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

[@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. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👍👍🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@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.

[@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. 😊

[@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.

[@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.

[@GannDolph]

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

[@spaceinvadertoo]

God bless the inventor of shrink tubing.

[@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 :)

[@lomni02]

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

[@PoopyPants-1955]

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

[@richcarter9476]

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

[@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. 👍🏼

[@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.

[@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

[@richardbenson4048]

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

[@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!!

[@johncourtneidge]

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

[@u9027]

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

[@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 😊.

[@MrTonyPiscatelle]

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

[@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….

[@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?

[@r8118830]

You are a master of improvisation and adaptation James.

[@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

[@rickardandreasson5095]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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....?

[@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!

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

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

[@stazeII]

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

[@jcondon1]

Most likely backfired

[@krg038]

Great video. Pretty worthwhile teardown and cleaning.

[@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.

[@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.

[@182QKFTW]

Fantastic! Get some angled feelers gauges

[@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.

[@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.

[@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! 😁

[@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

[@oemytech]

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

[@philliphall5198]

Can’t beat that for sure 😊

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@larrykelly2838]

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

[@northidahodreaming5657]

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

[@scottdiehl2726]

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

[@PabloDiablo682]

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

[@rinozonnenberg]

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

[@joemesser2681]

Awesome job. Very nice work James

[@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?

[@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”.

[@krg038]

Thanks!

[@jcondon1]

Thanks

[@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

[@AZVIDS]

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

[@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.

[@kiplandingham322]

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

[@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

[@gaetansimard1594]

Merci!

[@jcondon1]

Thanks!

[@philliphall5198]

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

[@southron49]

greetings mr. james; my query is: why did you not weld up the old muffler?

[@jcondon1]

Not sure. Was thinking I had one that would just bolt on. As it turned out welding the old may have been easier.

[@Darknamja]

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

[@christophermarshall5765]

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

[@runout57]

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

[@demetriosa7646]

Is that a Harbor Freight welder?

[@stevezamarron3830]

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

[@andrewgrace4410]

Nice fix James 😊

[@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

[@arthurbiringer5676]

Another award winning job!

[@robertpeters9438]

There are 3d plastic "3d printing pens" used for plastic repair that use 3d printing plastic filament that might allow you to make minor plastic repairs. They are used to repair toys and print filament in various widths for artwork.

[@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.

[@richardwalters1803]

Great video, glad to see your welding now too

[@donho1776]

Looks easier to weld up the existing muffler than to transfer the mounting bolts to the replacement muffler.

[@jcondon1]

Probably would have been.

[@scottdeeslcutusa8117]

Thanks for all you do..

[@THEFALCON58]

Hi Jame, where did you get those drill bit sets Please

[@jcondon1]

Amazon. Link in the description. You will also need to order a pin vice.

[@luuk-out-below9804]

Good save James, running good as new!

[@gordonwilloughby8793]

You might want to check the motor mounts. Just before you shut off the engine after the load test the engine seemed to be moving a lot in the video.

[@mikehors7351]

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

[@lavejim11]

Just wondering..could you have just put the blown out end of the muffler back in place and welded it instead of having to move all the brackets and shield to the replacement?

[@jcondon1]

Yes

[@coaterdave]

Shrink tube on the airbox = Brilliant!!!😉

[@BlackAck90]

Love your videos...fantastic thank you. What camera do you use? I wanna see "power generator makes james loose his shit" at least once :) Thank you for letting us watch.

[@GeronimoDimaanoAlvarado]

good job james watching fr. philippines...

[@danrascal4045]

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

[@brianwood5220]

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

[@jcondon1]

He did

[@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

[@TimDyb]

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

[@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.

[@MrVein5.0]

is that considered good enough for a sine wave on these? more like triangle to me

[@UhBuddy1976]

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

[@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.

[@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 :-)

[@daboomer2277]

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

[@michaelholmes4808]

I have an Ipower generator at my summer property. Do you have a recommendation as to how I can quiet it's operation? Can I add an additional or different muffler? Your videos have saved me time and money. Thank you!