went out on our bulk Garbage cleanup week and scored a bunch of gas powered machines, this is the 1st one for us to work on, its a Generac 5500 generator, my guess is 5-10 years old, lets see why it was thrown out and can we fix it?
Well here's the culprit ! I have to much gas in my water! Good prognosis and explanation Mustie. As you've pointed out, one can see by the factory indent in the top of the tank, a bad gas cap gasket and a cracked sight lens.., all a good recipe for failure especially when left out in the weather, no doubt it was probably parked under an eave of the shed or home given the amount of water. You clearly have more than just a basic understanding of small engines, you also possess a good down to earth sense approach. Thanks brother for all you do, awesome videos.. LOL I've gotten in trouble with the boss for bringing coffee cups out in the garage, used them for everything except coffee.
can he fix it?? YES HE CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! another successful rehab by M! as for the gas cap I would run a few strips of DUCK TAPE around it and call it a day until next years pick U can find another cap
Before you started making videos, I bet you were talking to yourself like you talk to us now. You're so good at it. Question: I have a 800 watts 4 stroke chinese generator without the recoil start which happen to rotate reverse to every motor I have seen before. I start it with a cordless drill. Do you have any idea where I could find or rig a reverse recoil start? I want to give it to a friend but she doesn't have the skills to use it that way. Thanks again for your spellbinding videos. I have learned a lot through them.
Just retired and I worked on these for 20 years. That model came out right before Y2K and went a few more years. It's basically a B&S motor. It also has compression release so you need to set the valves just AFTER TDC to allow the valves to fully seat. The water usually gets into the fuel tank because that cap is vented and someone left it out in the snow. As the snow melts the water is retained in that depressed area on top of the tank then drips inside. I usually seal the gauge glass (plastic) with silicone or JB Weld if they are cracked, then tell the customer not to store it outside. Generac does sell a gas cap without the float but it's generally hard to find because it's not in the OEM parts page for that unit. BTW, the voltage is adjustable through a small hole in the side of the control panel and you have it about right. (a little on the high side) With these small units it's always best to set frequency first. No load around 62 Hz and full load should come in around 58 - 59 HZ. The voltage should be stable +/- 5 volts. (nominal 245 volts on the big plug) Low idle (no load) will be 35 - 40 Hz using the auto-idle switch. Lower than that it may bog down when you first load things. 60 Hz will be a nominal 3600 RPM (actually 3750 = 62 Hz / no load) and idle down will be 2200 - 2400 RPM.
I love how you diagnose what could have happened to the poor machines you find. Poor use, no maintenance, sitting out in the rain, etc. Great job Mustie as always.
Good stuff. I let my generator sit to long without starting it or putting Sta-Bil in it, we had a big snow, lost power and of course it wouldn't start. It's in a little covered shelter with a cement floor that I built on the back of my house, on the outside wall of the panel box so I can back feed the box. I drag it around to the garage, through a foot of snow, get the carb off and the junk cleaned out of it, working by flashlight. Drain the old gas, put fresh in it and about the time I'm gonna start it, the power comes back on. So now it gets started once a month, checked with a meter and fuel stabilizer kept in it. Along with a battery tender on it. it's almost 20 years old and still purrs like a kitten. Always enjoy watching you bringing dead stuff back to life.
@@Chris-ru5eq I run all my machines dry at the end of the season. In spring I use a high grade gas and not regular. Don't have any problems. Throwing stabil in is fine too but I still run the machines dry. I like your advice and drain the thing and use the gas in one of the other machines you're using at the time.
Every engine at home ,I only use Non-ethanol gas and Stable fuel stabilizer . Run them out of gas ,remove the gas cap, put a coffee filter over the top of the gas cap,held down with a rubber band. I let all of the fuel evaporate ,now I have a dry tank . Mustie gets great curb finds 👍👍. Watching him fix helps more now during the virus . Be safe everyone
@@Chris-ru5eq YUP! either that or shut sw. off let engine stop, shut off gas and when gener8or cooled off, drain the carb. I keep a log of hours used so oil gets changed at proper intervals. also when air filter gets cleaned, valve lash adjusted. etc.
langer24106: Bro .. i am with you 100% ... i don't know how this guy finds all this shit. I drive a company vehicle ALL OVER the city DAY AFTER DAY and i can't find ANYTHING like this on the side of the road or in front yards as trash ...
