Generator Not Making Power - Testing and Repair

[@facereader99]

Nothing beats a honest self-questioning approach! You win! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@a.k.maclellan54]

Very helpful and informative. So organized and easy listening with a voice for the evening news. Congratulations and many thanks.

[@colleenoloughlin3970]

You sir are one of the best repair KZbinrs in all of KZbin universe! Your calm demeanor, the way you articulate your knowledge and explain things is just the best. Thank you for all your videos and the work you do.

[@jcondon1]

Thanks 👍

[@nicholasdellamorte4626]

What I like about your videos is, you never give up... Patience is a virtue...

[@wotknot1757]

It's 6:00 a.m. and kicked back in my chair with coffee and watching another head-scratching generator video by James. Ahhhh, retirement is good. Thanks James

[@stclairstclair]

Ok this is weird, I looked at the clock at its 6a.m exactly, But Ive got a bong, cigarette and an RC Cola, I'm trying to buck the odds.

[@rickgaine3476]

to those that dislike these videos, if you don’t understand the con tent don’t give the video a dislike, just realize it is more advanced than you are capable of comprehending and move on. No need to try to hurt James by giving a video a dislike. He does a wonderful job of producing his content.

[@davidr9651]

A dislike is not a negative, and in fact any like/dislike helps the revenue from the video

[@George-mn4wf]

Love the workshop at home and nice neighborhood. Have seen shots in fall and winter. Nice family, too. Videos made in heaven.

[@FB-tq5ln]

Making mistakes we all learn , owning up is professional. Will enjoy your next video on the stator fault and your findings. Thank you, Greeting from Dublin Ireland

[@jcondon1]

Thanks

[@larrymayberry2312]

I am not mechanically inclined when it comes to generators so I really enjoy your videos.

[@gregfisher216]

Wow James ,that is a lot of work ! When I went to Electrical school a long time ago we studied motors, AC and DC . We learned how generators work. WE also had a project to rewind a motor . After 40 some odd years ,I still have that motor. One thing we did after we finished winding the stater and soldering the poles together and checking for proper polarity was spray the stater winding was we called Red Dog .It was an insulating spray to help ensure even the windings were laminated, this was a little insurance. I realize that when you are manufacturing thousands of these rigs a month , you can stop and spray insulating spray on the windings.

[@cosmicwanderer4306]

For 45 min of my time I LEARNED A LOT!!! Thanks James for sharing your expertise. You the Man..

[@jhcr1912]

You have no idea how helpful your videos have been !! Personally I want to Thank you after the ice storm in Texas your videos help me fix a Honda engine on my generator thank you very much God Bless

[@jcondon1]

Thanks for the comment. Nothing worse then a generator that will not start when you need it. Happy you were able to get it running.

[@robertmailhos8159]

Once again mr generator is the man to get the generator back up and running

[@rolandheddins7174]

Wow, thanks so much, James! You made my day by pointing out that trick of applying 12 volts to the brush assembly to restore the magnetism! I had a brain freeze when grid power was restored to my house and I failed to disconnect the generator, so power backfed into the generator and obviously demagnetized it so there was no output. I wish I had found your video before I completely disassembled the generator for no reason. Now it's working like a charm. You da' man!

[@larrykelly2838]

Well Doc, we all learned something new today. All that appears ok is not and some that is not ok is ok.

[@colingraham1065]

Technical excellence and humility - respect!

[@ericd2596]

Very nice job I've never attempted to work on these generators but I feel more comfortable after watching.

[@rockypleasants9984]

Man your the best keep making video I live off grid my generator went out 20 mins ago it’s 4:00 in the morning it stop making power I have no idea where to start even after watching this lol.

[@chavescrave]

Stupid darn distraction fault - they’ve certainly caught me out before and I’m sure will again. Thanks for another great video James.

[@hdman97]

Great job you sure know your generators. Nice to have the spare parts on hand.

[@Lovinflyindrones2022]

Hey James I’d love to see you do a series of videos teaching us how the generator works and how to troubleshoot when it doesn’t work. I think it would do great for you maybe even go viral. It seems nobody really understands exactly how they work and how to troubleshoot and fix Just a thought and idea!!!!Thanks

[@Mike-ig2zq]

Great idea, with an explanation of DPE windings and what they do, because I googled it and I'm still lost. Lol

[@Lovinflyindrones2022]

@@Mike-ig2zq me too. I’d love to see James do a series on that. I think he would get an overwhelming response. What do you think??? What would you like to see??

