Check your generators!!
 

Went out yesterday to do my normal monthly/semi monthly chicom generator test.

DEAD....The battery was almost completely discharged, and being a diesel is next to impossible to start without a battery.

Culprit: I used the motor kill switch (mechanical to the fuel pump) to turn it off rather than using the key switch. The key had been switched on for over 30 days, inducing a drain on the battery.

I used my battery charger and did a slow charge overnight. Seems to have worked.

Installed a small float type battery charger on the frame of the genset today, it will now be plugged in 24x7.

Moral: Check your equipment often.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

thanks Techguy
Been a month or so since i started mine (just a 8000W gas model)
started right up.
I went ahead and added more stabilizer too.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Started mine a few weeks ago, after it had been sitting for several months (with stabilizer) - figured I would have a problem but it started right up and ran without incident. Still, I strongly agree that critical items like a generator should have their operation verified often - thanks for the reminder!

Re: Check your generators!!
 

I have a 6800 watt gen, that I pull start once a year of less. Fires up the first time, after I remember to turn on the switch, turn on the gas and set the choke. After about 5 pulls, I usually remember everything. Gen to me is to keep the fridge and the freezer going.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

TG, I feel your pain.

I do the same thing often with my welding machine. I ALWAYS kill it via the fuel shutoff, and usually forget to turn off the electrical switch.

I've done it so often, I now keep a spare battery on hand just for it.:bear_rolleyes:

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Thanks for the reminder, Tech Guy.

:36_1_32v::36_1_32v::36_1_32v:

Re: Check your generators!!
 

I took it one step further. I installed one of those tri-fuel kits and can now run my generator on gasoline, natural gas, or propane.

It was easy to install, and only took about an hour to do it.

Now, I can run it for a short time on a 20# propane tank off a barbecue, or longer from a 100# propane tank.

It runs smoother and cleaner on NG or propane than it does on gasoline, but there is a slight performance hit. If you have a 5000 watt genset, you may only get 4600 watts on NG or propane. I can live with that.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

This must have been generator testing weekend - I fired up my generator & ran it for an hour or so under load

No problems at all - I like it that way!

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Thanks for the reminder. Going to test mine now....

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Does this mean Duracell batteries have warranties?? News to me. Good luck with your replacements.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

I'll start mine this week. It's too late now or I'm too lazy, take your pick.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Mine are the world's simplest to use - built for the Army, reconditioned including new pistons, rings, rebored, everything, then put in dry storage until they reached their "use by" date, and sold cheaply as surplus.
Onan CCKs. One switch. Above it is a plate that says "To start, move switch to "start" position until generator starts. To stop, move switch to "off" position until generator stops"
With a fully charged battery, it'll start in seconds even after not being touched for months. It has a rope sheave as well for manual starting, but you would need to be fairly beefy to start it like that - or ideally 3 fairly beefy people. And it'll last forever... 1500rpms, weighs around 400lbs... I have 4 of them now, all are good including the one with 3000 hrs on it that I bought as spares or repair. Sticky valve, one light tap with a hammer and it runs like new.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Mine is a Honda not that American Derivative Crap.:sarc:

http://goldismoney.info/forums/pictu...pictureid=1004

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Nothing fancy on mine - take fuel line, immerse in jerry can, hold start switch till it starts. Automatic choke (bimetallic) so it runs really dirty for a minute or so, then just runs. Also remote start switches - I have 5 of them at my BO place, one in each room. You can daisy-chain them. Cold morning? Reach up to the wall, start the generator, wait half an hour (while drinking whiskey and smoking in bed), then have a good hot bath. Dry off over the vacu-flow air-cooled vent, then you're ready for a day of fun and games.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

That's funny. I was trying to get my gas air compressor started the other day that I hadn't used in almost a year. Couldn't figure out what the hell was wrong with it. I was messing with the choke, pulling, pulling. Air filter good, fuel control good... WTF!!? Oh yeah! the ON/OFF switch dummy.

:banghead:

After I flicked the switch one pull.

:bear_tongue:

Re: Check your generators!!
 

jim sounds like fine machines....where do you find them.....how much fuel do they use per hr?

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Bought a cheap chinamart 2hp 2 cycle 1000watt at steep discount two years ago for $80. Was really impressed by the quality and performance. Will run my large 8 amp refrigerator with ice maker or my small 8 cubic foot freezer[so that problem is taken care of in case of future wind or ice storms]. Burns only a gallon of gas for eight hours use at half load! Sound level is not bad either, 58db.

Was so impressed I waited till the price was right and got another one for $76 a couple months ago. Spare or to loan to a friend. Or, to backpack in somewhere if I really want to go off-road as they only weigh 38 pounds.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

These guys usally have a pretty good line up of military generators:

http://www.colemans.com/generator.htm

They will have their "mechanic" test the unit before sale/shipping for you too.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

I've often wondered what the viability would be of having a 'dry' lead acid battery stored on stand-by with a sealed glass container with sulphuric acid ready to go.

Kept in a container with oxygen absorbers, that battery should be ready to go for hundreds of years.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

I have an old Coleman 5k that I keep for emergencies. I've learned to run the gas out after it failed to work when I really needed it. It gummed up bad in the carburetor with old gas. Now I keep it dry and it starts and runs fine.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

By all means, give them a crank and run for five or ten minutes, often. Another lesson I've learned, is to buy a hand full of spare spark plugs, crank case oil, and a carburetor rebuild kit. I couldn't get one of mine to start one time. Finally I checked the oil level. It was only down a little, but as soon as I added some, it cranked right up. If the level is not touching the low oil sensor on some newer models, it won't start. Keep the gasoline or diesel charged with PRI or Sta-bil fuel treatment.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Re: Check your generators!!
 

I got mine on Ebay, mostly - one was being sold by a military surplus company. Haven't been made for years, but you can still buy any part you want for them. The parts are expensive, but the chances of needing anything beside points or plugs etc. are tiny.
They weren't just used as home or military generators - big trucks, RVs etc. also often have them. And they can be picked up very cheap because everyone likes to buy a shiny new Chi-Com one instead, thinking a new genny will be "more reliable". They are HUGELY under-rated in terms of power - I can pull 9kW from my 3.5kW for hours, and the gen-end doesn't even get warm!

Re: Check your generators!!
 

That's how I used to buy them - you bought the battery, then you bought the acid and filled it. If you don't fill them, they'll outlast any of us!

Re: Check your generators!!
 

That's right, I remember that. In fact, some lawn tractor and motorcycle batteries are still sold that way.

I bought one that way for a tractor three years ago I believe.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

I am carburetor ignorant.

For longer term storage is it advised to kill the fuel or kill the electrical on generators?

Thanks.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Kill the fuel, this will dry out the fuel line and carb. Protecting against gas turning into sticky varnesh, gumming up the carburator.

Re: Check your generators!!
 

Or use a fuel stabiliser, and run some fresh gas through it every 6 months or so, with fresh stabiliser added to it!

Re: Check your generators!!
 

I run mine until it the gas tank is empty (I also use PRI-G stabilizer in the fuel, which hopefully minimizes gum buildup from any residual fuel). Then I try to start it 1-2 more times to burn up as much fuel as possible that might be left in the tank/lines/carb. Some carbs have spring loaded drain plugs in the bottom - if your generator has that, drain the gas out of the carb. If not, some carb bowls have threaded drain plugs in the bottom. You can loosen the plug & drain out all the fuel.

After using up the fuel, I remove the air cleaner element & spray engine fogging oil into the air intake. This coats the guts of the engine with a protective oil before you put it away for storage. Reinstall filter, store it away until the next generator test.

Don't forget oil changes also....