Exercise the Generator or open your wallet

koda55 wrote:
There are two reasons to run your generator every month.
1. To get fresh fuel through the system.
2. You run it under load so that the generator runs the stators so they do not rust.

AND to bring the alternator up to a decent temperature for long enough to drive out any moisture.

Good advice, I guess I just got lucky. We started our generator the other day just as we arrived in Oklahoma to visit family. I have neglected running it for quite some time, but it fired right up and ran smooth. Yes, I put it under a load running it for about 40 minutes with the air conditioner on. I must get better at running it to avoid problems.

Belgique wrote:
...I did what he said and Sea Foamed it a lot. It got it to where it would start but then ran real rough with lots of smoke and no amout of Sea Foam made it any better...

This usually means there is still SeaFoam in the fuel, and it should run rough and smoke. Once you get clean fuel flowing for awhile, it should have settled down. A gummed up carb does not smoke.

Thanks for the reminder. I just exercised ours Saturday, it still runs like new. I try to run it at least once a month with one of the air conditioners on.

Did not realize that it is that dangerous to rebuild the carburetor on these generators. $233 ain't bad at all for a new one, though. You'd probably pay half that to have somebody rebuild your old carb.

Like the suggestion made earlier as well, about disconnecting the fuel pump and letting the engine run itself dry on fuel. I do this with several other small engines I have (weed eater, leaf blower). Never thought about doing it with the MH's genny, as didn't realize it was that simple. Might just try that.

Will: As I recall, I had not run it since Oct. I agree, $233 is cheap for a new carb and it runs much better now than it had in recent years. It wasn't bad in past years...just not as smooth as it is now. That video made it real easy to swap out. I'm told that it would have cost me about $400 at the Onan place in New Bern plus the gas to get there and back. Think I'll go exercise it right now :-)

I had an Onan 5000 in my 1996 Pace Arrow, a Generac 6500 in my '03 Mountain Aire and now a Onan 2800 in the Roadtrek. I use Stabil in my tank in the fall and run the gene until I am sure Stabil has gotten there also. I store in a barn and don't have the opportunity to run it monthly. It is usually stored for 6-7 months and I have never had a problem in the Spring to get the gene running.

There is one reason and one reason only for this problem! ETHANOL!

mkane wrote:
There is one reason and one reason only for this problem! ETHANOL!

Yep, I remember a few years ago when buying a leaf blower, the tech. guy said the same thing - Most of the various small engine powered equipment he gets in for service 'cause they quit running, he finds the cause is exactly that - Ethanol in the fuel causing the carburetor to gum up. He told me to run nothing but ethanol free fuel in the (Stihl) leaf blower I was buying from him, and I'd never have a problem with it. Ever since then, thats all I've ever run in all my lawn equipment (tractor, mower, leaf blower, weed eater, etc). Never had a problem out of any of 'em since.

Its easy to only use ethanol free gasoline in small engines you use at home where you can always get your fuel for such from the same place (a convenience store nearby where they sell ethanol free gas). Howerver, it is not that easy to run strictly ethanol free with a Motorhome that you travel all over with, and have to fuel up in all different locations, where ethanol free fuel is frequently not an option. Especially at fuel stations large enough to get a Class A RV in and out of.

Sooo, we either exercise our gennys, run 'em dry on fuel before parking them, or pay the price, like noted here.

Will

Well charged up the and started the gen. ran great as usual. One question though. I read most of the posts here and the posts seem to be concerning gasoline generators(ethanol) predominately. How much of the discussion would be the same for a diesel generator(that's me).

Will: I noted that Lowes etc sell pre-mixed fuel in cans that are pure gas and supposedly great for those small engines. It's more expensive, but not really. My trimmer has run better than ever this year using it.