Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

I did a maintenance run on one of mine yesterday, and decided to start this thread as a reminder-to-self to do this a little more often.

I had some issues with my old gen last year, detailed in another thread. Part of my corrective action plan (to what was reasonably careful storage in the past) is to run my generators at least every 2-3 months.

Using the Cloud, to offset my less than perfect memory........

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Date:

Generator:

Activity:

Final Fueling notes:

Maintenance notes (Done, or Required):

 

[3930dave]

Date: Feb 18/13

Generator: 2kw Briggs

Activity: 5gal Shop Vac - cleaned Civic

Final Fueling notes: filled w. NonE gas, Stabil and Starton added.

Maintenance notes (Done, or Required): Gas cap issue resolved.

Rgds, D.

 

[Ted Summey]

Did mine about a month ago. First pull of the starter rope, the handle broke off in my hand. Got that fixed and put a new spark plug in just for peace of mind. Then it wouldn't start. Note to self - put fuel in. Then it ran. I let it run for about an hour with a drop light plugged in to it to make sure the generator stayed excited. Treated the remaining fuel with stabil and seafoam for good measure. Restarts on first or second pull now. Starting the 8 hp motor manually it is essential that it starts quickly.

Coleman 8hp 5000 watts

Regular maintenance run

New plug and starter rope

10% e-gas treated with stabil and seafoam

 

[3930dave]

You faked out Murphy on that one Ted !

Yeah, I decided it was about time I got a little more serious about a MTCE plan for something that I depend on in emergencies.

Aside from the equipment, I'm aware of the need to train the operator's reflexes (at least this one ). On my newer gen, I thought I had a serious problem after about 10 hours of use - just needed to remember to turn the fuel petcock back ON ! Last thing I had to train myself on for that issue was a 70's Japanese street bike..... that's my story/sticking to it !

It's a standard training issue.... if you reflexively use a machine like a generator, it should make firing it up at 3am in the middle of a crisis go a little bit smoother.

At least, that's the plan for wrestling Murphy to the ground ! unch:

Rgds, D.

 

[JerryG]

Always ran my diesel generator every Monday morning. Never ever had a problem except for the battery was down once. I put a maintainer on it and then no more problems in 10 years.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I started my generator motor yesterday and tilled the garden with it. That is why I like my pto generator. Good idea to post this for those who have a motor powered generator. I borrowed one and it took two or three days to get started.

 

[BuzzardA91]

My system is that is run my generator the first week of every EVEN month. Shut off power to house, hook up generator, and let it run for 1/2 hour or so. That way it also tests the electrical and the engine. I always keep it full and treated with StarTron. My Stanby gas I rotate spring and fall by dumping it into truck and wife's car then refill and treat. I have a 30 gallon gascaddy which makes it fairly pain free. Unfortunately I cannot get non ethanol gas anywhere near me. I think the closest is around a 2-3 hour drive. Not worth it. I keep it treated, get 89 octane, and freshen every 6 months at most. I also change the oil and filter before the winter. I hope this system is OK but it is the best I have been able to come up with.

 

[3930dave]

Good approaches and practices guys..... I always learn something hanging out here .

I like the PTO approach, was semi-seriously considering that, but decided to address a 5kw+ high mobility need first. May get back to PTO options, if/when finances allow, but definitely plan to retain my small portable gens.

Big or small, they all need to run. Unless you are a contractor, or a full-time Wilderness RV'er, the small dedicated gensets tend to sit dormant way too much.

My buddy was servicing an onboard Onan, on a late model class C last year. The customer typically "camped" with hookups, and didn't bother running the gen much or regularily. Mouse nest is not the right term for what he pulled out of it, more like Mouse Hotel !

Recently changed the lousy plastic gas line on my 53L Duramax fuel caddy - now have a real commercial grade fuel line on it, the good thick-wall flexible stuff. Nice storage container, lousy OE fuel line, esp. in cold weather.

Slickest dedicated home backup I've seen is my buddy's fully automatic Generac, running on Natural Gas. Even does it's own maintenance runs, once a week - the only thing it needs humans for is Oil and filter changes.

Rdgs, D.

 

[Singalo]

The best maintenance I have done in the last year was finding a "Fast Track" near me that has non ethanol gas for all my small engines.

 

[3930dave]

The best maintenance I have done in the last year was finding a "Fast Track" near me that has non ethanol gas for all my small engines.

