Bought the 3500/4000 Champion this year since the Yammie 2400is wouldn't run the air. Champion runs 13.5 a/c no problem. Starts first pull when cold. The problem is if it's been running, shut off and then try to restart while it's still warm. Takes somewhere between 1 & 2 million pulls (I lost count.) Have tried different combinations of no choke, 1/2 choke, full choke, nothing has helped. It isn't very often we have this scenerio, but it's aggravating when it happens.

One trick I do is to not turn off the generator by the electric switch. I turn it off by the fuel petcock. This keeps the carb from flooding on the next startup.

mlts22 wrote:One trick I do is to not turn off the generator by the electric switch. I turn it off by the fuel petcock. This keeps the carb from flooding on the next startup.That's the required method of turning it off per the owner's manual. Otherwise it will fill the entire motor with gas. Ask me how I know.

I have 3 Champions and two of them with electric start. I always turn off with remote switch and never have problem restarting. I restart many times on job site during the day.You might have a sticking float seat

Give the Champion customer service a call and they will help.

jasult wrote:I have 3 Champions and two of them with electric start. I always turn off with remote switch and never have problem restarting. I restart many times on job site during the day.You might have a sticking float seatMaybe they've changed something recently, but the owner's manual specifically states not to shut it off with the switch. It says to shut off the fuel and allow it die of starvation then turn off the switch.I've been using generators for decades and have never shut the fuel off except for transport or storage. First time we took this one out, we used it briefly in the afternoon. Shut it off with the switch. Next morning went to start and the rope wouldn't budge. I was just wondering wtf when I noticed gas dripping from the air cleaner. I knew immediately it was full of gas. Checked the manual and found the instructions as I posted above.

Champion gen warm starting | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

EldIr
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
crankshop1000 wrote:
EldIr wrote:
crankshop1000 wrote:
I need to shut the fuel valve on mine too.Bouncing on the road is enough to flood the carb if the valve is left open.On the carb,there is a hidden low speed jet under the plastic cap by the choke on top.You need to pull the plastic cap off to get to the jet and blow it out with compressed air.The cap goes right back on after cleaning.That will solve your starting issues.

Thanks, I'll make note of that for when I put it in storage for winter.

Speaking of winter, what is your crankshop 1000 in? Drag sled? Trail sled? Do you go to the UP much? I trail ride an XCR800 and just got an M20 Airwave skid to put in. I know summer is short, but I'm already looking forward to winter!

Drag sleds.Prostock 1000 cc. Just a hobby runs 5.40 seconds at 125 mph 1/8 mile on ice.Used to go on a 10 day trip from the bridge to Newberry,to Copper Harbor,to Hurley Wisconsin,to Mackinac Island and back to the bridge.Haven't done that in about ten years,kind of got out of trail riding when everybody thought they needed to run the trails at 75mph.

Yeah, 75mph is kinda slow. I hate when those guys get in my way:M
crankshop1000
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
EldIr wrote:
crankshop1000 wrote:
I need to shut the fuel valve on mine too.Bouncing on the road is enough to flood the carb if the valve is left open.On the carb,there is a hidden low speed jet under the plastic cap by the choke on top.You need to pull the plastic cap off to get to the jet and blow it out with compressed air.The cap goes right back on after cleaning.That will solve your starting issues.

Thanks, I'll make note of that for when I put it in storage for winter.

Speaking of winter, what is your crankshop 1000 in? Drag sled? Trail sled? Do you go to the UP much? I trail ride an XCR800 and just got an M20 Airwave skid to put in. I know summer is short, but I'm already looking forward to winter!

