New to working on Hondas but I've worked on cars all my life. My girlfriends aunt gave her a 87 Accord that had been sitting about a year in need of a clutch. I replaced the clutch but now we have a running issue. When you first start the car no matter if it's hot or cold it jumps up to around 2000 RPM and holds there for 10-15 seconds. At that point it drops down to 1000 then just cuts off. It runs slightly rough above 2000 but not terrible.

I took it out on the road the other day and every time you push the clutch in and the engine slows down it dies. Sometimes it will start right back up and sometimes you have to play with it.

I feel like its a fuel problem probably in the carb. I replaced the plugs and fuel filters (Both) and it didn't help.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Paul

 

Carbs tougher to diagnose, IMO. Since the car sat for a long time, and the car is not idling well, I'd look for vacuum leaks. Inspect the vacuum hoses for damage. You can also try spraying water around them to see if the idle does change.

 

I'm guessing the carb is "gummed" up from sitting and the gas drying out.

Pull the air cleaner base and give the carb a good cleaning with carb cleaner......don't drop the two nuts that hold that screen over the top of the carb into the carb .

See what you have from there.....if still acting up I've got a few more steps we can try.

Yes, I guess I'm the resident 3rd gen fan on here....love the little guy's and have been messing with them since the early 90's...in all I think I've owned at least five of them since then....still got one that is going to go for a short drive around the block later today, battery is charging as I type .

EDIT: WAY SLOW at typing....I didn't even see PA posted

 

Had a similar issue with a carb engine years ago, turned out to be water in the fuel tank.