iPower Generator Not Making Power. Is This a Parts Machine?

[@CezaryAkakios]

Nicely done transferring over those mounts for the shield. That's the kind of thankless task many wouldn't bother with.

[@billhenry7833]

Well, he is trying for views and would have had a 15 minute video, otherwise

[@TheBry_Guy]

What @CezaryAkakios said.

[@mrpetit2]

When a quick video is still referenced to hours and not minutes, you know you're watching a quality channel 😁

[@johncourtneidge]

Yes!

[@ninaevans4501]

We could watch Mr Condon for hours, no issues there whatsoever. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Bunk599]

What a nice guy....willing to return it to your friend.

[@PaulMack1249]

I really enjoy these generator repair videos where there’s a little bit wrong with everything and you systematically take steps to rectify each problem, both electrically and mechanically. I’ve used shrink tubing all my life in the electronics business but never thought of using it for that purpose. Really cool stuff, my friend.

[@jeanbaptistevallee4500]

I`m to old to fool with old stuff now a days. This is the next best thing. "Thanks for the memories"

[@thisoldminewithlars5324]

You are never to old to tinker and tinkering leads to repairing. Mediocrity in success is acceptable.

[@videodistro]

Nonsense. Yes, you can be too old. Wait until you get there.

[@thisoldminewithlars5324]

True, I’m only 69. I guess I’m still a young buck.

[@PoopyPants-1955]

Hell, next birthday I’ll be 70 years old and I’ve got a garage Full of projects that I’m looking forward to “fooling” with. Including a Power Mate generator that last ran after Hurricane Alicia. 😊

[@GannDolph]

Appreciate the discipline not over drilling the pilot - good lesson for us all 👍

[@jaygee999]

James, each week's presentation is avidly awaited -- the length of the video is immaterial -- it's the content that deserves all the time necessary -- Thank You

[@rosewood7592]

I've never fixed anything on an engine. However, after watching 30+ videos of yours, I feel confident to clean the carb and make adjustments on my generator. Thanks so much for making these videos

[@paultice610]

Just what I was waiting for a good generator video to go with my coffee. I can’t think of a better way to wake up. Keep them coming. Great work.

[@ni_wink84]

I’m always impressed with your electrical knowledge, I’ve been trying to wire my older car and I get so confused and you seem to just breeze through a lot of these repairs, I give my respect 100%!

[@PoopyPants-1955]

Just One wire at a time and you’ll get it done. 👍🏼

[@lomni02]

It was so cool to see the broken brush, I could almost hear ya say YES! This will be an easy fix!

[@richcarter9476]

You certainly put some extra work in to the exhaust heat shield. Not sure I would of been that particular. Great job!

[@tonygriffiths2485]

A friend in need ? You got a very lucky friend. Hope he makes it worth your while, in the meantime we learn too, so as usual a win win. No change there. I really enjoyed that, thanks :)

[@spaceinvadertoo]

God bless the inventor of shrink tubing.

[@elliejackson6907]

Hi James, Nice video as always. You got lucky with that generator, just brushes, wow. A tip for pulling stuck exhaust nuts/bolts: After undoing one (the easiest one), lube it and tighten it up again before trying the other. That can reduce any stress on the second nut/bolt, making it easier to remove. Cheers, EJ

[@glOckcOma]

I don't know why your videos are so relaxing and enjoyable to watch. I never thought and I doubt I will ever repair a generator or any small engine in my life, but man I am so intrigued with your videos. You sir are the Bob Ross of Small engine restoration and repair. A few tiny critiques: some more fast forwarding and shortening of the video would be great. I love to watch your videos before bed and I like to watch from start to finish, but rarely have time to give a whole hour before bed. I know Hand Tool Rescue will show the first screw being screwed, then cut to the last screw, to save some time. We don't need to see you screw all eight screws, we get the picture. And his use of video speed is genius. Also the editing from Cutting Edge Engineering is top notch, I will find myself reaching to fast forward and she does it for me, before I could start. Again just my tiny, small suggestions, you are the one with 161K subscribers after all.