[@WHITEARKMUSIK]

Me too James that would be informative !!! Thanks 🙏

[@Mike-ig2zq]

@@Lovinflyindrones2022 A to Z. Step by step, theory combined with practical applications and testing.

[@jcondon1]

I kinda made that video two years ago. Been sitting in my queue for release and it has not been released yet... been saving it for a rainy day, but I think it has been long enough.

[@ericvaughn1126]

52 seconds in and whaaaaat!? Two camera filming now?? Love it for the close-up of the multimeter! 👍👍

[@tonyz2897]

To save a little time when adjusting an AVR, you can flip it over and use a single bolt on one side to secure it to one of the end cover mounting holes. That holds it steady enough to get a screwdriver on the potentiometer while the generator is running.

[@davidgeorge306]

Tt

[@trentwilliamson4509]

I got an old 80's tecumseh craftsman genny 5000 watts. Rebuilt the carb and got it running great but it pukes its oil out the breather tube. And a light didn't work when I plugged it in. Thanks to James videos I hope to get it all the way operational. 10hp tecumseh sounds so cool

[@hoffman12100]

Hi , I applaud your work well done on these generators. I will also say this , there are shops that repair stators and rotors. If you can find the broken wire(s) yourself you can fix them too (windings). All copper wires can be cleaned and soldered together again. Great Videos

[@darby4457]

Thank you sir, and as a 2 years student in mechanics...your videos are quite helpful to me✔️

[@tonythediyer8537]

Hi James, this is the best gen head video that you have done. It is soup to nuts on testing. I especially like the fact that you follow up on the other gen head to show your oops. Thanks as always, keep them up!

[@carlsammons3508]

Patience has its rewards

[@carlsammons3508]

I wish I could have seen your video's when I had a generator. Thanks

[@billgardner9328]

James, I’ve enjoyed watching you repair generators for over a year and finally had a dead ES 300c Honda.. gas was at least 3 yrs old in the carb. Main jet was totally clogged and even tank filter. Recoil starter was off and in pieces. 1hr later I had a perfectly running Honda. $3 worth of carb cleaner and your channel. I need your hot tank if I keep doing this, tho. Thanks!

[@carlubambi5541]

Good repair and good catch on the burnt winding on the stator

[@timunfried506]

If I had the money I would totally get you Musite1's hydraulic lift table he use's at his home shop. Watching you work on these on the ground hurts my back....Absolutely love the explanation on every video, these would be perfect to teach anyone how to fix a generator., possible a college course in small engine repair.

[@Farm_fab]

Jim, just an update. I'm now recovering from knee replacement surgery, so as I get limbered up and more flexible, I'll be able to get your plastics to list so you can give me an idea whet dimensions are best for you. I'm also hoping to pick us some other pieces to add to what I now have.

[@Farm_fab]

Have you tried getting any generators from your local scrap yards? I have a buddy that does this when work slows down. He used to get nice looking riding mowers, but found that he quickly ran out of space doing this.

[@Farm_fab]

I failed to mention that my buddy has a good relationship with the scrap yard, so they work with him.

[@MitchEllis-e4y]

It’s always the tricky ones that are the most interesting. Good video.

[@richardaston6361]

Used to repair lots of generators, Flash testing the stator was my first choice. Great videos 👍

[@jcondon1]

Thanks. Usually flashing would have brought one like this right back. The residual magnetism was really messed up on it.

[@eoghanosullivan6704]

You sir are the Generator Whisperer. Another informative video. Thank you very much for taking the time to document repairs and troubleshooting. Question: has anyone that's sold you a broken generator come back and buy the fixed iteration of it?

[@jcondon1]

Not that I know of. Waiting for the day I buy a broken generator that I sold to someone.

[@FeralPreacher]

The longer you work on things the sooner you will find that one case that catches you. Glad you found the real culprit and owned up to it. Hope the power head is in fact a good one. Thanks for sharing.

[@yconn2000]

Really enjoy all your videos. I ran into the same problem with my diesel generator a few months ago. Multimeter test all looks good but still no power. I did see the small burn mark after removing the stator, but not sure if the mark I saw is the problem. Finally I took a chance and bought a used gen head and problem solved. Thanks for making all the videos because I know how difficult it is to figuring out something, shooting video and explaining it at the same time.

