Honda eu2000 rough idle... The Phantom Menace

New genset: rough idle. So I want to bring it to a Honda dealer for service. My local power equipment dealer is listed and I talk to them about bringing it in. An hour later they call back and recant their offer. They'll work on it, but not as a warranty claim. Seems Honda doesn't pay them so well to do that. They'll take my money though.

Okay, get another dealer that is authorized Honda , a bit farther away. I call back in two weeks (stated time) and they say it's fine. They just changed the gas, added some Sea Foam and ran it. I asked if they checked it on Eco throttle (lower speed setting). Said they'd double-check. Spoke to a service writer (owner?) at the counter who said that it wouldn't run well on cheap gas, which is defined as anything that doesn't have a name brand attached to it (Mobil, Exxon, Shell, Sunoco,...). No more supermarket gas and it'll be fine, she says. Getting a bit nervous now.

They run it a day to two more and call me back to say it's okay. And by the way, we're an authorized Honda service facility but not for generators. There's a bill to pay - not much - about $17.00.

I go back to get my dear Honda and it is in fact running much smoother, doesn't sound like it wants to wheeze and die on Eco Throttle. Service technician says it just needed to "break-in" and service writer gives me big lecture on "watered-down" gas at Costco, Stop and Shop, etc.

Welcome to the Twilight Zone.

Now that you've read my missive, go back and substitute the words "Forest River" and "R-Pod" in the appropriate places. Sound familiar?