Potentially Dangerous Generator Failure

352 wrote:
I am Chinese. Would you please translate your comments. Thank you

No your not Gail !!

Old Islander wrote:
This spring, bought a 1200 Watt Firman generator from Home Depot in Canada. It seemed like a good deal -- $249 plus tax, delivered right to the house, with a three year warranty.

On the second occasion of using this generator -- a hunting/camping trip with a truck camper late last month -- I set the generator on the ground. It started normally, but a few minutes later, we noticed a strong gas odor. The fuel tank's on/off valve was leaking gasoline which was trickling down into the air intake of the motor's cooling system -- about a half tank had leaked out.

The entire insides of the generator's motor, inverter, and electronic panel, were running with raw gas, to the point that the engine was starting to 'hunt'. Gas was being sucked into the air filter intake. It is extremely fortunate that it didn't catch fire, as it likely would have spread to the truck and camper. Managed to get the engine turned off and when the tank's fuel valve was closed, the leaking stopped.

The cause seems to be a stripped machine screw on the bottom this valve. (see attached photo of a similar valve...)


Click For Full-Size Image.

Home Depot provided a full refund. But when I posted the story above with a "one star rating" to their website under reviews for this generator, they refused to publish it.

So the learning here:

• Cheap Chinese machinery isn't always worth the savings
• situate your generator so if it catches fire, it's as far away as possible from your RV
• never leave your generator running unattended
• don't believe the reviews in Home Depot's web pages -- they won't publish the bad ones

Hate to tell you, that style of gas tank valve IS used in pretty much EVERY portable small engine device and is not limited to only Chinese made gens.. In fact most if not all big name brands like Honda, Yamaha use this valve design.

Many parts are "sourced", not made by many engine/gen manufacturers.

Yes, you found a flaw, but it was not designed nor produced by your generator brand.

I suspect in your case, manufacturer "QA" is the real issue since a small amount of gas put into the tank would have showed the flaw. But most manufacturers would have missed this since they most likely do not put gas into the tank to "test" the final product (not easy to flush gas residue out of the tank when fully assembled).

I might add that that valve design has another REAL flaw, the body is made of "pot metal" (AKA cast zinc).

I had one of these valves BREAK OFF at the threads after nearly 10 years of use.

Vibration and the fact that pot metal is not very strong can shatter the valve at a weak point..

I was lucky, mine broke while I was driving down the road and not while the gen was running.

Like all other things mechanical, things can break.

You don't have a lot of options for this valve so you really have to replace with the same design.

SidecarFlip wrote:

gbopp wrote:
How did the Firman work after you repaired the fuel valve issue?

I see there is no reply to your posting. If it was me, I would have removed the fuel petcock, took it apart, retapped the hole and replaced the screw. The petcock seals with an 'o' ring and the stamped metal outer cover provides the sealing force as well as the turning resistance. Easy fix actually. And if the unit runs well, why not repair it and continue on instead of returning it and then bashing it.

Just like any mechanical thing (your vehicle included), things fail or were assembled incorrectly and fail. I don't see it as a terminal issue, just a quick fix.

Just me I guess.

X2. Don't sweat the small stuff. But, I would have tried to buy the "defective" brand new genny from the thoroughly disgusted consumer or store for say . . . . 10 bucks. :) Glad it was caught in time and there was no fire.

Chum lee

SidecarFlip wrote:
I sometimes wonder how many people actually bother to read the owners manual...

Judging by questions asked on here, a few do. Here's a test for you. Turn signal levers are spring-loaded so when you change lanes you can simply lift up and hold the handle instead of locking it down. Did you know that? I certainly didn't until I read the owner's manual. Almost everyone I've ever ridden with in a car does not know that either. Perhaps that's why you see cars driving along with their turn signals flashing for miles.

Reddog1 wrote:
Sometimes I just shake my head at our buying habits. We typically limit our research on sales hype, make our purchase based on the prettiest product at the lowest price.

To many, a good deal = lowest price. End of research.

2oldman wrote:
To many, a good deal = lowest price. End of research.

To some, a good deal = BLINDLY buying the most expensive name brand without research..

The reality is the most expensive brand does not ALWAYS = the best..

Sometimes one MUST look outside the box and be willing to TEST "other" brands..

Wasn't all that many years ago (1950s- 1980s) when "Made in Japan" meant CHEAP IMPORT JUNK, funny how time erases those bad memories.

Now days, folks fully embrace that ALL Japanese stuff is far superior and are willing to pay a higher premium for it. And the funniest thing of all is a lot of the Japanese imports stuff IS made on the same CHINESE PRODUCTION LINES..

Gdetrailer wrote:
The reality is the most expensive brand does not ALWAYS = the best..

Few things in life are always or never. But it is always a matter of probability.

2oldman wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:
The reality is the most expensive brand does not ALWAYS = the best..

Few things in life are always or never. But it is always a matter of probability.

"Probability" now days = Cheap AND expensive items ARE made by the same CHEAP China Production line.

Honda and Yamaha engines WEAR THE SAME CHINESE MADE CARBURETORS along with most if not all of the other parts, and that IS A FACT.

You can buy a $39 Honda carb which has the SAME China Company brand name as a generic carb but the box has Honda on it or you can buy a $19 non branded carb that fits Honda or many Chinese knock off engines and those carbs ALSO have the same Chinese brand name as the Honda part but come in a generic box..

So WHICH carb is the better one?

They came from the same manufacturer, assembly line, but have a different box with different logo..

Brand name lines have been blurred to the point that brand names often are made of the same parts from the same assembly line just different color of paint splashed on it.

Sometimes one cannot judge from the outside appearance..

As I pointed out earlier in this thread, the valve that the OP pointed out IS used in HONDA, YAMAHA and pretty much any other brand you can think of in portable generators..

I know this since I had one of these valves break off at the threads and even though my gen is not a Honda or a Yamaha the valve I needed IS LISTED as a replacement for Honda and Yamaha gens.

This valve is NOT used in the Honda eu-series generators.

road-runner wrote:
This valve is NOT used in the Honda eu-series generators.

Nope. I've never seen one.

SidecarFlip wrote:

newman fulltimer wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

newman fulltimer wrote:
shame on them trying to look like a champy!
Even though they do build for ridig and kohlor

How about 'Rigid' and 'Kohler'.......:R

Was doing the chinese spelling :B

Rodger on that.....lol

Or Roger on that.....