Fixing on a Generac GP5500 that won't start

A customer brought a Generac GP5500 generator that won't start in for me to look at. Let's figger out what it needs...
#generac #GP5500 #generator
Fixing on a Generac GP5500 that won't start
Check out dozens of my videos here -- / hd883dd
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[@philliphall5198]

Your for sure one of the best mechanics on utube, dam there’s so many wontbes it’s sickening watching them screw stuff up and false information Thanks

[@randomwrenching]

Thanks Phil!

[@joesinakandid528]

Well done, sir. When I change or add oil I just do what the decal on the side says and fill to the top of the fill threads. I never allow the oil to drop down somewhere on the checkering on the fill cap stem (no, it's not the "dipstick" of olden times). Subscribed and liked as you easily earned my votes of confidence. - Joe -

[@randomwrenching]

Thanks for watching and the sub Joe!

[@oif3vetk9]

I have one of these in my garage right now. We normally run old onan rv generators at our deer camp but mine decided to self terminate (armature) and the other one a resistor decided it was done. (Weird, 40 years old. lol) So my friend had this generac sitting there. Had been for a couple years. He said it needed a new carb so I ordered one and cleaned the gas tank. (Nastiest tank I've ever seen which is saying a lot. Was a mechanic in the army for 23 years) Got it all together and it is backfiring through the carb. Pretty sure the tappet is starting to stick on the intake side so I'll play with that today. Like the customer in this video my friend doesn't do any maintenance on anything and it drives me absolutely insane. (On the upside, his lack of maintenance is "free" beer for me. Have to charge him something. lol Oh, the onan, I'll get it fixed. Just need to dismount it out of the covered stand I built for it and get it back to my place so I can comfortably work on it. Ever hear a onan 4k with a ford 8n exhaust? It's pretty cool. lol)

[@randomwrenching]

Great comments! I've heard generators with car mufflers. (They aren't much quieter). Your popping could also be running lean, check for a too lean pilot and/or main jet (most likely) and also the valve adjustment. (Less likely). Valve adjustments are usually needed around the 250hr mark.

[@Honestandtruth007]

​@@randomwrenchingIs A Generac generator quality Better than A Champion 🏆 generator and a Westinghouse generator ❓❓

[@randomwrenching]

@@Honestandtruth007 Those brands are all about the same. A little bit older Honda and the Onan ones seem to be about the best ones right now

[@Honestandtruth007]

@@randomwrenching Thank you for your Response 👍❤️. But Honda is too Expensive .

[@randomwrenching]

@@Honestandtruth007 Yep, they are expensive. But you get what you pay for...

[@daver4795]

Thanks man. Added oil. Started first pull.

[@randomwrenching]

That's great, thanks for watching!

[@thebeardedstork432]

Good day! Sent over from Bruce's Shop! You got a new subscriber.....from Ontario even!

[@randomwrenching]

Thank you kindly good sir!

[@electagutierrez2221]

I hear Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs.....

[@randomwrenching]

Well my name isn't Mike, but I do get dirty jobs in here...lol

[@joeyv2008]

Nice to see you and another great video !! Lmao

[@randomwrenching]

Thanks Joey!

[@rustymeadows3482]

I enjoy your work Thank you

[@randomwrenching]

I see you are watching a few videos to catch up, awesome!

[@hdman97]

Way to go great fix

[@randomwrenching]

Thanks! 😎👍

[@kevinmcdonald6446]

Got a free rs 5500 the neighbor decided to check the oil while it was running. It feels like there's no compression. Any thoughts on where to start?

[@kevinblevins2612]

I have that exact generator and need a new carb ( water inside corroded beyond repair) My question is what carb do I replace it with( can’t find any numbers on it) Great video

[@randomwrenching]

If your engine is a Honda clone, find out what cc displacement it is and order a replacement carb for a Honda equivalent sized engine. This one was a customers machine, so I cant go look at it and tell you exactly what is was.

[@brianbirkes6618]

I bought a GP5500, It failed in less than 10 hours. Customer service did nothing despite it being a 100 percent design flaw. Seal failure allowed light rain to leak into the gas tank. rusted out. Cost $400 to replace. They don't care about their customers.

