Generac XG10000e Generator Racing Out Of Control - Bad Governor?

Jason picked up this Generac XG10000E with less then 100 hours on the clock for $500. New they sell for over $2,000. According to the seller the engine is running fast. Jason connected the kill a watt and measured 97 hertz (5820 rpm). Generators without a load should be set close to 61.5 hertz (3690 rpm). Is the governor trashed? Lets find out.
I use Harbor Freight Super Heavy Duty Degreaser in my ultrasonic cleaner www.harborfreight.com/1-gallo...
Generator Model: XG10000E (0058022)
Engine: GTH-530
Rollover Valve: 0J7921A
Airbox Cover: 0E9375A
Airbox Knob: 0E9511B
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#GeneratorRepair #SmallEngineRepair #SmallEngine #DIY #Fixed #Troubleshooting #HowTo #LawnMowerRepair #MowerRepair
Alternator, Broken Governor, Clean Power, Engine Racing, Fixed, Generator, Governor Calibration, Governor Reset, Governor Spring, Governor Spring, Governor, Hertz, How To, How a Mechanical Governor Works, How-To, Idle Set Screw, Inductive Tachometer, Load Test, Melted Airbox, RPM, Repair, Running Fast, Sinewave, Small Engine, Tachometer, Throttle Plates, Troubleshooting

[@steveharleyfan]

James' explanation of how the governor works is priceless.

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

Nice job James , your friend lucked out on this one . I really like the way you explained the governor set up !

[@thomasstewart9368]

The "screamin-deamon" taimed, to a purring kitten with just a few adjustments. Amazing 👍

[@mattdewater438]

I’ve been through quite a learning curve with this exact same machine. Wouldn’t rev up under load to compensate. Turns out the pins that hold the governor weights wore out and looked like spools. The weights did not open and close properly. I found the issue and made this repair myself when my local Generac dealer said they couldn’t fix it. I could not have done it without the HUNDREDS of hours of watching your videos James. Also had plenty of help from our favorite “Bassguitarist1985” Thank you!!

[@2005Pilot]

LOL- We didn’t tell you about the 2 air box screws because we thought you were getting the blue locktite 🤣🤷‍♂️

[@bjusticeforever]

WOW. It's THD is even cleaner than my dad's old Gen Pro II! Great diagnosis on the governor, and a FANTASTIC question about the idle limiter screw. It makes zero sense to have one that long!

[@er1073]

James your knowledge and experience definitely shows everytime you do repairs. Thank you Ed

[@jayyoung5423]

Great diagnosis again....think I would have scrubbed off the 194 on the tank cover.....looks like auction material.

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Well done again James. I was yelling at you twice, once when you missed the two screws to hold the air box on, but only because I remembered there were six and you only showed four, and again when you turned the DeWalt heat gun off and put the hot tip on the power cord but you just wouldn’t listen😂. I think the unanswered question is: why was somebody in there fiddling with the governor in the first place?? But I guess if the shaft slipped they may have been trying to back off the governor to slow the engine down. With their attitude of butcher the cover rather remove the fuel tank on an expensive generator I can only imagine what their car is like if they work on it. Cheers mate, Stuart 🇦🇺

[@TonyWhite22351]

The hot tip on the power lead had me bothered too !

[@dragonmaker1541]

Excellent job as always. Very easy to follow a complex topic.

[@benkanobe7500]

Another great diagnosis and structured problem-solving. Excellent!

[@jeffsignore7953]

Great video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! Much appreciated!

[@stevendufresne9994]

Thanks James for the Great Video! I learn something new each time!! 👍👍

[@Roy_Tellason]

It was interesting to see the waveform get cleaner as you put more of a load on it. I guess that speaks well to the design of that power head. That's a crazy design for the air box, almost encouraging dropped screws and other parts to go where you don't want them to go. I'd epoxy a bit of screen scross that opening to prevent this.

[@dstanobiful]

Very informative, l live in Maine and was unaware of the summer/winter operation. Thanks again

[@TheOneTonHammer]

Pretty amazing machine. Quickly and correctly diagnosed, Well done.

[@martyb3783]

Every time I see you use that lift, I am envious. I am currently working on an old Universal Atomic 4 engine that is on a moving dolly and its kind of a pain in the ass to see things some times. Great video as always! You really are a genius when it comes to gensets.

[@Kuzzzzman]

Another excellent video James, your friend hit the jackpot on this one. Your knowledge of small engines is absolutely astounding, great job with another diagnosis that most people wouldn't have a clue on where to begin.

[@fhazen01]

Another awesome learning video. Thank you James.

[@awofeowolabi2065]

As usual an exceptional diagnostic skills. Many thanks!

[@raymondj8768]

That Dude scored 1 hell of a deal !

