We have used the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Hi, I recently subscribed. Thank you for the info. Recently I was gifted two non functional generators. Having a terrible left leg I decided I cannot work on them on the floor. I cannot afford a fancy lift, so after some pondering I came up with a simple cheap way to get them off the floor to make it easier to work on. I fastened some plywood on a drum cradle. I stood the generator on end and strapped it to the cradle. Viola, single handedly, even with the bum leg I got the generator to a working height. I hope this helps! Happy New Year! 123123
I've got the same exact generator, it ran our house about a week at a time after several hurricanes, probably a few hundred hours on it now. I used the 220 output to run both legs in the house, it had no problem running a couple of refrigerators, a couple of small (~5k BTU) window A/C units, inside and outside lights and electronics (TV's, computers, security cameras). It was surprisingly efficient on gas and has been reliable. You can tell the power isn't perfect because florescent lights will flicker when it's got some load, but otherwise no problems. We were one of the few houses with power so there was usually a morning line for coffee. ;)
I ran my honda non stop for 5days and it didn't even complaint for once. Had to replace the oil once after 3rd day cus the oil interval was near and i didn't want to throw a rod out of the engine 😂
Thanks for your comment. It is good to know this generator is still working good for you after all these years. I have the same model and bought if for Y2K over 2 decades ago. I have used it only a day at a time, at most, on a handful of occasions since then. The other day, I was going to get a replacement generator because I saw such a low output voltage when applying a relatively large load. Fortunately, I came across JamesC's video today ( I have seen other videos of his before) and followed his steps to tune up my machine. Turns out, I forgot about the ability to modify the output voltage via the potentiometer in the control box. BTW, thanks to everyone for their comments ! ! !
I really agree with this comment as Jame's videos would be the answer to fixing your own genset, probably wouldn't matter the size of the genset. Don't usually see him work on say nat gas units of say 20kw or higher which would suck the gas if that was the fuel. Small engine mechanic does the heavier units in fact he has a 400kw unit you would use for a small town if say it's wind gen went down or small hydro. Don't want to run it more than a week or the small town will run out of money.
Just got a 4000XLE from my neighbor for free. It looks like it was sitting for a long time and so far it needs a new carb, air filter, oil pressure switch, oil filter and new tires. I pulled the carb and squirted a little gas in the manifold while cranking the engine and it fire right up for about two seconds. Plugged a shop light into the generator and fired it up a second time and to my surprise the light came on. Just finished ordering most of the parts off Amazon and used a set of tires with rims from Harbor Freight which are a nice fit. So far I'm into the job for about fifty dollars which includes a can of rattle can red paint. Instead of dealing with the stock battery I wired up two big alligator clamps on the battery leads so I can jump off a car battery. Thanks for the video on adjusting the voltage. Here's an update, after installing all the parts it started right up and runs. The little spring on the governor rod was rusted and broke so the idle was all over the place, got one on order. Need to trouble shoot the low oil warning light circuit, the light doesn't go off. Think there is a problem in the control board oil light circuit or wiring harness.
I really appreciate your attention to detail and frugality. It's all of the little things that eat away the profit of a used generator. You manage to be very frugal without sacrificing quality. Well done.
Great video as usual. Based on watching many of your videos I have refurbished a free Yamaha ef2000is and it is running well. Needed carb cleaning, new foot, missing a few screws, and the fuel shutoff broke. I added an extended run option using a marine tank and pulse fuel pump. I ran it under 1500 watt load for an hour. No hiccups. I would not have known where to start without you videos. You do great work explaining. One thing I would mention after wiring a boat is try the marine crimp connectors. They have a glue heat shrink which makes the connector watertight. No corrosion after 10 years in a salt water environment.
As always - well done! Tip: I bought a handful of small left twist drill bits. These are so cool because when drilling it out many times the bit will “catch” the broken bolt and back it out! Done!!! Just a helpful (hopefully) tip. Cheers!
Sorry this is random but thank you for all of the great content! I just finished my first ever valve job on a snowblower, which involved removing the cylinder head (L-head Tecumseh). I would have never been able to do it without the knowledge/confidence gained from watching your videos. Keep up the amazing work!
I learned to wrench on a moped. Till this day I find small engine/carb repair much more difficult then actual automotive engines. The engines are so small that if anything is off just slightly they wont even start. spark, fuel, compression? most car engines will start and run enough to help figure out whats up. You can have spark, fuel, and compression on a small engine and crank it all day without a single put put puttt. It definitely is an art for small engine repair.
I have the EXL, and I've learned alot from this, and the other EXL model you've worked on, so I'm ready to troubleshoot mine. That's the beauty of UA-cam and sharing the knowledge. Thanks!
You would be surprised how many people never clean engines. You can eat off the car engines in my vehicles. I wash them spring and fall. Keeps the hoses and belts fresh as well.
Hey, Jim…good find on the Molex connector, especially when there was no physical evidence that was obvious until you pulled the pins. However, your testing skills led you to the logical conclusion. Well done. As far as the OEM carb leaking, that’s a head-scratcher. Before you rebuild it, I hope you do a dye test to identify the source of the leak, as the rebuild kit won’t be a guarantee that it will solve that problem.
