7 Tips to Help Avoid Killing Your Generator.

[@BackyardMaine]

Sign up today at hometitlelock.com/backyardmaine and use code backyardmaine for 30 days of protection for FREE and a comprehensive title history report! #hometitlelock #triplelockprotection #titletheft #titlefraud #deedfraud #mortgagefraud #housestealing #preventhousestealing

[@clayreynolds5502]

I use avgas in all my small motors and chain saw seafome for gasoline additives

[@scottmiller5337]

Not sure if you would be knowledgeable in this topic bu... I live in southern Arizona where temps have been over 110 for months at a time. Just got a generator and want to know, do you feel it's safe to store it fueled and ready to go in the garage. My concern is the high heat and a fuel filled generator in the garage. Thanks for your time.

[@clayreynolds5502]

@scottmiller5337 hay Scott if you use avgas you can but regular has ethanol and its no good for carbs or lines

[@misterhat5823]

Thumbs down for the crappy salespitch in the middle.

[@BackyardMaine]

@@misterhat5823 The sales pitch supports the channel so I can keep making great content for my audience. If it's to painful for you to watch find another channel. lol

[@jerrydemas2020]

John, Here is a very important tip. Remove the load before shutting down the generator. Otherwise the current might stress the electronics of the regulator.

[@Robnord1]

AGREED. Loaded shutdowns = risking damage to electronics. The one missing element in this otherwise excellent video.

[@BackyardMaine]

The video I link at the end of this one goes into that and six other important tips.

[@ironmartysharpe8293]

You are absolutely correct on that Never start up or shut down a generator under load because of the high risk of damaging the electronic voltage regulator , Electronic governor and other components Also can damage the equipment plugged into the generator What I do is after taking the load off the generator , I let it run at no load for 5 minutes to properly cool the electric end of the generator

[@elviraraff6809]

@Robnord1 Unplug everything to allow a cool down of the gen set. Then, a few minutes later, turn off the fuel to allow it to run dry. Lastly, I remove the bowl and wipe it dry. After Milton, I have now replaced the carb on my Predator 9000 to a tri-fuel carb, so I won't need gasoline, but it remains an option. I have been picking up used propane tanks when I find them for 5 or 10 bucks each.

[@BackyardMaine]

@@ironmartysharpe8293 Of course. Check out the video in the end screen where I go into this in detail.

[@robertcheslock9636]

Very thorough video. Following through this, here is my comments: 1. I use only ethanol free fuel. 2. I built a shed over my generator that is kept outside. 3. Run it for ten to fifteen minutes every month with a load. 4. I quit using a stabilizer 4 years ago and keep the tank full. 5. I change the oil every fall. 6. Clean air filter when changing the oil, replace it when needed. 7. I brush the spark arrestor screen and check the spark plug when changing the oil. I have two generators, both 10 plus years old, one given to me because it failed to start (Generac). After checking the only thing it needed was a new spark plug. Both now start and run on the first pull. Maintain these machines and you will get many years of service in return.

[@MrPLC999]

I love my little Honda EU2200i. It's quite rare that an outage is long enough that I have to power up the refrigerators, so no need for an expensive 2-phase machine. Plus the Honda is very quiet. When the power comes back on, I turn the gen upside down to drain as much fuel out of the tank as possible. Then I run it at low speed until it quits which can take 10 minutes. I store it with a cover as the garage can get quite dusty.

[@brandondrew739]

What do you mean by run with a load?

[@anakalamaui4673]

I have had my Honda 2500 generator since two days after Hurricane Iniki 1992, still runs when required. Your tips are priceless and true

[@amcoffee4me]

@@brandondrew739 Run the generator and have it power an electrical load. A hair dryer works well for this. Start your generator, plug in the hair dryer and run it for 15-30 minutes. An electric space heater would work well too. The idea is to make the generator engine run above the idle speed.

[@johnsellers9623]

And I don’t understand why you quit using stabilizer, but you keep it full. Your gas won’t last long like that.

[@oneeyedjack4727]

In my area ethanol free fuels became available in all three grades about 15 years ago. Since then, I've always used the middle grade non ethanol fuel with stabilizer in my small engines. I've had no fuel related issues since, even though I once accidentally forgot and let one sit for a year. Good tips that you gave.

[@ebinmaine]

Excellent idea using NON Ethanol. We do the same. We don't even use any stabilizer of any brand. We've had engines set for well over a year and start right up.

[@bigredc222]

That's great, I wish there was a place around me where I could get it. I can't count the number of times I've had to rebuild the carb on my snow blower. I run it dry, but one time it was a couple years between uses and parts inside the carb. rusted. I ended up buying a second carb so I always have a spare. And that's not even counting the weed wackers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws I've spent hours working on because of crappy gas.

[@ebinmaine]

@bigredc222 there's a website YT won't let me list here but its words are "pure gas" with a " - " between them.

[@bigredc222]

@@ebinmaine Thanks

[@javabeanz8549]

I wish we had all three grades here, I can only get non-eth premium. It can be $2 per gallon or so more than just premium.

[@RayOwens-m2k]

A few years ago we had a very bad freeze (Oklahoma). I had to run my generator for approx 16 hrs a day for 10 days. I changed oil every two days. I keep six 6 gallon gas cans at all times. They are stabilized and sitting in the garage. I'm glad I saw this video because I've never heard of the exhaust spark arrestor so now I gotta go check it out. Great video and really great comments.

[@BackyardMaine]

Thank you.. Those long outages are no fun.

[@robertheinkel6225]

My 5,000 watt generator is going on 20 years old. I only use ethanol free fuel, with Sta-bil. After each power outage, I shut off the fuel, then run it until it quits. I change oil while it is warm. I am still on my original spark plug. When needed, just add gas and it starts on the first or second pull. I keep three five gallon cans of fuel, with a purchase date on each can. I use the same fuel for my mowers, so at most it may be six months old.

