I'm actually going to do maintenance on my gen over the weekend so this vid came at a perfect time! (mine has a Subaru small engine) I don't think I ran the gas out of mine last time so I may be in for some more work.

I've leaned so much from your channel. Love how passionate you are about small engines.

I try to run my generator every couple months with a load. I have the same 10hp generator from Briggs. Good machine, loud, but does the job. I should flip the choke at the end to get all the gas out of the carb. Merry Christmas.

Nice summary. Here on the west coast I've been filling my fuel tank up completely, to try and prevent condensation of moisture in overlying air causing water contamination of my fuel and tank rust. Winter evening temperatures often cross the dew point here beside the ocean, and I've had issues with rust on any exposed metal surfaces. With a big fuel tank, I've occasionally wondered if I could rotate fuel into my frequently used vehicles to avoid throwing out old gas. But then it would technically be illegal because I use midgrade no-ethanol fuel for the generator and lawn tractor. I sure like your theme of letting the carb run dry.

I am glad to see this video and since I have one generator which have not been run for almost a year and the last time it was started, I used it to just let it run some since it had not been used before since buying it. There is a generator which is older than that one and it was never used since I could not get it started since buying it new in 2000. It older one has oil in the motor, but it was only turned over to see if it would start.

Another great video, many thanks for it and all the fantasticly done ones you've provided. Marry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. Rich

here's a tip, if you ever get a Hyundai generator that isn't running/ wont even fire, take the valve cover off, and check the valve spring retainers, I bought a used hyundai generator (not running) and the valve spring retainer was so worn out on the exhaust side that the valve stem would slide through it.

Another good how-to video and a great reminder to check the generators before it is needed. Merry Christmas Don and Wife.

A couple of my neighbors asked me if I fix small engines because of my dozen plus machines in the back yard. By no means, I am not a small engine mechanic/shop, its a hobby. I can't stress enough to tell them that the oil and gas must be change on a regular basis. The gas will spoil and the oil additives will work overtime to prevent moisture/oxidization build-up between hot and cold seasons. One most crucial information that is overlooked...The oil...Thanks for bringing that up Don. Happy New Year.

Great vid as always Don. Getting pure gas is almost impossible in Texas. I've switched all my tools to TruFuel. It's expensive but worth the cost when I don't t have to fiddle with carbs in the spring. Merry Christmas!

Found that keeping fuel tanks full of REAL gas makes a dif too. Stored full, no condensation. Totally agree about draining the carbs bowl either manually or letting it burn out at shutdown. Also I get rid of petcock/in tank gas filters...potential for restriction. I add 1 of the little disk type 75-150 micron screen type filters so gas flow keeps up with the carb. Subscribed!

😉 good tips Donny. Been doin that exact same thing on all my stored gas equipment and it works. Been a subscriber for a little while, u don't post much, but enjoy your vids. Keep up the good work, merry Christmas and have a great 2016. Southern Ontario signing out. -Pidge

Great tips Donny! I run all my small engine stuff dry these days, even if only a few weeks between uses. I also use a fuel stabilizer as well. With my old gas, I run it through a filter funnel and then put about a gallon at a time in my truck. Never had a problem(yet), and since the truck has a 25 gallon tank the dilution factor is pretty good anyway.

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+GrandsonofKong take care, have a good weekend

Looks a lot like the Troy Built Generator I have . Mine has an electric start, but battery is dead. Pull rope works great . So, after power is restored in Pineville, Louisiana after CAT 4 hurricane LAURA destroyed many power lines, trees, and homes, I’ll review your video again and do maintenance on my generator. 8-29-2020 Mine started right up and really has been working great. Sometime the fuel cap needs replacing too. But great video Don 👍👏🙋🏻‍♂️🇺🇸

You can easily reuse that old fuel just put a coffee filter in the funnel before you drain the tank. Put the fuel into a clear container and let it sit. If any water is in it it will settle to the bottom. Pour off the gas into a fuel can and mix 5:1 with new gas. This works all the time for me. The remaking water in the container can be left to evaporate.

Great video Don, will keep this in mind when mine is in storage. Winter's can be harsh in Nova Scotia. Be prepared Cheers

good video. excellent suggestions. If you recycle your spent crankcase oil at auto parts shop, you can add the discarded fuel to the oil as it will be re-refined.

Good old fashioned common sense maintenance. Good job Don. Merry Christmas to you and your wife. - Ray in Central Ohio.