[@PoopyPants-1955]

Your heat shrink tubing hack is pretty slick. 👍🏼💡 Hard to not learn something new with your videos. lol

[@sdwputnam]

You do amaze me that you have the patience to do the repair work time and time again. Keep up the great work.

[@carsonb3914]

I’m 75 in my opinion you are a perfectionist good job!!

[@richardbenson4048]

This man has the patience of JOB. How many of us would fix all the aspects of the muffler heat shield.?

[@pacoal]

FYI It doesn't matter which brush is +. You're producing AC. We always change polarity on the commentator on megawatt generators. The + side wears faster. Love your videos :)

[@jcondon1]

It may not matter on larger generators since they often flash the field automatically when starting up. This one uses small permanent magnets and others residual magnetism. DC is sent to the brushes. The generator will have trouble building the field if the residual magnetism is reverse of the power going to the brushes. Likely the residual magnetism will collapse trying to reverse the field.

[@pacoal]

🖖👍I didn't know that. I forgot about those generators having dedicated exciter supplies. Thank you

[@markyoung7470]

I had this same problem with Generac where the brushes went bad just like yours, I installed new brushes and it was fixed I cleaned up the slip rings before installing the new brushes, my Gen had 2500 hrs though it was run hard but well maintained. By the way, I learned this by watching your outstanding videos. Thanks for passing that knowledge on.

[@kellyleathers8806]

I can’t believe I caught a video when first released…Condon is my mother’s maiden name …maybe we’re related…I really enjoy your content thanks….

[@gaetansimard1594]

I don’t know why those video are so addictive. I am a marine engineer, can’t stop watching every one of those and I am amazed how you can trouble shoot the generator part of those units. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Sure your video help someone 😊.

[@r8118830]

You are a master of improvisation and adaptation James.

[@u9027]

I have the exact model of generator and couldn't find out the valve specs. Now I know! Thanks for a great video!

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

Very nice work James. I would never have thought about shrink tubing to enlarge the fitting , that was some trick stuff there dude!

[@davidbarr1579]

I'm sure glad you clarified the length of that replacement muffler, cause I always thought that shorter and not as long meant the same thing! 😁

[@jameshedrick605]

Most of the time whenever i take a carburetor apart to check something and even it doesn't look like it needs it i usually put it through my ultrasonic cleaner anyway just to be sure. Watching this reminds me that i need to adjust the valves on my generator. Dont remember doing it since i got it around 5 or 6 years ago

[@daddski1]

great job and one offer of an idea. For the airbox, the fitting for the air hose was too small but you had the old fitting broken off inside the hose in two parts, smaller and larger. You could have fit the larger broken barbed piece onto the airbox for a perfect fit... a little epoxy and bam... good as new

[@Corey-dy2cq]

James good to see you bring these generators back to life. If you get to a point at some time where you are looking for a break could you do a video on your favorite tools?

[@GTOUTUBE]

Hi James, my name is Earl Dodge, live in Oregon. I bought a older L head Briggs and when I start it, it really chugs and back fires out the exhaust and gas sprays out the intake. I lapped the valves and they are sealing however the exhaust valve has .008 play in the valve guide. I can't find the specs for the valve lift but the are opening pretty good. The previous owner put a clone carb on it. My next step is to check the lobes on the cam. It is a Generac 6082 starting and 5000 running 10hp Briggs and Stratton. Thank you James, you are the best.

[@jcondon1]

I have had issues with clone carbs that made me chase other problems that ended up not existing. I would be very suspicious of the carb. Otherwise would check the spark timing (flywheel key) and check the valve timing (camshaft and crankshaft timing marks).. Also might check the leak down. You could pressurize the engine with the valves closed. Just a few PSI. Check the exhaust and intake for leaking valves.

[@oemytech]

Great save.... A set of brushes, valve adjustment, carb clean/adjustment and exhaust mod.😊

[@philliphall5198]

Can’t beat that for sure 😊

[@rickardandreasson5095]

I like the videos where he builds a working machine with parts from different brands of generators that works with some modifications.

