HOW-TO "Flash" A Generator | Make It Produce Power Again | MUST WATCH

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HOW-TO "Flash" A Generator
Has your generator stopped producing power?
In this video I show you how easy it is to "FLASH" a generator. Flashing or polorizing a generator will sometimes make it produce power again.
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Опубликовано:

1 авг 2018

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Комментарии : 414

@kugmyster 6 лет назад

I flashed mine in my front yard, however my neighbor called the cops......

@stevie3275 6 лет назад

well I wonder why!

@PatrickWagz 6 лет назад

I flashed my neighbor in my front yard, however my generator called the cops.... :-)

@codytaber6304 6 лет назад

kugmyster A name to go with a flash has been obtained.

@shawnburke2770 6 лет назад

I did the same thing - got arrested and was sent to small claims court!!

@pierresgarage2687 5 лет назад

Also di it, all the husbands from the neighborhood are jaleous...!!! And it's seems like it's spreading... Sigh!

@crosswalkguy435 5 месяцев назад

Dude! We checked everything. Diodes, windings, capicitors, etc., and it is all fine. My buddy told me about flashing it with a 12 volt car battery. He said he tried it and it didn't work. I had never heard of that, and thought he was crazy. I found your video and talked him into trying it. When it worked, we laughed our asses off. THANK YOU!

@bamideleoseni8702 3 года назад

My gen has been a big headache lately. I just flashed it by following your steps and it came up. Thanks so much.

@walkingweapon 3 года назад

Thank you! I've had a generator sitting around for a few years. I've replaced the carburetor and the capacitor. This got it to produce voltage again. Very clever.

@miraclarke1 3 года назад

Donyboy 73 you're awesome. I replaced the friction ring in my Craftsman snowblower yesterday while your how-to video played on my workbench. I could have figured it out for myself, but having your video helped greatly. I've learned so much from your channel...I've even been doing repairs on some of my co-worker's lawnmowers...they've been giving me pre-loaded coffee cards as a thank you. Cheers Bro!!

@carlwellman3623 3 года назад

I did this with my Generac iq2000 that had been sitting empty of fuel for 5 years, ran but no power. Actually twisted the 1/2” drill a few times before starting the generator and plugged in the drill, started the generator and barely twisted the drill counter clockwise with the trigger pulled and immediately the generator started generating power and continues to work fine. Great information!

@jimgehringer1560 Год назад

Thanks a lot for this method suggestion. Seemed safer than some of the other online ways using car batteries or jump starters. It took me about a half-dozen spins of my 1/2" drill, but suddenly my 20yr old Arctic Cat 4000 came back to life! Great tip.

@garybroadwater 2 года назад

Thanks to your video, I did not put my generator out at the end of the driveway for someone to come pick up for scrap! Could not believe it was really this simple to fix, but it was. THANK YOU!!

@ryanjones9305 5 лет назад

Took three turns of the drill chuck, thanks for the tip. Helped me help a buddy get his hurricane generator up and running for the season.

@aleblanc3547 6 лет назад

Well, that's the first time I've seen that done, In fact, I had no idea it COULD be done! Thanks Don!

@servihomestead4324 2 года назад

I agree! Never heard of such a thing. Crazy that the small amount of electricity made by spinning the drill can do anything to reset the generator. Nice trick.

@thomasgibson8025 2 года назад

I too have to say that is the first time I have ever seen that trick work. I've known about for years and tried it many times with no luck.

@denislajoie6455 6 лет назад

Thank you for the tip Don. So educational, as usual!

@Bassguitarist1985 6 лет назад

Don, You may want to check the rotor, that is where you will likely have the problem. Portable generators, brush type or brushless capacitor excited type that does not have a field boost circuit, store the residual magnetism in the rotor, not the stator. Often times there are little permanent magnets glued onto the poles of the rotor ( which is essentially a spinning electromagnet) as a means of re-exciting the residual magnetism. Centrifugal force will dislodge these magnets and if left for a few days will go flat. I would concentrate there. I repair Generac portables and standby's and often encounter this problem.