I stumbled on a thread here a while back..... can't remember the name of the company, but there is at least one business that seems to do quite well mail-ordering boutique non-E and high performance gas. Yes, some of these guys were the racer/ProComp Chainsaw guys that you'd expect, but more than a few were just fairly regular (but obviously mechanically aware) guys that got fed up with fixing ethanol induced small motor problems.

Rgds, D.

 

[Singalo]

I stumbled on a thread here a while back..... can't remember the name of the company, but there is at least one business that seems to do quite well mail-ordering boutique non-E and high performance gas. Yes, some of these guys were the racer/ProComp Chainsaw guys that you'd expect, but more than a few were just fairly regular (but obviously mechanically aware) guys that got fed up with fixing ethanol induced small motor problems.

Rgds, D.

Ahh, I think I see what you are getting at. But, for those who don't happen to live near a race track, "Fast Track" gas stations carry non E Gas. There is a website out there for those interested that post all the places in each state that Non E Gas can be bought. It's out there. The list is large. Before this Ethanol, I never had to do much with my small engines. Change oil and spark plugs. That's about it. I have owned chainsaws, generators, lawn mowers and you name it. NEVER had a problem like we started seeing in the last 10 years. That E stuff is good enough in your car. But if you can get the Non E for your small engines, it's well worth it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do all this stuff 4 times a year. House water filter, generator, furnace filter, ect.

Chris

 

[3930dave]

Ahh, I think I see what you are getting at. But, for those who don't happen to live near a race track, "Fast Track" gas stations carry non E Gas. There is a website out there for those interested that post all the places in each state that Non E Gas can be bought. It's out there. The list is large. Before this Ethanol, I never had to do much with my small engines. Change oil and spark plugs. That's about it. I have owned chainsaws, generators, lawn mowers and you name it. NEVER had a problem like we started seeing in the last 10 years. That E stuff is good enough in your car. But if you can get the Non E for your small engines, it's well worth it.

Understood now; previously I thought you were talking about race fuel. I've got my fingers crossed that I can keep getting Efree gas around here.

This is the company I was talking about earlier - the thread I found them on a few months back had plenty of happy customers.


FAQ - VP-SEF.com - Small Engine Fuels formulated by the "Mad Scientist"

Rgds, D.

 

[PILOON]

I run my genset about once a month and always load it using a portable ceramic 1000 watt heater.
Loading is important as a real test as well as it gets the genset hotter faster.
Heating the engine is necessary to 'boil out' any water vapors that are the cause of internal corrosion and acids.
Loading also allows the core to remagnetise.

 

[3930dave]

I run my genset about once a month and always load it using a portable ceramic 1000 watt heater.
Loading is important as a real test as well as it gets the genset hotter faster.
Heating the engine is necessary to 'boil out' any water vapors that are the cause of internal corrosion and acids.
Loading also allows the core to remagnetise.

Agreed. I like to use my large shop vac for the reasons you mentioned, and also to hit the gen with a step inductive load - like to check with that, before I have to use something critical like a sump pump in an emergency.

Rgds, D.

 

[lutt]

My father n law has several small engines, the ones like his gen., he will start once a month and run a while. This is a good reminder thread. LUTT

 

[General Lee]

Agreed. I like to use my large shop vac for the reasons you mentioned, and also to hit the gen with a step inductive load - like to check with that, before I have to use something critical like a sump pump in an emergency.

Rgds, D.

Can you explain to a plain ol' country boy what "a step inductive load is"?

 

[jerrybob]

Good reminder.......I have a 5700 watt portable generator that I try to start up about once a month when i remember. She started fine today......thanks for the reminder.:thumbsup:

 

[don45640]

I have a very old 8HP 3500 approx. watt generator and as long as I run the Marathon gas with no ethanol:thumbsup:,I never have a problem even up to a year's storage.
Of course,I keep it in the basement,not out in the cold,which DOES make a difference.
Funny thing,a coupla' years ago, it WOULDN'T start.Finally found the culprit.......a shorted kill/on switch. New switch,no problems.
I always run a generator slightly overfilled on good synthetic oil. More generators have bitten the dust because of low oil than any other cause,it seems to me. don-ohio ^)

Good reminder.......I have a 5700 watt portable generator that I try to start up about once a month when i remember. She started fine today......thanks for the reminder.:thumbsup: