Generator maintenance?

dodge man · Jun 28, 2011

We had a fairly bad storm come through our area two nights ago and lost power. I went to work yesterday and called my kids at noon and the power still wasn't on by noon. About 3:00 P.M. I went and bought a generator. Took it home and got it set up and hooked it up to the freezer, and was getting ready to hook up the fridge when the power came back on. So it ran and was hooked up about two minutes when it the power came back on.

So I now have another piece of equipment to maintain. Its a 6.5kw Powermate with a 16.5 gas engine, which looks like a Honda knock off. I put fuel stabilizer in it and shut off the fuel and ran it dry. I was thinking of starting it every month or two, and after maybe six months draining the fuel and running it through my truck to get rid of it. Any other "must do" for maintaining one of these things?

Dogballs · Jun 28, 2011

I've been using 100LL aviation fuel for long term storage in my small engines that don't run often. It prevents all of the problems caused by ethanol. Todays gasoline has a shelf life of around 30 days before it starts to break down. Ethanol leaves crap in carburators and rots rubber and plastic fuel lines. Fuel stabilizer helps but it's not enough.

I also like synthetic oil. In my cold climate it seems to help winter starting and it allows you to go longer between oil changes.

devildog1 · Jun 28, 2011

Dogballs said:
I've been using 100LL aviation fuel for long term storage in my small engines that don't run often. It prevents all of the problems caused by ethanol. Todays gasoline has a shelf life of around 30 days before it starts to break down. Ethanol leaves crap in carburators and rots rubber and plastic fuel lines. Fuel stabilizer helps but it's not enough.

I also like synthetic oil. In my cold climate it seems to help winter starting and it allows you to go longer between oil changes.

Dog has hit it right on the nail. Use synthetic oil and stabilizer which will protect the fuel and internal parts of engine. I have two generators that I use in summer months running items in my R.V. when dry camping. I use those two to run my furnace and refrigerator and light during black-outs in my home during the winter months. Have done this for years with no issues, synthetic oil starts better when really cold and does not hold moisture when not running.
DevilDog

Soundguy · Jun 28, 2011

not only would I start it and run it a bit.. but I'd do it with a load on eah circuit. even a 100w lamp will do.

exercising each ckt should take care of the 240v side..

soundguy

wdchyd · Jun 28, 2011

I added a tee inline with the gas line and a shut-off on the end of the new leg......that way when it comes time to drain the old gas to throw in my truck it is a piece of cake to drain....

Agrantina · Jun 28, 2011

I have 2 gens that I use for dry camping in the deer seasons. The 8k one runs my 5th wheel. I usually put about 150hrs on it in a few weeks and then it sits for 10 months.. I dont like the fuel stabilizer and see no need of using it when you can cut the gas off to the carb and drain the tank.. I put a simple extra value on mine that just hangs there so I can drain the tank or plug another larger tank into it- so it will run for 15 hrs or longer if the wife comes and stays.. (NEVER let the generator run out of gas and except to contiune hunting- NOT going to happen).. The synthetic oil-yes-yes-yes.. it only takes about 2 quarts so use the best!

ANdyG

dodge man · Jun 28, 2011

Soundguy said:
not only would I start it and run it a bit.. but I'd do it with a load on eah circuit. even a 100w lamp will do.

exercising each ckt should take care of the 240v side..

soundguy

Thats was one of the things I was wondering, if I should load the thing every now and then.

Dogballs · Jun 28, 2011

I was told that running the carb out of gas still leaves a little gas in there.

Larry Caldwell · Jun 28, 2011

Get that gas out of there. Drain the tank, run it dry, and then drain the carb. Pull the plug and fog the cylinder, rolling it over a few times to distribute the oil, then replace the plug. If you have run over a few hours, change the oil. Yes, use synthetic. It is also more stable, and resists oxidation in storage. Bag the intake and exhaust to keep the bugs out. Bag the whole generator in plastic, add a 5 lb. bag of silica gel dessicant, tape the bag tightly shut, and store the generator in a corner somewhere. It can sit like that for years. When the next power outage comes around, just pull it out of the plastic, fill it with fuel and start it up.