[@johncourtneidge]

Very nice! As always! It was very pleasant to sit back and enjoy the exhaust rebuild. Very soothing!

[@petermckee1061]

Lovely work, James. Enjoying your videos very much. Regards from Down Under, Peter.

[@ansia8785]

Finally!! I have this generator, but the 5,000 watts model. I've been dying to do a THD test but couldn't justify spending $300 on the meter. Sad to see that it's higher than the >23% A-iPower used to advertise in their webpage. No wonder they removed it.

[@ansia8785]

Little update. I was able to find a used meter (same model as James's) and measured the THD for the AP5000 model. On no load it was 4.6% THD and under half load it went to 13%. I am unable to go full load, since mine has dual 120v 20a outlet (2,400w max) and one 240v L14-30 outlet. I don't own anything 240v, so I can't test it to max load. I am talking to a friend to measure his AP5000 and see if it varies per unit or model.

[@AllenCavedo]

So you had to break out the MiG welder. Nice job on the heat shield. I’ve seen many of your videos and they are enjoyable to watch and educational. Big reasons why the videos are so watchable: good lighting and good sound. Add to that your easy narration and deep knowledge of small engine and power head repair.

[@PabloDiablo682]

I see you getting better and better with your fabrication skills.

[@davidmonteil6340]

James, you are no doubt a master mechanic and technician! Thank you so much for your patience, precision, knowledge, and pleasant presentation. You really care about your work and it shows. No music needed in your videos and I look forward to every one of them. 2 thumbs up! Note: I have the exact same red color Fairbanks Ward Gen. that was in one of your recent videos, and it was given to me. I cleaned the tank and it works well, and kind of hard to pull the rope on the 5hp Kawasaki motor (due to compression) as I saw you giving it a good pull too on yours. Fortunately almost no plastic on the Fairbanks Ward Gen. and lots of compression with fairly low AC distortion. It's built like a tank and we all only wish that all modern Gens. were built with that build quality.

[@jeffreyandreas7514]

Good video Jim, nice job saving the generator and modifying the Predator exhaust, I really enjoyed it!

[@krg038]

Great video. Pretty worthwhile teardown and cleaning.

[@GTOUTUBE]

Thank you James for getting back to me. Flywheel key is good, valves are raising 37 seconds. I'll have to check the valve to crank makes. The coil looks like it is installed right but I'm not sure. Thanks again James. Love your show.

[@turbodpv5908]

James, As always, another excellent video. Excellent advice on checking the valve clearances. Running the exhaust valve at 0" clearance, as you found, would also likely have eventually resulted in a burned exhaust valve as well as reduced performance.

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

Great video James, Thank you for posting. - That stator cover is crying out for a smiley face, :-)

[@stevezamarron3830]

McGyver to the rescue again, well done 🇺🇸👍🏼

[@stevefrayne7253]

I’m thinking that muffler damage looks a lot like backfires were the cause. Might explain the breather box too. Great vid.

[@ericvaughn1126]

I was thinking the exact same thing

[@RossReedstrom]

A constantly open exhaust valve certainly would lead to dumping unburned fuel in the exhaust, on the "compression" stroke, so that's consistent.

[@williamfoote2888]

Interesting. You don’t see many blown out mufflers in James’ vids. My question was about the hole in the bottom of the original muffler: is that a 22 caliber bullet hole?

[@stevefrayne7253]

@@williamfoote2888 I’ve seen holes drilled in the bottom of mufflers to allow condensation to drain.

[@scottdiehl2726]

If you keep your wire a little shorter you'll get a better weld. Love your channel very informative 👍

[@larrykelly2838]

Nice generator for someone, great work. I learn allot from you.

[@RiverratGoRVing]

Nice to see that your welding skills are as well as many DYIers as well as a great save to help someone else out with your knowledge.

[@jcondon1]

Not going to win any welding awards. Need some more practice.