[@richardpalleschi4807]

Same here I use stuff called MO gas. That I get at the local small airport 92 octane ethanol free gas & I Put Stabil in it. I also date the gas cans. It is easy to forget when you bought it.

[@stephenhair5501]

One other Tip that I do pertains to when you shut your fuel valve to the Off position and let the carburetor run dry. The engine will begin starving for fuel and surging. Just before the engine dies, throw the Choke Lever on and the engine will begin normal running for a minute or so. The engine will then run that remaining gas in the carburetor completely out and then die. This will help make sure that all of the gas is out of your carburetor. I've done this with my equipment for many years and never had any problems when the next time came to fire up the generator. Thanks for sharing these valuable tips. I never thought about my spark arrestor but will be checking and cleaning mine out. I also use Non Ethanol Gas and I treat it with Ethanol Shield which will take care of any condensation that might occur in the tank.

[@BackyardMaine]

Great tip. Thanks

[@scottwhitcher265]

@stephenhair5501 I very much agree with pulling the choke on for the last bit to get more ( you still don't get all) of the gas out of the float bowl. All of these are good practices.

[@stephenhair5501]

@ This is true. 😎👍👍

[@reinerressel975]

Pump gas is good for 3-6 weeks , I use Akylat or AVGAS unleaded , this is good for 12-24 months . No gum same octane level . For a few bugs more !!!

[@stephenhair5501]

I’ve noticed recently that some gas stations have posted a sign that says their Hugh Test Gas does not contain Ethanol. I haven’t verified that yet but just wanted to point that out.

[@workbenchz]

Well done. I do it a bit differently. There's a drain plug on the carb bowl that's more effective than running till it stalls, which leaves a teaspoon or two of gas behind. If you aren't absolutely sure it will be used again within a month, drain the tank as well. Even treated gas, though evaporative cooling, will accumulate condensation that eventually can overwhelm the stabilizer and rust the tank.

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

run till it stalls, flip to choke and run it again until it stalls a 2nd time. Then crank for 5 seconds choke ON and 5 sec with choke OFF ... Now its DRY

[@johnclyne6350]

Great tips from everyone! I'm no guru but I follow a lot of people on YT. I might be considered a prepper? I'm not. I'm a power lineman for a living & my wife has a physical disability. My wife doesn't drive. She is dependent on me. I need lots of gas on standby. When there is a storm that affects our service area. My employer has me working 17 hour days with less than 8 hours off. I barely have enough time to sleep let alone look for a gas station open? I pretreat my ethanol fuel with Star Tron engine enzyme & Marine grade fuel stabilizer. I keep my fuel for a year & I buy fresh fuel every 3 months & rotate my stock. I keep my fuel tank on my genny always full to the top. I have only had to change my oil every year. I use Mobil 1. It runs like a Swiss watch. I periodically start it to run without load & sometimes with connected load for about a half hour. I have only about 75 hours on it in 7 years. Thanks for posting.

[@BackyardMaine]

Great plan.. My father and my brother-in-law were both lineman. I have a few friends that were lineman as well. I have a lot of respect for what you do. I became an electrician and eventually moved into electrical engineering. I'm retired now but I worked for TI and we brought four 35KV feeds into the main building. They fed switch banks that supplied 22 duel fed substations. 12470v to feed the subs in an older building, 4160v for the chiller plant and the rest were 277/480v or 120/208v. Cool stuff.

[@ragtowne]

I live in North Western Montana it was -46F last year I always use full synthetic Mobil-1 and the generator starts right up even when frozen solid - I run it on a 1000 gallon propane tank (which also powers the heat in the house) so do not have to worry about stabilizing gasoline. The generator is a "tri-fuel" model and I do keep 20 gallons of 91 octane ethanol-free fuel in 5-gallon containers "just in case" which I do rotate and use Sta-bil in. Great tips.

[@dhansel4835]

This is why I love my 20kw Generac natural gas whole house generator. It comes on every Saturday morning and runs for 8 minutes to do a test and then shuts down and goes into standby. This month we have had the generator for 11 years.

[@jakesully5402]

Yeah, that’s a great system. Definitely a worthy investment in comfort and reliability…

[@BackyardMaine]

They are awesome.

[@janicemiller6518]

This is all very confusing so do I need a gas fitter or do I need an electrician

[@ACommenterOnYouTube]

i run my 2 generators every month for 20 min under 50% load ...

[@paltro3268]

If you have a Generac generator i nstalled, make sure it is installed by an authorized Generac installer or Generac will not warrenty it.​@BackyardMaine

[@Gruntled2001]

Ha, that’s what I use for the test load - either a space heater or a heat gun 💪🏼👍🏼

[@BackyardMaine]

Great minds think alike.. 🧐

[@JeffC-dj3gd]

Yes, even large generator load banks are mostly resistive element devices. Load banking a large 30K and over generator sets makes a LOT of heat! 🥵🤠

[@westtechguy]

A few things if I may add to your list - Be sure not to turn off the generator under load, dont think most people mention that or know about it? I use an oz or two of seafoam with 5 gallons of ethanol free gas instead of sta-bil. Then put it in the car/truck every 3-4 months to use and refill the can with fresh gas. Running propane/NG in a dual fuel model is cleaner on your oil and exhaust than gas which might extend your oil change and spark arrester maintenance intervals or incase of power outage you arent forced to turn everything off and do an emergency oil change. Keep spare parts - spark plug, air filter, etc as the stores might be closed or out of parts. In a power outage cover the freezer/fridge in blankets while not running off backup power to hold their temps longer. Put boiling water in a 2 liter bottle in the covers or sleeping bag to warm it up before bed. A tent inside full of people is easier to warm than a whole house, use heat tape on pipes to keep from freezing and you dont have to heat the whole room if no one is staying in that part. Also suggest a backup plan to your backup, two generators is better than one so you can combine the power with a parallel kit or if one stops working suddenly, electrician installed input plug and breaker lockout on the house keeps the extension cords down to a minimum and the wife much happier (on my to-do list), solar generators are wonderful backups to run the gas furnace fan, charge devices for communications, run electronics to entertain the whole family - after the teens have contributed or learned a skill to be helpful when you're not there, then recharge on the inverter generator or solar. Show your spouse how to connect and run everything, then show them again every fews months when you pull out the generator to warm up and test.

