Generator Question
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,430
Likes: 2
From: NH
Generator Question
So who know 1 Cylinders engines?
I have a 15 horse Briggs motor on a 8000watt Generator
I put stabilizer in all my 5 gal gas cans before it even touched the equipment.
I have been meaning to run my generator for a 1/2 hr or so every 5-6 months but this last stint went almost a year.
I changed the oil. It starts up fine and seems to run fine but there is a cough or sputter every little bit. Wondering if this is an issue?
The choke has 3 settings. full 1/2 and off.
Full choke and it started but puffed a bunch of black smoke
1/2 choke almost after initial start and motor ran smooth
after a minute or so I went to choke off and that is when the cough started.
After 20 minutes cough was still there. Went to 1/2 choke and motor ran smooth, no cough.
Anything to be worried about? Is the carb needing to be looked at?
I do know I need to replace the air filter but it is not too bad.
Thank you
I have a 15 horse Briggs motor on a 8000watt Generator
I put stabilizer in all my 5 gal gas cans before it even touched the equipment.
I have been meaning to run my generator for a 1/2 hr or so every 5-6 months but this last stint went almost a year.
I changed the oil. It starts up fine and seems to run fine but there is a cough or sputter every little bit. Wondering if this is an issue?
The choke has 3 settings. full 1/2 and off.
Full choke and it started but puffed a bunch of black smoke
1/2 choke almost after initial start and motor ran smooth
after a minute or so I went to choke off and that is when the cough started.
After 20 minutes cough was still there. Went to 1/2 choke and motor ran smooth, no cough.
Anything to be worried about? Is the carb needing to be looked at?
I do know I need to replace the air filter but it is not too bad.
Thank you
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
I had this issue myself on a kohler engine on a welder/generator. I done a complete tune up, which involved new plugs, oil, oil filter, and air filter. It still done it. It had a manual pull style choke. After this I still had to run about 1/4 choke on it. It is a carb issue for sure, maybe some trash got settled in it. I havent pulled the carb off of mine, since it still works amazing under a load and at idle, but I gotta be sweet to the choke and leave it out just a little, thats the only problem I see. I will agree with Steve and check to see how it runs under a load, but to me it is running a little lean, if you have an adjustment screw on the carburetor I would richen it up some just to prevent a carb rebuild. Let us know how it runs under an actual load, who knows, maybe you need to put some stress under it and "clear its throat" lol. Good luck!
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
What I have found when you let them sit that long is you get enough build-up in the carb to reduce fuel flow. Try running some cleaner through it. This issue is really a common one and once it starts, it is hard to fix, but fortunately it doesn't usually cause a problem as long as it pulls a load. 
Steve
Steve
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
What I have found when you let them sit that long is you get enough build-up in the carb to reduce fuel flow. Try running some cleaner through it. This issue is really a common one and once it starts, it is hard to fix, but fortunately it doesn't usually cause a problem as long as it pulls a load.
Steve
Steve
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,558
Likes: 5,591
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
<p>the 16 hp single Tecumseh on my miller bluestar welder did the same thing at idle with no load, but ran fine under load. a quick 1/4 turn of the air/fuel screw got rid of it.</p>
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,035
Likes: 1,521
From: Maine, Virginia
I have a Craftsman 10HP Briggs genny, 5600 with 8600 surge and it coughs a little while idling with no load. It has a brand new carb and a new ignition module or magneto. I start mine and let it idle for about 20-30 minutes monthly but I haven't loaded it in quite a while.
Mine has four choke settings but no carb adjustments at all. Sometimes running on just under full open is better.
Mine has four choke settings but no carb adjustments at all. Sometimes running on just under full open is better.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
The cough at idle is typical with the stuff I work on. Both my Yahmahas to it as do a good percentage of the Onans I deal with. It can be maddening trying to tune it out, but they do just fine once they are loaded. I have found this with both mechanically governored, electrically governored, and inverter generators.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
The old genset operate at a fixed RPM, unlike the more modern inverter models so frequency depends on the RPM. Change the RPM and you will change the frequency so there is not much you can do. In their defense, it has often seemed to me the older models picked up the load more quickly and were less likely to stall out if they were loaded suddenly.
I run a small air compressor off my service truck on a Yamaha that should not have a problem with the load, but sometimes it will overload two or three times before it will take the compressor.
Steve
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,558
Likes: 5,591
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
<p>i know what you mean. that old monster will power anything i throw at it without even faltering.</p><p>i have yet to find anything that will even come close to it. and htat is the only reason i still hang on to it.</p><p>after hurricane sandy it ran nonstop for 9 days except for when i shut it down to change the oil every 100 hours.</p>
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