@@ACommenterOnRU-vid I don't know how this works in the US, but for example in my home country Belgium there are like maybe one or two days in the year when you can put out large 'rubbish'. A lot of things can be found then as well. Whatever is not picked up by anyone, gets collected by the town services and trashed. It's probably something similar in the US. I mean, I doubt people can just leave stuff out whenever they feel like it. Maybe it depends on the State as well. Maybe someone can tell?
Well, this is the US and we have some parts of the city that are "low" income aka the high crime parts of the city and even then when im in those area's ... i don't see generators laying out in the front of the yard for trash .. I don't see pressure washers, no lawn mowers, i just don't see anything that runs from a gas powered small engine .. Its like either people don't have any or they leave them in their garage to ROT ... I can tell you i DO see TV's everywhere... TV's with cracked screens ..
My husband asks me why I watch your channel. Because i enjoy watching you work. It's your ability to repair....other people's trash! You are in very informative. Thanks.
I own the 6500W model, but it is essentially the same. I now know how to fix mine if it ever studders... but it has not faltered in 17 years of home backup work. Thanks!
Pretty sad in our disposable society that people just toss out expensive tools because they can't waste a few hours doing such a simple fix. Probably safe to say that everything else you found with the generator is probably going to be an easy fix also. Great score and as always enjoyed watching and learning.
Thanks Mustie1 for another great video. Always looking forward for the next one. Your knowledge and tenacity of these machines are appreciated. Thank you.
I want to thank you, for this video, and your pleasant way of explaining what you are doing with the Generators , I have a smaller model of Generac and I've learned , like I stated, from you on how to take care of the thing. Every time I watch one of your videos , I learn something. It's a shame I can't thank You in person. So let me thank you again. You have a friend here for sure. The knowledge I 've acquired is like gold to me. now i'm looking for little surprises on the side of the road every day. lolthanks to you I have something to do with my retirement time. lol
I've just recently discovered your channel like a nugget of gold out there in the wasteland of RU-vid. Love your content, my father and I have always worked on automotive engines the best we could, but small engines and carbs are different beasts. You're the Bob Ross of Carbs. Little happy jet here and this pin lives here, and we can't forget the spring. Not to mention you own up and embrace your own mistakes. That's life, it's real. You and your channel represent the quality content out there for people trying to learn new things and maybe even pass it on to the next generation. Thank you for what you are doing. I can't imagine the hours it takes to actually do the work, with the added time and trouble it takes to film it and then edit it for posting.
Nice find on that pile, when you pulled up on it the generator was the first thing I focussed on, then the snowblower. This one did not fight too hard, it just wanted some real maintenance. Thanks for letting us hang out in the shop...
As soon as oil started pouring out, I figured it was mixed with fuel from a stuck float. ONLY because I learned that from your videos, I had never heard of that before. Also learned on this video to check the fuel cap seal and cracks for possible water ingress. Keep up the great teaching!
Some of the stuff you find in the free piles reminds me of a guy I knew years ago that would leave anything he was using right where he used it last and it would sit out in the wind, rain & snow until he needed it again and if it didn't work he would throw it out and go buy a new one. Didn't matter if it was a wood chipper, lawnmower or a floor jack it was all the same. I suspected his parents never made him pick up his toys when he was little and it carried through his entire life.
Thanx for making all these videos!now I'm taking my engines apart fully to rebuild.the nice part about it is when it starts right up when your done!pat on my own back thanx again for being a good teacher!
When I saw that first fuel sample go into the cup, it did look awfully clear. I thought to myself “nope. That’s not gonna taste like gas!”. Love the videos. Keep up the good work.
Oh my goodness. I have the same generator with the same problem. Been sitting for years not knowing what to do. Thank you so much for the advice. I’m going to give it a go this weekend. Love your videos.
I just rebuilt my first carburetor thanks to your videos, been watching for what seems a year. 4hp Tecumseh powered walk behind Craftsman leaf vacuum/chipper. The constant dust left junk in the bowl and the jet needed to blown out. I might look for a cheap used carburator, because this thing is always having problems due to its job duty. The gas tank is right below the bag that accumulated the shredded leaves and chips of branches, so the fuel is always getting junk in it. A second carb would make maintenance easier. BUT I didn't need to take it to the small engine shop. Thanks Mustie!
