the Net about them. You will find when searching around that is, a couple of other people with them. To my knowledge, the EU40 was never sold to anyone, it ws a Sony promotion item only and in 1964/1965.

[rraypo]

Sorry all, my error, it is an E80