[@martinfurlong1071]

Nice BOOK! Thanks for the bathroom reading! 🤣

[@rstephe]

Excellent Video. I live in FL and have not needed to use mine for the past few years, but run mine at least twice a year and use every single one of these tips. One tip I would like to add, when possible, use and store ethanol free gas when possible. I buy 20 gallons every spring before hurricane season and put it in my vehicles in November if not used. This will lessen the possibility of gas going bad or adding too much stabilizer, which can gum up your fuel.

[@thomasmoran168]

Great video. To avoid several of the issues you mention, I purchased a dual-fuel generator, and run it ONLY on propane. Sometimes our power is off for a day or more, and I keep several cylinders of propane, which does not go bad. Much easier than trying to keep a supply of 20 gallons of fresh (even with Stabil) gasoline. Also, it's MUCH easier (and probably safer) to swap propane tanks than pour gasoline into a hot generator when it's time to refuel.

[@tomschmidt381]

Great list of tips. I realize it is controversial but I run the gas tank dry during my quarterly test runs. Ethanol gas is hydroscopic so it absorbs moisture from the air. That is much less of a problem with gas stored in sealed gas cans. Our generator has a drain plug on the carburetor bowl so every once an a while I drain any remaining gas out of the bowl, this gets rid of any trapped water. To better empty the gas tank I stick one end of the genie on a 2x4 to help slope it toward to shutoff valve. I use a 1500 watt space heater as a load during test runs and try to remember to alternate which receptacle I use each time. Our generator has electric start so I use a battery maintainer to keep it fully charged without the risk of overcharging. Perhaps it is the engineer in me but I keep a log book of testing and maintenance. I have an old school battery load tester so every once an a while test the battery. SLA batteries slowly degrade over time but I have gotten years out of the ones I use. Our generator did not come with an hour meter so I bought a cheap stick on meter that wrap the sense lead around the spark plug wire. That lets me record run time hours. Our generator runs on gas. Getting gas right before an outage can be problematic. I keep five 5-gallon gas cans in our shed and use stabilizer. Using the genie a few hours a day that should last us a week. We have occasional week long power outages here in NH due to massive winter ice storms. The cans are numbered so I rotate them and when it gets old dump it in one of our cars. I also log when each can is refilled as a reminder to not let the gas get too old. Have not had a problem storing gas for a year (the cans are sealed) but I try not to go longer then that. Bottom line as you posted you want to do everything you can to insure the generator will actually work when needed.

[@rgray3173]

My Champion generator is 9 years old and still runs flawlessly. I never run gas with Ethanol and I pull it out every month and run it for about 20 minutes. I also use a fuel stabilizer. It stays in my shop under cover. I run it dry. I bought this generator at lowe's on sale and it got me through hurricane Michael. Our power was out for 4 days and ran 24 hours a day.

[@akbychoice]

Big plus in Alaska, no ethanol fuels.

[@jonkilowatt4442]

I know fuel stations that have non ethanol fuel in Ohio.

[@kdodson3585]

As an Alaskan myself I store my stabilized ethanol free fuel outside and my generator tank empty and in a heated storage area. Makes it easier to start at 10 below.

[@PFunk-kt9gc]

You guys are fortunate.

[@JeffC-dj3gd]

@@PFunk-kt9gc Gas Buddy & Pure Gas are apps that map stations that sell Ethanol-free Gasoline, most likely even in your state. Good luck & God bless.

[@oceandmike]

Wow! What a great video for all of us first time generator owners. Thank you very much from Central Florida!

[@BackyardMaine]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much for watching.

[@JT-lq4yd]

Excellent tips! One more item I would also add to this list to have spare spark plugs, they are generally cheap and they don't go bad.

[@jamescdean9010]

If spark plugs do not go bad, then why would you need extras?

[@JT-lq4yd]

@jamescdean9010 The spare sparkplugs, when kept in a dry place will not go bad. The one in the genset eventually will be.

[@thefretfiend]

Tip #8: Consider a multi-fuel generator. Even with Stabil or an equivalent, gasoline in storage or in a tank will begin to deteriorate, in as little as five or six months. LP gas has an almost infinite shelf life. You can run a generator off of grill tanks, or if you have a large home LP gas tank or a natural gas connection, you can have your gas company install a quick-disconnect gas line where you run the generator.

[@Robnord1]

Another benefit I am seeing running LP gas, is that the oil is staying cleaner for longer. Probably fewer depo0sits on the piston and valves too. Now I just keep gasoline as a reserve, or plan B if propane runs low.

[@Robnord1]

Before you tell your gas company to install a Quick Disconnect fitting, be sure the QD fitting they have is rated for 1.25-1.5 times the BTU rating of your generator, otherwise you may starve the generator for fuel, and cause a harmful lean burn. A standard flare connection is often the better option . (LP gas pro tip)

[@1wheeldrive751]