[@Thinker2-truth]

Awesome videos, but I have an Onan 6500. Thanks you for showing more than Breaker Reset as most of the KZbin Videos do.

[@Skynet-1]

Cliff hanger huh? Stay tuned, same channel same time. Good job! Can't wait to find out. 👍👍👍

[@larrycleeton]

I like your channel and you've educated me a lot about these generators. I know you are trying to help the DIYer trying to fix their generators thus the use of the general purpose multimeter test leads. You built a special purpose fuel tank to make your life easier. Consider making some special purpose test lead adapters that are more secure. Especially when measuring while the gen is running.

[@woolval52]

I love getting your videos, enjoy watching your patient and methodical method of troubleshooting and repairs. So you either have a massive storage room for all of these repaired generators or you turn them over in short order. Which is it? LOL, the wife comes home, can't park in the garage again. James is repairing ANOTHER generator!!

[@jcondon1]

She has not been able to park in the garage for years. Luckily generators do not take up a bunch of space. When inventory starts to get high, I drop my prices and sell them at a discount to make space.

[@andrewgrace4410]

Great troubleshooting James, good job 😊

[@dragonmaker1541]

Thanks for the update info. I always like to see what the problem really is for future reference.

[@butler386]

Once again another electrifying video. I sure do not have your ability to diagnose those generator problems. Great job. Thanks for the video.

[@billarroo1]

you are very intricate, I never realized how much is involved in making a video. Along with mechanical and electronics trouble shooting. My hat is off to U, 😃😃😃 Thanks

[@jcondon1]

Thanks

[@kerrygleeson4409]

Great work James as always 🇦🇺🦘👍

[@jcondon1]

Thanks 👍

[@wernerfritsch6436]

When you removed the brushes my first thought was: while you are in there test the diodes, it's so easy.

[@teresathiem8278]

Great video, very good content and info. Keep up the good work. Thank you

[@HighTechLab]

Loving the videos! We had a kohler that somehow sheared off the bolt that connects the motor to gen head. Under warranty thankfully!

[@jcondon1]

Yikes. Must have been too tight? Good that they covered it.

[@matthewhuppert5057]

Great video! Cound a generator out cor trash. I flashed the coil with a light attached and now I have a working generator... for free!

[@appliancerepairshorts]

Excellent video, excellent information. You are a true professional in your area. I’m working on mine it is a Titan 8500 no power.

[@YukonHawk1]

Well done and thank you for sharing your story at the end. Good luck with everything 👍👍

[@firedmyboss]

Having just powered through the HOUSTON, TX DEEP FREEZE, I was so very glad that I had invested in a generator. On the 2nd night, I successfully overloaded one leg of the 240v output... I thought the circuit breaker would protect it from overloads. Attempting repairs now!

[@FishFind3000]

Have you fixed it yet? What was wrong with it?

[@firedmyboss]

Upen further review last night, I was able to measure 120vac from each leg at the 240 output, BUT GOT NOTHING AT THE STANDARD 120V connections. I’ll have inspect behind the mounting panel to see how everything is wired!

[@FishFind3000]

@@firedmyboss sounds like it could be a wiring issue. unless your generator has a switch for 120v or 240v only.

[@thomas25082]

What was wrong with it ??

[@michaelhuey4187]

James, thank you for another great video. By the way, I do enjoy it when you switch things up every now and then and bring back other power equipment. 👍

[@geoffreykail9129]

good job of showing diagnostics, and follow up.

[@Dan.Whiteford]

I find myself quite fascinated by your diagnosis and deduction process with explanations of the results. Well done for yet another "resurrection" job! Very noble of you with the follow up explanation of what you identified at a later stage sometime afterwards.

[@andrewboyles3412]

I really love your videos - extremely well researched and presented - and really useful. Thanks so much for creating this content.

[@jeffcee9457]

Thanks for sharing you help out a lot of people

[@Engine_biulds]

Very very interesting at the end there. I may be looking at the same issue with one of my 18kw generators on the remote board. I'm not getting 12v nor power so I'll be testing further sense temp outside is coming up

[@rustyrepairs2565]

Always learning from you! Thanks for sharing!! Your videos are very good!

