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mojo43
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 07:51am
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I had posted in a previous thread about purchasing a Hyundai portable generator. I bought it against everyone telling me to get the Honda. I brought it home and put some gas in it and started it up. Everything ran well and I turned it off.
This weekend at the cottage I started it up again and the idle seemed to be dropping every 10 seconds or so. I took a video of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePCv8OKKPlo
I then realized that I may have filled the gennie with old gas that had been sitting around for 6 months. I think I might have gotten the tanks mixed up. I put some sea foam in the tank and cleaned the jet. It may have gotten a bit better, but it is still running similar to the video.
Should I just return it? My problem is that if it's just bad gas then I shouldn't return it, I should just clean the carb (I think?). If it's a problem with the generator then I will definitely send it back if I can.
What do you guys think?
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TheCabinCalls
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:03am
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Bad gas was my first thought. The corn they use in gas turns to water over time so there are now two types of Stabilizer...one is for the ethanol product.
- how old is the gas?
- what were you using on the other end of that extension cord. All generators work harder if there is a big draw of power?
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mojo43
Member
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:05am
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The gas is 6 months old. I was using a circular saw. When the saw is on and when the econo mode is shut off, there is no drop in the idle. It is only when it is in econo mode and no power is being drawn.
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GomerPile
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:05am - Edited by: GomerPile
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Did you try filling it with good gas? "Bad gas" has simply lost some of the volatile chemicals in it....it does not gum up anything just won't run well.
I would try the following:
+ Empty old gas...Add fresh gas
+ Inspect the fuel lines to make sure there is not a kink someplace
+ loosen the cap to make sure the tank is venting properly
+ When it coughs hit the primer bulb and see if that corrects it...this will verify a fuel feeding problem
Not sure how much this matters....the manual says no fuels containing alcohol can be used? Many places sell 10% these days.
EDIT: Their web site says up to 10% ethanol is ok....probably not the issue.
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TheCabinCalls
Member
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:10am
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Without stabilizer I have heard gas will go bad in as quick as a month.
Try running through Gomer's suggestions.
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mojo43
Member
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:12am
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Thanks for the suggestions, I will try that tonight.
I just don't want to find out later that this is happening because of a defective expensive part that needs to be replaced. Hopefully it's just the gas.
I'll report back soon!
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GomerPile
Member
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 10:15am
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A tip for fuel storage: Use 15 gallon HDPE drums that can be sealed airtight. You need a special wrench to remove the caps and a siphon to get the fuel out. When treated with PRI-G and stored in a cool dark place, you can get 2+ years of storage.
The 15 gallon drums are super durable and only about 40 bucks. They are tons better than any gas can you can buy these days.
Quoting: TheCabinCalls Without stabilizer I have heard gas will go bad in as quick as a month. Try running through Gomer's suggestions.
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mojo43
Member
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 04:26pm
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Hmmm, i am not really sure how to drain the fuel so I am running it through. Probably not a great idea? How would I be able to drain it out?
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Carla_M
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# Posted: 23 Apr 2013 04:54pm
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siphon, tilt and siphon from a corner. That will get most of the old fuel out. Then refill and run a minute or two and it'll be running on the new fuel.
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groingo
Member
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# Posted: 24 Apr 2013 11:55am - Edited by: groingo
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After listening to your video, it sounds like water in the gas.
Siphon the fuel out, let the tank air for a day, check that it is dry and clean fill with fresh fuel, either that or drop the fuel bowl and let the fuel drain that way, again dry bowl and fill with fresh gas.
If no good take back and get the Honda or Yamaha.
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mojo43
Member
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# Posted: 24 Apr 2013 12:08pm - Edited by: mojo43
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Thanks, I have drained all the gas. I will drain the float bowl tonight and let it dry out. I'll start it up tomorrow and hopefully it will be ok.
Just as a reference for anyone needing to know how to drain the float bowl on the Hyundai generator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woGJemD4vKk
And
http://www.genpoweruk.co.uk/blog/top-tips-how-to-clean-carburettor-jets-on-your-hyund ai-inverter-generator-2158/
Thanks for all of the help!
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 26 Apr 2013 02:15pm
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Quoting: mojo43 Hmmm, i am not really sure how to drain the fuel so I am running it through. Probably not a great idea? How would I be able to drain it out?
Remove cap, tip gennie upside down.
Now to remove fuel from carb, remove service cover, small screw in bottom of carb, turn CCW, this is a carb drain for long term storage. This will drain the carb bowl completely. Refill with fresh gas. After listening to it, I'd say it may be just a smidge on the lean side is all. I suspect its not the fuel itself.
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mojo43
Member
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2013 07:04pm
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I just ended up returning the generator and getting a new one. Thanks to walmart's return policy. Too bad I wasn't sure if it was my fault or theirs... Oh well. All is good now. Thanks for all of the help!
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skootamattaschmidty
Member
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2013 08:00pm
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Let us know how this one works for you
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mojo43
Member
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# Posted: 27 Apr 2013 08:17pm
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Will do!
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gunslinger22
Member
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# Posted: 28 Apr 2013 12:24pm
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ethanol blends are not very good for generators, there's actually some tricks to getting all the ethanol out of gas, can't remember how but google is you friend. Problem with the ethanol is that it basically absorbs any water that condenses inside your fuel tank. then since the water is dissolved all through the gas it makes all of your gas corrosive to engine parts. One way to get fuel to store better is to buy premium, most premium doesn't have ethanol. This doesn't work if you are using lots of fuel though. But for an emergency tank add stabilizer to premium and it should be good for a long time. Small engines don't have the required compression to really get any other benefits from premium though. On a slightly unrelated note, I had an old honda genny that was clanky and not running great. It is an OHV engine so the valves are easily accessible. I set the valve clearances and now it runs like new. Then I looked at my new genny and thought, hey i wonder if this thing was shipped with properly set valves, and after checking it, it wasn't set right. Now it's a bit quieter and should run longer.
Cheers!
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