I had a vacation home in Vermont a few years ago. The home was heated with propane (no natural gas in the area), so there was a 500 Gallon above ground propane tank in the back yard. The propane delivery guys will only fill to 80%, so it would hold 400 gallons. The price of propane is about $3.50 per gallon, so to fill that tank it would cost about $1400. When I looked for an auto start, whole house generator, there are two kinds: Natural gas and propane. I calculated the fuel consumption rate of a 10-15KW auto start generator and determined that, in the event of a serious power outage (like we get fairly frequently) I would burn through the full 400 gallons in just over a week. Nevermind the cost of the fuel, if I emptied the tank in the middle of a power outage catastrophe, usually in the middle of winter, the chances of getting the propane company to fill the tank on short notice is pretty slim. Plus, when I ran out of propane I would have no more heat. Instead, I installed a panel interlock, and breaker to feed my panel from a temporary emergency gas fueled generator. Gasoline is readily available, even during widespread power outages, because all of the gas stations have backup generators. It’s a 6KW, manual start. I also installed a remote, internet based temperature monitoring system that alarmed if the furnace wasn’t keeping temps up, and also alarmed if it didn’t check-in every hour (power outage). In the event of an alarm I had to jump in the car and drive the 2 hours to the vacation home. We sold the vacation home, but I still have and use that generator (a Generac), for the rural Vermont home we live in full-time now. I keep four, 5 gallon cans with E0 fuel in them. 10 gallons will last about 24 hours, so I only need to fetch gas every other day during extended power outage. The E0 fuel won’t go bad for more than a year. After a year I burn it in our vehicles and refill the cans with fresh E0. We have lost power for a week twice here in the past 4 years, and my wife’s 97 y/o mother lives with us. Having emergency power is literally a life saver.

[@daleharvey3278]

In cold weather propane isn't as efficient,and you can have moisture,it will turn oil milky,,is it quality of propane?? I prefer non ethanol gas....and I now use ethanol shield in my gas when I hav'nt made the 60 mile trip ....try adding colored water to gas and MEASURE it....before and after. It will remove the ethanol.

[@Robnord1]

@@daleharvey3278 Propane isn't causing milky oil Dale. Research time young man, unless you're okay with hearsay and myth as fact. Generac, Onan, Honda, and the rest all have the real answers to milky oil causes.

[@LesterFougere]

I use sta-bil because it's good for two years,unlike most others that only protect for one year. Thanks for the great tips,Lester

[@4sl648]

UGreat tips. I have a plain jane 5000w generator that is 22 years old and runs well. The only thing that has caused any problems has been ethanol fuel which at one point required a new carb. During an emergency, running 10% ethanol is fine. However when i put it away I drain the tank fully and run the engine dry. Then I put just enough non ethanol in and then run it dry on the non ethanol. I check and clean the spark plug. My area of Vermont had significant flooding this and last year. My unit was out on loan multiple times with no issues.

[@TexasElectrician77]

I agree 100% on running all fuel out of the carburetor before storing the generator. I do this on all equipment that has a petcock. Even with Stabil, modern gasoline will gum up the carb.

[@rarelampcollector]

Great tips. Many of these generator maintenance tips can also be applied to automobiles in a way. For example, if you own a convertible sports car in a northern state, and it's only driven a few thousand miles per year or less in the summer months and/or for special occasions, it's a good idea to at a minimum take the vehicle for a short drive and allow the engine & transmission to fully warm up at least once per month.

[@62Cristoforo]

And run the car’s AC on full for a few minutes, just to keep the seals supple and the bearings lubed.

[@patrickstevens3482]

I appreciate your video, receiving my first generator next week. Been watching videos for proper care and feeding of it, and you covered more things than any other.

[@BackyardMaine]

Awesome.. I have four or five videos covering generators and I have a couple more in the works. Good luck!

[@jimeckenrode1271]

I do everything you recommend except I have never checked my flame arrestor, never even thought of it. I will do it soon. Thanks for the tip.

[@DonziGT230]

When running it dry, as it starts to surge, use the choke to keep it running, that will get more gas out of the carb. As for storage, most of mine are outdoors and only get used when they're needed, and they always work.

[@billfleming8281]

Part of my Maint is to run my unit 10 minutes every month and running some older power tools with a cord thru it as well as my pancake compressor and cycle it thru to add some load to it ) . Unit runs great for the past 10 years . Annual oil changes are a must regardless of use . Gotta add the spark arrestor cleaning to it ! Thanks

[@electraglide67]

All good tips! It may not be easy to find in some areas but if you can locate ethanol free gasoline in your area, it's best to use this for any gasoline engine that sits for long periods. Still a good idea to run it out of gas with fuel shut off and add sta bil or similar product.

[@Garth_Bowen]

Well done John! An !!!EXCELLENT!!! video. I'm an old 'Genny' hand and you nailed it my friend. I can attest that the points you covered here are key and vital for any owner. Thanks again, Garth. 👍👍👍

[@BackyardMaine]

Thanks so much Garth.

[@waltonwarrior7428]

I just ran my generator today which I do approximately every 60 days. Some of your points I already do but others were new to me. I’ve been shutting off the generator with the power switch but now I’ll start letting it run dry. I use a fuel stabilizer so I have not had an issue with the carburetor. Also I was totally oblivious to the spark arrestor. I’ll take a look and see if I can find it and what’s involved in getting to it and cleaning it. Thanks for posting.

[@paulinedavis8734]

PRICELESS information, and you made simple & clear, so that almost anyone can do this. You also took the fear & mystery out of generator maintenance. THANK YOU also much ❤👍

[@BackyardMaine]

Glad it was helpful! That’s the whole point of the channel.

[@larryrenaud6076]

Thanks for video Good to know some basic maintenance tips you shared here Take care and be safe

[@BackyardMaine]

You bet

[@winfordnettles3292]

Thanks for posting. I live in Florida, the hurricane center of the world, and, always keep my generator in top running condition. The tips that you shared in the video are the exact same ones that I recommend. Thanks again for the informative video.

[@BackyardMaine]

Thank you.

[@BurnardMorey]

I liked the tip about running a generator until it stops. I'll do this in future. My main generator is a 13.5 kVa electric start with no manual option, so it's important to run it regularly to keep the battery topped up. The instructions recommend running under light load for 10-15 minutes every 4 weeks. Earlier this year the generator wouldn't start for a test run. The battery was dead. I'm glad I didn't discover this on a dark, rainy winter evening when a tree has brought down power lines (a regular occurrence in this semi-rural area).

[@1976ondy]

I live in PuertoRico, this info should be accessible everywhere here, each hurricane season the mechanics get packed with generators , definitely run them dry, and each time you run them ,plug something to it like you did for a few minutes

[@troy9616]

Good information. I usually perform all these, but did not think about the spark arrester screen..

