A friend of mine turned me on to a simple fix for a Gen Set that would not produce electricity..
A very simple fix for a generator that has been sitting for awhile..
Has anyone tried this ?
Here is the link for a simple fix...It is called a "field flash"..
Scroll down to "Field flash using a drill"..

http://www.endtimesreport.com/dead_gen.html

Just because I've never heard of this doesn't mean it isn't real.

How often should you start a generator? At the hospital it used to be tested every week. Would that prevent it from going 'flat'?

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

In my case, I start my GenSet every 3 months or so..I let it run for 5 minutes then plug in a power tool, usually a drill with the trigger locked on.****n another 5 minutes or so..Unplug the drill, close the gas shutoff to empty the fuel in the carb..
Mission completed..
I keep my GenSet in a ac/heated garage when not in use and put Stabil in the fuel..
This is the best explanation of the issue of going flat, I have found..
" What causes generators to stop producing power / voltage?

The most common cause of portable generators failing to produce electricity is from the loss of residual magnetism.

Generators work by moving electrical conductors through a magnetic field. Your generator does not have magnets. The magnetic field is created by taking some of the generator output voltage and converting it to DC and feeding it to a coil to make an electro magnet.

When there is a little bit of magnetism left over from the last time the generator was running it is called residual magnetism. The little bit of magnetism is enough to produce a bit of electricity. This little bit of electricity is needed to create an even stronger electric magnet. As the engine turns this magnet moving its electric field, though the stator windings, your generator produces even more power.

When the residual magnetism is lost, the generator will produce no power at start-up. This residual magnetism can be lost naturally from not being used or from the load on your generator being connected when the generator is shut off. It can also happen from running a generator with no load for to long.

Generators need to work. It helps maintain that residual magnetism. When they are running, a load should be connected to it. It helps create and even stronger magnetic field. Before you shut it off, turn off the switch or breaker to disconnect the load. If you shut off a generator with the load connected it can essentially drain or demagnetize the electro magnet. Try and avoid running out of fuel."

Fixing generators that have no output voltage.

Yes the Field Flash usually works. Use an electric drill.

I start up my Generac generator twice a month and run an electric leaf blower for 5 minutes. It exercises the generator and cleans up my driveway at the same time.

Never realized any of this!!

I've got a 20 year old "Generac", 5,000 Watt with a 10 HP Briggs and Stratton engine.

I only use it when the power goes off in my neighborhood, which until 2 years ago was quite often.

Sooooooooo, needless to say, I only run it when I need it and have never given a thought to run it occasionally.

I always turn off the fuel, let the motor die, twirl out the plug and give the cylinder a couple of squirts of oil then pull the starter rope slowly allowing the oil to work around inside the cylinder. Then I drain any fuel left in the tank.

It allows me to keep my sump pump running, power a few important things and did I mention my sump pump running?

I live on the outskirts of "The Great Black Swamp" and the 6" of rain we received in 12 hours last week just about overwhelmed my 3/4 HP Wayne sump pump. If my sump stops in conditions like that, I'll have 8" of ground water in my basement in 1 hrs time.

It's never failed me so far (my generator), but I just might take it out for a test drive after the holidaze.

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AKA: "Strange Tamer"

Another thing that goes bad are the capacitors.

Newer portable generators have a bank of them, when they get weak or fail no more output. The good news is they aren't very expensive to replace.

i start my generators once a month rum-em 15 mins then put away till next month i always have a spare spark plug and always use 90 octane no ethanol stuff

I'd never heard of this and learned something new today.
I run my generator about once a month and charge the starter battery then. I usually run it about a half hour with my garage refrigerator plugged in or a portable air compressor. I've even used an electric heater before.
At work we had emergency generators to run lighting and some essential items like cash registers and power doors. We ran those generators weekly for a half hour and every three months under a load. One of the generator repair guys that we had out once told me it does little good to run them without a load.

My understanding is the same as yours..A load is necessary to recharge the electro magnetic field, as it will diminish after non use for extended periods of time..