PSA - FOR GENERAC OR SIMILAR BRAND GENERATORS

[chief38]

My motto: THE 6 P's. Previous Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

Many here have whole-house generators. Great preventative planning if power goes out for an extended period of time. Let's look at the next step - many times forgotten about!

In my development I'd estimate that around 60%-70% of the homes have automatic standby generators. Of those I'd say 99% are Generac 22-24K units. While many homeowners have seen clear to get them, very few have done the following. These items are essential and should be stored. If one can afford the generator, these items are cheap.

* at least two oil changes worth of oil
* at least 2 new oil filters
* a new air filter
* a new set of spark plugs
* extra transfer switch fuses
* extra control panel fuse
* 2 extra valve cover gaskets
* a feeler gauge to adjust valve lash
* a leakproof container to drain the oil into

During a power outage, these generators require an oil change at a maximum of 200 hours of running. (BTW, the first oil change should be done after 20 hours of use - just in case yours is new). 200 hours is a bit over 8 days. When the oil is changed, you will need a new filter as well. Air filter longevity is subject to many factors and just how dirty the air around the unit gets. The extra fuses are just incase something causes one to blow. You would hate yourself if all you needed was a tiny inexpensive little fuse to get your generator up and running again!

The valves usually require adjustment at the 40 run hour mark. While many overlook this maintenance, it is required by the manufacturer for longevity. While you might be able to reuse the original gasket, you can't count on that.

During a power outage, auto stores, power equipment stores and big box stores selling these items will either be closed, out of stock or you might not be able to get there. Since these items are essentials you will need down the road anyway, they are not a waste of money!

Oh, one other thing while I am at it. Most standby generators I know of have 12V batteries so they can auto start when the power goes out and when they self test every week. I'd suggest replacing the battery after the 3 year time mark - even if they seem good. The life expectance of a generator battery is pretty much up at that point and even if you have not experienced any starting issues yet, after 3 years you are rolling the dice. Remember, this is an emergency devise and you don't need battery headaches when it is called into use. While you might feel that replacing what seems like a perfectly good battery is a waste of money, I assure you it is not.

I hope this sparks some here that have gotten a standby generator and think they have done all that is needed. It might also serve to remind some here that have had one for a while but have either run out of supplies or never had gotten them. A standby generator (actually any generator at all) can be a lifesaver - but you need to plan ahead and have the tools and supplies on hand to service it as per the maintenance schedule.

Oh- one last thing that comes to mind. Always keep the units locks, locked. Not necessarily for security but keeping the cover locked will keep it from flying opened by the wind. If you live in hurricane or tornado country, you know what I mean!

I hope my OCD has helped at least a few here.

 

[cmj8591]

Great idea. Now look around your development and tell me which of your neighbors would know how to use a feeler gauge to adjust the valve lash.

 

[chief38]

Great idea. Now look around your development and tell me which of your neighbors would know how to use a feeler gauge to adjust the valve lash.

Very few - but there are a few Fellas here that help the neighbors out. I am one of them. That said, there is nothing we can do if they do not have the necessary parts and supplies on hand.

 

[NYlakesider]

Thanks chief good advice!-

I learned on a long power out to shut the machine down for periods of time. We are on propane (my whole house) and live in a hard to reach area. That obviously gives you a lot more gas for realy bad. Of course that also saves run time on your equipment.

The worst we had was a major ice storm that went a week with some up here, we got lucky and were only out 3 days!

 

[cmj8591]

Very few - but there are a few Fellas here that help the neighbors out. I am one of them. That said, there is nothing we can do if they do not have the necessary parts and supplies on hand.

You're on point about maintenance. No one does it anymore. I have a Toro push mower that I've been using for 35 years. It runs as good as the day I bought it but it gets a good going over by me every spring and I keep the blades sharp. My neighbor had a Husqvarna chain saw that he ran without 2 stroke oil. Of course it stopped. He put it out with his recycling and I grabbed it and brought it into my workshop. It was a fun little project finding the parts on line and bringing it back to life. He was in his yard one day trying to cut up a big limb with a hand saw. I brought the Husqvarna over and cut it up for him. He said he once had a saw just like that one but it stopped running and he never replaced it. We got a good laugh out of it when I told him it was the same saw. I ended up giving it back to him along with a gallon of 50:1 pre mix. No one takes the time to learn how to properly use tools or do the routine stuff to keep them going.

