We have a 5500 watt generator we picked up from lowes dueing the big ice storm a couple years ago. It sits in my garage doing basically nothing. I start it every coupwle months and let it run for 30 minutes. But surely there should be more to do to it. Do i need to plug it into something and let it run?
Yes, you need to plug it into something. You want to plug it into a large light bulb, or something like that to keep the generator polarized.
We bought one a couple of years ago during our ice storm and this is what the owners manual says.
Run it for a couple of hours every 6 months or less.
There are many threads on this.
Here is a good one
http://www.okshooters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69829&highlight=generator
ETA: I'm not trying to come off rude. It's just the best answer I can provide
Here is a good one
http://www.okshooters.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69829&highlight=generator
ETA: I'm not trying to come off rude. It's just the best answer I can provide
couple things.
first, have a spare spark plug. and maybe a spare air filter. when you need them, either you can't get to them or they are sold out.
next, change the oil. Need to change it every so many hours of operation. If it hasn't been changed in a few years, change it now. Also, get a spare quart of two of the necessary oil. Also a funnel.
Teach anyone else in the house how to start it, change the oil and change the spark plug. If the ice storm hit right now, I wouldn't be able to do any of those things as my hand just had surgery.
When you start it, and I would to that every month not every 6, load it. I use my leaf blower and a couple of fans.
When you turn it off, turn off the gas line and let it run dry. Just remember to open the line a few minutes before you try to re-start it.
Get a can of small engine start spray and learn where to spray it. Again, if you need it, it will be sold out.
Extension chords. Get heavy duty ones. no one thinks about it, but you get a pretty big voltage drop going over a 100 foot small gauge extension chord.
Get adapters. My generator has a 240V circuit on it. Useless to me, but I can get an adapter that turns that into 2-120V circuits. Again, when you need it, you won't be able to find it. Get it now and test it. They all seem to plug in differently.
Get gas cans. You don't necessarily have to keep 'em full but you will want them for a prolonged duration. If your generator has a 5 gallon tank and a 8 hour run time, that means you have to fill it 3 times in a 24 hour period. That is a pain in the ass with one 2.5 gallon can.
Get a good siphon. Large bore. Aquarium stores or ebay are good places for this. I got some on ebay for 3 bucks each. 1/2 inch bore with built in squeeze pumps. Holding a 5 gallon can of gas for a while is a bitch. That is at least 30 pounds. Fine on a nice summer day. Pain at 2AM when the wind chill is 10 below and you suddenly realize you have to go to the bathroom.
See if you can siphon out of your car into the can. Several areas around Lawton had NO power, including the gas stations. It is a pain to have to drive 45 miles to fill up a 2.5 gallon can 3 times a day.
Dave
Like stated above. Be sure and not leave old gas in the carb. Run it dry before it sits. Gas sitting in carbs for a long time will cause you much headache when you actually need it. For that matter I don't leave any gas in my tank to prevent stale gas in the future.
I just started mine up yesterday. It had been several months. Luckily I didn't need to re-excite the genset. Oh one more thing, Sta-Bil really works! She started on the 2nd pull and the gas is almost exactly a year old. Okay, two things, stay the hell away from ethanol gas!
I put StaBil in a boat tank and left it for 2 years. I did not run the carbs dry, and it started on the first crank. I strongly recommend not letting the carb run dry. Gaskets will shrink, and cylinder wall/s may rust since it's dry in there. Pull the plug and spray some light oil in the plug hole, then pull the starter to cycle the piston/s at least once. This is for long storage. If you will do monthly or so maintenance, just run it loaded as explained above. CB
Wow, I did not know that; thank you. I thought just running it was enough (and adding a bit of fuel stabilizer).
And ratski, thanks for all the excellent advice, also!
Is a "couple of hours" really necessary? 15 minutes won't cut it?
when starting:
clean it,
change spark plug or at least wire brush it,
check / change air filter
drain the old gas,
change the oil,
use some carb cleaner,
start it,
load it.
when storing:
stabil,
in garage or out of elements,
when maintaining:
start every few months if you want to be absolutely sure
add stabil every once and a while
if doesn't start / work:
post here for solution
if it doesn't start, it's same old normal small engine stuff
if it doesn't provide electic, it's likely that the head lost it's charge and there are ways to recharge it... easiest / safest way sounds like using a drill.
PS. I left mine sitting for over two years with the same gas, no stabil and was praying that the head didn't lose it's charge... after replacing fluids, it started right up and provided electricity with no problem. Hope you have the same luck.
clean it,
change spark plug or at least wire brush it,
check / change air filter
drain the old gas,
change the oil,
use some carb cleaner,
start it,
load it.
when storing:
stabil,
in garage or out of elements,
when maintaining:
start every few months if you want to be absolutely sure
add stabil every once and a while
if doesn't start / work:
post here for solution
if it doesn't start, it's same old normal small engine stuff
if it doesn't provide electic, it's likely that the head lost it's charge and there are ways to recharge it... easiest / safest way sounds like using a drill.
PS. I left mine sitting for over two years with the same gas, no stabil and was praying that the head didn't lose it's charge... after replacing fluids, it started right up and provided electricity with no problem. Hope you have the same luck.
