How to Start a Generator that Won't Start 

I am exploring getting a generator and your video was very helpful. You have a good concise manner of explaining. TY

Had a customer bring me a two-stroke generator that would not start Watched this video (changed the bad gas and spark plug boot ) fired right up after 3 years of sitting Thank you

Thank you so much for the basic tutorial on getting the generator started. I have a slightly newer Briggs and Stratton model, so you going over the fundamentals helped me get mine started. As it turned out, I did not have the fuel valve open.

Man. Thanks gor your video. Im here in new orleans hours before the arrival of hurricane ida. I know we will lose power. Our neighbors evacuated but offerred us to use their portable generator. Im not familiar with it. Its s black max 6560. I will certainly do what your video explains and hopefully ill get it running

This is much more helpful than any of the other videis Ive seen while troubleshooting my genny. Subscribed 👍

Watched this video and started my generator right up after 2-3 years. Thanks for the video!

We love what you are doing here! Great tutorial for help starting a generator that won't turn on. Subscribed!

Mine starts, but dies 30 seconds later, it was sitting for a while, I cleaned the gas, but forgot about the muffler thing, it makes sense 😊, thank you!

Thanks F.G. At least you have given me workable options before the expensive repairs. I'll let you know If I'm successful. Merry Christmas 🎄

Thank you! I have the same model.. fairly reliable. Agree that you must have fresh fuel!

Northeast guy here also. Great video!

Blessings to you... My brand new predator 1400 is not starting.. Started one time but kept tripping... I change the oil after it looked Milky. I'm going to try fresh gas like you said. I hope that work

By the way, thanks for your help. I know nothing about engines...except that sometimes you are supposed to mix oil in the gas... Anyway thanks again.

Great tips, pretty much can use those tips for any small engine! Thanks for sharing my friend!

Hey thanks for the vid. As a new generator owner here, this helps me feel confident using mine. Also Briggs & Stratton

Thank you man I live in New Orleans and I was able to start my generator. 🤜🤛

thanks for the video your instructions really works, thumbs up

Thanks for your explanation. Serge , Surrey BC.

I have a Boliy 3600SI inverter generator. I bought it used about 10 years ago and have had this problem since day one. I cannot get it to start using the pull rope, but it runs fine once I get it started. Starting it is the issue. I can pull the starter with or without the choke on and it will not start. Usually no hint that it is trying to start either. But one person suggested that I remove the spark plug and squirt just a touch of gas directly into the cylinder. Then replace the spark plug and try to start it. It works great. Starts first pull and runs great. But, my main use of this generator is for power backup in case power goes down, I at least can save the food in the fridge and have some power for lights and other necessary stuff. Anyway, once running, if I pull the choke, it bogs the generator down so it seems like the mechanism for the choke is working, but for some reason, it doesn't seem like the choke is working to give the carb more gas at start up. Does anyone have any ideas to fix this issue. I don't want to be having to deal with pulling spark plugs and squirting gas into the cylinder every time I need the generator running. Been dealing with for ten years and getting tired of it.

This video has helped me a lot a lot

Most generators these days have a low oil shut off sensor and will not run if oil is too low. Add oil, or bypass the sensor to check if that is the problem.

Thank you for the video it helped us alot

I have a Karcher 2,000 generator, which is actually my 84 year old father in laws, in that he really doesn't have the strength to pull the cord too many times any more, so I brought it home with me, as I told him I'd give it a try. To me, the gas smelled off...so I dumped out the tank of fuel, added new fuel, and it still won't fire. I even pulled the spark plug to give it a look see, and dribble a bit of fuel into the cylinder, then replaced the spark plug. This generator is basically brand new, having less than an hour on it, but it's about 2 years old now sitting in my father in laws garage for a 'just in case of a storm' reason. It does have a plastic 'bulb' you push, which I'd imagine pulls fuel to the carb, and I've pushed it many times, and see their is a small overflow hose that allows fuel to drain to out the tube to the bottom side of the generator. When pulling the spark plug, it didn't smell of gas, and of course looked pretty well brand new as well. It did 'fire' once or twice, albeit wouldn't start, and then pulling again and again many times, even leaving it several hours and trying again, with no success. I'm not sure if the old fuel can harm the carb or not, albeit it should be flushed through by now with all the times I've pushed the bulb, basically filling and replacing any residual fuel. I do put the choke on, and make sure the fuel selector is in the correct position, and as far as I can tell this unit doesn't have an off/on button as shown on the one on the video. Any help would be appreciated, as I don't know if I've overlooked something, but as said I doubt this generator has an hour on it, so it should be able to run, as I've heard it run last year when I test ran it and brought some gas for him in case of a storm. Thanks.