[@iandennis7836]

Not half he didn't. You just don't want to ask what that'd be over here........put it this way, I'm looking at a Hyundai 4000W and even now after the winter scare we had with possible power shortages it's still £900 or about $1150. Whole home setups here are into the thousands. Nice bit of diagnosis there Jim, thanks again for another 'fix'😁.

[@ron827]

Nice work as usual. A friend gave me an old riding mower that also over reved. I discovered the throttle plate lodged against the intake valve and the two screws with lock washers were eaten by the engine which was evident by tracks on the piston top.

[@goodness-mercy]

Awesome diagnosis - again!!! !!

[@4Truth4All]

Another great repair! What a nice machine. The best sine wave I've seen so far.

[@MrAluntus]

Wow, I had no idea how a govener works. Thanks for this tutorial.

[@justinvanaulen2478]

Great video Jim! I have to say I LoL'd @ 23:56. You honestly sounded stunned! This was a good one. :)

[@timd1833]

It might be a good idea to remove your original mark (22:28) and make a new mark where the slot on the adj screw aligns now. Later on, if something goes wrong with the idle speed, someone may notice the original (incorrect) mark and move the slot to align with it.

[@brianallen9810]

I've always used a stuff called Dychem Cross Check on adjustments that I've made. You can see at a glance if someones tampered with adjustments or it's become loose.

[@staind288]

That's excellent advice. Never thought about the next time in this scenario.. Good advice bud

[@loucinci3922]

The back end of that clamp seemed to bottom out when tightened. I thought about hitting it with a points file to give it a little more clamping grip. But it turns out that was not needed.

[@wjodf8067]

Great to see you diagnose and work on a decent generator for once what a nice sine wave

[@jeffbotkin1405]

Glad you showed how just a tiny bit of adjustment can make a big difference unlike the spring tensioner which you turned and turned on to raise the engine speed. Very interesting

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

I’m pretty sure that carburetor is used on many applications for power equipment. Great work as usual!!! I have a Honda EU2000i that I’m rebuilding the engine and lapping in the valves. Your video on that really helped me out! Thanks Jim!!!

[@Kenny-rn2xc]

That V-twin engine really runs smooth. You are very methodical in you diagnostics. Great job. I noticed that you didn't put the screws in but I just thought you didn't show us. Have a great week.

[@FarmCraft101]

Great explanation of the governor function and how to adjust it. Good video as usual. Cheers Jim.

[@watermanone7567]

Great work JIm. The THD surprised me. That is a good machine, I have not worked on that engine before. Thanks

[@jonminer9891]

Hi, James. That was a step up from your usual trouble shooting efforts. Thanks for sharing! Stay Healthy!

[@ni_wink84]

My guess is someone was in there tinkering around, great job as always James, I genuinely enjoy your knowledge and troubleshooting!

[@PeterDurrant]

Looks like Jason got a bargain after your methodical approach once again solves the problem. Well done James. 👍Great video

[@markyoung7470]

James, I saw you missed those 2 bolts on the air box right away 🤐🤐just pulling your leg I missed it too, another great video with excellent camera angles followed by an excellent explanation of what you were looking for and what you were diagnosing as the problem all were spot on by the Master Gen Man.

[@roberteddy8962]

Very nice repair James .

[@pierremartel3552]

Let me tell you that you just demystified all of that governor work.. Thanks you very much!!!

[@porkchop955]

Excellent video. You just helped me choose my next generator.

[@arthurbiringer5676]

An excellent job! Keep up the great work.

[@butler386]

Fantastic diagnosis and repair. That generator seems to pack a nice punch compared to most generators. More expensive but you get what you pay for--- sometimes. Thanks for the videos.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

What a super clean Generator wow only 63 hours used on it she practically brand new

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Nice and easy fix. great job James !

[@mtttony]

Well done again James. I must admit the angle of the pinch gap on that governor arm looked like it was close to closing at the outside end. It looked like it had been over tightened at some point., One other thing is you would think a simple electronic rev limiter would be a good idea for safety if for any reason the governor or linkage fails. Thanks again, I watch every week and your video production gets better and better..

[@bmcc12]

Wonderful editing!! The best yet

[@SamCanada1]

Thanks for the video. What a great generator. 👍

[@dannyj5688]

Handled that 9000 load flawlessly!!! Great fix!

[@fayiznalu8411]

Good diagnosis..!!!😊

[@beaviswashere8009]

I wonder why it was so hot outside!!! James is Testing another Generator with ALL the space heaters! JK....😉😉😉😉 Great video and a easy repair :)))

[@brianhind6149]

Excellent video as always Sir ! I always shake my head at some of the hack jobs that you unearth with these machines. If you promise not to tell anyone, in decades past I have been guilty at times of the same egregious actions. When you are young , nothing happens fast enough. On the other hand, some equipments are so poorly designed that I cut things out of the way, heated & bent brackets, & have actually redesigned electrical circuits so that parts could be found locally & installed in 10 minutes instead of hours. Yes, all electrical circuits were fused as close to the source as possible. Love your videos, & I have learned a lot about small engines. You were the man who explained to me what an "emulsion tube" was. About a month ago, I actually saw the word in print in an engineering manual Thank you James. Cheers! Brian

[@johnnybgoode6466]

well done James - only minor issues and your were able to detect and remedy them early on.

