gernerator issues.... RESOLVED!

[skiracer]

I have a small generator, almost new, tried to start it over the weekend, but it only runs while the choke is on.  When I go to take the choke off, the motor dies out.  Any thoughts?

JUST WANTED TO AGAIN THANK EVERYONE THAT OFFERED SOME HELP WITH THIS.  I CLEANED THE CARB, AND IT FIRED UP ON THE SECOND PULL, AND RUNS FINE.  LESSON LEARNED.....  THANKS!

1976 250 MC5 Original Owner
1976 Penton 175 XC

[Larry Perkins]

Jet has gotten gummed up and is not clear.

Larry P

[Carl Hill]

Never Ever put ethanol gasoline in anything with a carburetor.
Just my .02

[Paul Danik]

I agree with not using fuel with ethanol, especially if it is going to sit for any length of time, like over a couple of weeks.

Ethanol free fuel is available in my area at several stations and that is what I run in numerous gasoline powered pieces of equipment that we use around the nursery and at home.

If you can drain the tank and put in ethanol free fuel and add some Sea Foam to it and run it some it might help.

Some of the local equipment dealers are selling fuel as well that has stabilizer in it that they recommend for such applications as your generator. They sell it by the can ready to go. Not cheap, but cheaper than replacing carbs that are ruined.

I am sure others have thoughts as well.

I feel that there should not be any ethanol added to our fuel, period !  But I will keep my opinion to just us....

Paul

[Mike Korgan]

I have a Honda that did the same thing. It's a fairly easy fix. There are a couple of jets that need to be cleaned. Look at You Tube, it will walk you through it.

[Daniel P. McEntee]

The company that I work for has a Yamaha, 5000 or bigger, that they absolutely refuse to listen to me when I tell them not to put pump gas in it. Pay a few more bucks and have it hooked up to a natural gas line  and run it on that, as it is an emergency unit for power outages. If they didn't want to do that, at least keep gas with no alcohol in it, and I even volunteered to get it for them! OK, if you don't do that, then whoever runs the thing last, at least drain the fuel line and drain the float bowl, which I showed them how to do. But no, each time the boss lady decides it needs to be 'tested" it won't start because of the same issue, the main jet is clogged. There is a line in the movie "Battle of Britain" when a crusty old mechanic watches a low time youngster try to land with his gear up, "It's enough to make you weep!"
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[skiracer]

Thanks everyone!  Will do....

1976 250 MC5 Original Owner
1976 Penton 175 XC

[Steve Minor]

Just my 2 cents...On all my small motor tools, 2 or 4 stroke (string trimmers, chainsaws, lawnmowers, generators),  I always:

(1) Use non-ethanol pump gas
(2) Add a stabilizer such as Sta-bil
(3) After use I shut the gas off or drain the tank
(4) Run the carburetor dry


Steve Minor

[454MRW]

I have been using this Golden Spectro fuel additive for the past year when I bought my 2017 KTM Freeride 250R since I routinely burn Marathon 93 octane pump gas. I haven't put many miles on the bike but I haven't had any carburetor issues with it or my other bikes that I run it in as well. Mike
https://spectro-oils.com/pr-spectro-ethanol-fuel-conditioner/

[JP Morgen]

StarTron Enzyme fuel treatment. I put it in a Ducati Monster that had sat for years and wouldn't start. Sloshed it around in the tank, let it sit for a couple days, let it drain through carbs, sat again, fired right up, idled fine, rode fine....highly recommended, especially formulated for ethanol fuels.

[skiracer]

Only problem I have with that is that I don't have a shut off from the gas tank.....  Maybe I need to install one, thanks Steve!

quote:Originally posted by Steve Minor

Just my 2 cents...On all my small motor tools, 2 or 4 stroke (string trimmers, chainsaws, lawnmowers, generators),  I always:

(1) Use non-ethanol pump gas
(2) Add a stabilizer such as Sta-bil
(3) After use I shut the gas off or drain the tank
(4) Run the carburetor dry


Steve Minor

1976 250 MC5 Original Owner
1976 Penton 175 XC

[skiracer]

Ahhh, the man with the plan!  Thanks JP!

quote:Originally posted by JP Morgen

StarTron Enzyme fuel treatment. I put it in a Ducati Monster that had sat for years and wouldn't start. Sloshed it around in the tank, let it sit for a couple days, let it drain through carbs, sat again, fired right up, idled fine, rode fine....highly recommended, especially formulated for ethanol fuels.

1976 250 MC5 Original Owner
1976 Penton 175 XC

[ALB]

I use pump gas in my Jackpiner mixed with Golden Spectro.
That gas has been sitting in the tank for 5+ years. Bike fires right up and bike runs good. I generally start the bike up to warm it up and sometimes ride it up and down the street once or twice a year which is why it is so old. I have a Hi-Point alloy gas tank, Lectron Carb and Power Dynamo ignition.
Go figure that out.  

Alan Buehner