[@Jim-bx7vs]

I do that same method when shutting down my generator only mine runs on propane ,I just close the valve to the propane tank and let it stall ,thanks for sharing👍

[@andya1787]

Run E- Free fuel and no problems with Ethanol...storing, add some stabilizer if fuel is remaining in tank. Better yet, dual fuel genset running on propane~! Thanks, John, for your always astute and well presented tips.

[@BackyardMaine]

Thank you Andy.

[@GNX157]

A more advanced advice. For longer storage periods, drain carb bowl completely, remove fuel inlet hose, and fill bowl with Echo Red Armor 2-stroke oil. It will keep carb clean and rubber pliable and in good shape. Drain bowl before next start.

[@shaunmcdonald147]

Thank you so much for that much needed information, I will be taking better care of my generator from now on.

[@BackyardMaine]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@saginaw60]

Don't know if i am stupid, but for a test run use a 240v. stove element, to exercise all the generator windings. Engineer told me that work under load dries things out.

[@Comm0ut]

Welder repair techs use a load bank to test welding power sources. The high resistive load generates heat.

[@vincentrobinette1507]

When you shut off the fuel to drain the carburetor, you should then apply full choke, then, attempt to start the engine again. you'll be surprised, that the generator will most likely actually start! The extra vacuum of having the choke closed while running, will clear the emulsion tube, as well as clearing the idle circut. That way, there is no residual liquid fuel to evaporate, and leave varnish/gum behind.

[@BackyardMaine]

Thanks for the info..

[@Xanthopteryx]

When i turn the knob to choke, it will start flowing petrol again so...

[@nchambers007]

@@Xanthopteryx His tip was for generators that have a choke and a fuel shutoff.

[@Xanthopteryx]

​@@nchambers007My generator have that. A turn knob. Ignition off and fuel off, Ignition on and fuel off, Ignition on and fuel on, Ignition on and fuel on and choke on.

[@SolarHarvestSolutions]

Then after that open the bowl drain screw valve

[@jllaine]

Nice tip about the spark arrestor.

[@Noah-qt3rq]

If you live in a city and have natural gas piped to your house it makes sense to have a generator that can use that. If the grid is out, natural gas will still be available and there’s no need to store regular gas. The Honda eu2200i with the tri fuel adapter kit is a good option

[@creamshop]

Thank you so much for all this FREE precious information !

[@BackyardMaine]

My pleasure..

[@kazparzyxzpenualt8111]

This was a helpful video. Thanks! I would respectfully add three important tips for your viewers to consider as well. I believe most of the generator sets people use eventually have brush issues if they last long enough. I had a bad experience once because obtaining the correct replacement took an inconvenient amount of time. I recommend having a few replacements ready to slip in if the day comes when the motor still runs but for some reason no electric power is being produced. This can often be the reason. Some generators wear out one first for some reason. A worn out brush can overheat the housing for this little easily changed out item. Most of the ones I have seen do this have deformed because they are plastic. While this may also indicate damage to the commutator surfaces which is a little more of a deep dive requiring further inspection just being able to make power again right away is a big relief if you have the right part handy. The next tip I involves non ethanol fuel. I saw a video explaining how much previously pumped fuel remains in the hose when you think you are selecting non ethanol if there is only one hose dispensing fuels. Apparently the hose always has about 1 and a half gallons of what ever was last pumped. I now follow the advice suggested and put about that much into my vehicle first before trying to put any of the the non ethanol into a gas container for my generator or other small engine needs. Lastly. I really think more people could keep generator going longer if oil changes were much more frequent. Oil is cheap compared to all the hassles of worn out engines over time. With no oil filters generators are at the mercy of all the oil breakdown and contamination. The recommended oil change intervals seem self destructive and designed to just sell more generators.

[@rockd8946]

Excellent advice I’m a new generator owner was very helpful. Thx

[@BackyardMaine]

Great to hear and thanks for watching.

[@DaveB4529]

Trip into the Way-Back-Machine...I was USAF A.G.E. mechanic from '85 - '99 (retrained as a Comm Tech till '05 retirement), and recall having to 'Flash the Field' on NF-2 Floodlight Unit generators during my time. BTW, I use my Champion Inverter genny on propane only. Thanks for the vid!

[@BackyardMaine]

Thanks for your service. 🇺🇸 I was in from 1984 -1988. Civil Engineering Group McClellan AFB Sacramento CA.

[@americantaxpayer4551]

I buy Sunoco non ethanol for my power equipment. I run my generator spring and fall. Pull it out and drain the gas. Refill it and run it for 10-15 minutes while I'm doing something else. It doesn't take long. That way I know, (or am fairly confident), that it will start when I need it. Too many people buy a generator when they lose power. Then let it sit for 2 years until the power goes out again. Then find it won't start. Spend a little time on a Saturday twice a year. I won't encounter that during a blizzard in February....at night...with no lights.

[@snakeinthegrass7443]

Great vid, John. Thanks!!

[@BackyardMaine]

You bet! Thanks for watching..

[@snakeinthegrass7443]

@@BackyardMaine The only non-ethanol gas around here is premium, which is all I use in my small engines. Idk if that's good or bad bc I don't know what effect the higher octane has on the engines, if any. I put stablizer and a little Lucas right in every gas can when I fill it. That way I don't have to worry when I forget to start something for a while. Cheers from upstate NY.

[@thomasschwarting5108]

Shutting off the gas and letting it run out is the BEST way to make sure it'll work EVERY TIME!

[@BackyardMaine]

@@thomasschwarting5108 Yes just remember to turn it back on when you try to start it. lol Mine usually starts on the first pull.

[@amcoffee4me]

Thanks for all these tips and great presentation. I have a small Honda generator that I keep in running condition. I like Seafoam as stabilizer over Sta-bil, but I've used both. I did a bad job one year not running stabilized fuel through a motorhome generator and the next season the generator would not start. I used a strong mix of gas and Seafoam into that generator and after a week got it running again. I did not have to remove and clean out the carb, which would have been a pain.