[@ayozhek1898]

Haha i was shouting at the screen "you forgot the airbox screws" but you didn't hear me :-) Great video James, thank you.

[@paulravitsky2898]

I did yell at the screen when you forgot those 2 screws but then figured you left them out because you ordered a new air box....That's got a nice low distortion figure. Another excellent diagnosis and repair!

[@deangentles4966]

Hi James your knowledge is fantastic mate thanks for sharing

[@whitesapphire5865]

As you'll know, James, those pinch bolts on the governor arm are prone to slippage on a whole raft of engines. The trouble is, there's no easy way to make them slip proof because of the need for infinite adjustment, at least, not without making the design much beefier and chunkier. That was a good exercise in tracking down the problem, and an object lesson to all, on how this adjustment can go awry, and how to get it back again. We used to maintain an older lawn tractor for a neighbour, powered by a Briggs and Stratton engine with the same governor setup. I think it would be true to say that it needed resetting every year, or at least, every second year. Just the nature of the beast I think.

[@Rorschach1024]

If the shaft were milled with worm gear teeth and had a captive screw to drive the teeth, you could adjust the setting much more precisely and it would be unable to slip.

[@staind288]

The governor shafts should all be made with splines. That would help A LOT

[@whitesapphire5865]

@@staind288 But would take away the infinite adjustment.. The whole purpose of the smooth shaft is to avoid any notching in the adjustment. With splines, you'd be in this one, that one, or the one on the other side, but you wouldn't have the ability to be somewhere in-between. It would make the adjustment rather imprecise.

[@markhelseth253]

Excellent video. I enjoy following the mystery as it unfolds. Very good tutorial on how a governor works. After watching multiple heaters get switched on and off - would there be an advantage to using an old vintage loadbank (Onan)? Might be a fun rebuild for the channel if one can be found cheap?

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Super clean power great looking sign wave

[@wildefox1478]

Very simple fix on this one, just a simple governor adjustment, nice work!

[@2packs4sure]

The best lawnmower I ever owned was given to me because right out of warranty the motor went crazy and sounded insane and the motor was condemned.. It was the governor shaft that slipped in the arm and it was actually opening and closing the throttle about 50 times a second,,, you've never heard anything like it,,, it was screaming and clacking and looking down at the top of the carb the throttle was an absolute blur ,,, never seen anything like that .. I fiddled with it and it's been running for 10 years... Toro personal pace 22" Briggs.

[@mjg263]

Nice clean output there, like inverter clean!

[@gaad7938]

I have a 4500 watt& 5500 watt Generac. In the owners manual i believe there is a procedure outlined for resetting the governor. I've done it and both work perfectly.

[@rich1953]

Nice generator high load values really good.

[@johnhershey4010]

23:53 One hell of a Backfire

[@estorey1465]

another great video, thanks

[@Georgeolddrones]

Another, brilliant video thanks George in England Uk

[@liljoeii6091]

Thank you for the video

[@peterouellette3874]

Nice job, James

[@GreyRockOne]

Nice work James, that Generac is a beauty. Fantastic reading on the THD! Also, aren't those Magic Erasers great! I use them around the exposed upper part of my fiberglass in-ground pool, that is where all the excess sunscreen sticks to after it "floats" off everyone's skin while in the pool.

[@jcondon1]

Good tip. I have the same problem.

[@tubeDude48]

As for the video- you always do a fine job! 👍

[@MrRmh3481]

Good Job James. 5 stars!

[@alphaomega9033]

I do seem to have an issue with this channel's subscribers not donating basic tools that many subscribers might be holding onto and rarely use, like for instance: • A Miniature Lathe, with a Two, Three and Four Jaw Chuck Set, Inserts, Tool Bit Holders, and High Speed and High Speed Ceramic Inserts and Cutter Steel Bar, • A Dual Grinder Wheel, and DoAll Grinder Machine, • A Miniature Press, • A Miniature Milling Machine, • A Miniature Shaper, • A Miniature Sand Blasting Cabinet, • A Plasma Cutter and Cutting Table, • A Tig., Mig, and Stick Welding Set, with wire reals and rods, tips, Hoses, Oxygen and Gas Tanks, Helmet, and Needle Scaler, etc. •A set of C Clamps, B Clamps, T Clamps, etc., • A large stock of different gauge Angle Bar, Sheet Metal, Bar, and Pipe of Brass, Soft Steels, and 4042+ Hardened Steels, • Electric Connector, and Shrink Tube Sets, • A Portable Gas Soldering Iron Set, • A Arm Crane, • A Complete Tap and Die Set, • A decent Stock of Small Tires, Rims, and Casters, • An enormous Nut, Bolt, Washer, Set and Cabinet, • And an enormous Rubber Seal, O-Ring, and Rubber Gas Line, and Tube Set, • Along with a Plastic Plate, Panel, Pipe, Tube, Plug, Washer, Clip Set and Shelf and Cabinet Set. • And a Garage Extension and Development Lump Sum of Money Donation. Just these few things would make me feel a lot better.