I have a WEN that's set up just like this one. The ground wires were cut in the control panel causing the idle down to not function. I repaired them and fixed that problem. It had lost the intake valve keeper also. Thanks James!!
Hi James. Just got done watching and enjoying this latest video. Great job of diagnosing and repair. I'm retired and have been enjoying many of your previous videos and just realized that I wasn't subscribed, so I took care of that. My fiancee has a Chicago Electric 7000 watt gen. from HF. I did an oil change, filled it up with exactly the amount of oil the manuel said. Started it, it ran about 4 minutes and shut off. Unplugged the module, it ran fine. Changed the module, 4 minutes and it stopped again. Just for piece of mind I topped the oil off till it was full to the top and it run fine. Hard to believe a couple ounces of oil made the difference. At least I know the low oil sensor works! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Take care & God bless.
Hi, James. I would say you did a very good job on what looked like a throw away generator. I appreciate your care in both the fine electrical work and the cleaning you did. Replacing all the used parts made a through job of it. Thanks for sharing! Stay healthy!
Watching these videos finally kicked my backside into gear and got me to resolve the carb issues on my low hour Champion generator. I just cleaned all the passages out and after running a few minutes under load it smoothed right out for me.
I have the same 4000 generator and when I take the fuel bowl nut off I have a problem with it wanting to leak. On mine the bowl is very thin and will deform very easy. It is a poor design. I real enjoy watching your patience and willing to go almost forever to fix problems.
James thanks for the reply yesterday. This morning I connected the heat gun (1300 watts) directly into one of the outlets on the generator. With heat gun on high, frequency was 61 htz, voltage 123 volts. Yesterday when I messaged you I had plugged the heat gun into the outlet on the P3 Kill A Watt meter and the voltage was 112 v. Why that is i don’t know but it’s working correctly now. I enjoy watching your videos and your trouble shooting skills are what keeps me watching!
SUPER bon travail A+.... heureux d'entendre parler d'harmonique a petit voltage, je connais plus les filtres a harmonique sur des ligne 315 K.V. ( 315 000volts) etc. ...merci encore .
I just got my first generator a week ago and have never worked on one, but there is something about this that is utterly fascinating to me. I wish generators were more common in my neck of the woods, so I could get some experience working on them. I really enjoy your videos though.
Great education! Thanks. I have worked on medical electronics since the early 1980s when everything was analog discrete circuits. There were a lot of little potentiometers to adjust. I still have a little plastic screwdriver which is like a black plastic straw with a flat screwdriver tip recessed in each end. It keeps from slipping off the screw and shorting circuits and doesnt conduct electricity back to the user. Given the unfused AC voltages accessible, one of those would be a good idea for anybody making hot adjustments.
I have been watching your videos for the past days you are an artist I must say very passionate about your job I am a hvacr tech from st lucia the Caribbean
Glad you were able to restore this... seems like a sophisticated machine. I wish i had known about low oil shutoff and idle down features before i bought my storm generator. That clouded plastic window over the fuel gauge can be cut away. I used a "watch glass" and silicone gasket to make a new cover.... but grind a little notch so the tank can breathe. (The plastic window has a tiny pinhole).
Great job troubleshooting and saving that generator. I have a comment about the fuel leak. I think the stamped metal bowl is bent in a little where the bolt is. I have seen this issue with these bowls before. They become "bent in" due to the bolt pressure and don't allow the bowl to put enough pressure on the rubber o-ring between the bowl and carb. I have used a socket and hammer to push it back out. Reinstall and don't over tighten the bolt. Thanks again.
The three pin molex connectors are notoriously bad for being intermittent when slightly oxidized. We had to replace thousands of them in equipment we were producing that lived in less than pristine environments.
Hi James, I had the same exact issue with the carb on a Briggs & Stratton and phantom leaking. I spoke with a local small engine repair tech and he said that sometimes if the bowl is overtightened over time the nut will indent the bottom of the bowl and you can never get them to stop leaking. Not sure if that was your issue but but I put a new bowl on and it fixed mine. Thanks for the great videos. God bless.
Used to have a generator similar to this but I got a new home and it wasn't really powerful enough to run what I needed so I sold it and now have a preatedor 6500 but as always very nice work
James-- If you don't want the drill bit to suck it's way through a hole you are drilling . Put a piece of hose between the chuck and the end of your bit. Leave just enough of the bit sticking out at the end of the bit to make your hole. I found it also helps to keep the bit cooler.
I love that you consider and execute (when it makes sense) component-level repairs instead of buying whole boards or considering the generator not worth repair. This is what we need to see more of, tonconbatg the wastefulness of the usual consumer mindsets. Almost everything can be repaired, and for hobbyists the time generally should not be weighed as an expense. Things that are broken should be given to people who want to fix them or learn (not thrown in the landfill)!
James, dont hesitate to solder molex connectors. Wire is like a sponge, and will wick moisture if not soldered. Just my opinion after 30 years of their use.
