Why Won't This Brand New EFI Generator WON'T START? 

That funny.

More likely someone filled a red can with kerosene .

Well I admit I have a shop and lots of yard machines here. Every now and then I buy Kero to wash up dirty engine parts. And I managed to get it in my tractor... Had me scratchin my friggin head for an entire month it ran wonky as hell. And then that big fat lightbulb came on in my head...

I own two Champion Gen sets and have had no issues. Also, I have repaired a few in my shop, usually for stale fuel issues. Wish they had an online seminar on the fuel injected models. Thanks

@@watermanone7567 Champion, if it's as Taryl seems to want to give them a gold medal compared to a rock-solid generator company like Honda who would get a "participant" ribbon, when Honda should be getting the gold and Champion being a runner up position, maybe a bronze. should be sending this training material out at some point. I still find it ironic that Taryl doesn't like PowerMore and yet I haven't had any issues with it running one 420CC unit on a Cub Cadet 28" snow blower commercially for three or four seasons now. It's also funny that Taryl curses PowerMore, likes Champion and they both come out of the same freakin' factory or company (Zongshen) in China.

So that’s what’s meant by…. There’s your dinner

@@WJCTechyman champion's training is goto their website and watch their RU-vid videos per fault code repairs. The fault code I had was f010 ignition coil circuit short/open. I pulled the coil and bench tested it and it worked fine, champion sent one out, replaced it, still same issue, they have a basic wiring diagram in the owners manual, but since I've been a master automotive technician for yrs I had to make my own pin out and found no circuit ground through the carbon monoxide detector, i had them send me that and a throttle body because i was down to those 2 items. Carbon monoxide detector didn't resolve it, throttle body fixed it. My opinion its just stupid not to offer a proper service manual and or flow chart diagnostics. They are relying on that fault codes to tell them what needs replaced and im sorry i don't care how advanced your diagnostic stuff is, there is always something that sets false codes.

​@@watermanone7567 Is there a way to ensure that there is no fuel left in the system when the generator is put away?

Indeed, as much as I believe fuel injection is superior in pretty much all areas, for the moment I can fix a carb, but I probably cannot fix an injector (and they put a security torx, which I have the bits for, but it probably means that repair shops won't get parts for that anyways).

@@OlivierCaron As soon as these become mainstream, the chyna fuel injection components will follow. You can count on it.

I don't think so. Just disable the fuel pump and run the engine until it quits. You can also use the fuel pump to drain the fuel tank.

This generator will be easier than most to drain. The tank has a drain plug in place of the legacy petcock. Then manufacturer can't just put a petcock and drain hose in its place, since that people would turn mistakenly turn it and create a fuel spill. But the end user could. Many carbs *don't* have an easy drain. That's pretty much a Honda and clone feature. Some old carbs had a spring loaded valve intended to drain a few drops of water, more important in the days before E10, but you wouldn't want to drain the system that way. A feature of this system is that the fuel system can be partially sealed. The fuel pump can work against a partial vacuum, and the injector can withstand high pressure. The tank vent only needs to open under high vacuum and pressure. The tank for a float bowl carburetor can't allow any significant pressure. Even if a new needle can hold 5 psi, it's not safe to count on a worn needle sealing against a heat-pressurized tank.

@@Discretesignalsthat wouldn’t work because the injector requires the pressure of the pump in order to spray. However, what Tyrel did in the video would be the procedure. The disconnecting the line to the fuel injector would remove most of the fuel from the system.

@@Discretesignals Only problem with that is if the fuel pump is disabled, the electronics may not let the engine run. So many interlocks, safties, etc.

There's nothing different about draining an EFI system either... Empty the tank, start it up, and let it run til it quits... Why in the HELL would you just shut the fuel off on a carbed engine, and then drain the bowl? So that you end up with stale gas that you STILL have to drain out of the tank later?? 🤦🏻🤦🏻🤦🏻 Just do it the PROPER way the first time, and be DONE with it...🤨

Probably for a typical home user, the Champion is just fine. For construction sites, since Honda has a commercial warranty people would choose the Honda.

Yep, it's hard for a knucklehead customer to admit to knuckleheadedness!

Yeah its like I'm back in tech training where the instructors bug things and you have to diagnose them.

Or dump a little on a clean steel work bench or glass plate, and let it dry. Gas will evaporate, diesel will not evaporate and leave an oily film.

Your nose WILL tell you MUCH faster than that...

Only if it's 100% diesel, if it's a mix, it stinks like gas. @@davelowets

Replace the EFI system with a carb.

​@@johnfromnj885if you even can

@@johnfromnj885 How 'bout no. The EFI system doesn't have as many headaches as carburetors would. Also, it isn't simply swapping it out, you have to buy a number of parts to retrograde the generator to using a carb again, as there is no mechanical governor, linkages, you have to buy a fuel petcock valve, fuel line, a new panel, probably a new fuel tank and by the time you do that, you may as well just sell this one and buy a carbureted generator. This one had to be fixed because of user neglect. It didn't stop working because of bad fuel (not as much of a problem as it is with a carburetor) it was because some dumbass didn't keep their fuels in the correct containers and put what was in essence diesel fuel, a heavier fuel that needs to be atomized and high heat from high compression to burn, into a lower compression, spark ignition engine. Also, to @fredlinstone8048, the pins run to a microcontroller, basically a very small computer on a chip that runs a stepper motor to turn the butterfly valve and there are probably a few intake sensors there as well. If you look at the exhaust header, there's probably something that senses there as well like on a car engine for emisssions. Now, have you had to take your car in for as much maintenance as say a car from the 70s or earlier? No, because of the reliability of modern injection systems has driven that way down. You don't have to tune the engine, that's done automatically, you don't have to worry much about carbon buildup either due to the way they have streamlined these systems. Granted, a lot of things aren't user serviceable but when you need to fix something it probably won't be the drivetrain systems.

