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Generator question

Generator question

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by: radiogirl30 Active Indicator LED Icon 3 OP 
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 11:29am  
I have a gas generator.  I pulled it out before Bill was supposed to destroy all of Texas.  There is still a little gas in it from Ike!  Oooops!  Does anyone know what I need to do to it before I try to start it?  I know I will probably need to empty the old gas, but do I need to add oil or anything?  I know nothing about this stuff! 4951
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dotti573 Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 11:30am  
I have a gas generator.  I pulled it out before Bill was supposed to destroy all of Texas.  There is still a little gas in it from Ike!  Oooops!  Does anyone know what I need to do to it before I try to start it?  I know I will probably need to empty the old gas, but do I need to add oil or anything?  I know nothing about this stuff!
@radiogirl30: I have no idea what you are supposed to do but I know my neighbor didn't start theirs since Katrina and his started right up.  Granted, it needed a tune up and was leaking gas but it started.  Be careful. 4951
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tatertot58 Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 11:43am  
Depends on how much gas.  I would probably drain it.  There should be a small hose at the bottom of the gas tank.  I would also remove the spark plug and clean it.  Adding fuel stabilizer is a good idea.  You can also just try and see if it starts.  If it is a small amount of gas need gas will blend right in.  Mine had about 4 gallons that would not even run in the lawn mower. 4951
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staylifted Active Indicator LED Icon 5
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 12:00pm  
Stabilizer is a good idea. Gas is like bread it goes stale if not used relatively guick unless you use stabilizer never a bad idea. 4951
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Retired_Engineer Active Indicator LED Icon 13
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 12:06pm  
@radiogirl30:  @tatertot58 makes some good points.There are a couple of issues with gasoline left in a tank.Almost all gasoline you buy now contains ethanol.  Ethanol absorbs water like a sponge.  As the tank heats and cools, it can draw in humid air, and the ethanol will collect that moisture.  As the tank "breathes", some of the lighter portions of the gasoline will evaporate and escape, changing the composition of the gasoline.A good gasoline stabilizer will help prevent problems with stored gasoline, but for smaller devices, when you have finished with them, probably the best thing to do is let it run until it is out of gasoline.If you don't know how much the existing oil has been used in the engine.  Check the color and smell with the dipstick.  If it is black and smells "burnt", it's past time to change it.  A better method is to change the oil at the end of each season in which it gets used. 4951
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dotti573 Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 12:10pm  
@radiogirl30:  @tatertot58 makes some good points.There are a couple of issues with gasoline left in a tank.Almost all gasoline you buy now contains ethanol.  Ethanol absorbs water like a sponge.  As the tank heats and cools, it can draw in humid air, and the ethanol will collect that moisture.  As the tank "breathes", some of the lighter portions of the gasoline will evaporate and escape, changing the composition of the gasoline.A good gasoline stabilizer will help prevent problems with stored gasoline, but for smaller devices, when you have finished with them, probably the best thing to do is let it run until it is out of gasoline.If you don't know how much the existing oil has been used in the engine.  Check the color and smell with the dipstick.  If it is black and smells "burnt", it's past time to change it.  A better method is to change the oil at the end of each season in which it gets used.
@Retired_Engineer: You seem to know alot.  We have a new lawn mower that was only used about 5 times since we purchased it and now it won't start.  It has gas in it.  Could bad gas be our problem?  Does anyone know who doesn't charge an arm and a leg to service them.
 
@radiogirl30 - sorry for changing your thread. 4951
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FoFa Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 12:11pm  
Change oil, for sure.I had to take mine in and get the carb cleaned because the old gas gummed it up (and it was only a couple years, not as long as Ike).Also they recommend using fake gas in it when you need to store it, it last 2 years instead 3 months like stabilizerSo I figure I'll use mine through the summer as required, then run the gas out and put some fake gas in before winter (I always have a plan, too bad I forget to do them usually).. 4951
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buffaloglenn Active Indicator LED Icon 11
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 12:13pm  
Change oil, for sure.I had to take mine in and get the carb cleaned because the old gas gummed it up (and it was only a couple years, not as long as Ike).Also they recommend using fake gas in it when you need to store it, it last 2 years instead 3 months like stabilizerSo I figure I'll use mine through the summer as required, then run the gas out and put some fake gas in before winter (I always have a plan, too bad I forget to do them usually)..
 