On the other hand soldering the terminations of stranded wires produces stress points where all the strands will break with movement. You need to make sure the cable is well-clamped ahead of the solder so this doesn't happen.
I bought a new Generac 4000xl in about 2000. It has been very a very dependable generator and is almost a commercial grade quality, I really like the ECO throttle engine speed control feature that works similarly to the newer inverter generators. In my opinion the 4000xl is a keeper.
Excellent troubleshooting as usual, sir! That Molex connector might have eluded me, I usually check to make sure things are tightly plugged in and not corroded but I might have missed that one!
Another great posting as always. Thank you very much. As far as crimping goes, I purchased a IWISS model IWS-30J 5 years ago. Comes with 5 different die sets. One of the dies works with the pins you were working with. So far I have had good success with it. Not one connector that I could not crimp. 30 bucks on Amazon. Just a thought.
Very intriguing here. Can't say I've ever encountered that before. Said it before and I'll say it again. Very informative and excellent troubleshooting indeed. Setting the bar high! Great video! Blessings and respect!
Generac service manual actually calls for 38 - 40Hz auto idle speed. Setting procedure according to the manual, idle stop screw on carburetor needs to be backed out enough so idle speed is only affected by solenoid, then adjust solenoid to idle at 25 - 35 Hz, then adjust idle stop screw on carburetor to run at 38 - 40Hz.
Good call on the Molex pins. You may want to check out 35820 TL from Marlin P Jones. It is a universal crimp tool kit. I different jaw sets to cover all types of pins/contacts and works well. As far as your vacuum leak thought, the bowl itself is not under a vacuum. It is vented through a hole, usually in the carb face {filter end}. Generac designed that regulator to fail. They could have mounted the board upside down to better protect it from water intrusion. Great job as usual!
This series of generac open frame alternator generators are some of the best ever made. Automotive style lubrication and filter means the engine is a 2000 hour unit, not 250 hours like the crap being pumped out today. Now it looks like the Baldwin kleen power are the best as far as not distorting their output/ having clean output, but for 95 percent of open frame generator applications, this is my preferred unit. I use a Westinghouse igen 4500 inverter, a couple of Firman wh02942 inverters, several different 2200kw class inverters, and even a little sportsman 1000 watt inverter. Oh, and an Onan Emerald 4kw (1800rpm twin) on my Winnebago. That all being said, I use my generac whenever possible. I just like them, and I have never ever, not once run into a problem with electronics burning out because of the generator. I think that is only going to happen if you shut down your generator under load, and that's just a bad idea all around anyway. Anyway, I just wanted to drop my .02 and let people know the truth about these. If you have the need for this style generator(construction, food truck, outdoor lights) grab one, they are getting hard to find in nice condition....
James I love your videos. I have learned a lot about the generation side of the generators. I do have one suggestion. Buy a decent multimeter like a fluke. After watching your videos, I believe some of your slightly off readings are due to that meter that you use. I am an electronics technician and it’s not uncommon to get spurious readings, sometimes even with a quality meter. Also, I see you have a soldering iron you should get into fixing your own boards. If a capacitor or diode looks bad, it usually is and cheap and easy to fix. Thanks for your videos.
Hi James, I'm in the process of rewiring a Blazer and had to make up a connector with the same terminals you were using. I also had the same issue swaging then until I figured out I had the terminal in upside down. Now they come out picture perfect almost every time. I put the terminal in the tool and clamp it down until it hold the terminal in place the insert the wire and crimp it. Hope this helps 😀
8. To adjust the idle control solenoid, proceed as follows: a. Loosen the solenoid JAM NUT, then turn the solenoid BOLT clockwise (faster) or counterclockwise (slower). b. When engine speed is 1500- 2100 rpm (25-35 Hertz), hold that setting and tighten the solenoid JAM NUT. c. When JAM NUT is tight, check that engine speed is still 1,500- 2,100 rpm (25-35 Hertz) FINAL ADJUSTMENT: On the carburetor, turn the idle speed stop screw clockwise (faster speed) until engine speed increases to 2,280-2,400 rpm (38-40 Hertz) (see Figure 4.4). NOTE: Idle speeds less than about 38 Hertz could cause the engine to stall when loads are suddenly applied
Love your videos and the way you go about troubleshooting. The terminal which didn't break has been exposed to the same conditions for the same amount of time as the other two so personally I would have replaced that too. The jaws of my crimping tool are wider and do both crimps at the same time but even then they sometimes need a little tweaking with a pair of needle nose pliers. Crimping those fiddly little buggers is one of my least favourite parts of hobby electronics!
Trim pots wear out. And not necessarily from use. The element inside a trim pot is a carbon resistor spread out over a length and a contact that drags over it. A lot of use can over time scrape off the carbon.(A wah wah pedal murders the pot) But even without wear the carbon element can degrade from age so that the output of the voltage division is very erratic. Commonly on audio equipment the pot becomes scratchy because when you turn it you hear a scratchy noise. Turning the pot back and forth a bunch of times can polish up the metal contact and the carbon resistor and often fixes it. But some Deoxit can help to clean up the pot. In fact the same company makes a cleaner specifically for pots(Deoxit fader F5). But that trim pot you are adjusting is very sealed up. It can't be perfectly sealed because the screw has to go into it so maybe some deoxit F5 will help.
as always, enjoying your videos. You have lots of patience. I ll complain again cause I see you working down on the ground, especially now that you have a lift table.
