Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Industrial Toys]

I like to have it on hand to inflate tires on the rim. I still use a propane torch not ignited, with the propane aimed into the throat of a carburator to get a non starting gasser going. Sometimes it's a two person operation, but it has never failed me. As long as you have spark and compression. I rather pull once or twice than two hundred times and "usually" the thing keeps running on it's own once started.

 

[grsthegreat]

I rebuilt a 2 year old Generac Whole House unit that was damaged from lightning strike about 3 feet from unit. Completely dead and would not turn over. I found out that the Battery was fried. I replaced battery, and the control board was dead. I replaced the control board and found that the fuel solenoid was dead. I replaced the The fuel regulator solenoid and still would not start. It would turn over finally, but would fault out in 2 seconds. I was able to check spark finally (since it would finally turn over) and nothing. I tore the side of generator apart and replaced the set of Magnetos and ground wires. This is a couple of hours of work, but what the heck i thought id give the old girl a chance. The generator fired right up and is producing good power. I guess the diodes in the mags were fried. I threw in some new plugs and replaced the oil. The unit took a licking...but kept on ticking

 

[Carl_NH]

Two weeks ago decided to get our TroyBilt 7000 ready - had plugged in all summer on float charger but when I went to start - nothing. Dead battery, so went ahead and pull started ran for 10 minutes, changed oil and pulled the dead battery and ordered a new one.

Week later installed the new battery, still no start, but would start if plugged into float charger but not on battery alone so Called TroyBilt (B&S) and they sent wiring diagram so started to trouble shoot - checked the visible fuse OK, then pulled the starter switch and found no 12V at switch on battery only, but plugged in 12V @ switch on the red wire.

Pulling hair out now but finally found the problem - the red wire leading to the starter had a second fuse - it was stuck/hidden 2" up inside the shrink tubing - replaced that fuse - all is good!

Also read on some other forums that leaving these plugged on float charger continuously, is bad for these batteries - overcharges leading to a shorter life (our unit is 4 years old). So I have it on a timer for 30 min a day.

 

[TheMan419]

Generator set up is the one thing that gives me more peace of mind than anything. We had the power go out several winters ago with no generator set up. It was during a "polar vortex". So ambient air temps well below zero and wind chills in the -60F or more range. Complete travel ban due to snow and the extreme temps. Thankfully power was only out for a couple of hours. Got house wired for generator shortly thereafter. Also got new house wired when we bought it. Wouldn't own a house without now.

 

[3930dave]

I like to have it on hand to inflate tires on the rim. I still use a propane torch not ignited, with the propane aimed into the throat of a carburator to get a non starting gasser going. Sometimes it's a two person operation, but it has never failed me. As long as you have spark and compression. I rather pull once or twice than two hundred times and "usually" the thing keeps running on it's own once started.

Sometimes, the answer is sitting right in front of you. Literally.

Propane - genius. I tend to think of propane for diesel builds..C'mon Dave ! Thanks for posting that..... I always have torch propane x2 around, and still have to move a spare Mapp cylinder from the back stairs to the garage. I always have those gases around - good solution, if needed.

Being lazy, I don't like pulling the air cleaners off, esp. if I'm in a hurry.... I'll try and remember the next time I'm by the dollar store, and get some plastic funnels - I'll temporarily use a funnel on the front of the unlit torch to focus the gas at the air cleaner.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I rebuilt a 2 year old Generac Whole House unit that was damaged from lightning strike about 3 feet from unit. Completely dead and would not turn over. I found out that the Battery was fried. I replaced battery, and the control board was dead. I replaced the control board and found that the fuel solenoid was dead. I replaced the The fuel regulator solenoid and still would not start. It would turn over finally, but would fault out in 2 seconds. I was able to check spark finally (since it would finally turn over) and nothing. I tore the side of generator apart and replaced the set of Magnetos and ground wires. This is a couple of hours of work, but what the heck i thought id give the old girl a chance. The generator fired right up and is producing good power. I guess the diodes in the mags were fried. I threw in some new plugs and replaced the oil. The unit took a licking...but kept on ticking

Your description reminded me of a conversation I had with a technical colleague in our parking lot at work, back in the mid '90s. We were discussing all the electronic systems (mid 90's :laughing: !) on his brand-new vehicle...... standing there, gazing at a nice new vehicle sitting in the late-day sun, I said "Yep, you could have lightning strike beside the vehicle, not leave a mark, and have $x,000 worth of modules to replace".



You're a dealer grs, so your parts cost would be decent...... Nice Save on a unit that's now still got lots of hours left. :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Two weeks ago decided to get our TroyBilt 7000 ready - had plugged in all summer on float charger but when I went to start - nothing. Dead battery, so went ahead and pull started ran for 10 minutes, changed oil and pulled the dead battery and ordered a new one.

Week later installed the new battery, still no start, but would start if plugged into float charger but not on battery alone so Called TroyBilt (B&S) and they sent wiring diagram so started to trouble shoot - checked the visible fuse OK, then pulled the starter switch and found no 12V at switch on battery only, but plugged in 12V @ switch on the red wire.

Pulling hair out now but finally found the problem - the red wire leading to the starter had a second fuse - it was stuck/hidden 2" up inside the shrink tubing - replaced that fuse - all is good!

Also read on some other forums that leaving these plugged on float charger continuously, is bad for these batteries - overcharges leading to a shorter life (our unit is 4 years old). So I have it on a timer for 30 min a day.

Nice to have that cleaned up properly :thumbsup:. Estart is convenient, and you probably wouldn't have time to be chasing that problem down during emergency conditions. Estart also expands the range of Who Can Get It Started.....

:2cents: - keep an eye on the voltage level that battery ends up sitting at..... if that is just a basic wall-wart charger (usually what comes with most portable gens), it may present a small load to the battery when de-powered from AC. You may have to bump that 30 minutes up a bit.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Generator set up is the one thing that gives me more peace of mind than anything. We had the power go out several winters ago with no generator set up. It was during a "polar vortex". So ambient air temps well below zero and wind chills in the -60F or more range. Complete travel ban due to snow and the extreme temps. Thankfully power was only out for a couple of hours. Got house wired for generator shortly thereafter. Also got new house wired when we bought it. Wouldn't own a house without now.

Unless you are used to living off-grid, losing power is pretty disruptive beyond a couple of hours.

At the cold temperatures we can get in a lot of this continent, longer outages can cause tremendous damage.

I sleep better at night, knowing that I have the ability to generate my own basic emergency power :thumbsup:.

Rgds, D.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I need help. I'm trying to find a replacement carb for my 12 year old generator, and all I can find is one with a little black rotary choke knob.

The problem is that the large panel air filter blocks visual and tactical access to the carb, this is why the OEM carb had that lever that extended up and over the air filter housing.

I did buy one if the rotary knob versions, and I can run the machine, but you can not start it without removing the air filter to choke it, then replace it.

I'd really like to find this exact configuration. Would any of you small engine guys know how to track this down?

 

[TheMan419]

Unless you are used to living off-grid, losing power is pretty disruptive beyond a couple of hours.

At the cold temperatures we can get in a lot of this continent, longer outages can cause tremendous damage.

I sleep better at night, knowing that I have the ability to generate my own basic emergency power :thumbsup:.

Rgds, D.

Amen. Of course since I was putting a generator panel in..... heat, water, fridge, sump and a couple of convenience circuits are now possible to be powered. Have to do some load management but that is ok. We could survive pretty ok on generated power if we had to.