Drag sleds.Prostock 1000 cc. Just a hobby runs 5.40 seconds at 125 mph 1/8 mile on ice.Useed to go on a 10 day trip from the bridge to Newberry,to Copper Harbor,to Hurley Wisconsin,to Mackinac Island and back to the bridge.Haven't done that in about ten years,kind of got out of trail riding when everybody thought they needed to run the trails at 75mph.
EldIr
Explorer
Aug 20, 2013
crankshop1000 wrote:
I need to shut the fuel valve on mine too.Bouncing on the road is enough to flood the carb if the valve is left open.On the carb,there is a hidden low speed jet under the plastic cap by the choke on top.You need to pull the plastic cap off to get to the jet and blow it out with compressed air.The cap goes right back on after cleaning.That will solve your starting issues.

Thanks, I'll make note of that for when I put it in storage for winter.

Speaking of winter, what is your crankshop 1000 in? Drag sled? Trail sled? Do you go to the UP much? I trail ride an XCR800 and just got an M20 Airwave skid to put in. I know summer is short, but I'm already looking forward to winter!
crankshop1000
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
I need to shut the fuel valve on mine too.Bouncing on the road is enough to flood the carb if the valve is left open.On the carb,there is a hidden low speed jet under the plastic cap by the choke on top.You need to pull the plastic cap off to get to the jet and blow it out with compressed air.The cap goes right back on after cleaning.That will solve your starting issues.
EldIr
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
I did not bother telling Champion about the gas problem. All they would do is tell me to bring to a service center for warranty repair. Since it isn't an issue as long as I shut the fuel off, I'll just pull the carb and go thru it when it's time to put it away for winter. Like I said, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it's fixed itself just from the vibrations of running. It does run like a Champ and is a phenomenal value compared to other "bargain" generators.
jasult
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
WOW brand new out of box should run like a champ however it did not.
More reason too suspect something got in that needle and seat or it is just stuck right out of box. Did you explain this to the support team when you contacted them? They are turning off gas to stop problems over time.
EldIr
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
LittleBill wrote:
EldIr wrote:
jasult wrote:
To the OP, you have a dirty float needle and seat!
You can still shut down with off switch.
You should follow long term storage instructions as it says.
You have a dirty carb but it did not happen over night.

I suggest using gas stabilizer after cleaning the carb

It was brand new out of the box when the engine filled with gas. First time it was used. Maybe read the posts more closely before offering a definitive answer (with an exclamation point) that is clearly incorrect.

read the post above from Champion support, turning off a machine should not fill it with gas to the point its pouring out the carp. you obviously have a problem

Yeah, I know that. I also know it's not dirt or something caused by poor maintenance or neglect. I'm sure the float stuck. It might be fine now that it's been run many hours (vibration may have cured it), but I've been shutting it off by starvation as instructed in the manual. That doesn't explain my initial question in that it starts fine cold, but not warm. Both startups are after shut down with fuel shutoff so it's not flooded.
LittleBill
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
EldIr wrote:
jasult wrote:
To the OP, you have a dirty float needle and seat!
You can still shut down with off switch.
You should follow long term storage instructions as it says.
You have a dirty carb but it did not happen over night.

I suggest using gas stabilizer after cleaning the carb

It was brand new out of the box when the engine filled with gas. First time it was used. Maybe read the posts more closely before offering a definitive answer (with an exclamation point) that is clearly incorrect.

read the post above from Champion support, turning off a machine should not fill it with gas to the point its pouring out the carp. you obviously have a problem
EldIr
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
jasult wrote:
To the OP, you have a dirty float needle and seat!
You can still shut down with off switch.
You should follow long term storage instructions as it says.
You have a dirty carb but it did not happen over night.

I suggest using gas stabilizer after cleaning the carb

It was brand new out of the box when the engine filled with gas. First time it was used. Maybe read the posts more closely before offering a definitive answer (with an exclamation point) that is clearly incorrect.
jasult
Explorer
Aug 19, 2013
To the OP, you have a dirty float needle and seat!
You can still shut down with off switch.
You should follow long term storage instructions as it says.
You have a dirty carb but it did not happen over night.

I suggest using gas stabilizer after cleaning the carb

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Champion gen warm starting

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