Bought a generator two years ago on sale. Never used it.

So I think I'm out of power till Saturday. Two fridges. Maybe 250-350 worth of frozen food and regular shit. (Fruits in the fridge fuckers ). I'll put it in the garage tomorrow so no problem. Anyway, gas and oil went in after 2 years for the first time. Swear to god started on first pull and ran for a minute. Then off. Then it starts and stops. Took the air filter off. Clean. Won't stay on. Used carb boost. Same shit.

Ideas?

The Pantry wrote:Fuck with the choke a little and you'll find its G-spot

What are you saying? After it kicks on for 20 seconds move it around?

GRR Spartan wrote:https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6esHkPyygWw

This guy says to check the oil pressure

Will do.

Triple Sparty wrote:Did you put in enough gas?

Four gallons. I quit for the night. I'm thinking not enough oil. No dip stick

LooseGoose wrote:

DWags wrote:

What are you saying? After it kicks on for 20 seconds move it around?

Go next door and trade your neighbor some of your Jim Bakker emergency food buckets for his generator.

Yeah, I don't know what this means.

Probably the flexure valve or the bypass line.

Nordic wrote:Probably the flexure valve or the bypass line.

I guess we're freezing till Saturday. Daughter is home from college her and the young look at me matter of factory and say "we'll get a room at .. hotel". Hahhahahaha. Was my answer. Freeze your ass with me. Wear sweats. Generation is soft.

LooseGoose wrote:

DWags wrote:

I guess we're freezing till Saturday. Daughter is home from college her and the young look at me matter of factory and say "we'll get a room at .. hotel". Hahhahahaha. Was my answer.  Freeze your ass with me. Wear sweats. Generation is soft.

I've got 2 empty bedrooms Wags.

We could go to the Moose Lodge fish Fry tomorrow night!!

Thing I miss the most living in prison down here.

GRR Spartan wrote:Its been awhile so now I have to ask

Why did you buy the generator and let it sit for 18+ months before starting it?

Next time play nice with a school facilities repair guy who has some small engine repair knowledge.

Next time you'll be ready.

Ok I'm not embarrassed to say this because I can admit I'm an ok mechanic I've made some wood working projects put a sink in my basement etc. I'm not helpless.

So, first the fucking thing is running. Last night I come home in the dark. I have a miners head band flashlight. I put four gallons of gas in, I put oil in. Check level good to go. I put power switch on choke on and, get ready to laugh, I turned the fuel lever off. It was in the on position at factory. It's night and in my defense I turned it to run parallel to the fuel line, just like my fucking sprinklers. I turn that shit perpendicular to shut it off. Not this. It's in a "T" position to flow. WTF? So the first time I pulled, it ran for a bit, then went off. When I re-tried it every time I'd go through a verbal procedure and physically do it. A , "Switch off now on, choke open now shut fuel line closed now open" and I'd physically do it. Well when I was fucking with the fuel switch I'd open it when I thought I was closing it, then close it when I thought I was opening it. So enough fuel would get in there to start it for a bit then it would stop. To make it worse this morning I did the same thing. I finally googled the owners manual and on my phone I see the diagram of the fuel switch. I didn't tell my family. I said it was the choke. They still think I'm semi cool and handy. It's really all I got going for me.

So go ahead. Have at me.

Edit. GR. Bought it when power went out as I was putting wheels extra parts on it power came on. Wheeled it in the right corner of my garage in front of my 64 T bird. Hadn't lost power in two years. I saw it last summer once and thought I should start it but thought I didn't want oil and gas in it. I'm n idiot but I'm ok now.

tGreenWay wrote:

DWags wrote:

Ok I'm not embarrassed to say this because I can admit I'm an ok mechanic I've made some wood working projects put a sink in my basement etc. I'm not helpless.

So, first the fucking thing is running. Last night I come home in the dark. I have a miners head band flashlight. I put four gallons of gas in, I put oil in. Check level good to go. I put power switch on choke on and, get ready to laugh, I turned the fuel lever off. It was in the on position at factory. It's night and in my defense I turned it to run parallel to the fuel line, just like my fucking sprinklers. I turn that shit perpendicular to shut it off. Not this. It's in a "T" position to flow. WTF? So the first time I pulled, it ran for a bit, then went off. When I re-tried it every time I'd go through a verbal procedure and physically do it. A , "Switch off now on, choke open now shut fuel line closed now open" and I'd physically do it. Well when I was fucking with the fuel switch I'd open it when I thought I was closing it, then close it when I thought I was opening it. So enough fuel would get in there to start it for a bit then it would stop. To make it worse this morning I did the same thing. I finally googled the owners manual and on my phone I see the diagram of the fuel switch. I didn't tell my family. I said it was the choke. They still think I'm semi cool and handy. It's really all I got going for me.