[@BackyardMaine]

Thank you. Good plan. I have never tried Seafoam but people swear by it.

[@Mark-c4u9g]

Good advice but there's something extra I do periodically. I do a monthly test run of my generator, usually with a small load on it. But I try every 3 or 4 months to hook it into the house and run it as if the power was out. This not only tests the gen but also the transfer switch or interlock system. This test includes running the usual critical loads and also measuring voltage on each leg.

[@barrygrant2907]

I bought a 5500-watt generator during the 2004 Florida hurricanes, two of which passed directly over me. I've had to use it only about three times since, for a few days to a few hours, But I use only non-ethanol gas with StaBil and a bit of Marvel Mystery oil added. I pull it out prior to each hurricane season for a test run with a half-gallon of gas or so, make sure it's producing power, and then let the tank and carb run dry. After twenty years it still starts on 1-2 pulls. The only real problem is the tubed tires always seem to be nearly flat. It is stored in the garage with a cover and is in like-new condition--except for the low tires. One day I'll put sold wheels on it.

[@JeffC-dj3gd]

Harbor Freight, Amazon & Walmart all market "flat-free" replacement wheels that are in the usual sizes for small equipment use. I replace mine with the flat-free ones & don't have that trouble.

[@OnusBones]

We have a small Ryobi camping generator. It is quiet, and produces enough power to run a couple of refrigerators and charge other things. I test it once or twice a year, and it's due now, so thanks for the reminder. It has NEVER experienced ethanol, and never will; untainted regular ONLY. It has no fuel shutoff (that I know of), so I put a few ounces in the tank then run it dry. It is stored inside.

[@ashleymarie7452]

Excellent! Very relevant, succinct and well presented!

[@BackyardMaine]

Thank you kindly!

[@lkane9346]

Thank you so much for this video, very useful tips as usual.👏🏻🤝

[@BackyardMaine]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@davidsteinfeld9123]

Found a lot of the stuff you talked about useful information I use my generator for powering my welder and all things in my man cave I am now working a new generator because of issues with the latter that I only ran for 189 hours and started having to many problems before it whent cahplooie and that did include changing out the oil and cleaning out the carburetor the problem was in the valves till I fix that ther it will sit as parts i now have a brand new storm king cheaper of course but works well all them tips are indeed valuable not to sure if the oil could be were all this begins but I can believe in the information you gave us all to help out Thank you for shareing

[@BackyardMaine]

Glad the video was helpful!

[@TxHornyToad]

I have had a Honda 1000i for 20 years. I have needed it maybe half dozen times for power outages. It always starts. I use non- ethanol gas.

[@BackyardMaine]

Honda make very reliable generators. Non- ethanol gas is always a good plan..

[@nodak81]

I've had a Troy-Bilt 7,500 watt generator for 18 years and it always starts as well. I use pump gas with ethanol in it. Makes no difference as long as you run the carb dry after each use.

[@JageeAgain]

Very nice summary of maintenance. Thanks john

[@BackyardMaine]

You bet.. Thanks for watching.

[@JeffC-dj3gd]

Good tips, John. I would add to let your generator run unloaded for about 5 minutes before shutdown after being ran for power use, if possible. This allows the generator to "cool down" & stabilize temps. Also, I avoid the Ethanol problems of "gunking up the carburetor" by avoiding ethanol fuel. If you look around, some places sell "no ethanol gasoline". It costs a bit more, but is better for engines & provides better efficiency. There are apps that show the stations on the map, like "PURE GAS & GAS BUDDY. (I was a USAF 54252/3E072 Electrical Power Production Technician in a Combat Communications Unit) P.s. Please make sure to properly ground the generator before you power your devices/home. It helps to protect YOU & the generator. 😉🤠 God bless.)

[@BarryinFredonia]

Great video. I’m happy I do all of these steps!

[@BackyardMaine]

Perfect!

[@SonnyPruitt-q1s]

As far as changing oil goes..I had a lawnmower with a Briggs and Stratton engine and never changed the oil just added oil and after 12 years it was still running fine and gave it away.😊

[@BackyardMaine]

Surprising.. Briggs must make a good engine.

[@TheRealMrBlackCat]

18 years ago I got a new generator as we live in a rural area with power outages. It has been outside under the eve of the house since then. It has been through several continuous runs of more than five days without ever an issue. The fuel has never been turned off. This is a not a high end generator and has has sit time as long as a year, but usually less. (5500/8250 watt Briggs brand) It has never seen ethanol gas... like a dozen other pieces of equipment we own. It is worth it, I promise.

[@rheuss1]

Non ethanol gas is a life saver for small engines. Ethanol is a scam.

[@jayg9439]

Never used EF gas in my 21 year old murry push mower. Beat to snot but its got the original carb. Had to replace fuel bulb a few times still a 2-3 pull start

[@JeffC-dj3gd]

@@rheuss1 Not to mention Ethanol has less BTUs of energy than gasoline, ergo less efficient/MPG. SCAM! (And it replaces some "bad" emissions with other "bad" emissions, with no net benefit.......except to the Ethanol producers! 🤑😉)

[@SpiritintheSky.]

I'm so impressed by this video that I've subscribed. Looking forward to more of your videos. Thank you.

[@BackyardMaine]

Thank you.. I have several videos on generators and many on residential electrical and code compliance.

[@SpiritintheSky.]

@@BackyardMaine Thank you, sir.

[@ernest9606]

I agree 100 % and i do run mine 30 minutes every month

[@sleepingbear6116]

My tip, pull Cord 3 time's easy pulls when off, gets oil where should be. I changed oil 3 time's when first got (break in ) start run until engine is hot change,start run with reload until hot hot chang, one more time then done. Change oil After 30 hours clean filter, every year or twice a year remove carb clean bowl will be dirty. I run 5 hours everyday. Charge batteries. Maintenance is extremely important. Good video

[@HWCism]

Great tips, thank you

[@tedfisk1211]

Very interesting information that I wished I had when I had a generator for my house back in the 90s in Connecticut. I brought the generator with me, but I really didn't know these steps. The owners manual wasn't very helpful. Oh well.