Got her running - thx!

The biggest problems with generators not starting is the use of fuel with ethanol in it (standard US gas station fuel). Always use non ethanol fuel (about $1/gal more), or buy the stuff in the cans at the hardware stores. Fuel with ethanol can start gelling up filters, screens and carburetors within months. This is the same problem you will have with any engine not regularly used such as chainsaws, snow blowers, weed whackers, etc. Do yourself a big favor and use non-ethanol fuel, it could save you in a bind.

Thanks for the 4 nin vid . One was 30cmin was great he did so hut i didnt want to make popcorn ! !!

GOOD TIPS , THANK YOU !!!

Thanks man and great job . But mine has gas, fire and I had to tk oil sensor wire off to start and put bk on b4 last stall ran great ran outta gas won't start. It was slightly cover due to rain but had good ventilation.. I do not have a screen on mine and am cleaning carb but am out of ideas it's a briggs 5000

Thank you so much you saved my bacon 🥓 😅

Thx🎉 that really helped me!

thanks for the tips

I have gone through all these steps and still will not start any other suggestions. I have used starting fluid / carb cleaner / changed the gas / cleaned the spark arrester/ have completely removed the carburetor and checked cleaned it. It starts fluid and even straight gas in the carb but acts like it can’t get fuel. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Not sure how long we will be without power here.

i have a Westinghouse DF9500 dual fuel, electric start generator. Took it out of the box a few weeks ago. It ran fine last week. Now, battery is charged, but no power shows on the charge indicator light and no power to the starter. It does not fire when pulling the recoil either. Fuel is on, tank is full, On/Off switch is on. I don't find any loose connections. Maybe a bad starter relay? Can't have over 2 hours on the machine. Thanks.

Thanks for this great clear video. I bought a used Briggs Stratton portable generator that resembles the one you have in your video here. It is several years old but only been used 2 times but it has been years since it has been cranked. The gas tank was dry when I bought it so I know the gas is new and not a problem. It starts fine but only runs for about a minute or two then shuts down. Any thoughts on what that problem might be?

I just bought the new Predator 4400 Inverter Generator. I put oil in it. New gas, Pulled the choke and put the gas to the on position. It started. ran it for hours. Shut it off. The next day. Same thing but I go to pull start it (no electric start) and I pulling and pulling with no luck. I return that genny and buy the same one again. The problem haunts me again. Same process about and boom the same thing again. I am doing everything in your video plus turning eco mode to off when starting. What do you think?

The first thing i would do is take the air filter off, open the choke, and squirt a shot or two of carburetor cleaner directly into the carburetor. It kicked right off right after i did that. Saved myself a lot of trouble.

Goodevening I own a SUA5000 generator jus bought it last year worked great for hurricane season... I drained the gas to pick it up for winter, jus watched your video and tried everything, now I cannot get that sucker to start, doesnt even sound like it wants to... The only thing I can tell was. Different was my on/off switch was on the whole time I had it locked up, the gas line was closed and screen is cleaned,.. please help

Thanks for the video. My generator will pull Start but the key won't. Any ideas why key isn't working?

Old generators ? I'm sure many of you would like to dust off the generator , here's some tips for you and I speak as someone who have been in the automotive business for over 38 years . 1st remove the spark plug , 2nd squirt small amount of WD-40 through the spark plug hole on the piston to lubricate the Rings, if WD-40 is not available then any other similar rust9 treatment or light lubrication will do , 3rd spin the engine few times before installing the spark plugs , you want to make sure that the lubrication you squirted inside the spark plug hole have blown out , one of the biggest problems with small engine not starting is a dirty spark plug , brush whatever it is on the spark plug with a clean wire brush , the spark plug have to be clean and dry especially from any oil or carbon residue that might be on it , use a propane torch to heat up the spark plug , heat up the spark plug until the electroids negative and positive on the spark plug will turn red , allow the spark plug to cool down before touching it , if you don't have a blow torch then use the barbecue , if all fails as the last ditch effort , do the following and be extremely careful ,it is what I used to do in the old country Palestine, put a small amount of gasoline in a metal dish , if a dish is not available then do it on the ground , put the spark plug in it and Light It Up , wait until the spark plug cool down before cleaning it , again clean the spark plug and reinstall it on the engine , if a generator is left outside ? look on the bottom of the carburetor to see if there is a carburetor drain plug, open it and drain any liquid it might be in it , most likely there will be water in the carburetor ball , if there's too much contaminants you might have to open the carburetor ball and clean it out , make sure that the carburetor float freely operate without sticking , 5th rd check the oil level , small gasoline engine require constant oil replacement , some small engines require oil change every 40 hours , if possible do an oil change before starting the engine , 6th ,make sure the ground connection is hooked up , 7th make sure the generator or engine is an inventilated area before starting it up .