[@EastCoastScott]

James, i love how you always mange to find these machines for the prices you do. I would NEVE find one or as many gennys as you do and if I could people would want WAY too much for them even if broken... Your lucky that you are able to especially seeing how capable you are in fixing them. Thanks for the video and Great Job as usual. Stay safe my friend!

[@petruandreascondurachi7648]

Great videos ! Pleasure to watch

[@leonarddichiara4863]

I don't know if you ever tested the diodes on the bridge rectifier with an ohmeter on diode test they read low ohm's in one direction and high ohms or open circuit the opposite way, I was a generator mechanic in the US Army and fixed Generators in Vietnam in the field Diodes and dirty carburetors were my biggest problems, you are a great mechanic and I am learning from your channel, every thing is different from what I worked on, I have a small Honda 2000i inverter Gen for my house in emergency's love it can hardly hear it!I fixed TV's for a living for my whole career till I retired 2013 living the good life now!Electronics can be challeging as you surly know!

[@jcondon1]

Thanks. Did a video recently on an EU2000i. It is a great generator, but a lot of work to repair when if goes bad. This one had a bad diode. Ended up fixing it in an unpublished video. You can watch is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2nGnap6baeCeqc

[@ralphmills7322]

James, I really enjoy your videos on generators. You have taken great care in both function and appearance of the used generators passing thru your shop. This one looked like you didn't have to paint anything or polish the chrome muffler cover. You did gave the gas tank a good washing. I wondered if on those rubber/vinyl dust caps over the outlets if you use something like Armour-All, boot polish, wax etc to try to get the luster back.

[@nosaltiesandrooshere7488]

👍 Danke fürs Hochladen! 👍 Thanks for uploading! 👍 Very good and beautiful, thank you! 👍 Sehr gut und schön, danke!

[@petersack5074]

good boy....live and learn, like we all should....

[@ivokraaier9740]

20:58 i pulled a rotor w/o thread off by putting a big flat blade screwdriver as a lever between the bell housing, taking the center bolt out 5 mm and tapping that head. the head needs some work to accept a socket wrench again though. 24:45 why not put the bolt in with your impact?

[@jcondon1]

Good idea with the screwdriver. At the time did not have an impact up to the challenge.

[@adeeponionbrah]

Every componant on that generator shakes like heck from that engine. I was thinking there would be problems at the plug socket where the wires are attached to the plugs. Nice fix and after check on the suspect stator!

[@rebecrra]

Thank you for this videos, have a question on a briggs and stratton 6500 generator ???? Runs good, problem is 110 and 220 ac voltage cones and goes ,once I have a load on it it does the same ???

[@robertpiontkowski2164]

Think I’m going to break my generator just to have you fix it 🤣🤣 another well explained video !!! Thanks 👍🏻

[@jcondon1]

Thanks

[@Engine_biulds]

Definitely deserve support with the detail you go into. I love trouble shooting but can't do much if your unaware what you are looking for.

[@------country-boy-------]

Thank You for the rotor removal trick !!! Watching from Belize.

[@hpda44]

Very interesting. The saga continues.

[@tristanschaper281]

Super video - you just got another subscriber!

[@RandomZ88]

Well i was about to comment to say "Might check the AVR to see if it is faulty". I then proceeded to look at the gen model and try to find a replacement avr just for giggles. and what do ya know... there is no avr for that model... never thought that a generator would be self regulating like that. thanks for the excellent vid and keep up the excellent work.

[@pipefitter1728]

Enjoy all your videos as they are very informative! I’m surprised that with the large number of generators that you work on you don’t have some sort of hoist or lift and a table to make them a more convenient height to work on. Working on these on the floor has got to rough on the knees!

[@mcarroll598]

Great video James!

[@johnjohannemann1220]

Very informative and well demonstrated 👍🏻 thank you

[@dcnasoni]

Thanks James, nice info video!

[@jcondon1]

Thanks

[@ricksmith2977]

Hi Jim wh at is the reason for the circuit board on the brushes compared to the brushes with out ! Rick Smith

[@das250250]

Did you check out the stator coils of the old generator

[@everybodysjonathan]

Well done. There’s much I could learn from you. New subscriber here.

[@jcondon1]

Welcome aboard!

[@blc6464]

Good vid easy to understand Thanks

[@ericvaughn1126]

Nice twist at the end. Would be great to have a useful part as a result, but painful knowing the swap could have been avoided too. Very educational as always!

