Champion Dual Fuel 3500 Watt Generator Won't Start - Cheap and Easy Fix - Carb Cleaning Made Easy

In this video, we diagnose and repair a no start issue with a Champion Dual Fuel 3500 Watt Generator. The fix was very close to free and required only basic hand tools, a can of carburetor or brake cleaner, and 30 minutes of our time.

[@AndyObusek]

Thank you so much for this detailed and easy to follow video. I followed the steps and voilah, my generator started right up after I reassembled it. I really appreciate you taking the time putting this together.

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

Great job! Glad it worked out fot you!

[@joseberrios1140]

Thank body well done

[@joesinakandid528]

The Oil is low, stopping ignition because of the low oil sensor. Full oil is determined when the oil is just starting to flow out of the oil fill opening. That """dipstick""" looking thing is NOT a dipstick (like in your car or truck), but rather just a way to see if there is ANY oil in the pan and how black it is. There is almost always a picture to show "Full Oil" somewhere near the fill plug for this Honda style oil fill which is very common in small engines now.

[@peewee7405]

With the amount of ethanol in gasoline today it makes carbs plug up very easy nowadays. The fuel is mostly the problem now thats why we use addatives and run them regularly. Thanks for the video.

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

The stuff i run my car on is roughly 10% ethanol and my small gas engines do not like it at all. I seek out places to buy non-ethanol, which i believe to be 0% ethanol. I don’t have any experience with any amounts between 0% and 10%. Thanks for watching the video!

[@anthonymarino4260]

great vid direct and to the point well done

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

Thank you

[@troywilliams8659]

Good job

[@shaneweatherall8666]

I think the reason the engine is not running correctly is you did not clean out the pilot jet under the idle set screw. When that jet gets plugged it causes the engine to run unevenly. In the repair video it did not show the pilot jet being dealt with. That is likely why the engine is running rough.

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

Good to know. It has been running since i cleaned the carb the way that i did in this video. Tthis is a problem that doesn’t need fixed, but thanks anyway.

[@rickmadison7241]

Need to put gas adaptive in the fuel to keep it from gumming up..run once a month

[@CrucesNomad1]

I own this one and cleaning the carb is now what is wrong.

[@dexterwilliams9180]

I’ve got the same brand generator only in the 10,000 watt range. First year I had it I had the exact same problem. When I called Champion I was told ‘it is def the carb and I need to clean it out, and do so each year’. Well, I’ve never heard such nonsense. Yes, it was the carb, which I removed and cleaned successfully. But I’ve never removed it again and it’s now in the 5th year of use. The solution? Just start the generator every month or so and let it run for 10-15 minutes. I also keep Sta-bil in the fuel. Problem solved. Carb never needs to be cleaned if it’s never allowed to gum up in the first place.

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

That is exactly what I do with my own generators and have never had to clean a carburetor. This was my brother-in-law’s and he doesn’t follow the same monthly schedule.

[@nothankyou5524]

It's nonsense to clean out a carburetor? Then why did you need to call them in the first place, tough guy. Did you say you start it once a month? Why do you need to do that if you're adding stabil to a premixed supply of gasoline/stabil and trading the whole fuel delivery system, genius? Another BS artist that picks up on one little item, and tries to convince "no nothings" that he's "Captain Mechanic". Like I said, if your so smart, why did it gum up in the first place, why did you have to call the company, and why didn't you do with the stabil what you claim to all the time. Better figure how to lie better, cause you sure ain't no "fix it your selfer".

[@nothankyou5524]

You think you need to service a generator monthly? What other gas engine machines do you service monthly. Your lawn mower, your edger, your pressure washer? Hey how about your car? That's gasoline? Gotta water heater? Got a gas range, got a gas oven, got a gas dryer? They all need servicing, liquid or gaseous state fossil fuel, right? Another "no nothing" trying to be a big shot to a you tube crowd.

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

You are confusing “servicing” for “running the damn engine for 15 minutes” and YES, i do that for EVERYTHING I own. Not sure where your bitterness is coming from, but you’re not bothering me with your comments. In a way, the algorithm is seeing them, counting them, and it just boosts the popularity of this “know-nothing’s” (please check your spelling) videos. Thank you and have a great day!

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

I’m not sure what video you’re talking about, but it’s not this one. Thanks for the comments, though!

[@ulicessrodriguez1986]

I’m still wondering if just bypassing the gas and going straight to propane would’ve start it.

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

My brother-in-law said the generator didn’t come with the adapter. I still wonder the same thing! Please let us know if you try!

[@craigbarton4054]

Forgot the pilot jet

[@BigRuben68]

hello same gen here, won't start. only cranks... theres fuel , theres spark??????? what u thnk

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

It’s likely your carburetor, right?

[@BigRuben68]

i changed that also@@budgetprojectsbydavid5263

[@BigRuben68]

i saw solenoid somewhere, cant find it

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

That thing on the bottom of the carb looks like a solenoid to me, but I’m not 100% sure how that works.

[@BigRuben68]

thanks, i emailed champion equipment@@budgetprojectsbydavid5263

[@daleatkinson941]

This is supposed to be "Carb cleaning made easy?!?!?!?!? I hardly think so. If I disassembled everything they way you did in this video.... I wouldn't remember how to put everything back together!!!! Nothing easy about this for those of us who aren't master mechanics. Thanks but no thanks.

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

I’m not a master mechanic. I’m an accountant. Once you do this once, you will never want to pay somebody to do it again. Take pictures with your phone. Rewatch the video if you need to. I promise you that this is not rocket science.

[@AndyObusek]

This is a very rude comment and unnecessary. I'm nowhere near a mechanic and was able to follow the instructions, and fix my generator.

[@daleatkinson941]

Well good for you!

[@budgetprojectsbydavid5263]

Dale, have we talked you into trying again?😄

[@anthonymarino4260]

well done.