Generator shot down procedure

[brewdog]

On my Generac 7500 generator I actually do turn off the fuel and let the carb run itself empty during shut down. The first year I had it, I didn’t do it, and the float stuck in the carb and I ended up taking the bowl off the carburetor to free up the float and clean it. I’ve let it run empty ever since.

 

[dodge man]

I think it depends on the generator to and how it’s used. Mine is a portable and runs just a couple of hours a year on average. It holds 6 gallons of gas. I just don’t use it enough to keep fresh fuel in it.

 

[deezler]

Nope. Nothing special, ever, on any of my small engines. Zero carburator problems due to fuel in my entire adult life.

You guys who fuss over fuel draining and winterizing small equipment just really confuse me, none of that is at all necessary.

Our power went out for a couple hours on Monday evening. Looked like a broad enough outage to concern me for duration, so I pulled out my generac 6500 which had been squirreled away in the garage for last several months. Added a new gallon of gas to the old couple gallons in the tank and it started on first pull. After two hours our power was back on so I just hit the off button and stuffed in back in the garage. This pattern has been on repeat for the last 8 years with zero issues, don't over think it.

 

[brewdog]

Nope. Nothing special, ever, on any of my small engines. Zero carburator problems due to fuel in my entire adult life.

You guys who fuss over fuel draining and winterizing small equipment just really confuse me, none of that is at all necessary.

Our power went out for a couple hours on Monday evening. Looked like a broad enough outage to concern me for duration, so I pulled out my generac 6500 which had been squirreled away in the garage for last several months. Added a new gallon of gas to the old couple gallons in the tank and it started on first pull. After two hours our power was back on so I just hit the off button and stuffed in back in the garage. This pattern has been on repeat for the last 8 years with zero issues, don't over think it.

I use 10% ethanol and it seems to react to rubber fuel line. My troybilt tiller did the same thing.

 

[WranglerX]

Funny thing... Have new FIRMAN 7500W generator, and to stop it has fuel shut off valve Its dual fuel either propane/NG or gasoline, and when going from gas to off it instantly kills engine (electrical shut down), no way to shut off fuel and let carburetor run to dry it...

 

[DarkBlack]

When you shut off a small generator by killing the spark, you’re still drawing in air and fuel at 3,600 rpm’s. You’re loading your cylinder with unburnt fuel, which does no favors to your cylinder wall lubrication. Imagine revving your car or truck to 3,600 rpm’s, every time you shut it off, and simply killing the spark plugs while still taking in raw fuel.
All modern engines, gasoline and diesel, stop injecting fuel when you shut down, but these little carburetor engines keep drawing in fuel. Not ideal.

I’ve got a Honda GX engine since new, and initially I shut it off with spark. After a few weeks of no use, it would always lean speed surge for the first 5 minutes or so, sometimes almost stalling. Probably jetted lean from the factory. Once I started shutting it down by the fuel shutoff, It’s started up first pull, and immediately steady speed. Can argue with that

 

[RayIN]

When you shut off a small generator by killing the spark, you’re still drawing in air and fuel at 3,600 rpm’s. You’re loading your cylinder with unburnt fuel, which does no favors to your cylinder wall lubrication. Imagine revving your car or truck to 3,600 rpm’s, every time you shut it off, and simply killing the spark plugs while still taking in raw fuel.
All modern engines, gasoline and diesel, stop injecting fuel when you shut down, but these little carburetor engines keep drawing in fuel. Not ideal.

I’ve got a Honda GX engine since new, and initially I shut it off with spark. After a few weeks of no use, it would always lean speed surge for the first 5 minutes or so, sometimes almost stalling. Probably jetted lean from the factory. Once I started shutting it down by the fuel shutoff, It’s started up first pull, and immediately steady speed. Can argue with that

That was a big thing in the mid-20th century. Revving up an engine several times before turning off the key did as you describe, and the raw fuel washed down the cylinder walls, promoting corrosion and increased ring wear.

 

[greenie]

I add Super Tech Tc-w3 to all gasoline systems and haven't intentionally ran a small engine out of gas for storage purposes since the 1970's.

 

[RayIN]

I have a 3600W Boliy genset I bought in 2008. Every time I turn off the gas and let it run until it dies. It has a drain screw in the bottom of the carb with a 1/8" drain hose to outside.
If I forget to drain the carb every time, It's hard to pull-start. Even had to buy a new carb once for that reason.
My shoulders became so bad I couldn't pull-start it so I gave it to my SIL. He put new fuel lines on it filled the tank with gas N Stabil and it started right up. He ran it for 2 days, and he said it never missed a beat.
Now I've gotta remember to tell him about the carb drain screw.

 

[Tinhack]

It holds 6 gallons of gas. I just don’t use it enough to keep fresh fuel in it.

I just finished using up the 2-year old gas in the Bad Boy ZTR. Last year, I only mowed once due to lack of rain. I don't run my gas engines dry but I do treat all my 5-gal gas cans with Stabil before filling them. I fill my gas cans right after filling my truck tank--With 91 octane premium gas. That's all I use anymore.

They built a new Shell station (and IHop) less than 3-miles from my place. As soon as I saw the sign go up, I got a Shell credit card. It took them a year to finish the station. But I'm still getting my $0.30/gal discount.