Your last generator Maintenance Run

[kirkawilson]

84003329

Briggs And Stratton 84003329 - Module Control (Briggs Oem Part)

Get this MODULE CONTROL for your Briggs and Stratton equipment. Briggs and Stratton original part number 84003329 at the best price and fast shipping.

www.briggsstrattonstore.com

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I actually ran mine yesterday. Four pulls, after sitting since April. Not bad.

 

[mrmikey]

The gas sitting was the reason I bought a tri-fuel generator and run it on propane only. If something ever happens that I run out of propane I still have the gas option. Longest we've been out in the past five years was eight hours.

 

[daugen]

The gas sitting was the reason I bought a tri-fuel generator and run it on propane only. If something ever happens that I run out of propane I still have the gas option. Longest we've been out in the past five years was eight hours.

same here
four tanks of propane backed up by two tanks of gasoline
though if Tractor Supply is still open (assuming hurricane) I'd go refill the propane tanks.
I think I have five in total.

at one point on my farm in NC I had 22 small engines to maintain.
it worked because they had non ethanol gasoline there and traditional methods worked.
I can't get non ethanol gas here so I've had this gen three years and not a drop of gas in it.
I think the corn lobby has really done us in. Biggest boon to small engine repair shops ever.
Plus the simple lack of reliability that comes with that.

 

[WinterDeere]

I wonder what other people do to get the noise level down. My gen is LOUD. Tried adding an automotive muffler, but that didn't really work. And tried running the exhaust under water. That also didn't work. Figured out if I set it up to reflect noise away from the house, it is much better. The noise is in the single piston engine design. Even outside on the ground, we can feel the vibrations inside, panting the windows.

What brand/model? My first generator was a cheapo, I think it ran on a Briggs Intek, and was noisy as hell. Those engines make almost as much noise out thru the input as the muffler, so making them quiet would not be as easy as a muffler swap.

I traded it for a Honda-powered generator, which is so quiet we can't even hear it running until we open a door or window, and even then have to walk around to that end of the house to really know if what we're hearing is our generator versus distant neighbors.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I must get lucky. I've had gas in multiple engines that are run maybe twice per year, and in 10 years not a single fuel related repair.

 

[Robin Veerman]

Yes lucky is right. Dare you to pull a carburetor bowl and show us the gunk!….

 

[LouNY]

One thing to be aware of also, is that there is a summer and a winter gasoline blend.
With all the "reformulation" being done these days and the concern about volatile
emissions many of the "summer" gasolines will not vaporize very well in the cold weather.
If the fuel doesn't vaporize it will not start.
It will surprise you at times if a bit of gasoline is spilled in the winter how long it will stay in a puddle and not vaporize away quickly.

 

[mrmikey]

I can't get non ethanol gas here so I've had this gen three years and not a drop of gas in it.
I think the corn lobby has really done us in. Biggest boon to small engine repair shops ever.
Plus the simple lack of reliability that comes with that.

Up until a bit over a year ago you could get real gas i.e. no corn in it, now, none available newhere at least here in NS.
I've not had any crap fuel problems yet but now I drain everything if going unused for more than a couple months. Gas I usually use what I have around within two months tops in the summer, winter I'll dump it in my truck and refill with fresh fuel. I always use stabilizer, not that it helps with corn fuel but to slow the fuel aging process.

 

[DarkBlack]

One thing to be aware of also, is that there is a summer and a winter gasoline blend.
With all the "reformulation" being done these days and the concern about volatile
emissions many of the "summer" gasolines will not vaporize very well in the cold weather.
If the fuel doesn't vaporize it will not start.
It will surprise you at times if a bit of gasoline is spilled in the winter how long it will stay in a puddle and not vaporize away quickly.

True. The butane added in winter blend gasoline lowers the btu content a bit, but allows easier starting in cold temperatures

 

[DarkBlack]

Ever since I started turning off the fuel tank valve and running the engine till it stops from lack of fuel, it has always started right up, first or second pull. I even partially engage the choke as it starts surging from being lean, to help draw out as much as possible from the carb.
I never use the ignition switch.

 

[Alan46]

I know it sounds obvious, but we always keep 3 cans of starter fluid around, two in the barn and one in the garage. Cheap insurance!

 

[90cummins]

I wonder what other people do to get the noise level down. My gen is LOUD. Tried adding an automotive muffler, but that didn't really work. And tried running the exhaust under water. That also didn't work. Figured out if I set it up to reflect noise away from the house, it is much better. The noise is in the single piston engine design. Even outside on the ground, we can feel the vibrations inside, panting the windows.

Others have placed plywood around the generator to deflect the noise up & away from the house.
I set my generators on an old tire which eliminated vibrations transmitted to the power house.
90cummins

 

[WinterDeere]

Yes lucky is right. Dare you to pull a carburetor bowl and show us the gunk!….

I don't think he's lucky, as I have the same experience. Heck, I could go out to my shed right now, put a little fresh fuel in my Briggs-powered 1973 Toro mower, and I'll be it starts within 3-4 pulls. My generator always starts, never trouble, and I run all of my equipment on regular pump e-gas.

That said, I never leave fuel in the bowl of any machine in storage. The generator has a bleed screw right on the bottom of the carburetor fuel bowl, that lets me drain the bowl dry after use. I use the generator for probably 1 extended outage per year, after which I always kill it by closing the fuel valve between tank and carb, and then I drain the bowl from bleeder screw into a jar, which I pour back into the tank. The fuel is always treated with stabilizer before going into the tank, nothing special, just whatever is on the shelf at WalMart (usually Stabil regular flavor), and the oil is changed either immediately after usage or the following January when I do my other equipment.