Hey Mustie, I just completed my first small engine fix. You really inspired me to do so and taught me how to clean carburetors and other things to do with small engines. Thanks.
I love the little laugh when the motor starts working. It's like - I pretty much got something for nothing. Which you did. Great job and for some reason fun to watch.
Good job. I have that exact same generator. Bought it in 1994. I keep it well maintained. It runs the furnace and well pump during power outages. I'll now check the rocker clearances this Spring.
I have run these generators for 15 years. I have become used to their quirks. Two things....you can adjust the voltage; through the panel on to the circuit board there is a dashpot for voltage adjustment, back, on the left side of the control panel. Second thing, it seems to be common for the exhaust valve to become tight. I think the valve seat is slowly mashed deeper into the aluminium head.
You are a pleasure to watch and very thorough. I really appreciate your methodical approach oil, gas, spark, carb. Wow, that is a great diagnostic approach. I really enjoyed your process and am so happy for your success on this one. Kee the videos coming you have an excellent analytical process and pleasant to watch. Thanks so much.
Heck of a machine there. Excellent. The voltage was still within acceptable limits. I've seen wall sockets that high in voltage and 109 on the low side. That may be a keeper. Generacs are a better brand for sure. 👍👍
One place I used to live had a foundry a couple of blocks down the street and when they shut the foundry down, the line voltage at my place would go up to 150 volts to 160 volts. I kept wondering how my electronics kept getting fried and found the voltage problem. I had to get a line conditioner put in to limit the voltage.
Bought one, has 40 to 50 hours on it after last hurricane, put away empty, clean. will adjust values when next put into use, awaiting next hurricane. Thanks again for the knowledge. Dr D
This was excellent. Vintage Mustie1. Just like old times. Excellent pick on that generator. I've always kept mine inside the shed. Sometimes we'll keep it close to the house when storm season is coming but it's on the back porch under a roof and even then we cover it with plastic to keep water from getting in/on it and uncover if we need to use it. This revival at least reinforces that my precautions were justified.
Chemists, back in the day, were always tasting their results. They tended not to have long life expectancies. Because of that, and the fumes. I doubt that licking the odd gasoline dipped finger is a big issue though.
I feel confident enough myself now to attempt it also but only if i have him playing on my phone as im trying to be a brave adult taking apart the big scary machine. Lol
I have learn a lot by watching your show and I thank you very much. Some of your tips and tricks have even made me money.! Thanks again.. I hope you don't ask for a percentage.!
@@ACommenterOnRU-vid The voltage won't drop through the cord when there's no load being drawn through it. (voltage = current x resistance) As the extension cord gets longer, the resistance increases. As the current (amps) drawn through the cord increases, the voltage drop through the cord increases. I'll bet a 20 amp air compressor won't be able to start off of that 150ft extension cord, unless it's like 8 gauge or larger.
@@ACommenterOnRU-vid ... don't need a compressor to test. Just grab a few cube taps or power strips and then go for a few hair driers. 15000 watts each on high and 750 watts on low. The 120 volts outlet is split so load each one evenly and you can get an idea of what it will hold.
Mustie, I have been a big fan of yours for a while now. I watch most of your videos but somehow missed this one. Today, for some reason, it shows up on my feed so I watch it. Halfway through, I realized that I had a 2850 watt generator in my shed that I bought at a garage sale and could not get it running. Turns out, mine was over full with oil (gas) and the gas was bad. I followed your steps and the thing started right up, first pull. Thank you very much. I wish I could like this video more than once
I've always wanted a generator but kept putting off buying one. Then Michael kicked the crap out of our area and forced me to go hunt for one. Finally found an 8000 and it powered my house for a week before the power came back on (Why so big? I have a submerged deep well water pump in addition to running the entire house minus the ac). Lesson learned. If you live in an area that is prone to power outages, GET a generator and keep it maintained!
Yes I have 2, one for house essential (well, septic, pellet stoves) other for back up or entertainment! My neighbors were surprised during Hurricanes Sandy, and Irene, we had power to run everything, including 2 sump pumps. Kept the wife and kids happy, food in 3 freezers, 2 fridges, and basement dry. Now I need to save money for 2 new electric pumps with 2 inch discharge ports again, my. Sister now has those, 3 states over!