So go ahead. Have at me.

Edit. GR. Bought it when power went out as I was putting wheels extra parts on it power came on. Wheeled it in the right corner of my garage in front of my 64 T bird. Hadn't lost power in two years. I saw it last summer once and thought I should start it but thought I didn't want oil and gas in it. I'm n idiot but I'm ok now.

I know a couple of people with generators hooked up to the house. Theirs cycle a weekly test. I'm not saying you should routinely perform a test, but maybe you should routinely perform a test.

I'll make a note. Thanks.

tGreenWay wrote:

NigelUno wrote:You didn't need to test it weekly. You just needed to read the instructions.

Our thermostat was acting up, so I replaced the battery. Then it immediately went dead. This was confusing.

So, I went on the interwebs and found the manual. The fix was to actually put the battery in backwards (+ on the - , and - on the +) for 10 seconds, and then put it in the correct way. I was like...come on...you've got to be shitting me.

It worked.

I can see how there might be a misunderstanding with the way I worded my post. I wasn't suggesting DWags test his gen weekly, only routinely, which could be once a season. The homes with the gens installed automatically test weekly.
But yes, I do think he needs to do more than just know how to get it running. If nothing else, the practice will make it easier for when he actually needs it up and running with his family wanting their heat and tv back in.

O, I know I should have done it. No doubt. I was thinking of an all house generator this fall but the youngest is a junior and I really want to leave southeast Michigan in a couple years. Got to get back permanently to the west side. So I'm not looking to spend that on one. Days like this however, really make you think about it.

DWags wrote:

GRR Spartan wrote:Its been awhile so now I have to ask

Why did you buy the generator and let it sit for 18+ months before starting it?

Next time play nice with a school facilities repair guy who has some small engine repair knowledge.

Next time you'll be ready.

Ok I'm not embarrassed to say this because I can admit I'm an ok mechanic I've made some wood working projects put a sink in my basement etc. I'm not helpless.

So, first the fucking thing is running. Last night I come home in the dark. I have a miners head band flashlight. I put four gallons of gas in, I put oil in. Check level good to go. I put power switch on choke on and, get ready to laugh, I turned the fuel lever off. It was in the on position at factory. It's night and in my defense I turned it to run parallel to the fuel line, just like my fucking sprinklers. I turn that shit perpendicular to shut it off. Not this. It's in a "T" position to flow. WTF? So the first time I pulled, it ran for a bit, then went off. When I re-tried it every time I'd go through a verbal procedure and physically do it. A , "Switch off now on, choke open now shut fuel line closed now open" and I'd physically do it. Well when I was fucking with the fuel switch I'd open it when I thought I was closing it, then close it when I thought I was opening it. So enough fuel would get in there to start it for a bit then it would stop. To make it worse this morning I did the same thing. I finally googled the owners manual and on my phone I see the diagram of the fuel switch. I didn't tell my family. I said it was the choke. They still think I'm semi cool and handy. It's really all I got going for me.

So go ahead. Have at me.

Edit. GR. Bought it when power went out as I was putting wheels extra parts on it power came on. Wheeled it in the right corner of my garage in front of my 64 T bird. Hadn't lost power in two years. I saw it last summer once and thought I should start it but thought I didn't want oil and gas in it. I'm n idiot but I'm ok now.

So you found the bypass valve... nice work

tGreenWay wrote:

DWags wrote:

O, I know I should have done it. No doubt. I was thinking of an all house generator this fall but the youngest is a junior and I really want to leave southeast Michigan in a couple years. Got to get back permanently to the west side. So I'm not looking to spend that on one. Days like this however, really make you think about it.

I'm seriously thinking of getting one. Been meaning to speak with one of the guys I know who has one. I also want a tankless water heater.

A few of my neighbors have them and love them. Everytime the power goes out (which is several times a year) and I'm wheeling the generator with flat tires around and running cords everywhere the wife reminds we need to get one. But I'm Dutch and cheap and enjoy a good challenge.

Anyway...if your power goes out often they are awesome. Neighbor just put in his second unit....which scared me off since I didn't think he installed the first that long ago. But he's retired and always buying/trading in new tractors, so I think he just likes new equipment.

Regarding the tankless water heater. I was looking at these recently as my current tank is of age and needs to be replaced before it blows. I came across this good read on tankless units.

http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/Longevity/tankless-water-heaters.html