RoyB wrote:
When I first got my 2000i a couple of years ago it ran like a top right out of the box... I played with loading it down with lights - heater - etc to see what it would do. It worked great. Shut it down and we went mtn camping the following weekend.
I got all setup and we made it through the first nite on the batteries just fine. The next morning when i was allowed to run the generator for two hours, I got it setup on my tailgate and plugged the camper shore power into the special adapter I bought with the generators - gave it a crank and it started right right up. I had my bean coffee maker all ready jumping up and down making my first morning coffee... Checked my batteries and noticed they were getting some re-charge (not as much as I expected but some) and things were going as planned.
After about ten minutes of running the generator started loading down and finally quit. I cranked it agina and nothing... Took the gas cap off and fuel was ok so cranked it again and it started right up... I just scratched my head and keep brewing my coffee... just alittle bit later (about 5 mins) it started loading down again and quit.
My first thought was bad gas so I dumped my gas and put fresh back in - it would start right up and die after 5-8 minutes later...
A friendly camper came by and said i got one just like yours - it works great. He fiddled with and it would do the same thing. Now I am getting abit nervious. Still got two more camping days and no way to re-charge my batteries..
SO here I am scratching my head and looking sad - mommabear asking whats happening - we need to get some things going...
After about a hour of no luck figuring out what was wrong - looking for something popped loose etc I was about ready to give up..
Then another camper walked up and said you having generator problems - I said yup... He looks at for a couple of seconds and all he said was "hmmmmmm"
Then he reached down the gas cap and flipped a switch on top of the gas cap to "run". He says now try it. It jumps to life again and purred like a kitten... After about ten minutes I knew it was fixed...
Now I am out of my generator time window but I keep it going for a good couple of hours of charge on my batteries...
The camper said "Didnt you read the book?" of course I responded "This comes with a book?" We laughed and drink some good ole fresh bean coffee.
I did have a clue but it didnt click as to what was wrong - everytime I removed the gas cap it would make a loud air hiss noise. I just thought it was due to tank pressuring up when it was running. It was actually air coming into the tank after being sucked out by the motor with the cap switch turned off.
There has to be a moral to this story somewhere...
This is a great generator - wish I had two tied together
We outboard boat guys know all about this problem....hee hee...
When we got our first boat, a 14ft'er, with a 25hp merc, we were out on the Sac river about 10 miles from our trailer, fishing, going down one of the many Sloughs, the motor died. A big cruser was coming, oh crap!!!! There I am cranking....no start....Youngest son of 7 stands there watching.....He asked me the dumbest question, "did you open the air valve on the gas tank?". You know the rest of the story!!!
Jim