Hey man, just a quick tip: To help find the leak at the fuel bowl, try using a blow gun. Sounds counter intuitive I know, but blowing air across a leak really accentuates it and makes it much easier to see the source. When you hit the leak, you'll know it! I really enjoy your videos and of coarse I subscribed. Cheers 🍻
I think it's a good idea to replace all 3 pins if 2 of them have failed. Regarding THD - try heater with no fan, maybe some of all those harmonics come from the load, not from the generator.
Those clone carbs are a lifesaver. I have never had any issue with them. I was recently working on one of my riding mowers, and the carb was shot. It had a Nikki, and even the Walbro replacement was $140. I got a clone carb with air and fuel filters for $12, and they work perfectly. The prices for some of the OEM carbs are nonsensical, especially when there are much cheaper options available for a fraction of the price. I got one with a bad fuel shutoff solenoid once, but I delete those and install manual shutoffs on my machines anyway, but I have had great luck with them otherwise.
Those paper fuel filters are good on equipment with either a pulse pump or electric. I do like that the filter better because of more surface area, but that's one of the reasons they don't do well for gravity flow.
I saw the white powdery corrosion on the first pin of the molex connector, and knew right there the problem was corrosion. Good assembly requires the molex type connectors to be fixed in place with clue, so they don't vibrate and destroy their anti-corrosion coating. If you want the best, grease the molex contacts with white lithium grease applied with Q-tips, before making the connection, then seal the whole connector area with Silastic.
The issues with this machine are due solely to neglect. It has clearly been stored outdoors for most of it's life, and I don't understand why anyone would do that. I store some of my riding mowers outside since I have 6 of them, but I would never store a sensitive piece of equipment like a generator outdoors, simply due to the large number of sensitive electronic components that it has. I would not even feel comfortable using one that had been left outdoors.
On that broken off bolt in the end cap, I would use a very thin dremmel and cut a screwdriver slot in it then it wouldn't get filings in the stator windings. It is always better to have correct cap hold downs.
Jim, Dollar Tree now sells small cans of spray lube, and they're made in USA. If you have limited space going to a job, this might be an option. I will add that it seems to work well for me.
Those molex pins come in a couple of different sizes. I used to do those with just a pair of needle nose pliers. There are too darn many kinds of connectors out there and they all need a different crimping tool. One time a certain well-known manufacturer got in trouble by passing some high current through a connector like that, using round pins mounted to the circuit board, which of course caused the connection to overheat and get intermittent. Not a good thing for a microcomputer! Replacing the pins with square ones was a warranty repair, and usually fixed the problem...
We have used the ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Attention to detail, well explained and no background music. The perfect video. 😎👍
Hi, I recently subscribed. Thank you for the info. Recently I was gifted two non functional generators. Having a terrible left leg I decided I cannot work on them on the floor. I cannot afford a fancy lift, so after some pondering I came up with a simple cheap way to get them off the floor to make it easier to work on. I fastened some plywood on a drum cradle. I stood the generator on end and strapped it to the cradle. Viola, single handedly, even with the bum leg I got the generator to a working height. I hope this helps! Happy New Year! 123123
I've got the same exact generator, it ran our house about a week at a time after several hurricanes, probably a few hundred hours on it now. I used the 220 output to run both legs in the house, it had no problem running a couple of refrigerators, a couple of small (~5k BTU) window A/C units, inside and outside lights and electronics (TV's, computers, security cameras). It was surprisingly efficient on gas and has been reliable. You can tell the power isn't perfect because florescent lights will flicker when it's got some load, but otherwise no problems. We were one of the few houses with power so there was usually a morning line for coffee. ;)
I ran my honda non stop for 5days and it didn't even complaint for once. Had to replace the oil once after 3rd day cus the oil interval was near and i didn't want to throw a rod out of the engine 😂
As a caffiene-a-holic, I must thank you for sharing the elixer of life with your neighbors-in-need. True kindness 👍
Thanks for your comment. It is good to know this generator is still working good for you after all these years. I have the same model and bought if for Y2K over 2 decades ago. I have used it only a day at a time, at most, on a handful of occasions since then. The other day, I was going to get a replacement generator because I saw such a low output voltage when applying a relatively large load. Fortunately, I came across JamesC's video today ( I have seen other videos of his before) and followed his steps to tune up my machine. Turns out, I forgot about the ability to modify the output voltage via the potentiometer in the control box. BTW, thanks to everyone for their comments ! ! !
As always, great job putting it back into service instead of becoming landfill. Thanks to the subscriber for donating it for us to learn from.
I can't think of how many times your videos have got me out of a jam when i was stuck, Thank you for sharing your knowledge so we all learn to fish.
I really agree with this comment as Jame's videos would be the answer to fixing your own genset, probably wouldn't matter the size of the genset. Don't usually see him work on say nat gas units of say 20kw or higher which would suck the gas if that was the fuel. Small engine mechanic does the heavier units in fact he has a 400kw unit you would use for a small town if say it's wind gen went down or small hydro. Don't want to run it more than a week or the small town will run out of money.
@@PaulHigginbothamSr my 16kw LP generator uses 1.75 gallons of LP per hour, based on how much I had to refill after it ran a several days
Just got a 4000XLE from my neighbor for free. It looks like it was sitting for a long time and so far it needs a new carb, air filter, oil pressure switch, oil filter and new tires. I pulled the carb and squirted a little gas in the manifold while cranking the engine and it fire right up for about two seconds. Plugged a shop light into the generator and fired it up a second time and to my surprise the light came on. Just finished ordering most of the parts off Amazon and used a set of tires with rims from Harbor Freight which are a nice fit. So far I'm into the job for about fifty dollars which includes a can of rattle can red paint. Instead of dealing with the stock battery I wired up two big alligator clamps on the battery leads so I can jump off a car battery. Thanks for the video on adjusting the voltage.
Here's an update, after installing all the parts it started right up and runs. The little spring on the governor rod was rusted and broke so the idle was all over the place, got one on order. Need to trouble shoot the low oil warning light circuit, the light doesn't go off. Think there is a problem in the control board oil light circuit or wiring harness.
I really appreciate your attention to detail and frugality. It's all of the little things that eat away the profit of a used generator. You manage to be very frugal without sacrificing quality. Well done.
Great video as usual. Based on watching many of your videos I have refurbished a free Yamaha ef2000is and it is running well. Needed carb cleaning, new foot, missing a few screws, and the fuel shutoff broke. I added an extended run option using a marine tank and pulse fuel pump. I ran it under 1500 watt load for an hour. No hiccups. I would not have known where to start without you videos. You do great work explaining. One thing I would mention after wiring a boat is try the marine crimp connectors. They have a glue heat shrink which makes the connector watertight. No corrosion after 10 years in a salt water environment.
Nice troubleshooting James and add-ons 😊
As always - well done!
Tip: I bought a handful of small left twist drill bits. These are so cool because when drilling it out many times the bit will “catch” the broken bolt and back it out! Done!!!
Just a helpful (hopefully) tip.
Cheers!
Typical phenomenal Condon job!
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Sorry this is random but thank you for all of the great content! I just finished my first ever valve job on a snowblower, which involved removing the cylinder head (L-head Tecumseh). I would have never been able to do it without the knowledge/confidence gained from watching your videos. Keep up the amazing work!
Glad to hear. Hope it fixed you issue.
I learned to wrench on a moped. Till this day I find small engine/carb repair much more difficult then actual automotive engines. The engines are so small that if anything is off just slightly they wont even start. spark, fuel, compression? most car engines will start and run enough to help figure out whats up. You can have spark, fuel, and compression on a small engine and crank it all day without a single put put puttt. It definitely is an art for small engine repair.
I have the EXL, and I've learned alot from this, and the other EXL model you've worked on, so I'm ready to troubleshoot mine. That's the beauty of UA-cam and sharing the knowledge. Thanks!
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Nice save
That genny looked almost brand new by the time you were done with it. Great job on a great machine.
So nice of him to not clean it up for you before you worked on it.
You would be surprised how many people never clean engines. You can eat off the car engines in my vehicles. I wash them spring and fall. Keeps the hoses and belts fresh as well.
Best UA-cam channel on planet earth!!! Back on my planet the internet is very slow.
Hey, Jim…good find on the Molex connector, especially when there was no physical evidence that was obvious until you pulled the pins. However, your testing skills led you to the logical conclusion. Well done. As far as the OEM carb leaking, that’s a head-scratcher. Before you rebuild it, I hope you do a dye test to identify the source of the leak, as the rebuild kit won’t be a guarantee that it will solve that problem.
I have a WEN that's set up just like this one. The ground wires were cut in the control panel causing the idle down to not function. I repaired them and fixed that problem. It had lost the intake valve keeper also. Thanks James!!
Hi James. Just got done watching and enjoying this latest video. Great job of diagnosing and repair. I'm retired and have been enjoying many of your previous videos and just realized that I wasn't subscribed, so I took care of that. My fiancee has a Chicago Electric 7000 watt gen. from HF. I did an oil change, filled it up with exactly the amount of oil the manuel said. Started it, it ran about 4 minutes and shut off. Unplugged the module, it ran fine. Changed the module, 4 minutes and it stopped again. Just for piece of mind I topped the oil off till it was full to the top and it run fine. Hard to believe a couple ounces of oil made the difference. At least I know the low oil sensor works! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Take care & God bless.
Hi, James. I would say you did a very good job on what looked like a throw away generator. I appreciate your care in both the fine electrical work and the cleaning you did. Replacing all the used parts made a through job of it. Thanks for sharing! Stay healthy!