Can also the float in the carburetor go bad besides the stuff that you already said that could also give you a problem starting the generator to turn over I also had a hard time but I put cold start and the generator will keep on but then it was shut off is you get a screen about the exhaust like you said is bad or is all futile because I think the owner told me he makes them old few with new fuel after I put inside a tank he told me about it so thank you for the tip the very helpful

Thankd

Came here from a google search on the camera Olympus m1040. stuck around and watched the whole thing. why didn't you start the generator in the end man!!!!! very disappointed. GG

I can start my generator but not conventionally at all. Backing up a sec. I do not know more than the most basic things relating to small engines or gas engines at all really. But I know big diesels so I'm capable. Lol. I cleaned the carb. No start. Fresh fuel same. Disassembled the carb. Cleaned the needle float. Everything. Still can't start it. Shot of ether it fires right up. But only till the ether is burnt off. Squirt gas directly into the carb and it will fire but still won't draw fuel to keep running. If I drop the drain screw on the bowl fuel dumps out. So if it can get fuel into the carb why won't it draw up the needle and run on its own? Please if you have any ideas. I am about ready to leave it on my tailgate and go 4x4 ING for a while. More info. When I got it I broke the vacuum line fitting off the side unloaded it. But I used it no problem for 2 years intermittently. It sat for a year in my storage trailer and since then I have managed to get it running a few times only and only briefly. Maybe 5 min once at the most. Thank you

thanks for the video

got myself a Hyundai 6500 petrol inverter a couple years ago decided to warm it up ready for this winter coming. followed the instructions to the letter drained the preserve fluid filled it up with the appropriate oil, added the right fuel, switched on all the right knobs and started it up but the generator wont bite. is there any quirks I need to know about this particular generator that might explain the lack of success?

I drained old fuel and put in new fuel. Not sure how much new fuel I need just to get it started. I don't want to put in too much fuel because I never use this. I am going to try 1 gallon. Suggestions?

Thank you for the video from a new subscriber. Sir, I have a question I didn't know about the gas needing to be drained. I thought that the generator wasn't starting because it was low on fuel. So, I added more fuel essentially mixing fresh gas with stale gas. So, my question is will have to dispose of it all, or is that gas still useable? Thank you in advance for your help.

My push to start don't work I was trucking over the road I had someone put my generator together for me and I'll let box and all that and it's been a couple years and we had a last storm I turned it on at worked but the push button start didn't work I got it started with pull start but now it won't run and I'm wondering about that spark arrester My battery was 11.84 volts went and bought a new battery and it still doesn't turn over and pull the start don't work and I saw you said a spark arrester I'm wondering if that's my problem or did I mess something up because that guy took my ground off my battery and I was running the generator so I don't know if he destroyed I didn't know he did that

I have the generator that's always been stored indoors it has the tape on the gas cap for the gasoline it's never been added there's no oil that's never been added and it's been inside for around 8 years I'm just wondering what the procedure would be involved I was thinking that I would have to take the air filter off and spray in some starting fluid I'd have to add oil to the generator I'm not sure whether or not I have to pull the spark plug in use spray oil into the cylinders if these procedures seem like they might be the right way to go about this please let me know I only paid around 3 or $400 for this generator so I don't want to put too much money out thank you for taking the time to read this I'm going to find the owner's manual and see exactly what type of viscosity the oil should be and what's the quantity and I plan on using freshly purchase gasoline

I have a home life I thousand 500 generator is three wires coming out of the on and off switch one goes to the ground. The other one goes to the oil switch I believe and there’s a white wire on the opposite side that it’s just hanging I don’t know where it goes and it won’t start and I’m assuming it’s because the light is not keeping it’s not on when I turn on the switch.

Have a new genkins 2300 started on choke and would shut down in a few seconds,now no start at all? Any help ...fresh gas.

Thank you for your video i did what you said but it still won't work i have a craftsman 7.8 overhead Valve engine 4200 watt it has spark but won't start what can i do? thank you very much for your video's videos.

I have the exact same generator in the video. Just put on a new carburetor. Started up for 5 seconds and died. Won’t start now. Fuel on, switch on. Any ideas? Might just remove and retry.

