Generator dies when "idle control switch" turned on?

[JTK]

demarpaint, sorry if I missed it, but my thoughts are the carb might need cleaning/replacing if it won't idle. Can you (safely) get your finger on the governor linkage? If you can, I'd run the unit at the ~3600rpm speed and then manually pull on the governor linkage to see if the engine will idle. If it dies during that test, the carb is buggered up is all.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted by JTK
demarpaint, sorry if I missed it, but my thoughts are the carb might need cleaning/replacing if it won't idle. Can you (safely) get your finger on the governor linkage? If you can, I'd run the unit at the ~3600rpm speed and then manually pull on the governor linkage to see if the engine will idle. If it dies during that test, the carb is buggered up is all.

I dosed it with B12 the other day when I added fresh gas and ran it. It must have loosened something up, the machine runs fine now.

The pic above sums up what Sandy did to us.

I'm going to investigate if it can somehow be converted to natural gas. I've gotten by the last 36 years of owning a home w/o one, so this is all new.

 

[CrAlt]

Originally Posted by demarpaint


I'm going to investigate if it can somehow be converted to natural gas.

That is a great idea. Ive seen guys use the outside "quick disconnect" hookups used for BBQ grills to run their generators. Since it is a brigs it shouldn't be to hard to find a kit to convert it.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted by CrAlt
Originally Posted by demarpaint


I'm going to investigate if it can somehow be converted to natural gas.

That is a great idea. Ive seen guys use the outside "quick disconnect" hookups used for BBQ grills to run their generators. Since it is a brigs it shouldn't be to hard to find a kit to convert it.

I'm going to look into it.

 

[Dinoburner]

Not all gensets have a hertz gauge but should. We were taught to use an old electric clock plugged into the gen 120 volt outlet then time for one minute against a digital watch or stop watch. They should agree if not adjust the engine governor.

 

[spasm3]

Originally Posted by demarpaint


The pic above sums up what Sandy did to us.

I'm going to investigate if it can somehow be converted to natural gas. I've gotten by the last 36 years of owning a home w/o one, so this is all new.



I went a long time without one as well, but its sure nice. Definitely keep that one. If you are not on a well, get a smaller inverter gen to run lights and gas furnace. The bigger one for when you need the oven clothes dryer etc. , or if you have a lot of people surviving with you.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted by spasm3
Originally Posted by demarpaint


The pic above sums up what Sandy did to us.

I'm going to investigate if it can somehow be converted to natural gas. I've gotten by the last 36 years of owning a home w/o one, so this is all new.



I went a long time without one as well, but its sure nice. Definitely keep that one. If you are not on a well, get a smaller inverter gen to run lights and gas furnace. The bigger one for when you need the oven clothes dryer etc. , or if you have a lot of people surviving with you.


Thanks!

 

[spasm3]

I'M thinking about getting a 3500 watt inverter generator to take camping. I'VE had power outages during really hot weather. Now that I don't have a hybrid camper, it would get really hot for us and the dogs. But then I would have 3 generators.