Keeping snow out of Honda 2000

It appears that blowing fine snow, somehow got into the air intake of my Honda generator and froze up the air filter. Had to bring it in and thaw it out. Is this common? And what to do to prevent this?

Extremely common. I leave it under the tonneau cover of my truck with it cracked when it’s cold or blowing snow. You can build an enclosure for it to do the same thing.

Yep, very common when it’s snowing and blowing if you’re not doing any prevention (protecting/elevating).

They also freeze up in extreme cold (a breather line, not the air filter)

If it’s extremely cold or blowing/snowing I set mine on the tailgate, half under the tonneau, AND inside an upside down plastic tote (holes cut on each end for exhaust/heat and receptacles) If it’s just an average day I skip the tote but still have it on the tailgate for noise suppression. I also run a chain and lock through the handle to the rear cargo tie down for theft protection while I’m sleeping.

The tote keeps the snow out of the air intake and keeps it warm so the breather doesn’t freeze.

What Dave does works too, but it will stink up whatever you have in the box, and your tonneau cover has the possibility of sailing if it’s not latched (I learned the hard way on a 35mph windy day).

I just pull down back tailgate and leave open and keep tonneau cover on with the exhaust pointed outwards and you can keep it inwards from the edge of the tonneau cover. I also just park truck so the wind is hitting the side or front of the truck and have no issues. Also when the wind is trying to creep in from the side I will use an old cooler on the side to give it more wind protection and you are good to go. Last weekend worked great, did use it once outside on the ground and it died on me overnight even with trying to keep wind off it and had to warm it up to get it to fire again.

Keep it up off the ice. Snow blows across the surface but not mear as much a foot or two above.
If ive got my truck i keep it under topper but when i use SUV, i use my stand i built.
I also pull my air filter in winter. Sucking trace amounts of snow into an engine will not harm it like dirt will.

Like everyone else I put it in the back of the truck under a tonneau cover. However, I point the exhaust in and think that little bit of heat that it leaves in the tonneau cover might make a big difference on the blowing snow. Never had a problem.

Thanks to everyone who responded. Great advice. Now how do I keep the holes open when I leave for 3 or 4 days?

You don’t. Get an auger that reopens holes, Ion or Kdrill. My Ion, and now pistol bit are great at it.

Just don’t put any frozen pizzas in the back of your truck with your running generator. Don’t ask why or how I know.

Buzz wrote:

Thanks to everyone who responded. Great advice. Now how do I keep the holes open when I leave for 3 or 4 days?

I agree with 3rdtryguy

Let them freeze and re-open with anything BUT Lazer blades.

Shaver style “quantum” blades and chipper style blades are a lot smoother. Lazer blades can do it, but it’s hard on your auger/blades/wrists.

biggill wrote:

Just don’t put any frozen pizzas in the back of your truck with your running generator. Don’t ask why or how I know.

biggill wrote:

Just don’t put any frozen pizzas in the back of your truck with your running generator. Don’t ask why or how I know.

Or Ice Cubes lol

This drink tastes funny

I put my generator in an upside down large rubbermaid tote. I cut a hole in it for the exhaust and some for intake. Haven’t had any problems so far.

B-man wrote:

Let them freeze and re-open with anything BUT Lazer blades.

All I use is my Laser blades… I used to have an ION but the laser just worked better for everything. When I see posts like this from a guy I respect like B-Man I really wonder what I’m doing different to have zero issues opening up an old hole with a Laser.

Joe Scegura wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>B-man wrote:</div>
Let them freeze and re-open with anything BUT Lazer blades.

All I use is my Laser blades… I used to have an ION but the laser just worked better for everything. When I see posts like this from a guy I respect like B-Man I really wonder what I’m doing different to have zero issues opening up an old hole with a Laser.

Joe I’m definitely not saying Lazers don’t work, just others do it easier. It depends on the hole too.

A slightly shrunk or fully frozen hole isn’t too bad. It’s those 1/4-1/2 frozen holes that can be less than fun opening with Lazers. They are more aggressive and catch and bind more than the others.

My favorite auger is a Lazer, but if my primary objective was to open old holes, a chipper would be at the top of the list.

Buzz wrote:

It appears that blowing fine snow, somehow got into the air intake of my Honda generator and froze up the air filter. Had to bring it in and thaw it out. Is this common? And what to do to prevent this?

Question:

Is it as simple as just removing the air filter element? Has anyone tried this?

All the engines that I can think of that have specific issues with carberator / intake icing are run without air filter elements for this very reason. Piston-powered airplane engines, snowblowers, snow machines, etc.

Without an air filter, the particles get sucked into the intake. Yes, it can make an engine run slightly rough as they’re burned through if it’s really a lot of particles in the air, but better than ice up and not run at all.

Anyone tried this with the generators?

Grouse

Mark mentioned he does in replies above

TheFamousGrouse wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Buzz wrote:</div>
It appears that blowing fine snow, somehow got into the air intake of my Honda generator and froze up the air filter. Had to bring it in and thaw it out. Is this common? And what to do to prevent this?

Question:

Is it as simple as just removing the air filter element? Has anyone tried this?

All the engines that I can think of that have specific issues with carberator / intake icing are run without air filter elements for this very reason. Piston-powered airplane engines, snowblowers, snow machines, etc.

Without an air filter, the particles get sucked into the intake. Yes, it can make an engine run slightly rough as they’re burned through if it’s really a lot of particles in the air, but better than ice up and not run at all.

Anyone tried this with the generators?

Grouse

Had my Honda 2000 filter freeze up for the first time last year on LOTW when it was -35 with the wind chills at night. I knew it wasn’t the breather because it wasn’t puking oil (been there, done that). Took out the air filter and it ran just fine after that. I am like the others in that especially when it is that cold or blowing snow I will keep in in the box of my truck with the tonneau cover cracked a fold or two, and I can’t imagine that there is that much dust/snow/etc. to get sucked into the intake at that point. Obviously the answer isn’t zero, but like you said…way better than not running at all.