@myhdsoftail03 6 лет назад

Donny I agree with Bassguitarist. Brushless generators rely on the exciter magnets in the rotor & capacitor for field excite if left set long enough that the capacitor loses it's charge then the rotor magnets are supposed to excite the field look for lost magnets in the rotor. Basically an alternator. they need power (from field) to make power (output)

@MrTheHillfolk 6 лет назад

Early Briggs didn’t have magnets in the rotor , later ones do which helps the situation. The early voltage regulators wouldn’t turn on until 7-8vac, but the residual was only 3vac. Updated regulators produced in the past 3-5yrs have the ability to “wake up” at 3vac and don’t have as much of an issue. And run it under load for a few hours a month , it’ll help the rotor build up magnetism

@joeery5699 6 лет назад

Brushless motor doesn't have magnet on the rotor,it uses capasitor to energizing the stator to activating the magnetic field on the rotor

@joeery5699 6 лет назад

I always facing this issue on sincro alternator,my quick fix and permanent is i change to higher value 10+ capacitor than the original capacitor

@matt9c1 4 года назад

"I repair Generac portables and standby's" Job security right there. Sorry to hear you have to deal with Generac.

@luisarroyave6374 4 года назад

Truthfully i thought it was not going to work following the steps from the video, but amazingly it worked. Thank you so much, i big thumb UP.

@mattbrennan8088 6 лет назад

wow, I have never seen that. And it worked great. I have a custom tool that I made years ago for these, but honestly- your method is easier. Well I guess if you make sure you let go of the drill, its easier

@johnmoss8015 5 лет назад

Real good video, real good information. How many times have I heard of generators being junked where the engine was fine but nothing out of the electric side.

@Just_a_Mechanic 6 месяцев назад

My Co-worker and I were working on a Generac light tower with 0v on L1 and L3. Watched this and thought, There is no way it's that easy. It was that freaking easy.

@timsagear8918 4 года назад

Donyboy73... Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I'd just about given up... after doing the battery flash and replacing the AVR on my 6200W Elite Briggs & Stratton brushed generator, neither of which worked... and then I found your video.. It so simple I couldn't believe it would work.. two spins of my dewalt hand drill and the drill started running.. You are the best!! Where the heck is your donation button?? Thanks!

@donyboy73 4 года назад

donation button on my home page

@IronMan-ml5yi 6 лет назад

Great demonstration! Definitely worth watching!

@colvinator1611 2 года назад

Thanks very much for this video. I've just bought a new generator and I've never heard of this before. Best regards, Colin UK.

@palamidi13 6 лет назад

you are a very good technician.... keep posting videos!!My wishes from Greece...

@tonym6920 6 лет назад

I didn’t know you could do that, thanks Dony!

@BenjaminMcNelley 15 дней назад

I DID WHAT HE DEMONSTRATED! IT WORKED!!! HUGE NOTE! I DID NOT NEED THE GENERATOR RUNNING WHEN I RAN THE DRILL BACKWARDS AND IT STILL WORKED. MUCH SAFER. GREAT VIDEO!!!

@justintothetruth 4 года назад

Congratulations! Oh and thank you. Google should award you. Granted it’s not a topic that people are emotionally invested but you know as well as I do that don’t matter on you tube This to my knowledge this is the video with the least amount of negative comments in regards to his video and actions taken, that I’ve ever seen. When I say least I mean not one. Not from what I saw and I read many..

@jacquescote2585 3 года назад

Great Donyboy! After checking all connections, brush and AVR on a brand new honda 6500 that has been stored for many years I was starting to become very concerned and fearing the worst, just before hanging myself I thought , let’s check Donyboy Chanel and did this easy procedure , guess what! It worked!!! Thanks Donnyboy!!! .....’’Donyboy for president’’

@donyboy73 3 года назад

lol oui

@jomartin8415 5 лет назад

Thanks bro! I was about to throw a fit before I found this video. Worked like a charm.

@darrenr5436 2 года назад

This worked like crazy. Thank you.

@marioadiez 3 года назад

Many thanks I come to learn from other videos this "flashing thing" may occur However english is not my first language, and was difficult for me to understand whats happening Now, with your clear video I do fully understand And this is my first time in life hearing something like "flash a genset" Great! One day, one coin!

@donyboy73 3 года назад

por nada Mario

@DS-kn4bs 6 лет назад

Wow thats crazy lol Now to look for generatore like this so i can get them dirt cheap 😁

@plumkey197 2 года назад

That's a good plan, but apply the "fix" after the purchase and when the generator is safely home. I flashed a generator I found on CL before money exchanged hands (was being sold for $100 because it wasn't making power). When it started making power, the dude refused to sell it to me and said he'd rather keep it now that it worked. He gave me $20 for the "fix", which covered my gas LOL. Words of wisdom!!

