iPower Generator Not Making Power. Is This a Parts Machine?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 лют 2024
- A friend gave me his iPower generator as a parts machine after it stopped making power. Before taking it apart, lets diagnose the problem and see if it can be repaired.
Generator Model: iPower AP4000
I no longer use Harbor Freight Super Heavy Duty Degreaser in my ultrasonic cleaner. Harbor Freight changed the recipe. The bottle previously stated "NON-CORROSIVE". Now it says "CORROSIVE", "do not user on Aluminum". It now damages most carburetors.
Visit My Amazon Store:
www.amazon.com/shop/jamescondon
Air Box: www.ebay.com/itm/264041949857
Amprobe ACDC-52NAV: amzn.to/47cTyw8
Brushes: amzn.to/484h1it
Feeler Gauge: amzn.to/3w0wYZJ
Kill A WATT: amzn.to/49zduux
Micro Drill Bit Set: amzn.to/46gh7CL
MityVac Compression Tester: amzn.to/3SZPE5b
Oscilloscope: amzn.to/49CEYiP
Pin Vice: amzn.to/3MJfmHx
Ryobi Angle Grinder: amzn.to/496wDTU
Squeeze Bottle: amzn.to/3QX0AiG
Test Tank: amzn.to/3szbEt8
If you want to donate to the channel, you can use the UA-cam "Super Thanks" feature or via PayPal: www.paypal.com/paypalme/james...
#GeneratorRepair #SmallEngineRepair #SmallEngine #DIY #Fixed #Troubleshooting #HowTo
212cc, AP4000, AVR, Alternator, Arcing, Automatic Voltage Regulator, Broken Exhaust, Brush Alignment, Brushes, Clean Slip Rings, Clearance, Compression Test, Dirty Carburetor, Drill the Jet, Exhaust Fabrication, Fixed, Generator, Hertz, High Leakdown, Honda Clone, How To, How-To, Insulation Test, Load Test, Low Hours, Melted Brushes, Micro Drill Bit, Parts Machine, Repair, Resistance Test, Running Lean, Small Engine, Surging, Troubleshooting, Valve Adjustment, Wont Run, iPower - Навчання та стиль
When a quick video is still referenced to hours and not minutes, you know you're watching a quality channel 😁
Yes!
We could watch Mr Condon for hours, no issues there whatsoever.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Nicely done transferring over those mounts for the shield. That's the kind of thankless task many wouldn't bother with.
Well, he is trying for views and would have had a 15 minute video, otherwise
What @CezaryAkakios said.
What a nice guy....willing to return it to your friend.
I`m to old to fool with old stuff now a days.
This is the next best thing.
"Thanks for the memories"
You are never to old to tinker and tinkering leads to repairing. Mediocrity in success is acceptable.
Nonsense. Yes, you can be too old. Wait until you get there.
True, I’m only 69. I guess I’m still a young buck.
Hell, next birthday I’ll be 70 years old and I’ve got a garage Full of projects that I’m looking forward to “fooling” with.
Including a Power Mate generator that last ran after Hurricane Alicia. 😊
I really enjoy these generator repair videos where there’s a little bit wrong with everything and you systematically take steps to rectify each problem, both electrically and mechanically. I’ve used shrink tubing all my life in the electronics business but never thought of using it for that purpose. Really cool stuff, my friend.
James, each week's presentation is avidly awaited -- the length of the video is immaterial -- it's the content that deserves all the time necessary -- Thank You
Appreciate the discipline not over drilling the pilot - good lesson for us all 👍
I've never fixed anything on an engine. However, after watching 30+ videos of yours, I feel confident to clean the carb and make adjustments on my generator. Thanks so much for making these videos
God bless the inventor of shrink tubing.
Just what I was waiting for a good generator video to go with my coffee. I can’t think of a better way to wake up. Keep them coming. Great work.
I’m always impressed with your electrical knowledge, I’ve been trying to wire my older car and I get so confused and you seem to just breeze through a lot of these repairs, I give my respect 100%!
Just One wire at a time and you’ll get it done. 👍🏼
This man has the patience of JOB. How many of us would fix all the aspects of the muffler heat shield.?
A friend in need ? You got a very lucky friend. Hope he makes it worth your while, in the meantime we learn too, so as usual a win win. No change there. I really enjoyed that, thanks :)
You certainly put some extra work in to the exhaust heat shield. Not sure I would of been that particular. Great job!
It was so cool to see the broken brush, I could almost hear ya say YES! This will be an easy fix!
