Do newer generators need to exercise regularly?

Yes. To run fuel and oil around the unit and to verify it starts. I do mine weekly with a load.

Mine sat in a tow yard for 6 years. All I had to do was get fresh gas to it and it started and ran perfectly. That was 4+ years ago and I've had to do some routine maintenance on it since then: points (it's 34 years old), plugs, choke adjustment and oil changes.

So based on my sample size of one, it seems if you run them once every six years they'd be okay. I exercise it when I remember - probably once every 3 months or so. If it's winter I load it up with an electric heater. In the summer I run both A/Cs.

SidecarFlip wrote:

2oldman wrote:
My Hondas just need the bowl drained to sit for long periods. I've never exercised them.

If it's electronically excited (inverter) you don't. If it has slip rings and brushes, conventional genny, you do.

There's nothing in the owner's manual about 'exercise' for a Honda. Perhaps that's an urban myth kinda thing.

I've run mine At least 1 hour every month since the MH was new, sometimes more, put a dvd in, pop a bag of pop corn in the microwave, turn the electric heater on in the winter, or AC in the summer, all to put a load on it.

Is this a newer Onan 4KY to replace the old 4KY? If so, the basic design has not changed to any significant extent--just some minor tweaks over the years. The maintenance schedule would be pretty much the same since the generator design is pretty much the same.

as mentioned biggest issue is the gas. Now the newer honda 2200 have a "run dry" feature you can use when you shut it down to keep the generator running till it runs out of fuel in the carb. It shuts off the fuel pump.

You easily add the same feature to an older honda 2000 as well. Or just drain the carb with the drain tube if it's going to set for a while (> month)

In addition use sea foam in the fuel. I've had way better luck with it than stabil. never had an issue with gumming, varnish etc with sea foam. Did with stabil.

2oldman wrote:
My Hondas just need the bowl drained to sit for long periods. I've never exercised them.

If it's electronically excited (inverter) you don't. If it has slip rings and brushes, conventional genny, you do. Reason being is to keep the slip rings from tarnishing and to keep the magnetism alive in the armature.

Think I'd exercise those Honda's anyway. Keep the rice from clogging the mufflers.:p

My Hondas just need the bowl drained to sit for long periods. I've never exercised them.

The biggest problem is moisture in the fuel which can eventually corrode and foul up the carburetor. Make sure to use a good fuel stabilizer like Star Tron to protect the carburetor.

I just recently took my Champion generator out of storage after 2 years. I thought I'd empty the gas when I stored it. Still had a half a tank of gas. It started after the second pull. Runs like a champ.

After having the carburetors replaced 2 other generators I own the repair shop advised me to use Star Tron stabilizer. I told him I had been using Briggs & Stratton fuel stabilizer. They told me I could continue using it and told me they would be more than happy to replace the carburetors again. They sold both the Star Tron, Stabil and the Briggs & Stratton stabilizers. I've been using Star Tron ever since in all my small engines. Looks like you did a good job protecting the champion. It still has the original carburetor.

Yes, need to run them to keep parts from rusting, fuel from turning to varnish. Your new gen should have a manual that says how often to exercise it.