Watching these videos finally kicked my backside into gear and got me to resolve the carb issues on my low hour Champion generator. I just cleaned all the passages out and after running a few minutes under load it smoothed right out for me.
I have the same 4000 generator and when I take the fuel bowl nut off I have a problem with it wanting to leak. On mine the bowl is very thin and will deform very easy. It is a poor design. I real enjoy watching your patience and willing to go almost forever to fix problems.
Well done James! Intermittent problems are the most difficult to troubleshoot. Way to stay with it to the very end.
James thanks for the reply yesterday. This morning I connected the heat gun (1300 watts) directly into one of the outlets on the generator. With heat gun on high, frequency was 61 htz, voltage 123 volts. Yesterday when I messaged you I had plugged the heat gun into the outlet on the P3 Kill A Watt meter and the voltage was 112 v. Why that is i don’t know but it’s working correctly now. I enjoy watching your videos and your trouble shooting skills are what keeps me watching!
SUPER bon travail A+.... heureux d'entendre parler d'harmonique a petit voltage, je connais plus les filtres a harmonique sur des ligne 315 K.V. ( 315 000volts) etc. ...merci encore .
I just got my first generator a week ago and have never worked on one, but there is something about this that is utterly fascinating to me. I wish generators were more common in my neck of the woods, so I could get some experience working on them. I really enjoy your videos though.
Thanks. Very informative video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks James, I'm impressed that this pretty small generator has pressurized oil and idle down these really are well made
Great education! Thanks. I have worked on medical electronics since the early 1980s when everything was analog discrete circuits. There were a lot of little potentiometers to adjust. I still have a little plastic screwdriver which is like a black plastic straw with a flat screwdriver tip recessed in each end. It keeps from slipping off the screw and shorting circuits and doesnt conduct electricity back to the user. Given the unfused AC voltages accessible, one of those would be a good idea for anybody making hot adjustments.
I have been watching your videos for the past days you are an artist I must say very passionate about your job I am a hvacr tech from st lucia the Caribbean
Great job , it’s fascinating watching you solve problems , it has helped me out a lot thanks.
James your electrical work is par exollence. Thank ya'll for giving us hope to do things correctly when you show correct methods and care.
Glad you were able to restore this... seems like a sophisticated machine. I wish i had known about low oil shutoff and idle down features before i bought my storm generator. That clouded plastic window over the fuel gauge can be cut away. I used a "watch glass" and silicone gasket to make a new cover.... but grind a little notch so the tank can breathe. (The plastic window has a tiny pinhole).
Well done educational video. Clear and sequentially organized organized for a good understanding of the whole process. Thank you!
Great job troubleshooting and saving that generator. I have a comment about the fuel leak. I think the stamped metal bowl is bent in a little where the bolt is. I have seen this issue with these bowls before. They become "bent in" due to the bolt pressure and don't allow the bowl to put enough pressure on the rubber o-ring between the bowl and carb. I have used a socket and hammer to push it back out. Reinstall and don't over tighten the bolt. Thanks again.
The three pin molex connectors are notoriously bad for being intermittent when slightly oxidized. We had to replace thousands of them in equipment we were producing that lived in less than pristine environments.
Doc., this video was really a learning experience especially regarding the voltage etc issues. Appreciate your efforts.
Thanks Larry
A useful video as usual. I have a Generac EXL so a lot of useful information for future potential troubleshooting. Thanks.
Lots of harbor freight tools I see so awesome I think that's my go to place for what I need to fix stuff too
Hi James, I had the same exact issue with the carb on a Briggs & Stratton and phantom leaking. I spoke with a local small engine repair tech and he said that sometimes if the bowl is overtightened over time the nut will indent the bottom of the bowl and you can never get them to stop leaking. Not sure if that was your issue but but I put a new bowl on and it fixed mine. Thanks for the great videos. God bless.
Once again the doctor saved a patient.
Used to have a generator similar to this but I got a new home and it wasn't really powerful enough to run what I needed so I sold it and now have a preatedor 6500 but as always very nice work
Nice bit of detective work James. Thanks for sharing
James you always provide a learning experience. I have learned a lot from you. Thanks.
James-- If you don't want the drill bit to suck it's way through a hole you are drilling . Put a piece of hose between the chuck and the end of your bit. Leave just enough of the bit sticking out at the end of the bit to make your hole. I found it also helps to keep the bit cooler.
I love that you consider and execute (when it makes sense) component-level repairs instead of buying whole boards or considering the generator not worth repair. This is what we need to see more of, tonconbatg the wastefulness of the usual consumer mindsets. Almost everything can be repaired, and for hobbyists the time generally should not be weighed as an expense. Things that are broken should be given to people who want to fix them or learn (not thrown in the landfill)!
James, dont hesitate to solder molex connectors. Wire is like a sponge, and will wick moisture if not soldered. Just my opinion after 30 years of their use.
On the other hand soldering the terminations of stranded wires produces stress points where all the strands will break with movement. You need to make sure the cable is well-clamped ahead of the solder so this doesn't happen.
