Generator

I checked the gas level and I have over 1/2 tank of gas. I started the chassis engine but the generator still won't start. I'm reading the manual and it says to prime the generator for 30 seconds, if it has run out of gas, which mine did not. However, that leads me to believe that you shouldn't prime if you have not run out of gas. The dealer told me to prime for 5 seconds everytime before I started the generator and that worked fine for all the times I have tried to start the generator in the past. Sometimes it took 2-3 primes and starts before the generator would actually start, but it always started. The manual also said to hold the start button for 30 seconds. On my trips, I only had to hold the start button for about 3-4 seconds and it would start. Should you really hold the start button for 30 seconds?

So maybe i need advice on the best way to start my generator!!