[@jcondon1]

Could have saved some time, but glad to have another power head for the next project.

[@petersallander6913]

Thank you I understand them a little more. I will wair for the next lesson

[@MitchEllis-dn9lf]

Does the DPE winding actually produce 80 vac under normal situations?

[@tommyhanlon8012]

Great Vid, very informative, Thanks J.C.

[@matthewanderson7766]

That's what I was thinking that the stator was still good thanks for giving it a second thought

[@mfilippos]

Hi James. I am a regular fan of your videos and I have a simple question for you. For better working and better viewing (for us) why don't you get a motorcycle lift because you make so many nice videos and you know the market, so you can find a cheap one.

[@brucemcpherson8832]

Another great video - thanks very much but, all the way through (until the very end) I'm thinking - check the diodes on the brush block!!! Given what you just learned, I'm sure it will become a standard part of your troubleshooting routine

[@jackcheefer]

How a sand grain can stuck a tank. Well done man

[@johnesraellabadan6231]

Salamat..(thanks). From Philippines.

[@benkanobe7500]

Is it not advised to adjust the Pot while the engine/Gen are running as it seems it would be so much easier to just turn the pot while checking the read out on the meter?

[@brianjohnson9569]

Great video as always. I'm having a nearly identical problem with a Generac quiet pact 75. The only thing I can find is the stator windings to ground is .35 megaohms and should be zero. Is that enough to condemn the stator?

[@jcondon1]

I think so. Anything less then 10 million ohm is probably an issue.

[@ericmoyer7301]

Looks professional

[@hamop3]

James, once again, another excellent video. If I may, I have a 4k generator that is causing me fits. It is putting out 185 volts regular. I need to see if you could point me somewhere where I can get a new head possibly. I have tried and tried but can not find one. Must be looking for it wrong. It is just like the one you replaced on this storm generator. four bolts and the concave shaft. Thanks for your help.

[@catdaddyglenn9697]

The first and last "fire" on that engine as you start it and as it shuts off makes a real kick. Is that not hard on the engine?

[@mydigitaldesignz]

Hello james thanks for your videos I have a question I have a Generac 5000w with a briggs and it ran out of gas with a load on it so The next time I try to use it I have no power I checked the brushes and one was melted So I ordered a new one while waiting for it I forgot which order the wires were in So I watch the couple videos and one said pay attention to how the wiring is hooked up it makes a difference and then I ran across your video and you said it shouldn’t make a difference fast forward I have already connected the wires the way I thought they were but I’m nothundredpercent sure as I was running at that was okay for a day I was using it then later that evening I had a few low-voltage things Hooked up And all of a sudden the power went out I checked the brushes and they seem fine but I’m wondering if I have the wires on wrong they’re both black but one goes to the windings and One doesn’t how can I find out for sure which is right also the Brushes that I ordered had the same part number but the new one had that blue diode And the old one did not but everything else was the same

[@jameshedrick6839]

I have one just like that but it's a craftsman. I mainly use it when i welding something or when the power goes out in my area. Have you worked on a brushless generator that doesn't make power. I have one that runs good but hardly makes any power and i'm thinking it could be the voltage regulator after replacing the capacitor

[@jcondon1]

I have worked on brushless. Have a playlist of them. kzbin.info/aero/PLoj6DvbhMTztSXUFusVjCRndA9N8VsttA Only had a problem with one that was a little down on voltage. Other then a complete failure of the rotor or stator, not much to go wrong on those other then the capacitor or the diodes on the rotor.

[@omarllenas6926]

Súper knowledge & Teaching////

[@rancelynch6514]

Rance here, I was thinking that another check that may have proven productive is to pull the electrical panel to see if someone had messed with the wiring .

[@asakayosapro]

Very informative. What I would love to know, though, is if these things are worth rewinding, especially the Chinesium versions that for some reason have enameled aluminum for coil windings. I've once worked on a similar looking unit to this, with the working head you had installed, but no power. The rotor wire had broken off, but refused all efforts to soldering, as it would neither wet nor tin. Then a piece broke off, and that's how I figured out what kind of wire it was. It worked when I reconnected the wire, but with the kind of material used and the conditions it was subject to as a jobsite generator, I have a feeling that it would not stay working for long. Hence me wondering if it can be rewound.