Thanks brother. Great video short sweet an exactly to the point.

so happy you made an updated video thanks my generator is over 2 years old am doing what you said and happy to say it still works great oh i forgot it is nessary to run a generator for a few mins before changing the oil?

Actually, moral of the story is if you buy a nice generator, you are guaranteed to not have a black out for 4 yrs.

Merry Christmas and Thanks for the great videos

Well done friend thank you for that basic knowledge that even pros need to come back to every now and again

Another very timely video. Thanks again

Excellent video. I have a suggestion for another video. Some generators say 5000 watts but because they run 2 circuits the generator can only handle 2500 watts at a plug. You could tell the average homeowner what to look for in a generator.

thanks dony merry Christmas to you and your family

awesome looking for this for quite a while

hi don i have recently got a stihl ms170 its a 2012 model not that old should i remove all of the oily sawdust from behind the recoil and under all the plastic covering or should i leave it nice vid

Always A BiG Help...👍👍 Thank you

great tip running things dry before storage..i installed shutoff valves on all my equipment and always use stabil.

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+keith kennedy yes for sure!

thank you THANYOU! great video

Very well explain Sr thank you 👍👍

Great job. Learned lots

Hi Dan....can you tell me how much oil i can put in a honda gx 270 5 kw generator

I keep my old fuel in a container and use it to start my burn pile of dried lawn cuttings and wood from downed branches or cut trees.

@glennporter2590

2 жыл бұрын

I use 4:1 heating oil to the old gasoline for the same job. It has never let me down or burnt any eyebrows

Nice tip. Our power went out last night, sadly, we have no back up generator.

Great advice in a very well made video!

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+360Prairie thanks

Really helpful. Looks like you are getting some snow now!

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+99carnot have a good weekend steve

nice video merry Christmas to you and your wife

Hello donyboy --- thanks for your great videos! Very clear explanations.

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+Carlos Avila YOU'RE WELCOME

@carlosavila8155

8 жыл бұрын

I have a generac generator that shuts off after a while, works for about 20 mins then it shuts off. Cleaned the carb, changed oil, and even disconnected the oil sensor but I still have the problem. Any suggestion?

good tips dony...

Don I have a Homelite generator with a Briggs engine that needs oil added after a few hours of operation and the low oil shutdown disables it and I can't find a leak any suggestions?

thanks

My generator, identical to the one on this video, operates very smooth without hesitation or coughing ONLY with the choke fully closed. It ALSO runs with the choke half closed or opened and completely opened with some minor hesitation. My main question is: "Will I damage any part of my generator if I operate it full-time with the choke completely closed?" I run the gen for about 30 minutes every 60 days. It has about 45 hours of run time on it. I did clean the carburetor after one year of the gen sitting idle. Thanks for any valuable advice!!

Good tips 👍👍

Great video as always !!!

Nice job!

great video Don!

Great stuff Don.could you mabe help me. I've got a predator 4000. It was running fine, I turned it off, and now it will not stay running. Carb. is OK,fuel is OK oils OK.valves OK. It's only4months old. And no more warranty. The plug is fine. Could you please show me how to adjust the gov.

Great video Don! Merry Christmas!

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+cubbeezx take care, have a good weekend!

What do you recommend for a fuel stabilizer? Awesome step by step video

I'll give this video a Three Thumbs up! 👍👍👍

great video

great video sir

merry Christmas don

Thank you for the clarity of your explanations. Even I can follow your instructions. Season's greetings from the UK.

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+MIKE O'BRIEN have a good weekend!

Joyeux Noel et Bon Anne ~!~!

for storage purpose should I empty the gas tank?

Gate Tip Thanks

Hi Donyboy! I have a 4000w Champion generator that I never started after taking it out of the box, but filled with oil. My issue is, I may have slightly over filled it, as the level is a bit over the top of the fill mark on the dipstick. Should that be a concern? Thanks!

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+Bergstaller01 probably not a big concern with those

Another tip-install a small inline fuel filter. They are cheap, and easy to put in.

I've never anything but SAE straight oil. Am I behind the times?

Don, offtopic but that orange mower deck! Is that from the famous Kubota T1400 series ride-on mower? You know, the one that will outlast even cockroaches after WW3 haha.

I run all my engines dry after I use them. Especially snowblowers since you don’t know when you’ll next do it. Will the surging eventually ruin the engine or carburetor? Since it’s starving for gas at the end?

@wingerrrrrrrrr

2 жыл бұрын

When it starts missing from lack of fuel, start closing the choke to get it to run down further and clear out the most gas possible. Then after it stops, crank it some more with full choke.