Does the spark plug have anything to do with starting?

I have a predator 8750. I replaced the carburetor, changed the oil, drained the gas, changed the spark plug and it still won’t turn over. It pushes air through the system, and sounds like it wants to go but won’t. I’m hesitant to do the testing of the spark plug because when I drained the gas tank my funnel wasn’t working, 2 pieces, dumbest design ever) so gas leaked onto the generator itself. I’m at a loss. Thanks tom

Great video! Very helpful. My generator turns over, but wont run. The choke turns off before the engine catches. I tried holding the choke in the On position manually, and that used to work for me, but now it doesn't. Any suggestions will be much appreciated! Thanks!

Ty very helpful

I have tried all of those steps including making sure my carburator wasn't clogged and it still will not turn over.

The fuel valve is impossible to get to on a quite series gen, without taking it totally apart

I have drained the fuel, disconnected the oil sensor, cleaned both filters, even sprayed starter fuel into carb. Blue flame will shout out of carb so I know it is getting spart but won't start. It is a Stratton engine on 3 years old with a pull cord. What to do? L

Our generator won't start its 2500 I craftsman . We have spark from the coil and the spark plug everything has been cleaned and then some. I don't know what else it could be if you could please help, please do. Thank you for your time

Hi There, I have Changed my Generator to gas and had very good service out of it until now. I have changed the plug. I have changed the oil. The pipe going to the air filter had a crack, I have replaced that, but still I cant get it to start

Hi, thanks for the video, I just put a new carb on mine and only starts with starter fluid, and idles smooth with the choke on, any ideas ? Thanks in advance

I have the Briggs and Stratton 5500 generator. I put fresh gas in. Gas flowing to carburetor. Only start by putting gas in carburetor. Starts off high and cuts down to slow running and stop. Have not check screen yet. Need help!

Hey I have a generator identical to that one but it’s a Campbell hausfeld brand it won’t run unless I spray gas into the carb, but it stalls immediately. I made sure the carb was cleaned drained all gas and replaced all fuel lines. I found a plug with two black wires looks like it comes off the magneto and isn’t plugged into anything... also there’s a ground connection below that with nothing hooked up to it..is it missing a ground maybe?

I have a Powerstroke 3500 W, and I pulled off the red choke lever. It won’t start now. What can I do? Thanks!

Use or predator 9000 almost daily. Was turned off because of a little white smoke near choke area after sounding like it was going to cut off on its own. Now I can’t get it to start. It’s trying but it’s a no go. Can’t figure it out.

I have a Honda EB5000X generator. It was over hauled 2 and a half years ago then stored away. The gas was emptied out before it set so we just filled it up and tried to start it but no luck. Now what should I do? I'm new at tjis.

I have no internet so I drove away from my hime for ot to work. (Bad storms wioed out power and internet as well as phone service) I have tried all the steps above but still no luck. My generator is brand new BUT, its been sitting in our building for 10 years and never been used at all. Put fresh gas and oil. Turned on all switches as well as choke. Primed it by pulling slow and easy several times to get gas moving. Still wont start.

I ha e Centrio n 5000wyatt generator, cranks with starting fuild sprayed in carb then shut right off. What should I do to make it run.

I have a SUA7000LC generator I bought new and only crunk it a couple but it was sitting a while with gas in it so I drained the old gas cleaned with carb cleaner and I spray carb cleaner and it cranks and goes back dead spray again it cranks and goes back dead what could be the problem it’s brand spanking new I’m about to put a new spark plug and see if that helps but let me know thanks

I have a Champion, I thought it was gummed up by old fuel so I emptied the fuel, checked spark plug and replaced with new one and added new air filter. Charged up the battery, tried starting but it just makes a rapid clicking noise when I use the electric start. What could be causing this noise? is the Starter bad? Solenoid bad?

so, mine starts, but runs for 2 seconds and cuts out. Can't figure out how to remove the carb to completely clean and rebuild... Same model as yours.

Have you ever heard of a pro quip q8.7k generator I ended up with it but I can't find a manual on it nothing about it at all.

Can I start a generator using the pull cord with a dead battery? I know its a dumb question, just wanted to know

I have watched some of your videos but you have not talked about Koehler whole house generators. I have a 8500 natural gas, that is about 20 years old. My generator starts hard but if I start it every few days it starts good, do you have any ideas? Thanks

My husband put gas in a generator that we had set up for like 2 years and not even realizing that he might have old gas in it c?ould that be a problem?