@FoFa: What FoFa said:  You will most likely have to get the carburetor cleaned out, because having gas left in the tank from Ike will most likely mean that the carburetor is completely gummed up / corroded from that old gas.  There is no harm in trying to start it though; you can't really make it worse.  Check the oil level before you attempt to start it.  If that is fine, give it a try.  If by some miracle the gas did not turn to putty in the time since Ike, and it runs, you can change the oil after it has run for a few minutes. 
4951
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radiogirl30 Active Indicator LED Icon 3 OP 
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 12:13pm  
Thanks for all the advice!  Emoticon 4951
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staylifted Active Indicator LED Icon 5
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 12:40pm  
New markdown today for brand new unit in box .
 
Loading Image... 4951
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QueenB Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 12:43pm  
Bumping this up for @radiogirl, and past the love doctor. 4951
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Retired_Engineer Active Indicator LED Icon 13
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 3:39pm  
@Retired_Engineer: You seem to know alot.  We have a new lawn mower that was only used about 5 times since we purchased it and now it won't start.  It has gas in it.  Could bad gas be our problem?  Does anyone know who doesn't charge an arm and a leg to service them.
 
@radiogirl30 - sorry for changing your thread.
 
@dotti573:  Thank you for the compliment.  I've worked on small engines since i was young. Working at a service station during high school also taught me a lot. Spending 30 years in the oil and petrochemical business and just paying attention to life also teaches you a lot.How long has it sat idle?I can think of two likely causes for it not to start:1. Bad gas is likely the culprit.  It's either gotten too stale and/or the ethanol in it has absorbed too much water.  Draining the gas from the tank and replacing it with fresh fuel would correct that2.  Pull the spark plug and check the point for carbon.  An engine that has sat idle will let the cylinder dry out.  Small particles of carbon tend to migrate to the end of the spark plug.  If it forms a bridge across the gap, you won't get a spark.If you'd like, I could swing by and check it out.  Just PM me.
4951
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Sniper12 Active Indicator LED Icon 12
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 4:28pm  
 remove gas from tank look for rust and remove tank if you need to remove hard deposits
 
remove lower bolt in the carb bowl and see if there is a discolor or white deposit on both carb and the bowl if so clean with carb cleaner both the bowl and center of the low part of the exposed carb.
 
remove oil and replace with 10w30
 
replace all filters and spark plug
 
Now put back the carb bowl careful not to damge gasket
 
Now once you have completed this add a 1/2 gallon to a gallon of fresh super fuel
 
Now leave it on the off position and pull cord 5-7 times , start pulling but nice and easy pulls to allow gas flow and lower in to be lubed
 
Now turn to start and try to start by spaying a little carb cleaner in the intake of the carb and pull to start
 
If it starts see if the rpm's jump up and down real fast , or it will run then die repeat  steps 1-2
 
If it runs and let it run under a load, just plug a fan or a light and run to the unit runs out of gas
 
Leave tank empty and drain any fuel from the carb
 
ITS READy TO BE STORED UP
 
And to your question No you dont need any gasoline stabilizer because this how you store up all small engines of all types... if can learn to do this you will save time and money.  I have a pressure washer, 2 generators 3 ATV and weeder for over 8 years now and I follow this each year and never had a problem
 
Or you can send it to a local dealer at 75.00 a hour plus parts and a back log up o 2 weeks 4951
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yankeejessica Active Indicator LED Icon 12
~ 8 years ago   Jun 26, '15 4:35pm  
Thanks for reminding me I need to find a gas siphon. Hubby stang has some gas left over I need to get out 4951
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