Fantastic! Get some angled feelers gauges
Hi James,
Nice video as always. You got lucky with that generator, just brushes, wow.
A tip for pulling stuck exhaust nuts/bolts: After undoing one (the easiest one), lube it and tighten it up again before trying the other. That can reduce any stress on the second nut/bolt, making it easier to remove.
Cheers,
EJ
Your heat shrink tubing hack is pretty slick. 👍🏼💡
Hard to not learn something new with your videos. lol
Looks easier to weld up the existing muffler than to transfer the mounting bolts to the replacement muffler.
Probably would have been.
McGyver to the rescue again, well done 🇺🇸👍🏼
I don't know why your videos are so relaxing and enjoyable to watch. I never thought and I doubt I will ever repair a generator or any small engine in my life, but man I am so intrigued with your videos. You sir are the Bob Ross of Small engine restoration and repair. A few tiny critiques: some more fast forwarding and shortening of the video would be great. I love to watch your videos before bed and I like to watch from start to finish, but rarely have time to give a whole hour before bed. I know Hand Tool Rescue will show the first screw being screwed, then cut to the last screw, to save some time. We don't need to see you screw all eight screws, we get the picture. And his use of video speed is genius. Also the editing from Cutting Edge Engineering is top notch, I will find myself reaching to fast forward and she does it for me, before I could start. Again just my tiny, small suggestions, you are the one with 161K subscribers after all.
I can’t believe I caught a video when first released…Condon is my mother’s maiden name …maybe we’re related…I really enjoy your content thanks….
I’m thinking that muffler damage looks a lot like backfires were the cause. Might explain the breather box too. Great vid.
I was thinking the exact same thing
A constantly open exhaust valve certainly would lead to dumping unburned fuel in the exhaust, on the "compression" stroke, so that's consistent.
Interesting. You don’t see many blown out mufflers in James’ vids.
My question was about the hole in the bottom of the original muffler: is that a 22 caliber bullet hole?
@@williamfoote2888 I’ve seen holes drilled in the bottom of mufflers to allow condensation to drain.
I had this same problem with Generac where the brushes went bad just like yours, I installed new brushes and it was fixed I cleaned up the slip rings before installing the new brushes, my Gen had 2500 hrs though it was run hard but well maintained. By the way, I learned this by watching your outstanding videos. Thanks for passing that knowledge on.
I like the videos where he builds a working machine with parts from different brands of generators that works with some modifications.
So you had to break out the MiG welder. Nice job on the heat shield. I’ve seen many of your videos and they are enjoyable to watch and educational. Big reasons why the videos are so watchable: good lighting and good sound. Add to that your easy narration and deep knowledge of small engine and power head repair.
FYI It doesn't matter which brush is +. You're producing AC. We always change polarity on the commentator on megawatt generators. The + side wears faster.
Love your videos
:)
It may not matter on larger generators since they often flash the field automatically when starting up. This one uses small permanent magnets and others residual magnetism. DC is sent to the brushes. The generator will have trouble building the field if the residual magnetism is reverse of the power going to the brushes. Likely the residual magnetism will collapse trying to reverse the field.
🖖👍I didn't know that. I forgot about those generators having dedicated exciter supplies. Thank you
Most of the time whenever i take a carburetor apart to check something and even it doesn't look like it needs it i usually put it through my ultrasonic cleaner anyway just to be sure. Watching this reminds me that i need to adjust the valves on my generator. Dont remember doing it since i got it around 5 or 6 years ago
You do amaze me that you have the patience to do the repair work time and time again. Keep up the great work.
There are 3d plastic "3d printing pens" used for plastic repair that use 3d printing plastic filament that might allow you to make minor plastic repairs. They are used to repair toys and print filament in various widths for artwork.
I would have liked to have been there to hear the backfire that caused the muffler blow out 😂
Thank you James for getting back to me. Flywheel key is good, valves are raising 37 seconds. I'll have to check the valve to crank makes. The coil looks like it is installed right but I'm not sure.
Thanks again James.
Love your show.
Shrink tube on the airbox = Brilliant!!!😉
My suspicion is it fell powerhead first onto the ground and the rotor slipped on the shaft just a little. That explains the dent in the powerhead cover, and the mangled muffler too.
Can that actually happen? Both crankshaft bearings would need to slip, too. Even if possible (no shoulders on the journals) this would lock up the rod bearings. The engine wouldn't turn over.