@tannerc900 Месяц назад

This video is awesome. I bought a big Kubota generator for $20 because the guy thought it was screwed because it wasn’t producing power and I tried this and works perfectly now!

@craigtimmons3468 6 лет назад

When I was in school in the mid late 70's our teacher showed us how to preform this operation to a generator that is used on old farm tractors and he called it re-polarizing the fields, basically the same thing you do for a positive ground system with the regulator to polarize it. He explained that if it sat for a period of time the magnets could cross their fields and essentially have the same draw causing the generator to not produce any charge.

@JT-zb2km 2 года назад

What steps can I take to repolarize my generator? It's a Dunlite.

@walters5235 6 лет назад

Thanks! I've never heard of this.

@timjanssen1671 5 лет назад

Thanks for the great video, i have 2 Briggs generators, dont use them much, never had that problem yet, good t know what to try if it does, thanks !!!

@flatrockwest Месяц назад

this was an awesome fix! so easy to do and it worked for me! THANK YOU!!

@Evilslayer73 6 лет назад

simple trick thanks for this Donyboy!

@janebentley6908 6 лет назад

Thanks for that. Learned something new today. Great!!!!

@josemariacalebgarciayamin5250 5 лет назад

Saludos amigo,muy bueno el método para excitar al Generador.

@Quadflash 6 лет назад

Thanks, Donny! I had no idea that a genset could lose generating capability or how to fix the problem T thanks!

@marcoalvarez5682 3 года назад

Wow there is always something new to learn thanks Mr don

@grimlawdmoney5080 3 года назад

Same thing with my Briggs it’s brushless, was wondering what to do with it but thanks a lot you save more than $200USD

@tad5920 2 года назад

Wow! I had no idea that could work. Thanks for the video!

@CharredSteak 6 лет назад

Had a similar problem with a small brush less 2 stroke unit. I'll make sure to try this next time!

@blakepowerlift7004 3 года назад

Wow! Worked! Thanks

@20_below 6 лет назад

Thanks for the great video, extremely useful!

@russelldodd93 3 года назад

It worked for me. Thank you.

@Omegadoomship 2 года назад

After replacing the AVR and going around with an ohm meter, I was out of options. I saw this method and originally thought it was a bunch of nonsense. But then I tried it, and to my astonishment it actually worked. Now the generator makes power. So it goes to show you that sometimes even the most unusual fixes could actually work. Very surprised. It greatly depends on the circumstances with the generator, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

@davidharris6581 6 лет назад

That is one of the smartest tricks I ever saw!

@alexanderraykhert1019 6 лет назад

Honestly I never thought this could happen, and... *I don't even have a generator* Still enjoy watching these anyway, thanks for the great upload!

@dmatthews251 6 лет назад

I have read that shutting off the generator while connection still exists to a load will cause this. Try turning the circuit breakers off before shutting the motor off to see if that may be the cause.

@kurtregaets8881 6 лет назад

your trick worked thanks for the tip

@clauslundberg9224 6 лет назад

What a cool tip - thanks for sharing

@captainover-tighten6729 Год назад

Hi Don, long-time viewer, first contact! I have a brushless generator that's only putting out 82volts at approx 3600 rpm (59hz). I obviously have some power to turn a drill, so I might try field flashing the capacitor. I have the original and a replacement capacitor, neither of which I can draw a reading of capacitance off (ergo, maybe they need flashing). Thoughts from all are welcomed. Thank you, one of the best channels on the interweb.

@TimBlackyBlack 6 лет назад

A new trick to try. Cool Stuff, from donyboy73 !!

@fire7765 6 лет назад

Thanks for the tip.

@kidsfunthings 4 года назад

thanks a lot dear sir i so like your all videos .

@peterk75a 6 лет назад

That's one great tip. Thanks.

@rodneybrand8521 6 лет назад

You are the master...cheers 🍺🍺🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

@63256325N 6 лет назад

Thanks for the video.

@sammunyagwa2721 2 года назад

Good idea man..... Am going to try mine too

@paid2close 4 года назад

This is no joke, I did what he said in the video and it worked. My 7500 watt generator stoped producing power and I flashed it and bam I got power it saved me about 1k

@justintothetruth 4 года назад

Your 7500w don’t happen to be a 3phase

@Gears.and.Gadgets 6 лет назад

Thanks for the tip. I've seen anything from a bad capacitor to the magnetic field being lost.

