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NoJive's avatar
NoJive
Explorer
Jun 28, 2017

Generator not putting out enough wattage...I think

Newbie here, but I am posting because I cannot find my exact problem anywhere else. All I am finding is low voltage or no voltage issues. I have a Harbor Freight 4000 watt (3200 watt running) gene...
Tom_M1's avatar
Tom_M1
Explorer
Jul 15, 2017
The generator should run at a constant 3600 RPM regardless of the load. It should never run at idle speed. The fan running slower than normal is an indication the generator is running slow. Make sure the throttle linkage is clean and moves freely. Adjust the speed until the voltage is a bit on the high side with no load. Plug in a fairly heavy load such as a hotplate or toaster. The throttle should open up to bring the speed back up to 3600 RPM. Check the voltage to see if it is close to 120 volts.

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