I bought a new Generac 4000xl in about 2000. It has been very a very dependable generator and is almost a commercial grade quality, I really like the ECO throttle engine speed control feature that works similarly to the newer inverter generators. In my opinion the 4000xl is a keeper.
You’ve done it again James! Always great work.
James, you pulled out all the stops on this one! You have to be the best diagnose and generator repair guy I've ever seen! I always enjoy your videos!
Another great job James. An excellent learning tool from you. Thanks for the video.
Hi James always learn a lot from your class mate Great fault finding thanks for sharing
Excellent troubleshooting as usual, sir! That Molex connector might have eluded me, I usually check to make sure things are tightly plugged in and not corroded but I might have missed that one!
Great job as always. I'm always learning something from your video's.💪
Another great posting as always. Thank you very much.
As far as crimping goes, I purchased a IWISS model IWS-30J 5 years ago. Comes with 5 different die sets. One of the dies works with the pins you were working with. So far I have had good success with it. Not one connector that I could not crimp. 30 bucks on Amazon. Just a thought.
Pretty simple and easy fix on this one, just some bad connectors on those wires, nice work as always James!
Very intriguing here. Can't say I've ever encountered that before. Said it before and I'll say it again. Very informative and excellent troubleshooting indeed. Setting the bar high! Great video! Blessings and respect!
Nice fix. Runs great. Those Molex connectors aren't my favourite type.
Generac service manual actually calls for 38 - 40Hz auto idle speed. Setting procedure according to the manual, idle stop screw on carburetor needs to be backed out enough so idle speed is only affected by solenoid, then adjust solenoid to idle at 25 - 35 Hz, then adjust idle stop screw on carburetor to run at 38 - 40Hz.
James I could watch your videos all day long you are one fussy guy and I like that Awsome channel James keep up great work
I have the same one. Just bought a tri fuel kit for it from Century. Can't wait.
Great work James! Just great work!!
Good call on the Molex pins. You may want to check out 35820 TL from Marlin P Jones. It is a universal crimp tool kit. I different jaw sets to cover all types of pins/contacts and works well. As far as your vacuum leak thought, the bowl itself is not under a vacuum. It is vented through a hole, usually in the carb face {filter end}. Generac designed that regulator to fail. They could have mounted the board upside down to better protect it from water intrusion. Great job as usual!
This series of generac open frame alternator generators are some of the best ever made. Automotive style lubrication and filter means the engine is a 2000 hour unit, not 250 hours like the crap being pumped out today.
Now it looks like the Baldwin kleen power are the best as far as not distorting their output/ having clean output, but for 95 percent of open frame generator applications, this is my preferred unit.
I use a Westinghouse igen 4500 inverter, a couple of Firman wh02942 inverters, several different 2200kw class inverters, and even a little sportsman 1000 watt inverter. Oh, and an Onan Emerald 4kw (1800rpm twin) on my Winnebago.
That all being said, I use my generac whenever possible. I just like them, and I have never ever, not once run into a problem with electronics burning out because of the generator. I think that is only going to happen if you shut down your generator under load, and that's just a bad idea all around anyway.
Anyway, I just wanted to drop my .02 and let people know the truth about these. If you have the need for this style generator(construction, food truck, outdoor lights) grab one, they are getting hard to find in nice condition....
James I love your videos. I have learned a lot about the generation side of the generators. I do have one suggestion. Buy a decent multimeter like a fluke. After watching your videos, I believe some of your slightly off readings are due to that meter that you use. I am an electronics technician and it’s not uncommon to get spurious readings, sometimes even with a quality meter. Also, I see you have a soldering iron you should get into fixing your own boards. If a capacitor or diode looks bad, it usually is and cheap and easy to fix. Thanks for your videos.
118 minutes well spend, better than Netflix movie night 😂
Nice work again James .. ENJOYED !
Hi James, I'm in the process of rewiring a Blazer and had to make up a connector with the same terminals you were using. I also had the same issue swaging then until I figured out I had the terminal in upside down. Now they come out picture perfect almost every time. I put the terminal in the tool and clamp it down until it hold the terminal in place the insert the wire and crimp it. Hope this helps 😀
You get some real gems in there but a good number of them turn out really well it appears.
Again an outstanding video of bringing a pretty bad hopeless looking, running generator back to serve its purpose. Great trouble shooting Jim!! 😊
8. To adjust the idle control solenoid, proceed as follows:
a. Loosen the solenoid JAM NUT, then turn the solenoid
BOLT clockwise (faster) or counterclockwise (slower).
b. When engine speed is 1500- 2100 rpm (25-35 Hertz), hold
that setting and tighten the solenoid JAM NUT.
c. When JAM NUT is tight, check that engine speed is still
1,500- 2,100 rpm (25-35 Hertz)
FINAL ADJUSTMENT:
On the carburetor, turn the idle speed stop screw clockwise
(faster speed) until engine speed increases to 2,280-2,400 rpm
(38-40 Hertz) (see Figure 4.4).