[@marcheld]

Bravo! As usual.😊

[@MrAluntus]

I bet.. what happened was when it started idling faster and faster, the previous-previous owner thought they understood carbs went in and hacked at that set screw to try to slow it down and eventually they couldn't figure it out and sold it. That's probably what I would have done before I learned how goveners work from you. I might have gone the extra step to remove the fuel tank though instead of melting the cover. And I bet the govener was lose from the time it was made. Very educational, thanks!

[@ItsAlwaysRusty]

Great video. You must have a great area for bargains. Nothing like that in my area working or not for $500.

[@GerardRusso]

really enjoy your videos

[@samuelgarofalo6910]

When I read the headline I thought you were talking about New York and Cailfornia, LOL

[@petergondolier4088]

You can easily make metal sleeves if you need to. I make them from soft copper tubing. It comes in various sizes from 1/8" ID up to 1.0" or even larger.

[@ghettsumm7949]

When she backfired I almost heard you use a swear word! 😄 Thanks for bleeping it out, that would have ruined your squeeky clean image....LoL $500.00 for that unit is an absolute steal!

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Wow at the amount of melting on the air box cover

[@howieab606]

I purchased one of these new, a number of years ago, and the speed kept on surging going up and down, up and down, would not regulate. Sent it back to the dealer who claimed to have fixed it, but I had the same issue still. Sent it back, got a refund, bought a Honda and never looked back. Until today! Impressive numbers although I would not be confident enough in the brand to try it again.

[@annierenard5954]

very good video, thank you

[@AW-Services]

Another great video, James

[@Mikelp73]

Wow man that’s a powerful gennie

[@joelmollenkopf3767]

Excellent

[@sumplais]

I was a little surprised how much of a hit the first half of the load seemed to take and again after the full load - how little more it seemed to take.

[@venenareligioest410]

Superb 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@mattdewater438]

Found out the hard way not to pinch the fuel tank vent line after using the generator when you secure it in a trailer. Came out the next morning to find a collapsed steel fuel tank! 😂

[@willrobbinson]

wow wander why the original problem if any, its very good out come WELL DONE

[@somerandomguy3868]

While I'm certain you put it together the way it was designed and intended to be the air filter pleats seem to be on the trailing side of the flow, at least as far as the filter media retaining screen is concerned, good explanation of the problem and fix

[@Luis1985-]

amazing bro, my respects to you

[@lavina58]

Awesome unit 🙌👍😊👌

[@chrisssmallengines7163]

Great fix , the design of these machines has to get better . Are you telling me any engineer can not see the problems with this airbox set up . They should make the engineers disassemble and reassemble every design before going to production . What a difference that would make in the automotive sector .

[@jcondon1]

The XG series are a pain to work on. Not designed with maintenance in mind.

[@jimw6991]

​@jcondon1 Everyone always assumes engineers don't know shortcomings. Usually just the opposite. Remember for manufacturers, service isn't thier problem. Same with quantity and durability. The executives usually only want to make the product cheaper.

[@bunnylove273]

Hey bud great video very educational 😊

[@hieyeque1]

It's not an idle set screw, it's a self-destruct screw! I don't know who makes the engine, but the idle set screw being there is likely for other applications for the same engine...maybe. But that THD, tho! WOW. Thanks for the vid.

[@davidschipsi1316]

Besides the connecting rods breaking from high revs the stock flywheel is vulnerable to exploding from centrifugal force. I had a screw let loose and got sucked into the engine, beat the hell out of the spark plug but that was it. Lucky.

[@texascottonfarmer]

👌👌👍👍 Thanks for the video.

[@jackpatteeuw9244]

To remove stuck small diameter fuel/vent lines a custom made tool is a good solution. Take a straight pick and round over the point with a file/grinder. Put a 180° bend on the tip. Slip the rounded tio between the hose and the nipple. Work it around the inside of the hose. A small squirt of silicon spray or WD40 with the pick still inserted and the hose should come right off.

[@woodhonky3890]

Nice unit.

[@billiehydrick6417]

Great 👍 video thanks James for your knowledge 👍