Posted 2010-05-28 12:58 PM (#120693) Subject: generator problem
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Huntsville, TX
I have a Generac Quietpact 40G with 162 hours on it. Last Friday we changed the oil, oil filter and air filter. Ran it abour 6 hours the next day, no problem. Started it up 4 days later and it ran about 5 minutes and cut off. Will not start again. Will turn over, but not run. I am fixing to change the fuel filter. Any ideas? I have a guy coming tomorrow to check it out, just trying to rule out something simple I haven't thought of. Any ideas?
Posted 2010-05-28 4:13 PM (#120703 - in reply to #120693) Subject: RE: generator problem
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Do you have spark to the plug? Do you have fuel to the carb? Is the fuel supply new or old? Did you pull the air filter and notice the position of the choke? How long has the fuel filter been installed? When you refuel, do you use a funnel with an installed screen?
I would look at the simple things first. Fuel supply and spark
Posted 2010-05-28 9:09 PM (#120710 - in reply to #120693) Subject: RE: generator problem
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by blondiemable on 2010-05-28 12:58 PM
I have a Generac Quietpact 40G with 162 hours on it. Last Friday we changed the oil, oil filter and air filter. Ran it abour 6 hours the next day, no problem. Started it up 4 days later and it ran about 5 minutes and cut off. Will not start again. Will turn over, but not run. I am fixing to change the fuel filter. Any ideas? I have a guy coming tomorrow to check it out, just trying to rule out something simple I haven't thought of. Any ideas?
Check your fuel, I just spent around a 100 bucks on mine, because 2 weeks ago I filled my gen up with what I thought was 3.6 gallons of gas and ended up being right at 3 gallons of gas and over a 1/2 gallon or water. These things just will not fire with water in the gas.
Drain the tank, replace the filter and fill up with fresh gas.
Posted 2010-05-28 10:09 PM (#120711 - in reply to #120693) Subject: RE: generator problem
Veteran
Posts: 116 Location: desert hills, az
I had the same situation as HTB. Drained the tank and started over with new filters (FYI there on mine there was 2 filters, 1 inline near the tank and the other at the generator). I also now add Stabil to the fuel.
Posted 2010-05-28 10:33 PM (#120712 - in reply to #120693) Subject: RE: generator problem
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Ditto on the stabil for the fuel. I not only had to do the generator, I had to do the 4 wheeler and lawn tractor too.
I took the bill for the repairs and the cash ticket that I got when I bought the gas back to the station and the man we know said he knew there was a problem but the sorry *** owner would not do anything about it. Next step is to give him some free advertizement in the local paper as well as telling people everytime I drive by his store that he has water in lue of gas for the same price.
Posted 2010-06-01 8:03 PM (#120818 - in reply to #120693) Subject: RE: generator problem
Veteran
Posts: 199 Location: White Pine, TN
We've seen a few problems with carburetors caused by the ethanol in the gas. It's difficult to find gas without ethanol but if you can I'd sure use it in the generator, and all your other small engines too for that matter.
Posted 2010-06-01 8:44 PM (#120821 - in reply to #120693) Subject: RE: generator problem
New User
Posts: 3
Location: Huntsville, TX
Thanks for all the ideas. Generator guy won't be able to look at it till later in the week. Drained the tank and put in new gas. Same thing. Might run about 5 seconds, then shuts off. I did have Stabil in the gas, also changed the fuel filter. Can't figure out why the stupid thing ran for 5 or 6 hrs the day after we changed the oil and filters and a few days later doesn't want to run. Didn't notice the position of the choke when we changed the air filter, but didn't change anything. Not sure about the ethanol in the gas, same station we always get gas at. Hope we get it figured out, thanks for all the help.
Posted 2010-06-02 1:40 PM (#120842 - in reply to #120693) Subject: RE: generator problem
Member
Posts: 9
Location: Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Sounds like your generator has a problem with its safety shutdown circuits. Your generator has three shutdown circuits - low oil pressure, high oil temperature, and the manual stop switch. A failure of any of these components or related circuitry could cause your generator's symptoms. It could also simply be low oil pressure (have you checked the oil level?)
If you go to: http://www.gen-parts.com/manuals/RV/
you can find your generator listed about 2/3's of the way down the page. Click on the link for Quietpact 40G to download the diagnostic repair manual. It is listed as part number OE 1881. Problem 9 in the section 6 (about page 34) Troubleshooting lists your symptom as "engine starts then shuts down". Follow the troubleshooting instructions and you should be able to determine the exact cause. Good luck.
generator problem