@@WJCTechyman Ya know what, you're right about the governor linkage. I think, have to check, the governor is there, the linkage is missing. But I stand by my first post in this video. There is no value to putting EFI on small engines.

@@WJCTechyman Carbs aren't headaches. Maintained correctly, they will run years without a problem, and when they do fail, it's an easy fix. IDK what headaches you're talking about.

Not really, a fuel injector is pretty simple to unplug and replace, and less fiddly than trying to find a rebuild kit for a chinese carb. As far as reliability goes, cars have been fuel injected since about 1986. My Dad has one of the last Toyotas with a carb, a 1985 Toyota Tercel. Engine has been rebuilt 3x, but still has the original carbitrator on it.

@@brnmcc01 actually fuel injection was available on old corvettes 58 maybe?

Well not just a servo under that cover, probably more accurately a stepper motor, gears, intake sensors and possibly a microcontroller.

@@WJCTechyman I would think a microcontroller for sure.

It is better than saying, "I smell something awful" followed by, "yes, you do" :)

@@calvinmientke3539 Ha!

Stihl has a CHAINSAW with fuel injection. A mf CHAINSAW...

Yeah no thanks they can keep it

​@@zefautinothat chainsaw also has Bluetooth....

@@albinklein7680 FFS, has stihl partnered with lidl to sell parkshit?

They'll have to get to port injection before they go full direct injection uet

Im a gen tech and i have one of those 3500s, I got it for like 125$ and no doubt it's super quiet. I know it's not going to last forever, but it's ok. When my power is out ,I'm on the road anyway fixing other people's stuff. I've left it running for around 10-12hrs straight while I'm out and it's good enough. Probably not a bad idea to get an extra voltage regulator and/or some brushes for it though.

Since it was user neglect, the warranty won't cover that.

@@WJCTechyman AND - because they didn't tell Taryl "the rest of the story", the labor charge will be doubled! hahaha

Yup, losing your nuts by bumping into a table can be painful.

@@thomasleary1807 LOL - ouch!

I'm thinking maybe a spray bottle with gas in it would be the first resort with a fuel delivery issue. That way if you get it running, you can keep spraying gas into the venturi for as long as you need.

They haven't tried Honda's customer service lol, Champion is night and day difference.

LOL : )

Oh look some who is also autistic! Me too! I’m 17

My story is similar to yours, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (the apparently old way of saying it) and enjoy working on anything that is electro-mechanical technology from computer systems, home electrical, computer networking, small engines, power tools and small appliances. There are some other channels you should check out when it comes to small engines. Mustie1 is just an average guy who likes to tinker mostly with small engine equipment but he also dabbles in other things and larger engines like that seen on cars and tractors. Chickanic is a really good resource in her own right when it comes to small engines, particularly anything that's wearable or handheld. Donyboy73 has some concise how-to videos dating back over a decade on his channel and he was one of the first I started watching. Steve's Small Engine Saloon is another great resource, 805roadking and his friends tend to tinker with and modify a number of small engines into an assortment of projects including an inline 4 cylinder engine made of a bunch of old Briggs and Stratton single cylinder units. Also Chargermiles007 has made some of his own unique systems out of old Briggs engine blocks as well.

That was just RETARDED on Polaris' end. Automobiles have had EFI electronics in them for DECADES that has been nothing but reliable. There's NO reason that Polaris couldn't have made their electronics reliable

@davelowets They rushed it into production was the biggest issue. Had they consulted those working in the industry, they would have known what was bound to happen. I remember a couple mechanics saying the potting material was actually cracking from the cold. Vibration was also a huge issue on that first year. I saw a huge disconnect with Polaris and their consumers that year. They learned from it.

Be fair. The $5500 Honda you mention would be an inverter generator, this Champion is not. But on a much more important issue….you admit you would have to run 6 of these generators to one Honda. That would be the same money spent in the end while going through the hassle of replacing your generator 6 times and generating 6x the waste…help me understand this logic.

@@vg3430 no guarantee on how long either will last. The Honda could be obsolete in 1-10 years if a part breaks and they don’t make that part anymore. The champion could run a year, a decade or who knows how long. My current $800 generator has been running fine/reliably for the past 6 years. Only used for power outages. I did have to put a carb on it due to running ethanol fuel and letting it sit 6 months.

Well, kerosene and Diesel aren't totally different, they are a heavier fuel than gasoline and you could fuel a Diesel engine with kerosene and you can use kerosene, Diesel or fuel oil in your oil burning furnace or water boiler.

Yeah, you don’t want to become a “soup nazi”but back in the day I wanted to hang a sign behind the counter that read: there’s a charge for self diagnosis,complaining about the price,looking over my shoulder, but actually all I had was a NO PAY SHE STAY sign.

Actually, look at your car. There are probably at minimum 30 microcontrollers throughout it, and at maximum 150 to 200. Engines run more reliably now with engine control units, fuel injection and emissions control systems than they did when they were carbureted back in the 70s and 80s. Also, if you are that worried about a generator not starting, you could invest in a battery inverter power unit backup with solar panels. Granted, for some of those living in the Southern US, air conditioning is a must but there's also a way to escape the heat and that's going to places open to the public like libraries, shopping malls (if they have those anymore as even our mall is a shadow of what it used to be) rec centres or even municipal buildings authorized to shelter people from the heat)