[@MegaGeorge1948]

I own a propane portable generator. I shut it off by closing the propane fuel tank valve and let it stall. Also I can store the generator in my basement. Because there is no unburnt fuel in it. Grounding the generator is important too. The oil stays cleaner by burning propane too. You are correct by saying to test the generator periodically.

[@BackyardMaine]

Grounding a generator is very often misunderstood by homeowners and even some electricians. I need to make a video on the subject. A separator wire connected to a ground rod from the frame of the generator is only required if the generator is run as a separately derived system. That's when you have a bonded neutral generator and in that case you need a transfer switch that switches the neutral along with the hot leads because a neutral to ground bond and only happen in one location on your system. Otherwise a ground rod connection to the frame of the generator is actually less safe. The ground wire from your connection cord bonds the frame of the generator to your building grounding electrode and more importantly to the neutral to ground bond at your main.

[@geraldgammel1569]

Very informative video...learned a few things too! 👍 Well done!

[@BackyardMaine]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@peterjuodikis1204]

I have a 25 year old 3500 running watt troybilt with briggs and stratton engine...use full synthetic oil, mix ethanol fuel which is common here, with stabil and techron fuel system cleaner..run tank dry...still starts and runs great..

[@ironmartysharpe8293]

One thing I strongly recommend is using a synthetic oil in the engine for better lubrication , Especially on startup because the engine is immediately running at 3600 RPM and you definitely need good lubrication for an engine that's running at 3600 RPM Which is much faster than a car engine at highway speed , Check the owners manual because your generator may call for synthetic oil

[@BackyardMaine]

Mine doesn't but thats a good point. Just make sure you're buying oil designed for small engines.

[@ironmartysharpe8293]

@BackyardMaine Even though your generator doesn't call for synthetic oil , It would be wise to switch to synthetic but once you switch to synthetic , You have to stay with synthetic , Synthetic oil gives you better lubrication on startup because 90%. of engine wear is starting wear

[@ironmartysharpe8293]

@@BackyardMaine Hello BackyardMaine Besides using synthetic oil in my generator I especially use it in my air compressor because synthetic oil won't cause carbon buildup in the valves , I used to rebuild air compressors and pumps and I've seen alot of air compressors come in for repair and the valves and cylinder heads had really bad carbon buildup , With synthetic oil , There is virtually zero carbon buildup So If you have an air compressor or plan to buy one , Definitely use synthetic oil Especially if you buy a new one You will greatly stretch the life of the valves And synthetic oil has better lubricating properties and you don't need to change viscosity with the change of seasons as you would have to with conventional oil I've had my air compressor for 8 years and I use it alot and is still running like a champ

[@tractorboy31]

It was nicer sometimes up till a few years ago. My gen was my power for welding so it got regular exercising. This weekend i gotta move my gen from my regular storage area to the barns entry. My dad didnt like fuel stabilizers. I also dont use it. Never had a problem. My 48 JD B been sitting all summer as needed to fix the clutch. Tractor fired up (started real hard as need to fine tune from overhaul) only used my big gen for a couple test runs and 1 welding project at brothers. Fired up fine. I have about 60 gallons of gas for my gen and the tractors for plowing in my tank

[@highvel-kq2to]

Use my cheap Champion almost exclusively during the summer. I store it with a full tank of fuel with Star Bright Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment. I try to use Premium (no ethanol)but that doesn't always happen. Never a problem when needed next.

[@graftedin3]

Thanks so much for the good tips, I already do some of these but now I have more information. Good instruction!

[@BackyardMaine]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@solarforfuture]

had to flash mine a few seasons ago... worked fine ... thanks

[@JeffC-dj3gd]

Not always, but usually, having to "flash the field" of small portable generators is due to overloading/excessive heat in the generator.(Heat kills magnetism) They are self-excited by residual magnetism in the stator. "Flashing the field" restores that magnetism. Some generators have circuitry that uses battery voltage to flash the field on start-up up & large power plant generators have separate exciters.

[@battalion151R]

Years ago, I bought a natural gas conversion kit for my generator. It has never had gasoline run through it except for the test run at the factory. The oil stays clean but is still changed regularly. For winter, I remove the battery from my mower and hook it up to my generator. I don't mind pulling it through twice, if I need it during the summer, but winter power outages are usually in some ugly weather. It keeps the battery exercised during the winter too. And, when I shut it down, it's just turning the gas valve off.

[@BackyardMaine]

Thats awesome. I'm curious what as to how much NG or LPG is used as compared to gasoline? Is it comparable in cost to run them this way?

[@battalion151R]

@BackyardMaine We had an ice storm years ago and lost power for 10 days. I ran the generator for 10 days and shut it off at night. I had a woodburner that we'd been heating with for 20+ years, so staying warm wasn't a problem even when the temperature dropped below zero. Our daughter was gravely concerned that we were going to freeze to death. Anyhow, gasoline was about $4.00 a gallon at the time. The two local gas stations were both closed due to no electricity. The closest fuel was 15-20 minutes away. My generator burns about a gallon an hour. So, an 8 hour run would have been $32.00. I ran my generator for 16 hours per day. When we got our gas bill, my wife was cringing. She opened the bill and almost fainted. It went up about $40.00. She was sure it was going to be 10 times higher. So, spending $200.00 for the conversion paid for itself and saved me from driving 3 or 4 trips to fuel up, going outside, and feeding the generator in the bad weather, and saving me almost $400.00. It has been used many times since.

