I had a similar problem. It wound up being the exciter coil. There are bad replacement parts floating around with them. They test fine with a dmm, but only let the
Engine idle. When you try to run them, they just feel gutless. I changed it out for one from ODDATV.
I tried this after i read this in his store add:
HERE WE HAVE THE REPLACMENT (the real one) IGNITION COIL FOR THE
81-84 FL250 STATOR ASSEMBLY. fully encapsulated like O.E.M.(TO PROTECT THE WINDINGS FROM IMPACT , AND CORROSION FROM WATER)--THIS COIL IS AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER AND MORE DURABLE THAN THE O.E.M. ONE. FAR SUPERIOR TO OTHER GENERIC COILS OUT THERE. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR--DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE 4 MILES INTO THE WOODS--AND YOUR STATOR COIL FAILS?--THERE ARE OTHER COILS OUT THERE THAT FIT AND LOOK CORRECT--YOUR ODYSSEY WILL START AND IDLE--BUT IT WONT ACCELERATE---people spend weeks pulling their hair out--trying to figure out why their odyssey starts and idles --but wont run. ALSO, IF YOU BOUGHT A EMGO COIL P/N
24-37800 FOR YOUR 81-84 FL250 AND IT STARTS AND IDLES, BUT IT WONT ACCELERATE ITS BECAUSE THE EMGO COIL DOSENT WORK.--EVEN THE OHM READINGS ARE CORRECT--ANYWAY--THIS NEW CUSTOM WOUND COIL IS THE WAY TO GO.YOUR CURRENT STATOR COIL-- could be the problem.-- STATOR PLATE PHOTO IS FOR INSTALLATION REFERENCE ONLY--STATOR PLATE IS NOT INCLUDED-YOU WILL RECEIVE THE COIL, THE CLAMP, AND THE INSLULATOR TUBE FOR THE WIRE----FOR TECH HELP, OR ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING SHIPPING--EMAIL ME OR CALL ME AT 1 631 737 3340 THANK YOU! JOE
Here is a link to the add on ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-FL250-OD ... Swu4BV6lenI'm pretty sure i got my first machine for cheap because they guy replaced the original with a EMGO coil, and couldn't get it to run right. When/if you install it, make sure you clean the coating off the wire like you did with the lighting coil. Just an idea.