Generator Question

[GlockCop]

I have a Homelite 4400 generator. It has an 8 HP Briggs motor which runs fine. Last time we used it there was a electric heater blower, fridge and freezer hooked up to it and it worked fine.

Now, however, it starts fine but will not carry any load at all. I've tightened the ground, no change. I am at a loss. Any ideas?? Thanks guys.

 

[338Shooter]

It might be broken.

<3​

 

[JeffT]

It may have lost it's magnetism...

Below quote is from another website. I used it to re-magnetise my generator about a year ago, after it sat idle for too long.
Jeff

Quote starts here:

Field Flashing Using an Electric Drill
This tip comes from the Briggs & Stratton Customer Education Department. As an alternative to flashing a rotor winding with a battery applied to the brushes, an electric drill may be used. Follow these steps to flash the generator:

Plug the electric drill into the generator receptacle. (Cordless drills do not work)

If the drill is reversible, move the direction switch to the forward position.

Start the generator

While depressing the trigger on the drill, spin the drill chuck in reverse direction. This will excite the field and the generator will now produce electricity. If spinning the chuck one direction does not work, try spinning the chuck in the other direction as you may have the reverse switch positioned backwards.

Use caution not to get your hand or other materials caught in the chuck. As soon as the field is excited, the generator will produce power and the drill will turn on.

The reason this works is because the electric motor in the drill will act as a small generator when spun backwards. The magnets in the drill's motor induce a voltage into the motor windings, which is fed back through the trigger, cord and into the generators receptacle. From there it goes into the power winding of the stator. The voltage going through the power winding creates a magnetic field, which is intensified due to the iron core of the stator laminations. The rotor intersects this magnetic field as it is spun past the power winding, thus inducing a voltage in the rotor winding. Once current flow is present in the rotor winding the rotor has been flashed.

If flashing the field does not make the generator work, you may have additional problems, besides a lack of magnetism in the rotor. Further testing will be needed. Hopefully, this will give a simple way to field flash your generator if needed - Bruce Perrault

 

[GlockCop]

It might be broken.

<3​

And OGE thinks YOU can fix their problems?? LOL

 

[GlockCop]

ok..first Thanks Piedmont for the advice. Coincidentally the first thing I plugged in was a drill. It ran the drill fine. I unplugged it and plugged in my shop vac and the moment I turned it on it killed the motor. Thats what has me stumped. I have let it sit a little too long but I would think if it will run a drill it should be producing the same amount of power it always has.

 

[338Shooter]

Did you try the shop vac on a wall outlet? Might be a bad motor in it?

 

[JeffT]

If it will run the drill, with something like normalcy, it should run almost anything, what is the max startup amperage/wattage the generator will handle?
Is the shop vacs startup amerage/wattage below that?

 

[GlockCop]

Did you try the shop vac on a wall outlet? Might be a bad motor in it?

Nope. ShopVac is good. BB would KILL me if I tore it up.

 

[GlockCop]

If it will run the drill, with something like normalcy, it should run almost anything, what is the max startup amperage/wattage the generator will handle?
Is the shop vacs startup amerage/wattage below that?

I'm pretty sure it is below the generator's max but I'll double check. thanks. again.

 

[KOPBET]

I know it sounds silly but did you check the oil level?