[@DanThomas-n1e]

Start mine every month.A pain but not as much as changing my carb again

[@keithsyers5833]

I've got another tip. Don't turn your fuel and ignition on straight away. Turn the generator over a couple of times so it builds the oil pressure up so lubricates all the moving parts. Especially after a long period of storage

[@javabeanz8549]

I have watched some other channels, where they recommend "Ethanol Shield" over "Sta-BIL." And while it is more expensive, you can get ethanol free gas in some areas. I run my mowers and weed eaters on the Non-Ethanol fuel only.

[@bluenetmarketing]

Excellent suggestions!

[@timhowell1220]

One odd one to add. I live in florida and if you leave anything open Like a any outside outlet, extionsion cords, your gererator or even an unused bolt hole, (especially leading into bearing Cavities etc). Mud doppers will start pluging those holes. Keep them all covered, Example - I use a extension cord with 4 duplexs. I keep 3 covered with tape and one with blank male plug just for quick access.

[@BackyardMaine]

Had mud wasps plug the cooling water discharge on my boat motor. I changed out the water pump before I realized it was a plugged discharge.

[@DEWWYA88]

I've always been told that when you empty the carb of fuel, you're leaving those tiny ports inside the carb are more susceptible to moisture and corrosion. I use the Lucas Ethanol conditioner which keeps the ethanol fuel good for at least 8 months.

[@BackyardMaine]

This method has worked perfectly for me for over a decade.

[@WayneB-rv1xs]

I live in Louisiana and store large amounts of gasoline for my stand by generator, I have done this for at least 15 years straight changing out the regular ethanol gas every 12 months, the only time my car gave me a check engine light burning the 12 month gas was some gas that I did put stabilizer in and went past 12 months, I drain my generator carburetor bowl completely every time and it has always started on the first pull.

[@tkershu]

Thanks for the assurance! As a new user, it's a little scary to get started and these tips definitely help. One place was suggesting that you have to completely drain the generator for storage (not just run the carbs dry). Since I'm using gas treatment, maybe that's not necessary? Should I be concerned about fumes building up in the garage?

[@BackyardMaine]

I keep my generator stored in a garage. Our vehicles have gas in them as well. I'm glad the video was helpful. Thanks for watching..

[@Mysailingvacation]

Another reason why I like your videos.. you did mention residual magnetism... But when talking about occasional running you could have mentioned it again explaining that putting it under load helps to excite the field keeping that residual magnetism that is so essential rather than to have to flash the windings... I'm from away but my family came from Ft Kent to Brunswick. You have that Yankee ingenuity and are smarter as a Mainah !

[@BackyardMaine]

Thank you.. It's a beautiful state. I've lived here for about 30 years now. I have had to flash a few generators and have had success every time except one.

[@gibblespascack1418]

For my 1998 Generac XL 5500, the manual has a long term storage procedure. After the emergency, you run the generator out of fuel, Change the oil and filter, then pull the plug, clean it and put a squirt of oil in the cylinder, pull the cord a few revolutions, replace the plug then pull the cord until both valves are closed. The your generator is ready to store for years. Every few years if you did not use it, pull it out of the shed, add gas and run it for 30-45 minutes under load then run the engine dry again. This process has allowed the generator to start on the first pull when starting up. Gas for my generator is Ethanol Free and stabilized before use. I also keep 27 gal of stabilized ethanol free Super gas in storage, and every 6 months(March and September) the gas is put though a car and replaced. Yes also follow the maintenance schedule in the manual.

[@raymonddavis5271]

Great job!!!

[@ElCid_86]

Very helpful. Thanks

[@rickringler5021]

One correction and one addition to your tips. First off shutting off the fuel and letting it run till it shuts off does not remove all of the gas from the carburetor, there is still fuel left in the float bowl when the engine shuts off. This fuel will quickly turn to gum and cause problems. There is a drain screw on the bottom of float bowl, open it to drain all fuel from float bowl. Also shutting the generator off or letting it run out of fuel while a load is still connected can damage the electronic on some generators. There are many different types of generators, bobbin type, cycloconverter, inverter and others.

[@waltjames9988]

On some generators even after running it dry there is a drain plug on the bowl on bottom or side on carburetor to get rest of gas out of unit

[@ralphparker]

Our long term power outages are rare here, I drain the fuel from the tank and then run it till it stops before putting it away.

[@DeepSouthDragon87]

I have closed the petcock that way on everything for years. The last time apparently it didn’t work on my Champion. I’m converting it to propane now.

[@jonkilowatt4442]

I run 5w-40 diesel full synthetic oil in all of my small engines + Lucas oil additive. Never had one problem. And I have many small engines and two generators.

[@BackyardMaine]

I stick with the manufacturers recommendations.

[@johnduffy6546]

GREAT and informative video...Personally, I would test my generator once a month

[@BackyardMaine]

Thats an even better plan if you can stick to it.

[@Dave-ld3dr]

If this is considered wrong please let me know.I add stabil to the gas & let it run dry but before it’s ready to die I add more Stabil until it stalls out.This way I know there’s stabil in the carb & hopefully protects it from gumming up.I pulled mine out from last year & it takes a little longer to start until the stabil clears but then it fires right up.My thinking is leave Stabil in the carb because I heard the carb shouldn’t be left dry.The seals can dry out is what I have been told.

[@RayleighCriterion]

Using Seafoam is also necessary for small engines. put it in the gasoline to both extend shelf life and keeping the carburetor and intake/combustion chamber clean. Then before you do an oil change, put Seafoam in the oil and run the generator for at least two hours, this will clean deposits out of the crankcase, these deposits cause engine wear and ultimately engine failure.

[@paulboomer7109]

With my generator I store it in the box it came in I just cut the bottom of the box away and I put the top over it. I run it twice a year on a test tank I run the carburetor dry and I drain it. I drain all the fuel from the gas tank years ago when I was finished with it so it's ready to go.😊

[@WeedenRoberts-wp9qw]

I always shut the fuel off and let the generator stall out, i use a hand pump transfer pump to remove the fuel from the tank and check the oil prior to storage. I have a duel use propane/fuel and i conduct test and run ups using propane to help avoid keeping gas in the tank.