I will take all the used waste oil I can get bc that's what I use to heat me shop I have a clean burn waste oil furnace. Great vid buds.

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+Dennis Long thanks, good heating system you have

Quick question -- I have an EXL8000 generac unit and it starts ok and runs for a short period then shuts off. We disconnected the oil sensor switch and same problem. Any suggestion? Already cleaned the carb, checked filter, and oil levels.

@MrDandan170

6 жыл бұрын

is there an oil pressure sensor ?? i saw a video earlier today about that , change it out

@whatthe2458

2 жыл бұрын

Take the fuel cap off and run it, if it doesn’t happen , your fuel cap is not venting. The fuel cap needs to vent. Think of a straw.

@markelkins7622

7 ай бұрын

Sometimes that can be intake valve clearance

When should I change the oil in my snowblower. At the beginning of the season, or at the end of the season?

@donyboy73

5 жыл бұрын

doesn't matter, at least do it once a year for home use and at least twice a year for commercial use

What are your thoughts on a quite box?

Hello Donnyboy, My name is George and i live in Mexico Baja California, Tijuana to be exact. Love all your videos and How to's you provide,💯. Anyways Don I'm having a little trouble with a Powerrise 3500 Generator i was given to as a gift, I was advised that it sat under Rain & Sun for more than 6 mths. I cleaned the carb and spark plug does spark when cord is pulled, So I add carburetor cleaner with choke opened and it seems like it's gonna start but it doesn't it shuts right off, but I've added carburetor cleaner when i attempt to start and it does seem to continue running but as soon as i stop spraying it does. (( and yes it does have oil )). What do you suggest Don??

@donyboy73

5 жыл бұрын

you probably need to replace the carburetor

@JorgeGarcia-cj2cy

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I will consider that sir

Nice video.quick question when you say run the generator dry are you just talking about turning the fuel switch off and empty the carburetor and still leaving fuel in the fuel tank ?

@donyboy73

4 жыл бұрын

yes exactly

@str8shooter290

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your time and answering my question. 👍

Great tutorial don :-D Putting pure gasolene in the tank will keep it happy, i left my old motorbike in the shed for 10 years, after i cleaned its points it started fine, that was 10 year old pure petrol. I did inspect the carb later, just a tiny bit of browning in the bottom, thats pure fuel. I cant do the same now as our govenment has crept etholene in to the petrol :-(.

What should be the maintenance intervals? Talking about oil change, spark plugs and air filter...

I have a Generac that looks very similar to this one. It starts fairly easily but only runs smoothly when at half choke. Suggestions?

@markelkins7622

7 ай бұрын

Clean carb

is it ok if i put unleaded gas in my generator what happen was i gave some some money to get gas for me after i put the gas in the tank thats when he told me .i ran it and everything is working fine but need your in put thank you donyboy73

@donyboy73

6 жыл бұрын

yes it's ok

How much did you pay for your generator if I may ask ? Is it for your house or shop ? I presume its for your shop because, when the power goes off, it must be a busy time to repair defective generators. Obviously, its a Sears with a Briggs engine. I'm seriously consider buying one.

i did that on my Devilibiss generator with a 10hp B&S engine and a Walboro carb. it would only run with the choke on. i cleaned the carb which looked very clean already but it still only ran with the choke on. can you show that carb?

@mph5896

8 жыл бұрын

clean the main jet really well, you can run a wire trash bag tie through it.

@dagrote

8 жыл бұрын

+Barry Beadman If it runs with the choke on, it might be you have an air leak somewhere -- cracked fuel line, maybe the carb isn't all the way tightened down on its mount?

Brother i got mine brand new and it wont start added fuel new. I also choked it and turned it on Fuel line on aswell cranked and nothing

Are there any risks to running 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines dry? Does it impact the lubrication in a 2 stroke?

@gokartbuyer

8 жыл бұрын

+DBay Boyds Not really, running carb dry is different from running the engine lean. Running an engine lean could kill it, running the carb dry won't damage it. You'll really want to do this on 2 strokes, they can be a pain in the ass after sitting all winter with gas.

I have a ryobi 4stroke that I stood up in my shed .ran good 3 days prior now I can’t pull the Handel to start seem locked up Thanks

@markelkins7622

7 ай бұрын

A Ryobi what?

@markelkins7622

7 ай бұрын

Cylinder could be full of gas. Remove spark plug and see how wet is in there.

with the old gas I put it in my lawn mower if I know I am going to burn all the Gas in 1 go also I add some sea foam

Wher you get you parts?

