Posted: 1/20/2010 9:15:59 AM EDT
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Finally got a chance to test my whole house generator during a storm yesterday. Everything worked great. I only start the gen every couple of months for a few minutes and each time a small amount of smoke comes out for a sec during startup. No big deal as its probably 20 years old. I got it free a few years ago and had a place do a tune up and replace the plugs and fix the mechanical fuel pump. I had fried the coil trying to fix the electric start so that was also new. Its a briggs and straton 2 cyl engine.
Here is my question, power came back on after 2-1/2 hrs so I turned the gen off. About 10 min later power went back off so I went to start it up again and the gen wouldnt start. It had spark and I tried some gas in the carb but nothing. It was hot from running all that time and it was in an enclosure. Today cold it started right up, no smoke and I ran it for a few minutes then looked at the plugs. 
Oil residue with soot all over the top area. It wiped off and I had to use some steel wool and sandpaper to get it all off. Is this the reason it wouldnt start hot? Im thinking of getting 4 extra plugs so if I need to do this again I could just pop in new plugs to get it started. Was it the crap on the plugs? Other then that problem it runs great, always has but I never had it running that long before. 
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It sure sounds like it flooded after shutdown. The carb on top got hot and the gas boiled out.
Just an FYI, I run the gas out of the carb on my small genset upon every shutdown. This prevents carb varnish and the engine starts up every time, regardless of the situation. When I do this, I even use the choke to keep it running a minute longer. That way, every drop is out of the carb. 20 years, no problems, no varnish. |
I would just run an inline fuel petcock to shut off flow. You can pick one up for around $10.
ETA: Pinching the fuel line might not be a bad thing to do once or twice, but I wouldn't do it more than a few times. Depending on the condition of the fuel line, it might crack after a couple of times. |
| Is this what caused it not to start when hot, or the fouling on the plugs? Were up for more storms this week and I was only able to get 1 plug for it ( need 2 ) as a backup. If it has to go off for refueling hot could I just clean the plugs up and do you think it would start, or is it the problem of being to rich to begin with. I did put in my own fuel lines, im sure I put on larger diameter ones, did this cause it to run rich or is it a combination of things. I did my own exhaust, it just had tiny screw on spark arrestors right on the engine which made it super loud. Could that have screwed up things from how it was originally made. |
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Well, yes, that would be my guess, that the boiling gas found it's way into the intake and made the engine far too rich to start, resulting in fuel fouled plugs. You can easily install a petcock type shut off valve. Just remember to run the engine out of fuel prior to shutdown for extended periods of time.
I don't expect that the engine will be impossible to start after a quick refuel. The gas needs time to boil. Another thing to check is the choke. Make sure it's open when hot. Also, I don't expect that your exhaust or fuel lines caused any problems at all. Since your fuel tank is not on top, you may also want a marine type squeeze bulb to get the gas back to the carb when it's empty. The spark plugs can likely be cleaned up. But, some people are too rough with plugs, use care when cleaning. Nice job on the install, by the way. |
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"I only start the gen every couple of months for a few minutes and each time a small amount of smoke comes out for a sec during startup."
This may be contributing to the buildup. If the spark plug cannot heat up to operating temp, it can't burn off any soot/carbon deposits. Over time this will build up. The small amount of smoke may be it's just a little rich while choked,(normal) or oil buildup in the cylinder after sitting. |