The ancient Toro mower mentioned above has no bleed screw in the fuel bowl, so that is left with fuel in the bowl, at least until the January maintenance cycle. Also, never an issue, I guess the small fraction of an ounce of fuel held in the bowl isn't really enough to cause enormous trouble.

I see the complaints about e-gas on this site and elsewhere, and suspect 95% of them are probably from people who would have the same trouble without ethanol in their gas. "Take care of your equipment and it'll take care of you," is a phrase I was hearing 30 years before anyone was pumping e-gas around here.

 

[3930dave]

Not sure how to feel about this. Last January we had our big ice storm. Checked the 27 year old Homelite 4400 Watt generator in December with new gas and oil and checked oil and stuff and cleaned the air filter, replaced the gas filter. It always started on second or third pull. Okay..... check that off and add some stabilizer to the gas. So we get this ice storm. Utilities said it will be a week or more to restore. No utility power for 8 days. Wife was really mad about the situation. Damn generator would not start, ..... pulled and pulled, had spark, and cleaned the carb in the cold. And made sure it had oil and was level. Made an attempt to start and work on it everyday to no avail. But I didn't have any Starter Fluid. We stayed out of power for eight days till utility came back on. We figured its time to get a new one, so we are looking these up online.
Just for laughs, I pull the gen out, this week, late August, for one last try before replacing it. Maybe I can get $50 for it as non-running. Starts on second pull and purrs like a cat. WTF....

Good points, in folk's responses to this Murphy 201 example ^

90's point on a damper (vibe) I like.... big stuff is sometimes isolated for that reason, and worn tires are everywhere. A few examples should be found on Ytube, of acoustic panels people have used to direct sound Up...... IIRC one, just the junk panels a guy had lying around showed showed some effect on his db meter.

Fuel.... I'll use my Mom's expression about me planning to spend beer-money (that I don't use) on VP Racing fuel for my small stuff..... me, and my Scottish ancestors both, would never expect me to type that.

Stock up on the Quik Start - I don't like to use it, and don't like seeing it over-used, but it has it's place. Backup, depending on ambient - just a propane torch (unlit); I bought one of those foldable silicone funnels @ the dollar store just for this purpose - sits in the garage beside the torch - emergency manifold, to get propane up to a carb.

Two is One, One is None..... I like to keep old equipment running (it's great to see what has been fixed in this thread), but esp. with a Generator, a backup is prudent.

I do like Honda, but these days I'd vote for propane - I suspect that "they" still aren't finished de-functioning gasoline. In smaller stuff, I'm attracted to what many people tag-team for RV's - small, light inverter generators, that are designed to be paralleled to double power capacity. Even if you don't buy two off the hop, you may want to buy the second later. Multiple sources for these ^, I don't own one, but from the feedback on here and elsewhere, I'd spend time reviewing Champion options - not hating on anything else, just a comment on perceived price/performance/reliability of Champion. Don't own this one either, but the reviews I've read on Harbor Freight's line seemed good - I've followed their Predator engines, so that ties together well, at least as a story !

Rgds, D.

 

[bdhsfz6]

For those who try and avoid using e-gas in their small engines, here's a tip. If you use a pump that dispenses both non ethanol gas, and e-gas, make sure you clear the e-gas from the pump & hose first by selecting non ethanol and pumping the first couple of gallons into your vehicle tank before filling your gas cans.

 

[Alan46]

Stock up on the Quik Start - I don't like to use it, and don't like seeing it over-used, but it has it's place. Backup, depending on ambient - just a propane torch (unlit); I bought one of those foldable silicone funnels @ the dollar store just for this purpose - sits in the garage beside the torch - emergency manifold, to get propane up to a carb.

I like that idea! I’ll have to try that instead of Quik Start!

 

[grsthegreat]

Well, i e had nothing but trouble with ethanol in fuel. I run only non ethanol in all small engines. Our station pump has separate nozzle for it.

I dont bother draining any carb anymore now with non ethanol. As a matter of fact, i needed my 6500 watt Briggs generator today to work on some fence posts out in the pasture today. Had same fuel since last years work, only added stable last winter. Darn if that thing didnt start on first pull…..surprised the heck out of me. Ran about an hour, shut it back down. Topped off tank, and put away.


Ive also read so many negative articles on leaving carbs empty. Drying out gaskets, etc. i really dont know which is the best way to store them.

 

[mrmikey]

Ive also read so many negative articles on leaving carbs empty. Drying out gaskets, etc. i really dont know which is the best way to store them

On the last bit of fuel running thru the engine run a bit of two stroke oil in it.
Another thing I used to do (when I could get real gas) was to shut off the fuel but not run the bowl out of fuel so there'd be a bit left in it to keep things moist. That way the needle wouldn't leave an impression in the seat because of fuel keeping it closed. Maybe a bit overkill but mehhh, I never had a problem LOL

 

[DarkBlack]

Ive also read so many negative articles on leaving carbs empty. Drying out gaskets, etc. i really dont know which is the best way to store them.

Unless you’re talking about a 50 year old carburetor with cork and paper gaskets, I say baloney.
Modern carburetor gaskets are fully compatible with gasoline and water, meaning no reaction. They don’t hydrate.
You’ll notice new carburetors and replacement gaskets are shipped and stored dry up to years. It’s the mechanical fastener clamping of their natural dry dimensions that provides and maintains the seal.