Champion Generator

[john in la]

I have a 9000/7000 (approximately) gasoline only generator.
Doing my crank and run that I try to do every few months and the engine will not crank over with the electric start or the pull cord.
I'm thinking the compression release is messed up or the flywheel key sheared throwing it out of time.

So am I right to assume my first order of business is to pull the plugs and see if that frees it up.
If yes compression release If no flywheel key
Then I should check the valves for adjustment.

I've never worked on a compression release motor before.
Now I got to go look up the valve clearance and find my feeler gauge that I never use anymore.

 

[Southern Ray]

Yes pulled the plug and see if the starter will crank the engine.
Insert a stick into the sparkplug hole to see if you have piston movement.
Flywheel key is another thing to check.

My Briggs and Straton engine on my mower was giving similar symptoms. I checked and readjusted the valve lash.
I also pulled the starter and cleaned it out. The commutator was all carboned up.
Cleaned it nice and shiny with some fine steel wool. Relubed and reassembled.
Starts up nicely and quickly.

 

[docmirror]

Gas tank is above carb, and its all downhill to the cyl. Might find its hydrolocked. Has happened to me with a 3400W Champion.

 

[a49deere]

there's a compression relief on a motor that small? how does that work? Do you have to pull/open something?

 

[Ray,IN]

I have an Echo chain saw that is very difficult to turn over and will not try to run. It's impossible to be valves or compression release, so must be flywheel key. Since I bought a Ryboi electric saw I never look at that Echo now.

 

[NDIHC]

I vote hydrolocked. Cousin forgot to turn off the gas valve when he borrowed my little 20hp skidsteer. When he went to start it he thought he had ruined the engine. Needle valve leaked enough to fill one cylinder with gas.

 

[Pete in Holland MI]

Generators should always have the gas turned off and let them die out that way instead of switching them off. Makes them more probable to start when you really need it.

 

[NDIHC]

there's a compression relief on a motor that small? how does that work? Do you have to pull/open something?

Look up easy spin starting. In small engines it is a small bump on the camshaft that slightly opens the intake valve to release some compression during starting. Easy spin starting was a feature of Briggs and Stratton engines at least from the 60s and newer.

 

[Ray,IN]

Generators should always have the gas turned off and let them die out that way instead of switching them off. Makes them more probable to start when you really need it.

I had a Boliy 3.6k genset that had a tiny screw in the bottom of the float bowl to drain it for storage. I forgot once; a new carb from Canada was $39. This new gas ya'know.

 

[miangus]

The compression relief works by opening the exhaust valve a small amount at cranking speed by adding a extra bump on the cam and moves the bump out of the way at speed. It should have about 50 PSI of compression at cranking speed. If the compression relief does not work, exhaust valve usually out of adjustment, the starter will not be able to crank the motor. From your description it is rolling over with no compression. Maybe valve stuck open, a little piece of carbon under the exhaust valve. Remove plug and there should be piston movement. I would not expect it to be a flywheel key. I hope it isn't caused by the issue I had with a generator I bought cheap at an auction, broken con rod.