Watching one of your other vids this summer where you adjusted small engine valves got me out of my chair to adjust valves on my walk behind mower for the first time since I purchased it in 1992. The carb has been cleaned a few time when it wouldn't start but I never thought of doing the valves. I found the engine service manual online.
Had this same 11 horse generator, pull start ripped your arm off like a sheared key. Key was fine, valve rocker arm bolt backed out letting the push rod pop out. I love a free fix, don’t you? 👍
Glad i found your channel. You've inspired me to get working on my dad's old riding mower. It's been sitting in my back yard for several years. I replaced the carb (seals were rotten), refilled three tires and stole one from my dolly. I cut the grass yesterday! I do have one request... lube that lift! Too squeaky!
Wow wish we could score for junk like that in the uk something like that over here about 800. To 100 pounds another great vid mustie ive learnt so much actually fixed someones portable generator last week same fault they left gas/fuel turned on air filter was wet with gas and contaminated the oil I almost felt like a mechanic cheers friend appreciate your knowledge thanks
“It doesn’t taste like gas”, yea sure... That’s how it all starts. One sip of gas n’ water, then straight 91 octane, then 93 octane🥃. Stop now man while you still can!!! 🥴
I have a bigger brother of this machine, mine is 7000EXL so has electric start. It is about 17 yrs old. I store this inside. It only goes outside when I have to use it due to power outages. After super storm Sandy in 2012 it was run for 7 days until power was restored. I once put this away without turning off the petcock. Lesson learned the hard way. Fuel dripped to fill up the engine. Time for a drain, oil change and new filter. The air filter on your unit looks like it could do with being replaced. Thanks for the reminder on the valves. I need to check my gaps. I just replaced the oil, oil filter and air filter in preparation for potential winter power outages. Good to see this machine running again. Dave.
I would suggest getting a multimeter with a frequency output. On my generator, if the frequency is not within about +/-1 of 60 Hz, my UPS's will not charge up.
This man is happiest when the stuff he fixes works....and even happier when it got fixed with stuff from the hoard. A real "mensch". A true American in the Yankee ingenuity sense.
Did. The same thing with a few lawnmowers, and a wood lathe, later the owners came by, and bought their mowers back! Now I have a few handshake return customers!
I experience it all the time here in Northern Mi. Even in a garage. The gas tank will "sweat" if the garage gets hot but the fuel is cool. If it is humid at all, the moisture runs down the inside of the fuel tank. It's best to keep the fuel tank full on anything stored in the garage, this prevents condensation and fuel contamination.
Repeat After Me: no, but I remember many years ago, a young lady’s Pontiac GTA kept coming into the shop on a flatbed, the issue was not water, but sugar, each time she broke up with her boyfriend, he dumped sugar in the tank. Nobody else in the shop figured this out, but after meeting her, and knowing who her boyfriend was also dating, we had several cars with the same issues. Turned out he had several different girlfriends break up with him over a 2 week period, and several warrants after that. So not taking care is almost as bad as vandalism! Our shop didn’t bill the young ladies, however the judge ordered him to pay for all repairs for 6 months that involved sugar in the tank. After that he was escorted to each home by a court official, to face the fathers, pay for repairs loaner cars and everything else, then he came to our shop, I think he is still washing cars, and the shop has been closed for 15years!
As always, enjoyed some small engine wrenching with you.. nice machine that doesn’t look old but obviously left out in the weather. Careless owner is your gain. Nice.
I have the 7500W version of that machine. Loud, loud, loud....but it puts out power like crazy. Probably needs a good go-through like you did here. Guess I'd better get to it.....thanks for the video. Nicely done.
I am a small engine mechanic. Never tasted gas. Smell tells most. Fresh gas has an almost aromatic smell. Aroma disappears very fast in summer. Color changes from clear to yellow, eventually dark green - has a herbal like stink. In summer, it can go orange in four days if machine left in open sun. Fresh gas evaporates very quickly on fingers or gloves, giving a cooling sensation. Older the gas, lesser the cooling. Gas can sometimes remain clear, but does not have the fresh aroma. Here, the best parts of gas, the most volatile, and also the most explosive ones that help an engine start, have already evaporated. Fresh gas will evaporate without leaving an oily residue on fingers or gloves. Older the gas, greater the oily residue. Another mechanic I know, correctly identified the gas as one not sold in our area.