Last year the Gen set wouldn't stay running and I tracked it down to a bad circuit board on the back side of the front switch cover. It ran fine all last year after replacing it. Getting ready to take the kids to Yogi next week and when I brought it in the morning and tried to start the Gen it won't stay running.I've loosened the cover, checked the oil, even unhooked what I thought was the low oil switch wire and nothing helps. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.UPDATE - I went back out and took a small rubber mallet and lightly tapped all over the unit. Started it and it ran for about 30 seconds and then died. Tried it again and it won't stay running - a tad bit frustrating!

tpcollins wrote:Last year the Gen set wouldn't stay running and I tracked it down to a bad circuit board on the back side of the front switch cover. It ran fine all last year after replacing it. Getting ready to take the kids to Yogi next week and when I brought it in the morning and tried to start the Gen it won't stay running.I've loosened the cover, checked the oil, even unhooked what I thought was the low oil switch wire and nothing helps. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.UPDATE - I went back out and took a small rubber mallet and lightly tapped all over the unit. Started it and it ran for about 30 seconds and then died. Tried it again and it won't stay running - a tad bit frustrating!I would try a fuel filter. Mine did the same thing, replaced it and has been running fine since...

Clogged carburetor from ethanol fuel. I guess I don't need to quote your entire post.

If it has been stored and the Genset NOT run at all for more than 3 months, then the Fuel has deteriorated and clogged the jets in the carb. You MUST run Gensets at least once a month for an hour to prevent this or get a fuel stabilizer to the Genset fuel system. Doug

What Doug said. We routinely park for 5-6 months at a time. We add a fuel stabalizer to the fuel for the motorhome/generator and run both engines for a bit after adding. We do exercise the generator but occasionally forget for a few months and have not had any problems in 5 years.Only time it wouldn't stay running the problem was a clogged AIR filter. Has your been changed?

Gen set won't stay running the year - AGAIN! | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

Pogoil
Explorer
Jul 09, 2016
Dirty brushes, clean them before they take out your voltage regulator.

I also have a propane generator.

Pogoil.
hooligan
Explorer
Jul 09, 2016
Propane can gum up. Some oily hydrocarbons come in with the propane and can also clog the regulator. Also there is no fuel pump.
Your problem sounds like the fuel valve sticking. Where the propane line comes to the generator there is usually a filter and fuel shutoff valve.
The valve will have an electrical connection. If you can jump 12 volts to the valve it will click. I had this problem and used the 12 volts repeatedly until the valve clicked each time.

I did have to replace the filter and the valve at about 15 years. Both were gunked up. Dark brown paste.
Snowman9000
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
Propane fuel system should not gum up from sitting, as far as I know.
tpcollins
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
Actually it's propane. I kept at today, did some more tapping with the rubber mallet and it ran for about an hour straight. Probably from just sitting there since last October. From now on I'll go out and start every couple of months!
justlou
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
2oldman wrote:
Clogged carburetor from ethanol fuel. I guess I don't need to quote your entire post.

Carburetor on a Diesel Generator??
dougrainer
Nomad
Jul 08, 2016
braindead0 wrote:
Is the fuel gravity feed or pump? Could be bad fuel pump as well...

ALL you do is disconnect the metal fuel line from the carb(easy to do) and hit the start switch. If fuel gushes out, your fuel pump is OK. Doug
braindead0
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
Is the fuel gravity feed or pump? Could be bad fuel pump as well...
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Jul 08, 2016
What Doug said. We routinely park for 5-6 months at a time. We add a fuel stabalizer to the fuel for the motorhome/generator and run both engines for a bit after adding. We do exercise the generator but occasionally forget for a few months and have not had any problems in 5 years.

Only time it wouldn't stay running the problem was a clogged AIR filter. Has your been changed?
Crazy_Ray
Explorer
Jul 08, 2016
Fuel pump
dougrainer
Nomad
Jul 08, 2016
If it has been stored and the Genset NOT run at all for more than 3 months, then the Fuel has deteriorated and clogged the jets in the carb. You MUST run Gensets at least once a month for an hour to prevent this or get a fuel stabilizer to the Genset fuel system. Doug