Your last generator Maintenance Run

[daugen]

thanks for all the good advice.
Before I took it apart, thought I'd try it one more time.
Smelled gas on the third pull, it started on the fourth. :confused3:

Ran Champion 3100 for half an hour running two portable heaters. Unhappy running both units at 1500 watts each, red light came on, turned
one unit down a notch to I think 900 and green light came back on. What was more interesting is I guess due to inverter design, unit would run one heater at 700 watts without the engine kicking on to full speed. It would produce 700 watts on the slower speed. In the past unit with that function on another gen, but not inverter, would kick on immediately to full rpm if any load felt.

I actually have some marine Stabil, will give it shot of that.

 

[daugen]

Dave, Lifan is a very high quality engine, often used to make high quality Chondas. I wonder if they cloned the Honda again.

 

[grsthegreat]

Big pot of coffee on here.... so am ignoring chores for the moment....

Went scouting for EFI gas portables. Found a Ryobi listed, but I don't think of them as gen company, and a LiFan (sp?).

What I might consider is this Generac:

Generac Power Systems - Best Portable and Inverter Generators

Price point doesn't look bad, and while definitely not in the "suitcase" category, @ 216 lb for a 8kw continuous gen, the weight is reasonable IMO.

Needing 12v continuously present may be keeping EFI out of small gens, for the moment.

View attachment 634008

Rgds, D.

they have EFI snowblowers available....similar engines

 

[daugen]

459cc is no Honda, wonder who makes that gen? Great price, in comparison.
But 3600 rpm and no oil filter, doesn't seem equipped for long hours. But likely to start well...

 

[grsthegreat]

459cc is no Honda, wonder who makes that gen? Great price, in comparison.
But 3600 rpm and no oil filter, doesn't seem equipped for long hours. But likely to start well...

You know, I have a 25+ year old 3600 rpm, no oil filter 3500 watt generator that I bought at auction .... used and not sure how old. Used in in construction. Still running to this day.

Also had no oil filter

Just cause it runs at 3600 rpm doesn’t mean it will fail. My jet ski runs at like 7000 rpm. And it’s 1996 model

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My jet ski runs at like 7000 rpm. And it’s 1996 model

Probably not a good comparison, considering your Jet Ski doesn't run for hours and hours and hours straight, under load at full throttle...

SR

 

[grsthegreat]

maybe not, but i get tired of people saying that just because it runs at 3600 rpm its junk and destined to fail soon. I work with units with many of 1000's of run hours on them and they work just fine.

Ill tell you what. i hear from Generator techs that the liquid cooled 1800 units have LOTS of little issues of their own. things like sensor issues and trying to get replacement radiators. Heck, sometimes they cant even reach a spark plug.

 

[3930dave]

thanks for all the good advice.
Before I took it apart, thought I'd try it one more time.
Smelled gas on the third pull, it started on the fourth. :confused3:

Ran Champion 3100 for half an hour running two portable heaters. Unhappy running both units at 1500 watts each, red light came on, turned
one unit down a notch to I think 900 and green light came back on. What was more interesting is I guess due to inverter design, unit would run one heater at 700 watts without the engine kicking on to full speed. It would produce 700 watts on the slower speed. In the past unit with that function on another gen, but not inverter, would kick on immediately to full rpm if any load felt.

I actually have some marine Stabil, will give it shot of that.

Success :thumbsup:

That would have warmed it up well, and sounds about right..... looks like yours is 2800w continuous.

Smart inverter designs can help it punch a bit outside it's weight class, and save rpms

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Dave, Lifan is a very high quality engine, often used to make high quality Chondas. I wonder if they cloned the Honda again.

I'd heard the name, but don't know much about them..... thnx for the 411 guys.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

IMO, so long as the oil gets changed, plenty of air-cooled engines w/o oil filters will run a long time in personal use.

IIRC it was Piloon who picked up an ex-construction Champion for the head, to find that there was nothing wrong with it..... just needed a valve adjustment.

That ^ probably sidelines small gens, before actual cylinder wear does. Both coming well down the list, after carb issues.....

I have a hour meter on my larger portable gen..... what I should add to my small one is one of those aftermarket ones.....

One thing I like on this one is you can change the CR2032.

https://www.amazon.com/Runleader-HM032R-Inductive-Tachometer-Snowmobile/dp/B01FZ361CW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=RL-HM032R&qid=1577233010&sr=8-1

Rgds, D.