@kingkoala1946 Год назад

Thank You, DonyBoy !!!!!!! In the process, I also kept tapping the reset buttons, which were rock-hard and didn"t depress? Your recommendation? Again, THANK YOU!

@JOEZEP54 6 лет назад

Hi Don, Its been awhile. Great tip! I learned something new today. Stay well Joe Z

@donyboy73 6 лет назад

HI JOE, PRIVATE MESAGE ME WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE

@mattb4127 6 лет назад

Donny This is very interesting. Can you please post a follow-up video when you discover the problem?

@lancealexander8071 3 года назад

Turn her over and run your drill in from that side for several minutes at 120 cycles per minute.

@gergemall 4 года назад

Thank you DONNY

@tom5256 6 лет назад

That reminds me I need to check my generator. :)

@wasimedo3877 5 лет назад

Good job I never know that but I know more of the time it usually be the coppascitor

@michaelchilders6056 4 года назад

Wow, thank you Don!! I own a generator and this could happen to mine one day, and you sir probably saved me from a future stress headache!!

@alanalilley3037 3 года назад

Yes great idea

@DJleaD1981 3 года назад

Ca E

@samuelbangura1 3 года назад

Thank you for sharing

@geojor 5 лет назад

great, thank you for this ...

@ronireland6601 3 года назад

I was skeptical at 1st and thought what the heck so I tried it and sure enough but I lost one side of my 220 and I don't understand why I tried flashing over that other side and it will not retrieve so I got a little more work to do a little more look in to do but I do appreciate your fact and lesson And I thank you

@MrFergeson 4 года назад

I bought a used ETQ 5500 watt generator and it does the same thing. The owners manual says rev it up a little to get the excitation going which does work, but thats dangerous especially for an amateur because the windings could fly apart with tremendous force. What I found was leaky/weak diodes on the rotor windings. I could not figure out the diode type for my generator so I will flash it for the rest of it's days. For some models the diodes (2 of them) can be easily replaced. But they might not be just any regular diodes, they might be zener diodes which regulate the excitation current thus control output voltage. On locomotives a lot of their generators have a large diode ring and same thing they will start putting out when revved up. Be careful the small excitation windings can put out 400 VAC. And if a winding is burned open, the capacitor could still be charged and knock you in the dirt.

@uhmgawa6533 2 года назад

Loss of rotor residual magnetism can be caused by allowing the generator to power down with a load connected. In any event there is safer approach for the drill remedy. Just tie a rope around the chuck for a few turns. Lock the trigger and put the drill on the ground with a foot to keep it in place while giving the rope a tug. Same result while keeping fingers off rotating machinery.

@rudyardgomeas6042 9 месяцев назад

Will using a reversible battery powered drill also work?

@robertkee7534 3 месяца назад

Turning the chuck is much safer, as you have complete control to release, but using a rope is extremely dangerous with a good risk of loosing a finger tangled in the rope. It will happen so quickly a a by product your operating hand will not instinctively let go whilst your rope finger even though released is pulled off.

@robertkee7534 3 месяца назад

Also, most DIY and trades personnel are familiar with self tightening keyless chucks and are in tune with operating with power to tighten or releasing.

@HeyMissINeedACocktailPleasecuz 4 года назад

I can’t wait to try this...

@Praising-Christ-JesusAllmyLife Месяц назад

Thank you 🙏

@raymagness8130 Год назад

Thanks, a ton I’ve had huge trouble with my Briggs & Stratton generator/welder and I’m hoping to get it fixed while I haven’t disassembled. OK now I’m gonna say that like sending a text I got a

@mrmerhtin3625 6 лет назад

What?! I had no idea that could happen! thanks!

@aaronanthonymoat 3 года назад

Down to the dump I go. Thanks for the video

@WontSeeReplies 2 года назад

Great video

@josephsmith6613 2 года назад

Good info

@isvilopez1009 4 года назад

that was really cool!

@henrysmith8012 11 месяцев назад

I did mine with a hand grinder. Hold the trigger down and roll the grinding wheel on the floor real fast backwards.

@davidhu9416 3 года назад

Nice video. Thanks.

@donyboy73 3 года назад

Glad you liked it!

@65csx83 3 года назад

Another good video of very useful info. You make a point of having the drill set to forward, Would it work having the drill set to reverse and manually twist the chuck forward?

@alexclarke7908 4 года назад

26 dislikes ??????? they didn't understand what you did. Great information thanks.