NOTE: Idle speeds less than about 38 Hertz could cause
the engine to stall when loads are suddenly applied
Thanks. Could have used that a few days ago.
Made the adjustment tonight. Thanks again.
@@jcondon1 Glad to help.
@@jcondon1 Do you not have that manual?
Enjoyed the video and your work is great. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.
Love your videos and the way you go about troubleshooting. The terminal which didn't break has been exposed to the same conditions for the same amount of time as the other two so personally I would have replaced that too. The jaws of my crimping tool are wider and do both crimps at the same time but even then they sometimes need a little tweaking with a pair of needle nose pliers. Crimping those fiddly little buggers is one of my least favourite parts of hobby electronics!
I did all three of them, only showed two on video.
@@jcondon1 I should have more faith!😂
Trim pots wear out. And not necessarily from use. The element inside a trim pot is a carbon resistor spread out over a length and a contact that drags over it. A lot of use can over time scrape off the carbon.(A wah wah pedal murders the pot) But even without wear the carbon element can degrade from age so that the output of the voltage division is very erratic. Commonly on audio equipment the pot becomes scratchy because when you turn it you hear a scratchy noise. Turning the pot back and forth a bunch of times can polish up the metal contact and the carbon resistor and often fixes it. But some Deoxit can help to clean up the pot. In fact the same company makes a cleaner specifically for pots(Deoxit fader F5). But that trim pot you are adjusting is very sealed up. It can't be perfectly sealed because the screw has to go into it so maybe some deoxit F5 will help.
An excellent presentation as usual
Another great repair James. You showed that generator who the Generator Whisperer is. LOL Awesome video.👍👍
Now I know where to look
Having same problem
Thank You 🙏
as always, enjoying your videos. You have lots of patience. I ll complain again cause I see you working down on the ground, especially now that you have a lift table.
Very nice job having multiple issues. Thanks much, very imforative.
Nice going James
Love all these videos. I just wish I could keep up in regards to the electrical side.
Hey man, just a quick tip: To help find the leak at the fuel bowl, try using a blow gun. Sounds counter intuitive I know, but blowing air across a leak really accentuates it and makes it much easier to see the source. When you hit the leak, you'll know it! I really enjoy your videos and of coarse I subscribed. Cheers 🍻
I think it's a good idea to replace all 3 pins if 2 of them have failed.
Regarding THD - try heater with no fan, maybe some of all those harmonics come from the load, not from the generator.
HIJames - well done again. Making treasure from trash. Your also closing in on 100k subscribers - you'll be receiving your YT plaque soon I hope.
Amazing thanks James
Those clone carbs are a lifesaver. I have never had any issue with them. I was recently working on one of my riding mowers, and the carb was shot. It had a Nikki, and even the Walbro replacement was $140. I got a clone carb with air and fuel filters for $12, and they work perfectly. The prices for some of the OEM carbs are nonsensical, especially when there are much cheaper options available for a fraction of the price. I got one with a bad fuel shutoff solenoid once, but I delete those and install manual shutoffs on my machines anyway, but I have had great luck with them otherwise.
Cleaning up/smoothing the inside “arch” of the crimp pliers with a fine round file will help the metal pins skid around and crimp down
Those paper fuel filters are good on equipment with either a pulse pump or electric. I do like that the filter better because of more surface area, but that's one of the reasons they don't do well for gravity flow.
Awesome video this one went covered A to Z .
as an old generator man ,great job alot would just say "it,s running what do you want?'
A GM crimp tool works amazing for that type of connection. I believe called metri pac connectors
I saw the white powdery corrosion on the first pin of the molex connector, and knew right there the problem was corrosion.
Good assembly requires the molex type connectors to be fixed in place with clue, so they don't vibrate and destroy their anti-corrosion coating.
If you want the best, grease the molex contacts with white lithium grease applied with Q-tips, before making the connection, then seal the whole connector area with Silastic.
Impressive work James. What made you look at the molex crimp connecter? It would have done for me.
The issues with this machine are due solely to neglect. It has clearly been stored outdoors for most of it's life, and I don't understand why anyone would do that. I store some of my riding mowers outside since I have 6 of them, but I would never store a sensitive piece of equipment like a generator outdoors, simply due to the large number of sensitive electronic components that it has. I would not even feel comfortable using one that had been left outdoors.
You really need to get a trim pot driver to adjust those trim pots James.
On that broken off bolt in the end cap, I would use a very thin dremmel and cut a screwdriver slot in it then it wouldn't get filings in the stator windings. It is always better to have correct cap hold downs.
Jim, Dollar Tree now sells small cans of spray lube, and they're made in USA. If you have limited space going to a job, this might be an option. I will add that it seems to work well for me.
Those molex pins come in a couple of different sizes. I used to do those with just a pair of needle nose pliers. There are too darn many kinds of connectors out there and they all need a different crimping tool. One time a certain well-known manufacturer got in trouble by passing some high current through a connector like that, using round pins mounted to the circuit board, which of course caused the connection to overheat and get intermittent. Not a good thing for a microcomputer! Replacing the pins with square ones was a warranty repair, and usually fixed the problem...