Gasoline generator won't run on Natural gas

[ruSSrt]

I'm stomped.
I followed the instructions to the T. Re-read instructions 3-4 times now. My Generac XT8000E won't start or run on natural gas. As soon as I turn the fuel on runs perfectly fine. On NG it will burp when I choke it, but not even start. No matter now I adjust the load screw.
Couple of times I was able to make it run for 2-4 seconds on NG but only when I started on gasoline and then shut the fuel off.
New E3 spark plug with .25 gap, tried previous plug with .20 gap and older plug with .30 gap.

Am I missing something?

 

[Chris142]

Im not familiar with NG but is the NG getting to the engine? Do you have to bleed air out somehow?

 

[Boomer]

Google "Why won't my dual fuel generator run on natural gas?"

 

[ruSSrt]

Im not familiar with NG but is the NG getting to the engine? Do you have to bleed air out somehow?

There is purge/choke button. It is getting plenty of NG.

 

[ruSSrt]

Google "Why won't my dual fuel generator run on natural gas?"

There are a lot of articles about dual fuel generators, but not Gasoline to NG conversion. Do you have a particular link you thinking of?

 

[wpod]

Is there a wat to check the gas pressure on the engines gasregulator?

 

[DemoFly]

There is purge/choke button. It is getting plenty of NG.

You don't know that.

You have an 11-14"WC in-line regulator downstream of a 6-8"WC NG regulator. The in-line regulator isn't going to get enough pressure to open the diaphragm. It's only flowing when you manually press the purge button.

Typically generator conversion kits offer two regulators. An 8oz (11-14"WC) which is for propane, and a 4oz 6-8"WC which is for natural gas. I think you accidentally ordered a propane kit, or a picking error shipped you a propane kit by accident.

 

[ruSSrt]

Is there a wat to check the gas pressure on the engines gasregulator?

I don't have any gauges to check the pressure. And of course gas meter or generator don't have gauges on them.

 

[ruSSrt]

You don't know that.

You have an 11-14"WC in-line regulator downstream of a 6-8"WC NG regulator. The in-line regulator isn't going to get enough pressure to open the diaphragm. It's only flowing when you manually press the purge button.

Typically generator conversion kits offer two regulators. An 8oz (11-14"WC) which is for propane, and a 4oz 6-8"WC which is for natural gas. I think you accidentally ordered a propane kit, or a picking error shipped you a propane kit by accident.

This is the kit that I ordered
Propane Natural Gas Generator Conversion XT8000 XT8000E Alternative Fuel https://a.co/d/caUQKM2

And you are 100% correct. In description it states that I need 9-13.8"WC pressure. And now, looking at my gas meter regulator I have 6-8"WC. I would never even knew to look for it .
I appreciate you pointing that out.

 

[DemoFly]

This is the kit that I ordered
Propane Natural Gas Generator Conversion XT8000 XT8000E Alternative Fuel https://a.co/d/caUQKM2

And you are 100% correct. In description it states that I need 9-13.8"WC pressure. And now, looking at my gas meter regulator I have 6-8"WC. I would never even knew to look for it .
I appreciate you pointing that out.

Yes. Amazon is rife with dropshippers labeling regulators as both propane and natural gas when it isn’t true.

 

[Dinoburner]

It`s been more than 20 years since retirement from the gas industry but I can say nat gas fired small engines used a negative pressure regulator. Trial and error set-up might not be the best way to go.

 

[ruSSrt]

Yes. Amazon is rife with dropshippers labeling regulators as both propane and natural gas when it isn’t true.

I should have done my due diligence and educate myself on differences between propane from the cylinder vs natural gas from the pipe. I've read reviews and ASSuMEd it's going to be as simple as plug-and-play.

 

[ruSSrt]

It`s been more than 20 years since retirement from the gas industry but I can say nat gas fired small engines used a negative pressure regulator. Trial and error set-up might not be the best way to go.

The way the installation manual put is it is negative (they call it ventury effect) regulator. Can you please go in to little bit more details of what you mean by trial and error?

 

[Dinoburner]

The way the installation manual put is it is negative (they call it ventury effect) regulator. Can you please go in to little bit more details of what you mean by trial and error?

Does diagnostics sound better? I certainly mean no disrespect. Myself has been in a similar situation trying to solve an apparently simple problem.

 

[DemoFly]

I've been doing some reading on this and I'm not convinced the kit won't work. I think what you're referring to as a "load screw" is actually a locknut. Remove that by unscrewing it all the way out and there may be another regulator adjustment behind it. Once an adjustment is set, you reinstall and tighten that locknut.



These are called a misnomer when they are called regulators. They are a vacuum operated meter and valve. They have no effect on gas pressure.

 

[oilcandave]

The demand regulator on mine was maladjusted all the way in causing NG to flow out of motor when not in use. After install i turned on the NG and it came out from air filter box. The adjustment slug was glued in so i had to dig out glue and set it correctly..all good now.

It is a good idea to put a leash shorter than the gas whip on it so it does not get pulled away and tear the gas whip if the gen vibrates away or other while in operation. I see its on grass tho..

 

[DemoFly]

.

Just quoting a post to send you a notification that I commented saying I was wrong about your conversion kit in my above comment. The WC rating on this device is just a build tolerance max inlet rating.

 

[captainbeandip]

What's the brass tee with the bolt and red hose attached to it all about?

Not sure if that has anything to do with your issues or not, but that regulator needs to be able to freely breathe through that vent.

 

[ruSSrt]

What's the brass tee with the bolt and red hose attached to it all about?

Not sure if that has anything to do with your issues or not, but that regulator needs to be able to freely breathe through that vent.

That is a load screw. That's how you adjust the NG flow to the generator. Think of it as your high/low adjustment screw on the carb.

 

[ruSSrt]

Just quoting a post to send you a notification that I commented saying I was wrong about your conversion kit in my above comment. The WC rating on this device is just a build tolerance max inlet rating.

The seller confirmed that I have low low pressure gas line and the regulator is for higher pressure. So I'm getting a different regulator sent to me. I will try different regulator and update this post.