You could hot glue that filter housing. I once hot glued a small hole in the side of a car battery, and it outlasted the battery.
Another award winning job!
If it hasn't been disposed of yet, it'd be interesting to see the design of the inside of the old muffler.
great job and one offer of an idea. For the airbox, the fitting for the air hose was too small but you had the old fitting broken off inside the hose in two parts, smaller and larger. You could have fit the larger broken barbed piece onto the airbox for a perfect fit... a little epoxy and bam... good as new
I don’t know why those video are so addictive. I am a marine engineer, can’t stop watching every one of those and I am amazed how you can trouble shoot the generator part of those units. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Sure your video help someone 😊.
Hi James, my name is Earl Dodge, live in Oregon. I bought a older L head Briggs and when I start it, it really chugs and back fires out the exhaust and gas sprays out the intake. I lapped the valves and they are sealing however the exhaust valve has .008 play in the valve guide. I can't find the specs for the valve lift but the are opening pretty good. The previous owner put a clone carb on it. My next step is to check the lobes on the cam. It is a Generac 6082 starting and 5000 running 10hp Briggs and Stratton.
Thank you James, you are the best.
I have had issues with clone carbs that made me chase other problems that ended up not existing. I would be very suspicious of the carb. Otherwise would check the spark timing (flywheel key) and check the valve timing (camshaft and crankshaft timing marks).. Also might check the leak down. You could pressurize the engine with the valves closed. Just a few PSI. Check the exhaust and intake for leaking valves.
Great save.... A set of brushes, valve adjustment, carb clean/adjustment and exhaust mod.😊
Can’t beat that for sure 😊
Thanks for all you do..
Thanks for the video! This brand is "A-ipower".
Lovely work, James. Enjoying your videos very much.
Regards from Down Under,
Peter.
Very nice work James. I would never have thought about shrink tubing to enlarge the fitting , that was some trick stuff there dude!
You might want to check the motor mounts. Just before you shut off the engine after the load test the engine seemed to be moving a lot in the video.
My vote would be to plastic weld the airbox. With a soldering iron, gouge, gather both sides, pat down repeat. Then burn in stainless mesh for reinforcement.
Another great save!!! Well done, sir! 👌
Good fix. A bit of your time and a few bucks fixed it.
James good to see you bring these generators back to life. If you get to a point at some time where you are looking for a break could you do a video on your favorite tools?
GOOD JOB JAMES. THANK YOU.
sweet...I use a little grey spray primer for marking out hidden things ..bolt them on and squirt some paint under the heat shield
Great video James, Thank you for posting. - That stator cover is crying out for a smiley face, :-)
Finally!! I have this generator, but the 5,000 watts model. I've been dying to do a THD test but couldn't justify spending $300 on the meter. Sad to see that it's higher than the >23% A-iPower used to advertise in their webpage. No wonder they removed it.
Little update. I was able to find a used meter (same model as James's) and measured the THD for the AP5000 model. On no load it was 4.6% THD and under half load it went to 13%. I am unable to go full load, since mine has dual 120v 20a outlet (2,400w max) and one 240v L14-30 outlet. I don't own anything 240v, so I can't test it to max load. I am talking to a friend to measure his AP5000 and see if it varies per unit or model.
Awesome job. Very nice work James
Very nice! As always!
It was very pleasant to sit back and enjoy the exhaust rebuild. Very soothing!
Hi James, recently found your channel and I do enjoy watching your videos and am learning a lot from them. Your voice reminds me of the UA-cam channel, the lock picking lawyer. I also like watching him
You are a master of improvisation and adaptation James.
Good save James, running good as new!
Awesome job James!!
Great video. Pretty worthwhile teardown and cleaning.
Great job as always.
Amazing job as always Jim!
Nice generator for someone, great work. I learn allot from you.
Nice fix James 😊
Great video. Thank you.
I love your videos, bro! I’ve learned so much from them.
Another awesome save!!! Thanks!!
Hello. Glad to see your new awesome video. You inspired me of rebuilding a lawn mower engine that was run out of oil.
If you keep your wire a little shorter you'll get a better weld. Love your channel very informative 👍
Great video, glad to see your welding now too
THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO
Boy that was a lucky find 😮 Seems like it will be running again 😊
Good job again
Nice well done and again thank you for the cool info. Keep up the cool vid's.