[@kcjazz62]

One fix that I used a lot on plastic covers & panels was CA glue & baking soda. Fill the crack with baking soda & drip the superglue over the crack! As needed: smooth with micro spatula (dental tools), scotch brite, paint, etc. Most of the time, it was just fine “as is”.

[@generessler6282]

Just a joy to watch your hands doing their thing. A favorite Thursday event for me. I guess the tight exhaust valve explains the blown out muffler? Fuel mixture leaking by? So combustion in the muffler.

[@AZVIDS]

This was a great and fortunate save. Love your content and presentation👍👍👍👍👍

[@brettbutler5175]

Hi Jim, I recently discovered your channel and am properly hooked for all the reasons your subscribers already applaud you for. Excellent knowledge and transfer of that knowledge so others can learn. One thing however I would like added and its probably not for all videos, are the commercials behind the video, I appreciate you don't know what you will eventually get when you on sell a project for but even just to give a breakdown of costs and then your target asking price for a project you are flipping would be a great addition IMO? I also believe this may get your repaired units sold quicker via the channel....?

[@silverado123]

Hi James, recently found your channel and I do enjoy watching your videos and am learning a lot from them. Your voice reminds me of the KZbin channel, the lock picking lawyer. I also like watching him

[@northidahodreaming5657]

Thank you....continue to learn a lot with your videos. I'm off grid and use generators 100-150 hours in the winter.

[@watermanone7567]

I have not seen that brand before. Ran well after you drilled out the pilot jet. I have to drill many pilot jets out in my area due to being to lean. Usually only have to go up one or two drill sizes. Thanks for a great video.

[@nsayer]

The brand is actually called AI power, not ipower. I have one of their larger inverter generators.

[@watermanone7567]

Thanks@@nsayer

[@energydreamer5347]

Will the pilot jet be the first check for a surging engine where the governor is bouncing all over the place? Any second or third places to look?

[@182QKFTW]

Fantastic! Get some angled feelers gauges

[@joemesser2681]

Awesome job. Very nice work James

[@richardwalters1803]

Great video, glad to see your welding now too

[@garyhaas6876]

53:32 Fix the plastic , I took 4 , 1968 mercury couger tail lights, 2 per side , both broke in different halves, cut them in the .middle, epoxyed them together , made I good set

[@patrickmatini5920]

Hi you do some great work. Thx for the videos. Just heads up you mentioned this unit is 3000 watts. It’s all good

[@Darknamja]

I remember having to zero out the leads of our PSM-6 multimeters before using them when I was much younger. 😉

[@arthurbiringer5676]

Another award winning job!

[@philliphall5198]

Boy that was a lucky find 😮 Seems like it will be running again 😊 Good job again

[@andrewgrace4410]

Nice fix James 😊

[@luuk-out-below9804]

Good save James, running good as new!

[@krg038]

Thanks!

[@jcondon1]

Thanks

[@alantorrance6153]

In frame 13:54, centre low in the photo, you can see that junction plug/socket/unit with the yellow/brown and blue wires. It seems as if that junction unit should be relocated a little to the right so that it lies against the insulating flap of the nearest stator winding.. This would pull those coloured wires away from the rotating spindle to which you earlier drew attention. Note also, that at the extreme left of the plastic base plate holding those stator connections, mostly hidden by the wire junction unit, there is another plastic plate coming out at right angles, probably intended also to help hold that connection unit where it aught to be. I would go further and suggest that those two stator wires at the bottom aught to lie above the yellow and black wires that are sheathed in black near that junction unit. This repositioning would help hold the junction unit down so that the exposed wires at the top are nowhere near the rotating spindle.

[@danrascal4045]

Thanks for the video! This brand is "A-ipower".

[@daveschroedersworkshop4479]

Amazing job as always Jim!

[@scottdeeslcutusa8117]

Thanks for all you do..

[@gaetansimard1594]

Merci!

[@jcondon1]

Thanks!

[@TimDyb]

Another great save!!! Well done, sir! 👌

[@GeronimoDimaanoAlvarado]

good job james watching fr. philippines...

[@stazeII]

Nice repair! Wonder what in the heck happened to that previous muffler!