Highbeam · Jun 28, 2011

A lot of people think that modern gasoline will somehow go bad in a very short time. In reality, it takes a long time for fuel to spoil to the point that it makes a difference. The ethanol will damage things regardless of fuel age but even ethanol damage is way overblown.

Use sta-bil and run the genset every couple of months with a load. Change the oil once per year. The engine isn't the weakness, it's the generator head and that thing will just die on you.

Soundguy · Jun 28, 2011

biggest problem of ethanol is it's affinity for water... ( some side beniftis there too.. but mostly downsides..

)

soundguy

clemsonfor · Jun 28, 2011

I run mine out of fuel each time. I went to use it in bad storms this year, first time the carb was plugged with crud, second time cleaned the carb and it ran for 45 mins and stopped. It would act like a misfire and had crazy compression when you pulled it. A few days latter after thinking i pulled the valve cover and the saw the rocker arm fell off the pushrod and valve cause the retainer bolt backed off all the way, put it back on and off we go again. Supposedly this is a common B and S problem? Its a 10 HP motor. I bet it dont have 200 hours on it?

George2615 · Jun 28, 2011

I have a combo welder/generator. Miller Bobcat 250 NT. Its a 10KW with a 20HP Onan engine. I run mine once a month for about 15 minutes or more if I'm welding. I keep it full of gas and change the oil and filter once a year. I keep the battery on a smart charger which keeps a trickle charge on it.

Bird · Jun 28, 2011

My last motorhome had a 7kw Onan and I believe the manual recommended runnig it under a 50% load at least once a month. Of course, when I was commanding the police communications division, we cut the power to the building every Sunday morning to make sure those two big diesel generators came on automatically as they should and let them run under load for an hour. So I ran the Onan in the motorhome for about an hour under load at least once a week. Of course it might have been a little easier for me than for some folks because we were living in that motorhome.

jonyyuma · Jun 28, 2011

Well, i have terrible luck with the gas here. Both the Robin 12hp and the B&S 5 hp tiller motor have stuck valves on the engine. I am slowly working on freeing the valve, hoping not to damage it..using kroil spray on it now, but repair is on back burner, need it before winter...

hr3 · Jun 28, 2011

No way would I do this

Get that gas out of there. Drain the tank, run it dry, and then drain the carb. Pull the plug and fog the cylinder, rolling it over a few times to distribute the oil, then replace the plug. If you have run over a few hours, change the oil. Yes, use synthetic. It is also more stable, and resists oxidation in storage. Bag the intake and exhaust to keep the bugs out. Bag the whole generator in plastic, add a 5 lb. bag of silica gel dessicant, tape the bag tightly shut, and store the generator in a corner somewhere. It can sit like that for years. When the next power outage comes around, just pull it out of the plastic, fill it with fuel and start it up.

This is more like it..

A lot of people think that modern gasoline will somehow go bad in a very short time. In reality, it takes a long time for fuel to spoil to the point that it makes a difference. The ethanol will damage things regardless of fuel age but even ethanol damage is way overblown.

Use sta-bil and run the genset every couple of months with a load. Change the oil once per year. The engine isn't the weakness, it's the generator head and that thing will just die on you.

I have gotten more generators for free on installs because they didn't work any more.. Got a sweet Honda liquid cooled that wouldn't put out power.. It hadn't been run in years,, Started it up and flashed the armature and walla..

Soundguy · Jun 28, 2011

jonyyuma said:
Well, i have terrible luck with the gas here. Both the Robin 12hp and the B&S 5 hp tiller motor have stuck valves on the engine. I am slowly working on freeing the valve, hoping not to damage it..using kroil spray on it now, but repair is on back burner, need it before winter...

once you get them free, add some mmo to the gas and oil.

if you can get to the stems, scrub them down with atf and diesel mix and toothbrush or similar.

i've unstuck many a valve this way.

soundguy

coobie · Jun 29, 2011

The ethnol gas issue is one of the reasons we went with a 17 kw.whole house propane gen.If you can afford around $4800 bucks installed for a generac unit I would do so.We are very happy we did.coobie