Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

I'm betting on a stuck float too. I'd pick up a basic carb parts kit, or if you can find a good source for Kohler carbs, just swap the whole thing.

Let us know how this goes Gale.

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

Good luck on that Gale. I'd suggest a carb kit or new carb (last carb I bought cost all of 37 bucks)
and a tank of ethanol free gas laced with Sea Foam and marine Stabil.

this kind of thing happens a lot, like Dave said, we are interested in knowing what fixed it.
I wonder if there is a YouTube repair video...remarkable number of sometimes helpful videos available

Between Wikipedia, YouTube and Google, the information age has really arrived.
I've taken my little Chromebook down to the barn replaying instructions on one project, and
remember going wait, wait, slow down... and no greasy fingers on the keyboard.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Thanks guys. I got side tracked last night but worked with it some more this morning. With the fuel line off I ran it by misting the carb air intake until the oil filter got warm to touch since would not start 2-3 years ago. I reconnected the fuel line. No gas is flooding out like before but it is not getting any gas it seems. I was out of time but did get some carb cleaner sucked in by the fuel pump I think. Some times just getting everything hot plus the carb cleaner is a good think. If I can get a new carb for less than $50 that sounds like a great option since it is 24 years old. We have a trade show for our new cloud base property estimating software for contractors and property insurance adjusts in Des Monies this weekend so I may not work with it much until next weekend. Today the DJI Phantom 4 came so my son is getting it figured out before the tradeshow. We hope it brings us some booth attention since some insurance adjusters are starting to use drones vs. climbing on roofs.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks guys. I got side tracked last night but worked with it some more this morning. With the fuel line off I ran it by misting the carb air intake until the oil filter got warm to touch since would not start 2-3 years ago. I reconnected the fuel line. No gas is flooding out like before but it is not getting any gas it seems. I was out of time but did get some carb cleaner sucked in by the fuel pump I think. Some times just getting everything hot plus the carb cleaner is a good think. If I can get a new carb for less than $50 that sounds like a great option since it is 24 years old. We have a trade show for our new cloud base property estimating software for contractors and property insurance adjusts in Des Monies this weekend so I may not work with it much until next weekend. Today the DJI Phantom 4 came so my son is getting it figured out before the tradeshow. We hope it brings us some booth attention since some insurance adjusters are starting to use drones vs. climbing on roofs.

Cleaner/Sea Foam may help, sounds like some sludge has been dislodged - soak time may help while you are away.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Date: Dec 11/16

Generator: 7kw Briggs

Activity: 1.5kw heaters on each leg. Duration 60 minutes.

Final Fueling notes: filled w. NonE gas. Stabil 360 Protection already in fuel can. Dosed entire tank with 7oz Seafoam.

Maintenance notes (Done, or Required):

Elec start. Started third crank, full choke. Temperature -5 deg C. Oil replaced with 5W30 Castrol Syntec. Battery measured 12.8v after start.

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

Im oficially sick of generators...:duh:

Ive now installed 45 whole house units this year...have 2 left to complete...then im all done till spring. I almost cant stand to look at one.....hehe

 

[3930dave]

Im oficially sick of generators...:duh:

Ive now installed 45 whole house units this year...have 2 left to complete...then im all done till spring. I almost cant stand to look at one.....hehe

Crazy.... that's almost one a week ! A good reason to welcome Winter, eh !

Rgds, D.

 

[90cummins]

Im oficially sick of generators...:duh:

Ive now installed 45 whole house units this year...have 2 left to complete...then im all done till spring. I almost cant stand to look at one.....hehe

Having a lot of experience under your belt what brand generator has the best track record in the 8 to 12kw range?
How many hours have you seen on units and which one would you buy??
Thanks
90cummins

 

[grsthegreat]

Having a lot of experience under your belt what brand generator has the best track record in the 8 to 12kw range?
How many hours have you seen on units and which one would you buy??
Thanks
90cummins

the majority of my experience has been with the larger 16-22 kw units. Problem with the smaller ones that i see is they sit too long not being used. Ive seen cheap harbor freight units that are used daily in construction last years, while expensive honda units that sit for years not start.
I sell and install generac, but have installed kohler, onan/cummings and a few others. I dont see much difference between brands with the newer units. I do repairs on generacs, and i only get a few calls every year. Dont make much $$$$ on service calls. I guess thats a good thing for customer, but not for my businessullinghair:
In the past 3 years, the only service ive done on newer units is to fix install errors that have damaged units, the most frequent being screwing up control wiring between gen and transfer switch. Ive replaced a few engines on older generacs (2008-2009 era) and in every case, failure was due to neglect. Oil was either sludge or close to it....ie "no one told me i had to change the oil:banghead:"

 

[3930dave]

"no one told me i had to change the oil:banghead:"

For some folks today, if there isn't An App for That, then it won't get done....

Not for the first time this month, I'm thinking of Forrest Gump.....

Rgds, D.