It seemed to run perfectly on gasoline with the tight valve lash,, but with the propane it was pre and post-ignition exploding, throwing pressure and suction on the demand regulator, so it was just going crazy, adding to the problem by going rich then lean in a second.
It was a research in learning symptoms and cures by a novice internal combustion engine tinkerer. With all the searching online there were hints of possible problems causing what I was experiencing, and there were lots of advice by all levels of expertise. This forum, specifically the link I provided, was what caused me to realize I needed to check the valve lash before doing anything else. I started out with the gaps I listed and was planning to try the others mentioned if it still didn't run just right,, but it ran so good, I left well enough alone.
Honda recommends checking and adjusting valves at every 300 hours. I see now where that is VERY good advice. I have told all of my friends who own generators to order gaskets and I'd set their valves. For other novice do-it-U'r-selfers, Jacks Small Engines online has parts lists and make and model exploded views for most small engines. I was disappointed in our local Honda service shop at not being able to work on propane powered generators. I guess it's because Honda doesn't appear to produce them. But I imagine there will be some factory Honda tri-fuels coming in the future.
I live on the grid, but deep in hurricane country, 3 miles into the Gulf of Mexico off Alabama. It's a small island of probably 2000 full time residents. In my life in the Gulf Coast area, I have endured many times when the power was off after a major storm for a week, and up to 8 weeks one time. I have been running a gasoline powered 10K Powermate since Ivan and it would run the central air and most everything. I got the little Honda because it will do a lot of things and is quiet and sips fuel. Last summer, I installed a professionally prepared propane powered Honda twin spinning a 16K inverter gen. and at the same time got my propane company to remove my 100 gal tank and install a 250. The 16k should run around 7 days (+or-) on a full tank of propane. So I figured why run the big gen at times where central air is not being used anyway, such as winter blows that take down power lines. We have had sailboats take down the island feed lines when they broke loose or went into areas they were not suppose to. Both of those resulted in power outage for over 3 days while barges brought in line trucks to repair the broken lines over water.
I switched to propane to end the gasoline storage, handling, treating, and filling operations. I have to rotate my 50 gallon gasoline supply through the cars and buy new every year even with treating it. During Katrina, the refineries just to our west were damaged and took quite a while to bring back on line. During that time, I used all of my storage gasoline, 85 gallons from my boat's tank, and since there was huge lines at any station open and you were limited to only 5 gallons. We had to bug-out to civilization in Oconee Ga.
Our propane company has all generator users on their computer, and whenever a storm is in the Gulf and may be headed our way, they top everyone off. As soon as the storm is over, they keep everyone supplied with propane. When Fredric hit, it knocked out the old bridge. The propane company brought a large transport tanker full and a bobtail delivery truck. When the tanker started to get low, another barge showed up with another full load. So I think unlimited fuel was another plus of converting.