Time to test out those generators! :)

[rogersb]

Yesterday I came in from hunting and thought my lights were blown out. Turns out I lost power. I called PPL and got a recording that it would be several hours before power came back. I didn't know how long it had been out so I got my generator out and tried firing it up but it took about a half hour to get it going then run the chords. It has been on my list to get my outside chords around and make sure it's running. So, word to the wise - winter is here, be ready

 

[insanefishguy]

And then cuddle up with your poodle and watch the fishies swim around, right Brad? Lmao

 

[Fizz71]

My biggest problem is bad gas...and my wife would agree. (Ba dum tssshhh) But seriously I test the generator every year, but I don't use it enough and the gas from last year (or longer) has lost it's kick. I've tried additives, but how many times can you use those?!

Anybody know where to get rid of old gas without starting a bonfire in my yard?

I really don't want to put last years gas in my generator (plus there is some in there NOW) and really don't want to add it to my car either (it's already on its last leg). Plus I have some "mix" gas I have NO home for.

What do you folks do with bad gas (beside beano).

 

[GROSSR]

If you look at Whole House generators, they test themselves once a month. We should be doing that as well with all generators. From all that I have seen the time between usage is one of the issues in getting a generator to start. I have a couple of friends who have told me ethanol is a killer in small engines. for the last year, my routine is to purchase 10 gallons of fuel and add a ethanol remover from Home depot and use that fuel for my small engines.

rich

 

[Paul B]

I test my generator every 6 months and every year I dump the gas into my cars and add new gas to the generator. My generator also runs on natural gas from the house. I use it on liquid gas if I lend it to someone or take it someplace that has no power, but when it is home, I run it on natural gas.

 

[insanefishguy]

Sorry, Brad... I had to

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

Haha.

I've thought about a generator but never really looked into one.

 

[insanefishguy]

With the thousands of dollars we invest in these tanks and the huge amount of life depending on us, it's sad that we don't all own one... But I digress, I do not own one either

 

[rogersb]

Thank you, Joseph

 

[johnike]

Great advice on firing them up every few months.
I got one started over the phone last night for a Lounger that had a badly stuck needle and seat.
'Yer welcome, Richard.


And everyone be careful with all this crappy weather around.

 

[ReddyW]

I test my generator every 6 months and every year I dump the gas into my cars and add new gas to the generator. My generator also runs on natural gas from the house. I use it on liquid gas if I lend it to someone or take it someplace that has no power, but when it is home, I run it on natural gas.

Did you add a natural gas kit to your generator, or did it come that way new? I looked into the propane kit for an RV generator, but never got around to buying one.

If you added a kit yourself, which one did you use?

 

[Paul B]

I added the kit my self, it was $200.00 and a simple installation. I am not sure which one I added, I posted it on this forum someplace but generally I googled generator conversion kits. It's a different kit for propane and natural gas.

 

[insanefishguy]

Thank you, Joseph

No problem, Brad! What are friends for? (you're gonna make Kim delete me of Facebook now, aren't ya?)

 

[ggsteve]

I test my portable generator about every 3 months. Besides the testing being good for the generator, testing keeps you in the routine of what is necessary and how to start up your generator. The last thing you want to be doing in a foot of snow in the dark is looking for your power cord and trying to remember the procedure for starting your genset. When you test make sure you put it under a load or the magnets can lose their polarity. As for gas, I put double strength Sta-bil in every can of fuel. Cheap insurance and my mowers, snow blowers and other long-interval power equipment start on the first or second pull even after months without use.

 

[Breadman03]

My biggest problem is bad gas...and my wife would agree. (Ba dum tssshhh) But seriously I test the generator every year, but I don't use it enough and the gas from last year (or longer) has lost it's kick. I've tried additives, but how many times can you use those?!

Anybody know where to get rid of old gas without starting a bonfire in my yard?

I really don't want to put last years gas in my generator (plus there is some in there NOW) and really don't want to add it to my car either (it's already on its last leg). Plus I have some "mix" gas I have NO home for.

What do you folks do with bad gas (beside beano).

I use mine for my lawnmower in the summer, but I just rotate the gas into my car about every month so it's always fresh.

And Brad, you have my phone number.

 

[ReddyW]

I put double strength Sta-bil in every can of fuel.

I second this. You don't want to have to clean the carb on a cheap engine. It's hard enough on one that has a detailed manual and readily available parts.

You can order big bottles off Amazon, and I'm told that the marine version is double strength for about the same price as regular.

 

[GROSSR]

ethanol is one of the issues. I have a friend who buys pure gasoline in the Knoxville area that is pure gasoline and he gets 10% better gas mileage. I have neighbors who bring in their small engines to repair shops and they have told me, that ethanol is eating up the gaskets and such. On cars it is not much of a concern.

Small engines are definitely having issues with ethanol in the fuel. So even having fresh fuel, while better than stale still has ethanol... for most of us.

rich

 

[rogersb]

I think ethanol is a problem for older motors with gaskets and seals that are not made to handle it. I think newer seals/gaskets are ok with it. Of course, i could be wrong, just what I heard.