[@jcondon1]

Most likely backfired

[@rinozonnenberg]

Thank you James, really enjoy your repairs. Wonder if the fuelline is secured to the carburator. [56:12]

[@mikehors7351]

Nice well done and again thank you for the cool info. Keep up the cool vid's.

[@daboomer2277]

Hello. Glad to see your new awesome video. You inspired me of rebuilding a lawn mower engine that was run out of oil.

[@christophermarshall5765]

Good fix. A bit of your time and a few bucks fixed it.

[@coaterdave]

Shrink tube on the airbox = Brilliant!!!😉

[@ayozhek1898]

Another great video, thanks James. I have to drill the pilot jet on a 6.5hp clone to cure lean running, worked a treat :-)

[@Rorschach1024]

My suspicion is it fell powerhead first onto the ground and the rotor slipped on the shaft just a little. That explains the dent in the powerhead cover, and the mangled muffler too.

[@generessler6282]

Can that actually happen? Both crankshaft bearings would need to slip, too. Even if possible (no shoulders on the journals) this would lock up the rod bearings. The engine wouldn't turn over.

[@daveredlinger7194]

GOOD JOB JAMES. THANK YOU.

[@justinvanaulen2478]

Nice job Jim, you saved another one. I don't know much about this brand, but I'm glad they used a Honda engine. Many others would have given up, but this appears to be worth it. Looks like they are still around and make a huge range of OPE. I can't say this is a commonly known brand around my location, but maybe it's common elsewhere in the US. Great video as usual!

[@jcondon1]

Thanks.

[@energydreamer5347]

@@jcondon1 - Will the pilot jet be the first check for a surging engine where the governor is bouncing all over the place? Any second or third places to look? Thanks to your channel and your videos I have jumped off into this as hobby. I have a Honda clone around 11 HP based on my research due to the decals fading off the recoil cover. I purchased a new carb and new air box and engine started right up but as I advanced to checking the power head the choke is having to be used for the engine to idle and the governor is now bouncing up and down. Thanks for any further advice?

[@eDoc2020]

@@energydreamer5347 If it's a new clone carburetor and it's surging at idle it's probably the pilot jet. But first make sure there aren't any intake air leaks. If the new carb worked fine at first but then got worse it's not the jet size.

[@martyb3783]

Great job as always.

[@UhBuddy1976]

I love your videos, bro! I’ve learned so much from them.

[@globin010252]

sweet...I use a little grey spray primer for marking out hidden things ..bolt them on and squirt some paint under the heat shield

[@TroyMeats]

Great video. Thank you.

[@WJCTechyman]

I have an engine from this company, apparently it's AI Power. It is made by AmPride in China. My specific engine actually says, "EnergyCube" as the brand. It's nice that you were able to fix it. I wonder if your friend wanted it back but then again he probably bought a brand new unit.

[@merrymanrc]

I am glad that not a parts machine because that would be good little generator for someone who like to go camping a lot.

[@jimthesoundman8641]

39:30 Sometimes for difficult situations like this, you can glue the brackets on with JB Qwik or super glue and then come back after the glue dries and tack weld them. The glue gives you more time to make sure you have the positioning correct.

[@nsayer]

Do you think that the "tube within a tube" that you removed with the screw was perhaps the adapter they used to make that tank vent fit on that barb?

[@runout57]

That welder sure is coming in handy isn't it😀

[@demetriosa7646]

Is that a Harbor Freight welder?

[@SeeSaw72]

HI James I love your generator videos. They are a great learning tool for all generator owners. Do you ever work on larger generators in the 20kw range.

[@liljoeii6091]

THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO

[@johnclarke8180]

Awesome job James!!

[@kiplandingham322]

What was the bit that you used to elongate the heat shield holes? Thanks.

[@brianwood5220]

Great fix, James. Did your friend take the Generator back? Thanks for sharing.

[@jcondon1]

He did

[@jimdavis6833]

You could hot glue that filter housing. I once hot glued a small hole in the side of a car battery, and it outlasted the battery.