Generator maintenance reminder

[bigorange]

Just a reminder to not forget about those generators and other small engines...I never seem to think about mine until needed on a trip, although it always? starts right up for me. Decided to do some maintenance this w?eekend and changed oil...very thin and black. Way overdue.? ?

[LenSatic]

profdant139 wrote:
Until the next time and it won't start because the carb is gummed up.

We had our Honda in CA for 4 years and now in AZ for 7 and have never had a jet gum up. I think that you were on to something a few years back when you mentioned additives in CA gasoline. We always topped off before re-entering CA after a trip. Also, I think that I've only changed the oil, maybe, three times. I'm sure that we run the gennie way more than you do. Of course, that may be the problem also. And, I've only drained the fuel once just to see how to do it.

[Dave_H_M]

My champ had a drain on the carb. That is how I get it empty after turning off the gas from the tank.

[BarabooBob]

I have a card on the gen and every time I run it, I document how many hours I use it. I also turn the gas for every tim I use the unit and let it run out of gas. When I fill the gas tank, I put an ounce of Sea Foam in the tank to keep everything from getting gummed up. I will be changing the oil at least every year before I leave for my Memorial Day camping trip or when I get a reasonable number of hours on the unit. I will not be running the unit very many hours.

[SidecarFlip]

I always drain the gas in my genny and run the carb dry before putting it away for the winter and I change the oil too. Being a farmer I learned early on that the saying 'It never breaks in the barn' holds true for about everything mechanical.

[profdant139]

bigorange, I had the same problem -- the generator goes into the garage, and I forget about it. Until the next time and it won't start because the carb is gummed up.

So after enough pain, I finally figured out that I need to calendar the maintenance intervals for running the generator under load and draining the carb (once a month) and an oil change (once a year).

The availability of repeating reminders on Google Calendar has been a game changer for me. Now, I can ask the calendar to nag me about things I really should do but never get around to doing.

I may not actually do what I am supposed to do, but at least I don't just forget. Now, I have to be both willfully slothful and electronically guilty. Much better! 😉

[agesilaus]

Theoretically Champion wants it changed ever 100 hours but I usually do it after 5 or 6 days running. It only takes 5-10 minutes if you have a measuring cup, a good funnel not the worthless one they send with the generator. Get one with a flexible spout so you can turn the funnel up with the top edge parallel to the ground. Rural King sells a good one for $3. HF has one but it isn't as good. A good one....Worthless one like the one that comes with the gen

Take the drain plug out, drain the oil, thats a good time to refill the gen with gas since the oil will be drained when you are done. Put the drain plug back in a tighten a bit so it does not vibrate out (it will). Stick the funnel in, dump in the oil that you have measured out in the measuring cup. When it runs into the gen stick the fill plug back in and start the gen. Takes longer to write about it than it does to do it.

[gbopp]

When was the last time you changed the oil? It's probably overdue if you can't remember the last time it was changed..

Also, don't forget to change the fuel filter (if equipped).
Write the date you serviced the generator on a piece of tape and stick it somewhere you can easily see it.

[Lwiddis]

Sounds like it. Why not schedule maintenance on your smart phone calendar?