Problem with Predator 3500 generator

[Mule Meat]

Fuel shutoffs aren't usually hidden. They are usually right where one can see them.

It's not hidden. It's right their in plain site.

Dail. - Start . Fuel shutoff ...

With the engine off.
Open the drain screw on the carb. Turn the dial to Start. Fuel should start flowing out of the drain. Turn the dial to Run and fuel should stop flowing. Turn the dial to Off when storing the generator.

 

[ford4wd08]

Make sure the gas cap is vented, if I remember correctly, the vent either gets clogged or fail and it won't pull gas into the carb. See if it will run with the gas cap off.

 

[stevieb49829]

Is there an electric solenoid attached to the bottom of the carb? Those are notorious for sticking closed. Pull it off and make sure it actuates. steve

 

[miangus]

Dang and people say Harbor Freight sells cheap junk..

That has to be the worlds most sophisticated small engine if it can detect ethanol in gas and refuse to start.

The manual says there are parts in the carb that are damaged by the ethanol, not sure I believe the manual either.

 

[Russ from MN]

You are correct, no fuel shut off. The manual is online. Apparently, from the starting instruction there is some kind of internal fuel shut off/maybe a pump. The instructions say it will not run if there is any ethanol in the gas.

I see a lot of Predator generators being used in Arizona, and it's hard to find gas without ethanol there!

 

[Caryc]

You are correct, no fuel shut off. The manual is online. Apparently, from the starting instruction there is some kind of internal fuel shut off/maybe a pump. The instructions say it will not run if there is any ethanol in the gas.

I've also viewed that manual on line. We dumped out the gas that was in it and replaced it with the Quart cans of gas you can buy at Home Depot. It is a higher octane and contains no ethanol. Still doesn't want to stay running.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I've also viewed that manual on line. We dumped out the gas that was in it and replaced it with the Quart cans of gas you can buy at Home Depot. It is a higher octane and contains no ethanol. Still doesn't want to stay running.

Changing the fuel isn't going to magically make it run. It's not so sophisticated that it does a chemical analysis on the fuel, and if it doesn't like what it finds, it shuts down.

If ethanol did damage (doubtful), then the damage is done and it needs to be physically fixed.

Plain and simple the generator is not getting fuel. Fix the fuel supply problem and it will run.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Fuel shutoffs aren't usually hidden. They are usually right where one can see them.

The big OFF-RUN-START dial is the fuel shutoff so that's not the problem.

 

[Hemmjo]

Many times, ethanol will corrode components in the carb. In addition it can make the inside of fuel lines flake off. Th particles of corrosion can plug small fuel passes in the carb. I would remove the carb, Carefully dissassemble and examine the internal parts. Pay close attention to tiny parts. Blow out all of the passages in the carb.

Given that it runs a few seconds with a squirt in the carb, this would be my second step AFTER verifying fuel is getting TO the carb as mention in a few previous posts.

 

[Dave G9N]

uid tells me ignition is fine so my first suspect is the carb is gummed up which you may be able to remove and clean.

Next could be any inline fuel filters if it has one ?? check it !!! Insure gas flows freely from tank to carbs inlet ??? If she has good flow from tank through any filters yet still starves for fuel again I suspect the carb. I’m unsure if it has any high oil temp or low oil cutoff safety switches but if it does and the gas flow and carb are fine those are other po

I see a lot of Predator generators being used in Arizona, and it's hard to find gas without ethanol there!

There are only 16,968 stations listed in AZ here.

The problem is caused by lack of maintenance. Using Stabil in the gas, keeping the gas fresh, and running it for a few minutes periodically is necessary to keep things lubricated and use up the stale gas. The good news is that you can get a good price on a lightly used generator as long as you know how to swap out the carb.

For the sarcastic among us, the way the genny detects ethanol in the gas is by forming varnish which plugs the jets in the carb. The varnish sensor (jet) prevents it from running on bad gas by plugging up and restricting gas flow. Not real sophisticated though because once it clogs up, the varnish detector doesn't reset when you change the gas. The other way to detect ethanol is by using rubber parts that don't tolerate alcohols and fall apart, but most engine makers including Predator have learned what kind of rubber to use by now. I suspect that Predator said to avoid ethanol because most people will not run the generator often enough so it is more likely for the ethanol containing gas to go bad because it doesn't last as long.

 

[timcasbolt]

If you want to waste your money on expensive specialty fuel, that's fine, but don't think it's going to make a difference. These engines are very forgiving.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

I fought with an inverter generator for two weeks, it had exactly the same symptoms indicating fuel starvation but it wasn't.
There is usually a stepper motor fitted to the top of the carb acting as an electronic throttle . Disconnect this and try starting it , if it runs it is either the stepper itself or ; unfortunately, the main board that is the problem .

 

[Geo-TH,In]

carb are like 12 bucks

Amazon has cheap replacement carbs too and FREE returns if it doesn't work.

 

[JMOR]

You ask for help, and then bite the hand that feeds you. Real smooth.

Maybe he was just telling people that he has half.

 

[wp6529]

I had the mud dauber clogging the exhaust on my EU2000. After cleaning that mess I made a butt plug to prevent future issues with a standard rubber stopper permanently attached to the generator with a stainless cable leash.

 

[Caryc]

In other words, if I'm following right, it could be anything in the world. I don't have time to find everything in the world wrong with it. Nothing against you guys, I just don't have the time to put into it. I have a working generator. But, I do thank you for all the suggestions.

 

[guido]

In other words, if I'm following right, it could be anything in the world. I don't have time to find everything in the world wrong with it. Nothing against you guys, I just don't have the time to put into it. I have a working generator. But, I do thank you for all the suggestions.

Might be as simple as draining the fuel bowl. Water will settle at the bottom, and won't let fuel in the emulsion tube,

Guido.

 

[Angle Iron]

Might be as simple as draining the fuel bowl. Water will settle at the bottom, and won't let fuel in the emulsion tube,

Guido.

I have also seen video from several small engine people saying less than nice things about canned fuel. This was more in two cycle engines but still could be the same manufacturer. In some videos it was as simple as dumping the canned fuel refilling with known good gas purging the carb/fuel system and they started and ran fine. I really don't know or care about canned fuel as it is too costly to even consider.

 

[JWA]

My nephew picked up a Predator 3500 Inverter generator at a garage sale for $150. An old lady was selling it. Her son was going to do something with it but never did. At the site my nephew tried some starter fluid in the air cleaner and it started and ran for about 5 seconds then died. We put some canned fuel in it, no ethanol and it still does the same thing. Runs for 5 - 10 seconds then dies. Air cleaner is cleaned. Any ideas about this thing.

Try a new spark plug. You might save yourself a lot of time and head scratching.

 

[Watthour]

The manual says there are parts in the carb that are damaged by the ethanol, not sure I believe the manual either.

That's a big red (Chinese red) flag indicating that there was very little engineering and thought invested in designing the device. Ethanol fuel has been around in the western hemisphere (both above and below the equator) since the mid-1970s. If the pacific rim countries don't realize that by now, a person has to seriously wonder what other things they may have overlooked in the design and materials selection.