@williamgrayson4181 6 лет назад

They need to start it once a month with a load I did a tri fuel conversation on a brand new Honda generator really nice

@MegaGeorge1948 6 лет назад

Residual magnetism in the generator exciter field allows the generator to build up voltage during start-up. This magnetism is sometimes lost due to shelf time or improper operation, among other reasons. Restoring this residual magnetism is possible and is sometimes referred to as "flashing the exciter field".

@jedidiahlawton2149 3 года назад

what more info plz a video or something I'm genuinely interested as i 60% believe this to be bs its not that i don't want to believe but this seems kinda scooby doo

@shawnsumpter8633 6 лет назад

THANK YOU...

@jamesmullins3219 6 лет назад

thx!

@stephenshannon4535 5 лет назад

Interesting, we always applied 12 volts to F1 and F2 to flash a field. I'm retired now, but held certifications in gensets and switchgear with Onan.

@iwasiamiwill_ 3 года назад

Can you please break this down to me so I can have a well rounded understanding of the process. My understanding at the moment is that the self excitation system was not excited and he had to plug in the drill and give him a lil tickle to get excited lol. I'm joking but I would love to hear your knowledge on this topic with your experience, thanks

@patrickroehrich2362 Год назад

Stephen Shannon I have a wire on a 30 amp plug that burned in half and did not trip breaker, and no power at all

@MrTheHillfolk 6 лет назад

Have them run it under a decent load for a few hours a month. It should help it hold residual magnetism better. Lack of operation is the main problem when you need to flash these Briggs models. At least it’s easy to do.

@midgoog2 6 лет назад

I notice the owners manual says fhe unit must be started and run every 7 days. This could be because of a problem with losing the residual magnetic strength from the exciter coil magnets. The automatic voltage regulator won't "trip " unless it sees around 60V. What you are doing with the drill is supplying the small amount of electrical current to allow these coils to build up sufficient strength to generate enough voltage to trip the AVR . I wonder if glueing some Neodymium magnets near these coils could help ? Just a thought...... Cheers Eric

@bartholomewchuzzlewit4356 3 года назад

Yes, loss of residual magnetism is what I would put my money on and I also wondered if putting magnets near exciter coils would work. I have only ever flashed the stator coils quickly with 12 volts DC, once there is a little magnetism there away they go.

@GrampiesWorkshop 6 лет назад

Never saw this trick before. I will bookmark it though but hopefully never need to check back to it.

@andrewwoodward6560 6 лет назад

Really cool tip,Don and so easy to do ! Tight fitting leather gloves might be better for that task . I have found with those rubber palmed gloves that the drill can grab on to the rubber (especially when they are new) and possibly twist the hand. Just wanted to pass on my experience. Thanks, man.

@donyboy73 6 лет назад

thanks Andrew

@Tbizzh 5 лет назад

I've seen it done running the drill with a wire wheel along a bench . Looked much safer.

@jefferyb304 6 лет назад

Just a thought. When I took my dads generator apart, I found at least two capacitors that looked like run caps you see on some motors. Could the generator have at least one bad capacitor?

@sailingyemaya9781 Год назад

Good video

@annierenard5954 6 лет назад

wow ....... thank you

@buellracing631 5 лет назад

Don, i. have the same problem on my John Deere 5500 Watt it a 550ge. does the same thing loses power after sitting for a day or two! I found that if you at least let it run for 5 minutes with nothing on it the the regenerate I think that'll fix your problem that fixed mine I usually run a 220 welder off it and when I'm all done I let it run at a fast idle but 10 minutes and then every time I go out and start it now I have power almost instantly😉

@stefantrethan 5 лет назад

Nice, I had no idea you could generate enough voltage with the remament magnetism in a drill. The way I heard it was that you connect a battery or charged capacitor momentarily. Using gloves on a drill chuck is unsafe, they get caught all the time and peope end up in the ER.

@MrtalentedReid 10 месяцев назад

Awesome

@PenttiHeikkinencwa 5 лет назад

vielen dank

@macemace3194 6 лет назад

Thanks, Danny for the FYI. I have a generator probably only been used 4 times EVER but the last time the cord broke then found ur vid of how to change the pull cord... a BLESSING The gas sat in it for a season so could it be the gas reason why it won't start. The generator is a 5,000 Watt Portable Generator Model # HU40500/HU405000G It has oil and the spark plug is brand new. Have you done any videos on tunning up a generator or getting them going! Thank you