[@randomwrenching]

I have seen quite a few generators with the fuel level gauge on top of the tank. These do tend to allow water into the tank and rust it out. I sometimes coat over the whole gauge and sealing surfaces with RTV to prevent leaks. You can check how much fuel is in it if you take the filler cap off.

[@p.jacobs5588]

Ours was 962.00 for the Gp6500 and never turned over. Now Lowes nor Generac will refund our money. We purchased this the day before Hurricane Ian arrived. Thinking we would be able to keep our food from thawing, we were in the middle of the storm trying to get our brand new machine to work. I can't begin to tell you how sick we are over this. Now to find out the Generac Generator is faulty. This is wrong.

[@philliphall5198]

Need to make a heavy duty plastic cover for it then or keep it inside

[@philliphall5198]

Could just silicone over it because they all leak!😢

[@davgonz5336]

I haven't started my 5500 in 10 years I thought it would be good to siphen the old gas, change the spark plug and change the oil and go from there. When I went to drain the oil, I had gas coming out instead. Was not expecting that. What a mess Think this is gonna be involved

[@judgeguilty]

It looks as if silicone lube spray and break clean are not interchangeable. Enjoyed the video. What's the strangest thing you have found in an engine?

[@randomwrenching]

I have found LOTS of different things in fuel tanks, but I think this is the weirdest thing I've found inside the actual engine.

[@Big_Johns]

Nice video and fix, did you ever figure out what the liquid was that was in it? 👍

[@randomwrenching]

It was just a tiny bit of water, and the generator is still running fine for the customer. Thanks for the comment!

[@Big_Johns]

Anytime bud and good job.

[@randomwrenching]

As far as the mystery fluid allover the bench, I have no idea. Smelled odd, chemical like. Almost like ether (quick start), but I would think it would have evaporated off long ago.

[@Big_Johns]

Yep you’d think it would’ve but we may never know. 🤣

[@loganslawncare3022]

Awesome video man I enjoyed watching ur videos including this one is funny 😂

[@randomwrenching]

Thanks for watching!

[@gardner-GOLDWING]

Question for you on a predator 8750 generator I believe the switch for the starter went bad so have been pull start it start right up, I think I have about 2200 hours on it when I pull on the pull start to start on the compression up on the piston stopped me from pulling through my ears to pull rope to move the piston past the compression and try to start the pool. It will run. It goes around like this compression again and then stops me. It hurts my arms so I can’t I don’t understand why it won’t pull through like it used to it just seems like a compressions. Stopping me any ideas what might be going on would be helpful. Thank you.

[@randomwrenching]

I would check the valve adjustment, and if that's OK, the auto decompression might be bad

[@len4338]

Maybe I missed it but was that someone's discard or is it in for service ?? I laughed out loud at the straw mishap,,,, lol. Nice generator for sure. So all said and done you think it was a low oil problem ??

[@randomwrenching]

This machine was in for service. I think it was probably low oil killing the spark. The carb condition and the tiny bit of water wasn't really bad enough to cause a no-start problem.

[@HeavyHaul51]

Im trying find mix and match parts to add an electric start to it as i can't pull the rope anymore. Generac doesn't make a kit to change over

[@randomwrenching]

I have not seen anything available either...

[@neekopeeko9054]

Subscribed 👍

[@randomwrenching]

Thank you!

[@trainsandnothingbuttrains8585]

Hey I have a gp 17500 e and the person I got it from replaced the switch and hooked it up wrong do you have a picture of the back of the starter button with the wires hooked up please I could really use it.

[@randomwrenching]

Sorry, I do not have that info for you.

[@GreenL00gie]

Hey my guy, I have one of these and I had ice on the air filter in the air box and now won't start, even with filter off.

[@travispearl3459]

Put it in a warm space for : days and change fluids . It will start

[@hoondadan]

Next time try using a metal straw. or paper...lol

[@randomwrenching]

The valve probably wouldn't have survived a metal straw...lol

[@billb2832]

i had one of those straws fly off into a throttle body in a car once from a carb cleaner can talk about a bitch now i hold the straw so not to have it happen again

[@randomwrenching]

I'm sure that has happened a lot...

[@Darjan_Spasojevic]

I have a Generac gp8000e. Looking for videos to find common problems, and fixes to educate myself. Thanks.

[@randomwrenching]

Thanks for watching!