 

[NYlakesider]

You're on point about maintenance. No one does it anymore. I have a Toro push mower that I've been using for 35 years. It runs as good as the day I bought it but it gets a good going over by me every spring and I keep the blades sharp. My neighbor had a Husqvarna chain saw that he ran without 2 stroke oil. Of course it stopped. He put it out with his recycling and I grabbed it and brought it into my workshop. It was a fun little project finding the parts on line and bringing it back to life. He was in his yard one day trying to cut up a big limb with a hand saw. I brought the Husqvarna over and cut it up for him. He said he once had a saw just like that one but it stopped running and he never replaced it. We got a good laugh out of it when I told him it was the same saw. I ended up giving it back to him along with a gallon of 50:1 pre mix. No one takes the time to learn how to properly use tools or do the routine stuff to keep them going.

More and more I see that we have become a throw-away society! Looks like Yankee ingenuity died a slow lingering death!

 

[Sevens]

I do not have one… but this is fantastic advice and very well written.

I have a work buddy that had one installed last year, I’m going to send it to him.

 

[LVSteve]

I'm staggered in this day and age that they build engines that need the valve lash adjusted.

 

[swsig]

I'm staggered in this day and age that they build engines that need the valve lash adjusted.

Regardless of brand, home generator air-cooled engines are all variations of a 2-cylinder Chinese motorcycle engine. Hydraulic valve lifters apparently have not yet reached the Chinese motorcycle industry.

 

[chief38]

I'm staggered in this day and age that they build engines that need the valve lash adjusted.

Yes they do. The first adjustment is after 40 hours and then it goes into extended time intervals. I guess the break-in period is when it changes the most.

I believe that Generator engines are still sort of old school in some ways. That said, I believe they also stick with that technology for two reasons. Probably one is cost and the other is reliability. While most homeowners these days are unlikely to make that adjustment themselves, then can if they wish to.

 

[NTRBL]

I believe Kohler generators have hydraulic lifters.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I still use a portable 4 KW Coleman generator with the 5-gallon tank. I used to use a 5 KW with a less than 1-gallon tank. The 5 gal tank will cover my needs for 24 hours. I keep 5 gallons of non-ethanal and 20 gal of cheap gas on hand. I do believe I need to pick up a spark plug and some crankcase oil. It gas a Briggs & Straton single cylinder engine. I have hundreds of feet of large gauge extension cords. Along with GFI connecters.

On thing I keep failing to do is fit a decent muffler instead of that "Spark Arrestor" Last major outage you could hear generators up to 2 miles away!

Ivan

 

[Dave_n]

One of the reasons why I have a Kohler (the valve lifters). yes ~2,000 dollars more than the Generac, but to my mind, worth it. Runs every Saturday for30 minutes, natural gas fuel supply. Dave_n

 

[Kinman]

For years I used a 2KW Honda two cylinder water cooled generator for back up, did all of the maintenance regularly on my own. It was a terrific machine, a buddy wired it into a seperate auxiliary box in my basement. I sold the Honda and transfer box to a good friend for nearly what I was originally into it and we bought a 24K Generac unit from a local installer a couple years ago. I was told the engine was designed by Caterpillar, it does not look like any "lawn mower" engine I have ever used. I have performed all of the required maintanance and the only thing I found challenging was the valve lash. It is a terrific unit hooked up to our natural gas supply line, my electricals barely blink before the Generac unit is transferred to power and running my entire house, including my separate shop outbuilding and air conditioning in summer.

 

[Walter Rego]

I have a Generac 16Kw generator that is hard wired into the main panel on my house and fueled by my propane tank that supplies the gas appliances. My power goes out fairly frequently, sometimes because the local electric company shuts off the power during high wind conditions because they fear downed power lines will start forest fires and sometimes I lose power in storms.

I have been good about the maintenance, changing the oil & filter each season and I just changed the air filter and original spark plugs. The 12V battery that starts it is a sealed unit but is approaching 5 years old so I'll probably replace it this year.

Regarding the valve adjustments, doesn't it require a top dead center dial indicator and tearing off a lot of the housing in order to get to the unit to turn it over by hand and make the adjustments ? I remember doing it on motorcycles but the engine was hanging out in the open and easy to work on. I suppose I'll just find a generator specialist and have them do it.

 

[twodog max]

Very good suggestions

 

[bgrafsr]

I have a Kohler and it does have hydraulic lifters.

 

[Golddollar]

Very good suggestions

I have annual service on my Generac. With what I paid for my generator it makes for money well spent.

 

[GypsmJim]

The guy that installed my Generac genny does my annual maintenance. He has never to my knowledge adjusted the valves. The unit is 17 years old. I just checked the manual and that is not listed in the service requirements.

 

[anoblefox]

Go Kohler, cost more but definitely worth it. However, having said that if you are not the mechanical type of person you would be better served going with the brand in your local that services gens. That would most likely be Generac. We also have a 12kw Onan that is 34 years old and is a backup backup generator, since it is still wired into our home grid. The bottom line is to have a home standby gen in the first place. I promise you that will never regret the decision, and in doing so does not necessarily make you a "prepper".