53:32 Fix the plastic , I took 4 , 1968 mercury couger tail lights, 2 per side , both broke in different halves, cut them in the .middle, epoxyed them together , made I good set
James,
As always, another excellent video. Excellent advice on checking the valve clearances. Running the exhaust valve at 0" clearance, as you found, would also likely have eventually resulted in a burned exhaust valve as well as reduced performance.
This was a great and fortunate save. Love your content and presentation👍👍👍👍👍
That welder sure is coming in handy isn't it😀
Is that a Harbor Freight welder?
Like how you explain Thing's
Good video Jim, nice job saving the generator and modifying the Predator exhaust, I really enjoyed it!
Hi Jim, I recently discovered your channel and am properly hooked for all the reasons your subscribers already applaud you for. Excellent knowledge and transfer of that knowledge so others can learn. One thing however I would like added and its probably not for all videos, are the commercials behind the video, I appreciate you don't know what you will eventually get when you on sell a project for but even just to give a breakdown of costs and then your target asking price for a project you are flipping would be a great addition IMO? I also believe this may get your repaired units sold quicker via the channel....?
I see you getting better and better with your fabrication skills.
Don’t snatch the mig gun away from your welds. Release the trigger and let the shielding gas continue to protect the weld as it cools. Not so critical in this application, but a good habit to establish.
Thanks.
That old muffler was interesting. The only time I’ve ever seen a muffler “blown out” like that was when the engine was severely back firing.
Awesome love these videos James 😊❤
Just a joy to watch your hands doing their thing. A favorite Thursday event for me. I guess the tight exhaust valve explains the blown out muffler? Fuel mixture leaking by? So combustion in the muffler.
Turn your gas cfm down on the welder. It sounds like a jet engine. You only need about 30 or 32 cfm. Good vid though👍👍
I'm sure glad you clarified the length of that replacement muffler, cause I always thought that shorter and not as long meant the same thing! 😁
Thank you....continue to learn a lot with your videos. I'm off grid and use generators 100-150 hours in the winter.
Hi you do some great work. Thx for the videos. Just heads up you mentioned this unit is 3000 watts. It’s all good
with broken plastics, try some super glue and baking powder to bridge the crack. It makes for a very strong connection.
Nice to see that your welding skills are as well as many DYIers as well as a great save to help someone else out with your knowledge.
Not going to win any welding awards. Need some more practice.
39:30 Sometimes for difficult situations like this, you can glue the brackets on with JB Qwik or super glue and then come back after the glue dries and tack weld them. The glue gives you more time to make sure you have the positioning correct.
Nice repair! Wonder what in the heck happened to that previous muffler!
Most likely backfired
I have not seen that brand before. Ran well after you drilled out the pilot jet. I have to drill many pilot jets out in my area due to being to lean. Usually only have to go up one or two drill sizes. Thanks for a great video.
The brand is actually called AI power, not ipower. I have one of their larger inverter generators.
Thanks@@nsayer
Will the pilot jet be the first check for a surging engine where the governor is bouncing all over the place? Any second or third places to look?
James, you are no doubt a master mechanic and technician! Thank you so much for your patience, precision, knowledge, and pleasant presentation. You really care about your work and it shows. No music needed in your videos and I look forward to every one of them. 2 thumbs up! Note: I have the exact same red color Fairbanks Ward Gen. that was in one of your recent videos, and it was given to me. I cleaned the tank and it works well, and kind of hard to pull the rope on the 5hp Kawasaki motor (due to compression) as I saw you giving it a good pull too on yours. Fortunately almost no plastic on the Fairbanks Ward Gen. and lots of compression with fairly low AC distortion. It's built like a tank and we all only wish that all modern Gens. were built with that build quality.
You are ready for "Fab Rats" now!
In frame 13:54, centre low in the photo, you can see that junction plug/socket/unit with the yellow/brown and blue wires. It seems as if that junction unit should be relocated a little to the right so that it lies against the insulating flap of the nearest stator winding.. This would pull those coloured wires away from the rotating spindle to which you earlier drew attention. Note also, that at the extreme left of the plastic base plate holding those stator connections, mostly hidden by the wire junction unit, there is another plastic plate coming out at right angles, probably intended also to help hold that connection unit where it aught to be. I would go further and suggest that those two stator wires at the bottom aught to lie above the yellow and black wires that are sheathed in black near that junction unit. This repositioning would help hold the junction unit down so that the exposed wires at the top are nowhere near the rotating spindle.
Thanks!
Thanks
Do you think that the "tube within a tube" that you removed with the screw was perhaps the adapter they used to make that tank vent fit on that barb?