Do you have to do this Honda engine generator. I heard the engine so reliable that start every time you pull it.

@andyd3540

3 жыл бұрын

@Doggen Haus thank you

@wingerrrrrrrrr

2 жыл бұрын

Same principle. Some are more or less prone to issues depending on the size of the pilot jets. Some are very small and more prone to plugging up when the gas evaporates and leaves crusty residues.

will any gas or gum get In. the carb if u have gas and the fuel shut off is off position

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+boneheadmoth as hezy no it won't get in if valve is off

@TheSiameseRat

8 жыл бұрын

ok thank you

I just bought a new generator from Sears and I was pissed to find out that they no longer carry the Craftsman brand. I bought something called a pulsar brand and hope it's a decent one as my first generator ever.

@charleshendrick7266

5 жыл бұрын

Sears is about going out of business...so I have heard. Your new generator is probably the same one that had the Craftsman label,,,, just no lifetime warrantee. Of course, take care of it and it will probably be fine.

Will the ac output remain constant on a capacitor generator or will it fluctuate?

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+Kevin Watson probably not stay completely steady like an inverter generator does

@Kevinthomaswatson

8 жыл бұрын

+donyboy73 I found my problem. The 100MFD run capacitor is split wide open. If you have a capacitor run generator and the 120VAC is fluctuating between 131 volts and 0 volts and the engine is running rich, your problem could be the capacitor. I took the capacitor out to test it and only got as far as the visual inspection. Now looking for a replacement.

merry christmas to you and your family. also you can find non ethanol gas stations at pure gas.com

Use old gas to start a fire is better than letting it evaporate, enviromentally

@wbgator1

8 жыл бұрын

+phxtonash How about combining the old gas and the old oil for starting fires so as to make it less explosive;) and of course it is good to clean paint brushes, or even put into a spray bottle to clean old dirt and oil off engines or other greasy things before spraying with engine cleaner. There are just so many uses

Where can I get a generator spark plug?

Any danger to running generator dry? Danger as in damaging piston or mechanical damage?

@donyboy73

3 жыл бұрын

no damage will happen

how long was it in storage for?

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+man9170 3 years

While you have the plug out, putting a drop of gas in the cylinder doesn't hurt either for ease of starting : )

Question? Wouldn't that fuel be good if you filtered it and threw it in with a full tank of gas in a car or truck?? Oh, yes how come you didn't change the oil before you put it away? Hum----- guess that's 2 questions for your viewers to learn from. Nice video again. -10*C here in Gander but everything is green.

where do u get those service tags??

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+Robert Waid the white nylon tags are from a garden supply store

I run it out of gas with the petcock closed, and then give a few cranks with the choke closed, to get the last bits of fuel out of the fuel bowl. Draining the float bowl by removing the drain plug can be done also for completeness. Then pull the starter cord slowly until resistance is felt, indicating all the valves are closed, blocking the cylinder from the outside air. If it's really expected to be long term storage of several years, I'd drain out the fuel from the tank as well, though the carburetor is the most critical, with the government mandated ethanol laced fuel.

l get Shell premium gas here in Ohio too. It costs a bit more, and is ten miles away, but well worth it. Shell is the only gas station, plus boat marinas up by Lake Erie; that don't put ethanol in their gas. Many old boat motors choke and puke on corn gas. btw Dony, do you service small boat motors? Canada is the land of lakes and rivers. Don

I thought all premium grade gas sold in Canada was ethanol-free. Should I stand corrected ? Merry Xmas and helthy new year to you and your wife !

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+Daniel Robert not all, as far as I know only shell and Canadian tire in my area

@danielrobert7181

8 жыл бұрын

+donyboy73 You have done so much for us week-end mechanics that I found proper to research the issue for the benefit of your subscribers. If petroleum companies public relation people are to be believed, ethanol-free gas is readily available in Canada.Here are some : ESSO Supreme, Ultramar Supreme, Shell V-Power Nitro, McEwen Premium. In fact, Petro-Canada is the only distributor that says to expect ethanol in all its gas offerings although depending. All the best to you !

@donyboy73

8 жыл бұрын

+Daniel Robert thanks, also Canadian tire premium has no ethanol

Real Pure Gasoline? Ha....haven't seen that around my place for years. I just keep replacing fuel lines that crack and harden from Ethanol.... Thanks EPA!

هذا المولد جميل هل لديك منه الكثير اريد منها كمية وإذا موجود كم السعر للواحدة ارجوك الرد

forgot to talk about the choke switched on 1st

Why don't any of these machines have drain plugs???