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) generator that we use for camping, and power outage purposes. I've had it for around three years, and it has given me no problems except for noise (it is loud!). Anyways, we are camping on our river property this month, and I noticed the generator running faster than it normally does. We use it to run the A/C as needed, and it seems to idle down once the compressor kicks in, and then speeds up once that kicks off. That seems like the opposite of what it used to do. I also found out that it now no longer runs the microwave, which it used to do fine. Now, the generator bogs way down, and the microwave barely runs.I did call Harbor Freight, and they seemed to think the voltage regulator was going bad, so I bought a new one, but that didn't seem to help any. I'm getting 116v on the outlets, so it doesn't seem to be a voltage issue.Is there anything else I can check?

It sounds to me like the governor for the engine isn't working properly or smoothly. It might be something as simple as the mechanism binding or being dirty. It could very well also be the carburetor needing to be cleaned or some other general small engine repair/adjustment.Pretty much any small engine repair place should understand the engine (if you don't feel up to checking it yourself); they're pretty much bog standard small engines, such as would be used on lawn mowers or whatever. Parts availability may be a bit limited for the Harbor Freight units, though they at least tend to have some support available.

The governor....I did some Googling just now, and that may in fact be the issue. I will look into that, and report back!

NoJive wrote: I'm getting 116v on the outlets, so it doesn't seem to be a voltage issue. Is that with the troublesome load connected.....or not ??P.S. In the 3 years of ownership, was there any extended periods of non-use ? If so, did you put stabilizer in the gas ??And it is a good idea to give it a healthy dose of a good carb cleaner every 6 months or so. Berrymans B12 Chemtool is probably the best product on the market; Gumout is a close second. SeaFoam is a distant last.

There is a noise difference between "load" and "no load". Maybe your setting on the river where it is more quiet makes you "aware" more than previously. You didn't mention any problem other than different noise so if it has plenty of oil maybe not worry too much

Well, the generator has always been loud, but it no longer throttles up in response to loads, hence it now can no longer run my microwave, which it used to run fine.

Generator not putting out enough wattage...I think

NoJive
Explorer
Jul 27, 2017
I think I am giving up on this generator, and am now looking at Champion inverter types.
NoJive
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
I think you may be right. The first thing that got my attention was it seemed like the generator was running way too fast while not under load. I did check this evening, and I do see the governor moving, but not enough to raise the speed.
PaulJ2
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
NoJive wrote:
Ok, finally got to do some testing. With no load, I get around 117 volts, with a hair dryer running on max, I show 122 volts. Here is a video I took:

https://youtu.be/283RcOO75mo

After hearing the audio the generator's governor is not controlling the engine speed properly. It should stay at 3600 with increased load. The voltage increasing with the rpm decrease is the regulator over compensating for the speed drop off.
I believe the problem is with the engines governor.
NoJive
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
Did this, and got 117 volts from short receptacle slot to ground/shiny spot.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Root
Mean
Square

Deals with AC voltage -under curve- and has got nothing to do with Hz.

One step at a time

Slip on a set of kitchen gloves

Now take your meter which is set to AC volts...

And verify voltage at the receptacle.

Then from the SHORT receptacle slot to a shiny spot on the generator motor

What do you see?
NoJive
Explorer
Jul 18, 2017
Ok, finally got to do some testing. With no load, I get around 117 volts, with a hair dryer running on max, I show 122 volts. Here is a video I took:

https://youtu.be/283RcOO75mo
MrWizard
Moderator
Jul 16, 2017
there is no way that generator can run at speed to produce 161 hz
that is a faulty reading
engine would destruct before getting that fast
it would be screaming
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jul 16, 2017
Inverter generators typically speed up when the load increases

Classic genrators do not, or are not supposed to. however if I were desiging the controls I'd have a system where the throttle is operated in part by the load (Load anticipation) the idea is to reduce the lag time between an increased load and the opening of the throttle to compensate..

Now I don't know of anyone doing that, but I also don't know that they do not.

161 Hz is a bit high.. I'd see if it can be adjusted.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jul 15, 2017
that generator will always run at 3600 RPM. 60hz
if the freq is correct the speed is correct
it will get louder and use more fuel with a load
but it is still the same speed plus or minus 2hz / 120rpm

if it won't carry the load
A: the load is too big
B: the generator is failing

open the end of the generator head and check the field brushes on the slip rings
NoJive
Explorer
Jul 15, 2017
I will do more testing this weekend. When the fan was plugged in, the gen was running pretty faat, and I was getting 117 volts from the other socket. I think I mis-spoke when I said idle speed, I actually meant the spped the generator runs at with no load.

This is what I have, non inverter:
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 15, 2017
"Also, I did adjust the idle speed, as like I said, it was running very fast, but slowing it down did not lower the frequency"

Fascinating. Therefore an inverter generator. This one?

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