Brand new 5100w Power Force Generator - I have new fuel, and fuel is on, oil is correct level, choke is over to left, - still not starting - have sprayed Carb cleaner to no effect any other ideas?

Hi my generator seems to have no spark , it's pretty much a new generator but have kept it in my shed for 1yr I drained the unit about 6months ago to store it again . I went thru all the steps you said and even tried a new spark plug but still not seem to want to start , I can use some help thanks

i have a sportsman dual fual 4000. it did sit for quite a while and clean the tank and I'm going to the carburetor so when I pull the cord all I get is a h i s s sound does not turn over I mean doesn't start and move it and stop it doesn't even start and check the spark plug I've got propane plugged into it now and still does the same thing important and it goes hiss sound. I'm sorry gave me this generator so I want to pull over the time and do it cuz if you can be up and running let me drive what's your thoughts

Won't start but if I put gas in plug hole it will run and should the cab bowl be full of gas nothing in mine

Hi. I have the same kind of generator and I start it regularly. I tried it a few minutes ago and the pull string feels different. It’s tight and quiet. Normally you hear it turn. But it just spins quietly. Any suggestions?

Hey I’ve got a 5700 McCULLOCH generator that started fine last Ur but won’t now could you help??

My B&S 5000 Series Generator started and ran well last month. When I tried to start it today, the pull cord on the recoil starter would not budge at all...not even an inch. It seems like it has locked up but I can't see anything that would obstruct it. B&S riveted the recoil pull cord housing onto the engine, so I am reluctant to use a drill on it for fear of generating a spark. Do you have any suggestions on how to access the recoil rope to check for obstructions?

I have a brand new out of the box 6250 watt Briggs and can’t get it crank. What am I doing wrong

what if it had old fuel nearly on empty and I didn’t drain the tank first before topping it off with new? Still doesn’t start, should I capture fuel and top off with fresh again?

Hello. .. I have tried all the methods you mentioned in the video but still yet my generator will not start. ..

My generator would not start after 2 or 3 years. In my search to find the problem I went and got some Starter Fluid. I thought to myself if its an ignition issue it won't start at all. If its a fuel issue it would start then shut off when it burned all the Starter Fluid. It started easily then shut off when all the starter fluid was burned. The can says spray the starter fluid for 3 seconds. I sprayed the starter fluid into the air filter 3 quick shots, less than 3 seconds. It fired right up so I knew it was a fuel issue.

My westinghouse 5300 won't run after only just over 5 hours of actual run time. checked oil, put the choke on, switch is on and nothing except it wants to run then when I shut the choke off it dies. I've only run propane through it. The thing is just over 3 months old and calling westinghouse customer service is a waste of time because no one answers. I don't havebone of those screens over the exhaust don't think that wo u ld stop it from running or wouldn't? where upnin the middle of nowhere trying to build our cabin and any help would be much appreciated.

My generator was running then all of a sudden it made a thud and stopped. It won’t start. Every time I pull the cord it makes a clank clank clank sound. What could this be?

I have a Ex-cell 4000 watt generator that has never been used or gas in it and won’t start I need any help or information Thanks

Hi, I have the CMXGGAS030731 Never really used it, Tried to started up nothing, but when I use stater fluid it acts like it wants to starts then dies, My friend said that I may have a bad carb.

I have a power stroke 3500 generator it sat 2 yrs..I pulled the cord 2 times it cranked up and ran shortly then shut off. Wouldn't crank again. I bought new carb put it on ,still won't crank. Plug is firing,cleaned gas tank , unplugged low oil shut off . Still don't even act like it wonts to start .what am I doing wrong...thanks

My pull cord won't turn the motor over

Where is the low oil sensor and how do I disconnect it?

Hello. I have a Westinghouse generator 11 months old. Never used it more than 15 minutes a month. It has been 2 months since I started it but we have storms coming. I cleaned carb with cleaner. I have only used propane in it. Would not start today. Can you help?

I have a Honda EMC 3500DXS generator that fires then cuts out like you switch it off, then it wont start for a few minutes then same thing. it has new spark plug and coil. if low oil sensor is unplugged no difference, new fuel , carby thoroughly cleaned. any ideas:

Check air filter could be as important as the rest of the safety checks. After safety checks comes the carburetor. This should be done only with professional advice.

I forgot there is instruction to start it every 3 months, I haven’t started it in more than a year. Stale fuel?

I have a predator 3500 inverter generator. I haven’t used it in a year it won’t start. I’ve clean the carburetor out and still nothing when I use carpet cleaner in the carburetor it will start for a second then shuts off. I know my gas has been sitting in there all year