Generac Propane Generator Will Not Start - Bad Regulator? - LP3250 

Then they should offer a reasonably priced rebuild service. It is not acceptable to sell expensive items, then price-gouge on the cost of parts.

@@twigg2324 From the mfr's POV, it's better to gouge on the price of parts (or even discontinue them completely) so you have to buy a new one instead. Keeping millions of rarely ordered old parts in stock is a big pain in the ass/expense anyway. That propane only Generac is pretty rare (I don't think I've ever seen another one) - how many orders for regulators do you think they get?

But is the OEM to blame? It might just be a rare part and the seller has the price jacked up.

@@throwbo Piss poor service is one of the reasons prices are so low. Many long years ago, when you bought something like a generator or other fairly large ticket item, you weren't buying just the thing, but parts availability for many years. I can just barely remember when anything electronic came with a schematic. You simply cannot schematics these days.

Greedy capitalist USA buying cheap Chinar parts and marking up 1000s %!

Thanks!

Thanks

Thanks

Jim Huitt: Jim Morrison here and I echo your thanks! My LP 3250 only has two hours on it and now it won't start, likely, I believe, because I last shut it down by turning off the gas (dumb, I know). I appreciated all 43 minutes of James Condon's video and plan to attack the problem the same way! If the regulator isn't the problem I may also have messed up the hose from the tank to the regulator, so I'm going to replace that. That hose has a check valve in it that doesn't allow gas to flow when I turn on the tank. Don't yet know if that's normal!

Thanks! Am surprised they screwed it together instead of something a little less serviceable.

A broken rope is always a bad sign.

That is great advice! Had an incident years ago. Thankfully no fire, but had a ruptured line and liquid propane venting. Seemed like an eternity to shut that valve off.

I completely agree. Jim is an expert in his field and most kind to take all that time to help us out. Electricity just went out and I can't get my generator 3250 to start.

I though I looked at it before putting it back together. Glad I checked it again. I was too quick to blame the lockoff valve.

If you dont know what to do with propaneengines ,dont start playing around with it . a explosion is near by

Thanks Ken

Glad to hear it. Trying to rebuild one of these without a rebuild kit is a challenge for anyone. I did not expect to get mine back together without leaking. Thankfully it worked out.

They are, but at least they supply parts. Many do not...

Thanks Craig

I agree on the liability issue. You can't find rebuild kits for oxy/acetylene regulators either. They're out there, but no one wants to sell you one, only to the certified repair places.

@mister kluge Brake pads, calipers, lines, and rotors shouldn't be sold either then. Certified pros should work on brake systems only or you're putting everyone else at risk.

No problem 👍

I cannot be sure on this one. It came out once and does not seem to have anything holding it in place other then friction. It must be a common issue with this regulator.

Anyway to add a touch of rubber cement around the perimeter?

Thanks

Even industrial gas regulators rebuilt kits are not available due to rating being nulled by opening. The tolerance need to be measured especially on governor type regulators.

It would be a short video. Keep it stored inside, always keep the carburetor dry. If you store fuel in the tank swap it out once or twice a year. Once fresh stuff is in the tank, run it for a while under load.

Always better to drain all fuel from bowl and tank rather than using snake oils like "fuel treatment" or "fuel stabilizer".

@@staind288 Use ethanol free fuel and most of the storage problems go away.

@@staind288 I could never figure out how an ounce of stabilizer could make several gallons of fuel stay good and if it can, why don't they just put the stabilizer in the fuel to begin with? What is in that stabilizer and how does it work?

@@larrysmall3521 Other than super expensive pre-canned fuel and very expensive racing or aviation fuel, the nearest gas station that sells non-ethanol fuel for a reasonable price is an hour and a half round trip out to the countryside from my suburban area. I suppose it depends where you live - I gather that it's easier to find in rural areas where people have a lot of off road equipment.

True, but it was opening with the choke open in this case.

I have a GP5500 that someone converted to LP with an aftermarket regulator and no gas tank. It has low compression which I need to resolve before I get to messing with the LP, but plan on putting a universal gas tank and carburetor back on it if the LP proves to be a PITA.

@@ericvaughn1126 Did you check your valve clearance?

@@thomasgibson8025 Oh yeah. That's the first thing I did as I've had two pieces of equipment in the last 6 months that had 0 to very low compression and adjusting the valves resolved the issue on both of them. Appreciate the suggestion though!

Funny thing is, I do not. This is the first one I worked on.

Yes! I use aquaphor. Work wonders.

Probably. If they put their name on it, would be a much easier fix.

Neither did I

Waiting for a fuel tank that is hopelessly rusted with no replacement option. That one will be converted.

@@jcondon1 I've had really good luck with vinegar on rusted L head Briggs Tanks, I did one with muriatic acid but I wouldn't do that again. I've never re-coated a tank with a tank sealer but If I had something that needed it I would try it.

This would be very interesting to see. There’s a lot of places that sell kits online for this

I will convert one some day. Waiting for one with a tank so bad that I have no choice.

@@jcondon1 You're the best.

@@piconano me. Magazine.cabooMpl

Me. Je. Magazine, .ca. I l

Do not see many diesels up for sale.

@@jcondon1 dang

@@jcondon1 Not in these small sizes. You can get diesel generators inside of used light tower trailers for (relatively) cheap sometimes but cheap means like $800 minimum and not $50 and usually they have thousands of hours on the clock (which is not to say that they won't run for thousands of hours more - diesels can be very durable. Back in the day the Chinese used to make diesel generators in smaller sizes but I don't think these were ever very popular in the US and it's pretty rare to find a used one. If you could find a genset with a real Japanese diesel engine these are very durable but an old Chinese clone is a questionable proposition.

I agree. Did not see any adhesive there to begin with. Not a great design on the rubber piece.

They are fragile. If already broken, then you have nothing to lose. Just make sure the regulator does not leak when you are done.

Thanks 👍

Thank you so much

Thanks! People love Generac! They are an average generator at a premium price. But at least they support their stuff (even though expensive),