Putting the Generator away

[miangus]

I am putting the generator away after its use in the recent outage here in Michigan. The house power stayed on so it's the one at the farm. I have a small electric pump that I use to pump all the regular fuel out of the tank. I then refill with some REC fuel, run the generator a bit and shut of the fuel and let it run until it quits. This has worked well for me. When the power went out at the farm the generator had not been started in a year, and it started on the first pull.

 

[Rkh]

I do that with my portable generator to(turn off gas valve & let run until stalls).

 

[Blackhole49]

The only things I do different are; run rec. fuel all the time and add seafoam to the gas and run for a minute before turning the gas off

 

[wp6529]

Whenever possible I run the carb dry and rarely have starting issues. Unlike many I run ordinary alcoholic gas, my equipment is all either new enough to have been built with alcohol resistant fuel lines and whatnot or has had those parts replaced by now with current stuff.

 

[mjsnodgrass]

I am putting the generator away after its use in the recent outage here in Michigan. The house power stayed on so it's the one at the farm. I have a small electric pump that I use to pump all the regular fuel out of the tank. I then refill with some REC fuel, run the generator a bit and shut of the fuel and let it run until it quits. This has worked well for me. When the power went out at the farm the generator had not been started in a year, and it started on the first pull.

i found out this spring shutting fuel off and letting the engine run does not ensure the carb is empty, i have 2 pieces of equipment i need to pull the bowl drain bolt out to get all of the fuel out of the carburetor, even after shutting fuel off and letting engine run. both carbs had about 1/4 inch of sticky fuel in the bottom of bowl. both were subaru engines. good luck

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I used to turn off my gas and let the generator run until it stopped. There was a little gas left inside the carb.
There is a small 10 mm drain plug I remove and get every drop.
This is what happens if I don't drain the gas.
I have a spare China made carb sitting on my shelf. $15.

 

[Scott 730]

100LL FTW.

 

[buickanddeere]

I am putting the generator away after its use in the recent outage here in Michigan. The house power stayed on so it's the one at the farm. I have a small electric pump that I use to pump all the regular fuel out of the tank. I then refill with some REC fuel, run the generator a bit and shut of the fuel and let it run until it quits. This has worked well for me. When the power went out at the farm the generator had not been started in a year, and it started on the first pull.

I do the same thing . Except to pull the choke on half way when it sputters , then it will run another 15-30 seconds . Then pull the choke on full and run another 15-30 seconds .
Seems to empty more fuel out of the bowl .

 

[joeysmith]

I just shut things off an store them
Never had issues with them starting an running.
Guess I'm lucky

 

[thomlan05]

some people say to get engine to tdc so both valves are closed also but ive never had a problem with my small engines.

 

[Ray,IN]

I ruined my 3000W genset motor when I forgot to drain fuel from the carb and fuel tank. Now the gas lines are crumbled away and carb needs replaced. Sometime whee I get arountuit I'll make repairs.
My smaller dual-fuel genset has never seen a drop of gasoline, only run it on LP so far.

 

[MarkB_MI]

After it quits, pull on the starter cord until you can feel it's on the compression stroke. That ensures both valves are closed and much less likely to get stuck open.

 

[showcrop]

The tiny screw at the bottom of the filter bowl needs to be opened to let the water out.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I'm so glad my welder is a diesel and no fooling around with gas and all the ills you guys find with it. Battery is kind of short lived in it but used regularly it lasts pretty good . Less work to change the battery than to fool around with gas engines. Did I mention I hate gas engines. So far 25 years and maybe a hundred or more hours on the welder keep clean fuel in it and change oil no muss.

 

[joeysmith]

I'm so glad my welder is a diesel and no fooling around with gas and all the ills you guys find with it. Battery is kind of short lived in it but used regularly it lasts pretty good . Less work to change the battery than to fool around with gas engines. Did I mention I hate gas engines. So far 25 years and maybe a hundred or more hours on the welder keep clean fuel in it and change oil no muss.

Recently acquired a gas welder that had set for at least 5 years.
Gas in the tank
Valve open
Jump started it an cranked about 2 revolutions and fired up ran fine.
I honestly don't know why everyone has such a problem.
I have never done anything special an have never had a issue

 

[showcrop]

I'm so glad my welder is a diesel and no fooling around with gas and all the ills you guys find with it. Battery is kind of short lived in it but used regularly it lasts pretty good . Less work to change the battery than to fool around with gas engines. Did I mention I hate gas engines. So far 25 years and maybe a hundred or more hours on the welder keep clean fuel in it and change oil no muss.

The inherent problem with virtually all generators is that they don't get run. Diesels are subject to the same problems if they don't get run. Same as our old tractors: Milkshake oil. Ever heard of it?

 

[Scott 730]

I honestly don't know why everyone has such a problem.
I have never done anything special an have never had a issue

I feel alot of it has to do with local climate and fuel quality. Since many on here don't have a location listed maybe the folks saying they have no trouble come from a drier part of the country. So, where are you located?

 

[JMOR]

you can rest assured that the 5 year old gas was non-ethanol..lucked out.

 

[Ericp351]

The inherent problem with virtually all generators is that they don't get run. Diesels are subject to the same problems if they don't get run. Same as our old tractors: Milkshake oil. Ever heard of it?

Is that, again, sarcasm Show Dude? Perhaps you may learn to convey a most basic thought without same. At least try to be somewhat correct. Just a wee bit. Most of the generators I worked with ran (minimum) 2/3 's of the time, around the clock, and not less that 300 days a year.

 

[m16ty]

I learned something new the other day. Years ago gas was formulated with anti-evaporation additives to help keep the gas from evaporating so much. Now, since all gas vehicles have a closed fuel system (not open to the atmosphere) they don’t use said additives. The additives in question is what caused the varnish that that used to cause so much trouble with engines sitting.

I’ve got a generator that will sit for months on end without starting. Whenever I put it up I’ll add Sta-bil to the gas, turn off the fuel, and let it run until it dies. When I need it again months later, it will always fire right up with 2-3 pulls of the rope.