Honda 2.3 HP. I give up.

Hayden Watson · Jun 26, 2026

I have the older water cooled 2-hp and had similar problems. It was all related to fuel delivery. There is a fine mesh filter in the fuel line that can be easily plugged and changing that out helped for a few years. Then it started to be hard starting and would die after a short run. I ended up replacing the carb [which was pretty inexpensive] and it has run like a top since.

shemandr · Jun 26, 2026

I had a 2hp Nisson and it was subject to poor starting and stalling. I was using the gasohol fuel - which is what was available then. I had to replace the carb since there were flecks of what looked like metal in the bowl. I also added a fuel filter which surprisingly it didn't have. The problems reduced by 90%. I think I also replaced the fuel line crimps with hose clamps I could tighten. I was ready to take it to the dump before the changes.

Drinky Crow · Jun 26, 2026

Mines been flawless. Just like my mothers cars.

dmax · Jun 27, 2026

I have a 2.3 - agree it's not the best, have replaced the carb twice in 8 years, cleaning just doesn't do it. Last carb change, I switched to TruFuel (ethanol free), been running like a champ ever since. The carb has very tiny jets and dissimilar metals, any water or crap in the gas causes problems.

sailcapt340 · Jun 27, 2026

Tru Fuel is all I use in my Honda 2.3 HP. Makes all the difference in performance. Once I mastered the half pull on the starting rope it starts and runs great.
The one issue I do have is the stainless steel sheer pin. They bend, they do not break. And removing them is a real issue.

marcham · Jun 27, 2026

These tiny 4 stroke motors (regardless of brand) have very very fine passages in the carburator. They do not take well to sitting more than a month or two.

It is imperative that the gas be clean (no dust/debris in the jerry can) and that you add a good marine stabilizer (like stabil marine 360) to the fuel in the jerry can. Even then, don't keep the gas more than 6 months.

The other stabilizer that is excellent, maybe superior to Stabil 360 for gasoline in preventing breakdown is Startron. I've seen a jerry can that stunk and the engine wouldn't run. We were in a jam. The Startron when it, we stirred it, gave it 30 minutes and it became less cloudy. The engine ran (roughly) after that....

If you can get ethanol free gas, do so. Usually 87 has less ethanol, as many brands use ethanol as a cheap way to boost octane in 91 and 94 premium gas (North America).

For small 2 strokes around the house (weed wacker, leaf blower, chainsaw), I've found Stihl has the best 2 stroke oil with excellent stabilizer (2 in 1). We've stored a small 5L jerry can pre mixed for 1 year and all the machines still fire up instantly.

Take the carb out, bring it to a motorcycle repair shop and ask them to pull it apart and place it in a ultrasonic cleaner for a few hours. It's the only way to clean all the small passages.

Just pulling the carb and using carb cleaner will not clean the passages sufficienly. You need a new carb or have it dismantled and ultrasonically cleaned.

The small 2 strokes (like the Merc 2.5 / 3.2 HP) were much more reliable from a carburator point of view, but used a lot more fuel.

BigEasy · Jun 27, 2026

azambella said:
It starts wit up 100% of the time and seems to run. great. until you go to use it. I broke the dam pull cord 2 times

Try replacing the cord with Stihl’s Elastostart pull cord & handle. Many owners’ of Stihl‘s high compression chain saws report significant reduction in the effects of kick back on your hand & arm. I have no personal experience with it; however, many users give high rating.

Allowishish · Jun 29, 2026

When we bought our boat, one came with her.
At first she ran well enough. Not super smooth but well enough.
we did have to change the carburetor in less than a year. (I am sure that Mexican gas and time away from the boat contributed here)
We did find that the shear pin bends badly when “shearing”. Luckily the restaurant we went to was under construction and had a nail that worked as a punch.
The last time down the little engine blew. Still not sure what happened. But we now have a brand new Suzuki 2.5 waiting for us the next time we make it down.
I had read the 2.3 Honda was a solid little outboard. Unfortunately, we had issues. Mexican gas? Time away? Either way, it never inspired confidence with us.

all that said. With the new carburetor, it ran really well.

pgandw · Jun 29, 2026

azambella said:
I have had many Honda products and swear by them. I still have my 1971 Honda MiniTrail in my shed and it still runs but....

The 2.3 HP Honda outboard is a terrible motor. It is not reliable at all. So, If your looking for a small dinghy outboard,
keep looking past the Honda 2.3.

It starts wit up 100% of the time and seems to run. great. until you go to use it. I broke the dam pull cord
2 times because it left me hanging.

So hopefully this will save somebody the aggravation I went through.
I have seen similar reviews of this motor.

Get rid of your woes with an electric outboard. I had a Honda 5hp as an auxiliary. Developed starting anxiety - I could never depend on it to start when I wanted it to. Replaced it with an Epropulsion Spirit Plus 1.0. My shoulders and back have thanked me profusely. I have a 12nm range on 19ft Mariner at 4kts. I now enjoy motoring much more because of the quiet and lack of vibration.

Fred W
Stuart (ODay) Mariner 19

rgranger · Jun 30, 2026

Sounds like y'all should use them for a fishing anchor and swap out for a 55lb thrust trolling motor and a LiFePO4

High Current · Thursday at 4:38 AM

rgranger said:
Sounds like y'all should use them for a fishing anchor and swap out for a 55lb thrust trolling motor and a LiFePO4

This is exactly what I run. Works great!

Alan Gomes · Thursday at 11:38 AM

I have a Honda 2.3 and had considerable problems with it when I ran fuel that contained ethanol. I tried fuel stabilizers to no good effect. I went through a couple of carbs. I then switched to True Fuel several years ago and I've had zero problems. The difference is dramatic. I will go months at a time without running it, and it always starts on the first or second pull.

The only downside to True Fuel is that it is expensive. But for my use case it's not an issue. I only use the motor for going to and from the dinghy dock when I'm over at Catalina Island, and given the amount of fuel that I burn, the expense is negligible.

twodzusfittings · 2026-07-07T07:05:44-0700

In order not to gum up the carb, when I am done using it, I always shut off the fuel and run the carb dry. Then store it on board my sailboat. Next time I need it, it always runs. Just my two cents for what it's worth.

Alan Gomes · 2026-07-07T07:15:50-0700

twodzusfittings said:
In order not to gum up the carb, when I am done using it, I always shut off the fuel and run the carb dry. Then store it on board my sailboat. Next time I need it, it always runs. Just my two cents for what it's worth.

I did that technique diligently, and it worked great--until it didn't.

I still do that, by the way, even though I am running True Fuel through it. Whether or not I still need to, I cannot say.

MaineSail, by the way, posted some information about this, which is what prompted me to go the True Fuel route.

dmax · 2026-07-07T12:36:06-0700

I only run it dry at the end of the season. Last year, after switching to TruFuel, I left it with gas in the carb for 6 weeks (wasn't the plan) - started on the first pull.