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My generator crapped out

WarbirdsWarbirds Member Posts: 16,937 ✭✭✭✭
edited January 2012 in General Discussion
And it wasn't even running.

I bought it six months ago just in front a storm rolling in. I used it for 3 days and then it has been sitting since.

My garage really smelled strongly of gasoline. Tracked that to the generator, then found the carb leaking, then found this:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11717.html

I sent in the registration card after I purchased it, but I guess they never contacted me.
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Comments

  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,161 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought two new Cummins/Onan generators last summer. Mine is fine but the one my son took has intermitant problems with gas leaking from the carb(most likely stuck float). He took his to the factory service center where they found nothing wrong(of course). It hasn't leaked since we hauled it home from the shop so it seems to be OK.
    I've started using only nonethanol premium(91 octane)gas in my small engines and ATV's. Have one ATV which will leak ethanol blend past the float valve occasionally and one old tractor which does the same thing anytime it's not running(have to shut the tank valve off or it will run itself dry sitting still).
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  • KEVD18KEVD18 Member Posts: 15,037
    edited November -1
    well i guess the silver lining is that it will be a warranty repair/replacement...
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  • SG_NinerSG_Niner Member Posts: 2,463 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Never knew Husqvarna Professional Products Inc., of Charlotte, N.C.
    was made in China.[xx(]
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  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Put an inline fuel cut off and cut fuel off every time yo shut it down. Ethanol make a carb leak and gum up.
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  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Had a problem with one of mine. Someone put 2 stroke mix in a 4 stroke engin...

    Thats a problem.
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  • footlongfootlong Member Posts: 8,009
    edited November -1
    l wonder how many small motors Ethanol has killed in the last few years. lt killed a couple of mine [xx(]
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  • p3skykingp3skyking Member Posts: 23,916 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by wpage
    Had a problem with one of mine. Someone put 2 stroke mix in a 4 stroke engin...

    Thats a problem.


    While I probably don't need to, I always run a little two-stroke oil in my four-stroke lawnmower. Started doing it when leaded gas was phased out. Never had to mess with the valves and the motor was bought new in 1995.
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  • nutfinnnutfinn Member Posts: 12,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I bought a Honda generator after hurricane Opal, it still runs like a champ [:D]
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  • LesWVaLesWVa Member Posts: 10,490 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mobuck
    I bought two new Cummins/Onan generators last summer. Mine is fine but the one my son took has intermitant problems with gas leaking from the carb(most likely stuck float). He took his to the factory service center where they found nothing wrong(of course).

    Cummins had the same recall for their Chinese made generators also.

    http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10739.html
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  • pwilliepwillie Member Posts: 20,253 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a Generac for 10 years and it runs on propane...lights up the whole house..[;)]
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  • toolmaniamtoolmaniam Member Posts: 3,213
    edited November -1
    Ethanol is the culprit. I bought a brand new log splitter in the spring. Used it one day and tried to start it a couple months later and nothing. I didnt run the carb dry before storing it and the gas gummed the carb up. After getting the carb repaired I always run the carb dry before storing. I hear that StaBil will prevent this from happening.
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  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your congressman is the direct cause of the damage and loss of power we suffer because of Ethanol being added to our gasoline. If you can find a bulk plant that offers straight gas you will never go back to the alcohol poisoned gas.

    I noticed a big improvement in all my small gas engines performance when using straight gasoline.
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  • CSI21CSI21 Member Posts: 1,206 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    SeaFoam additive works great, you can get it at autozone or whereever, its a fuel stablilzer and overall wonder, it will even degum your gummed up carb. if you can get the engine running at all. I use it on all my stuff even the truck.
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  • remingtonoaksremingtonoaks Member Posts: 26,245 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Huh? I didn't know that generators knew how to play on the craps table[:D]
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  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    Whenever out of service for more than a week,I empty fuel tank into truck(mine is removable) and drain carb.
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  • slumlord44slumlord44 Member Posts: 3,702 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most have a fuel shutof. Manual on mine says to shut off fuel and let carb run dry if unit will not be used for a while.
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  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by SG_Niner
    Never knew Husqvarna Professional Products Inc., of Charlotte, N.C.
    was made in China.[xx(]


    Have you seen their stock price lately....I give you a hint. It's down. A lot!

    My company's new vice president came from Husky...and Government motors before that.
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  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm going to get a generator with my tax refund...thinking propane since I am getting a propane furnace installed on the 25th! Since I'm having a 325 gal tank brought in, would make sense to run a line to a generator too.
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  • A J ChristA J Christ Member Posts: 7,534 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    Put an inline fuel cut off and cut fuel off every time yo shut it down. Ethanol make a carb leak and gum up.
    That's the way to do it.

    Cut the fuel supply off with the engine running and allow it to run fuel out of the carburetor.

    One word of advice on that. Be sure that you are not powering a load when you do this. Very hard on the voltage regulator system to allow the engine to die while powering a load.
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  • A J ChristA J Christ Member Posts: 7,534 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by shilowar
    I'm going to get a generator with my tax refund...thinking propane since I am getting a propane furnace installed on the 25th! Since I'm having a 325 gal tank brought in, would make sense to run a line to a generator too.


    Get the largest tank you can for a couple of reasons. If it gets cold in your part of the country, you will need the interior tank surface area to boil the liquid to a vapor. Unless you get a liquid with drawl system. In the event of a disaster, storm, whatever, might be a while before you get a fuel delivery. Don't fill the tank above 80%, refill it before it gets below 20%. Consider burying the tank.

    Propane is a very wise fuel choice for a home standby generator.
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