Electric Generator Won't Run

[blackagatha]

Hey guys, It's been a while since I've been on, I know!

But, I got a real stumper that I cant figure what could possibly be the problem.

I got this chinese generator from a friend- he gave it to me because it leaks?? a bit of oil and he couldnt stand it.

I dragged it out of the garage today,where it had sat for most of 2 years. I splashed about a cup of semi stale gas in it, yanked the cord (has an electric start but battery was rotten and chucked) about 15 times maybe and it ran really freaking good. I even ran the wire welder I got at harbor freight today on it, was perfect.

I then went to circle K and got a gallon of gas. dumped it in there, started it back up. started easy enough. it ran for about a minute (long enough to consume what was in the float bowl and suck up the new?, and just happened to also be the moment I -gently- poked the throttle- governed by small electric motor) before it started running like he11. Seems I made a mistake by shutting it off at that point. I tried to re start it, just about ripped my shoulder apart pulling on it. Hooked the jumper cables up to the car.

maybe I angered it by poking the throttle controller? i felt a tiny click when i poked it and it moved strangely easily. but, I cant imagine that causing this problem. I took it off and inspected it, seems fine??

ended up suspecting the gas, dumped it out in the yard, drained the carb, filled with New gas from Fry's. Same situation.

During the initial yanking, it was occasionally backfiring and sputtering. still did a little as I began the jump start on the electric starter. By the time I was sick of screwing with it, it wasnt even popping anymore.

I checked the spark plug- nice and clean, pulled it out, laid it on the valvecover, cranked it and verified a nice spark.

Verified compression- the pull cord shows obvious compression stops. I also popped the valve cover off just for fun and verified that everything is copacetic in there.

I even tried starting fluid, to which it shows no reaction whatsoever. I might as well be spraying water in there. not even a pop or anything. Suspected bad flooding- shut off fuel valve, drained float bowl, cranked it for a while- not flooded. tried throttle and choke at every possible setting, nothing. with or without air cleaner, also pulled float bowl and checked for junk stuck in the carb. nothing.

when it was still sputtering, it would backfire when I removed the choke- one time there was an 8 inch fire blast from the muffler as I released the choke.

so yeah what on earth causes a chinese imitation of a Briggs and Stratton OHV engine to suddenly cease to run despite presence of spark, compression, fuel and definitely adequate rotational velocity?



so..... what gives?!


thanks guys!

[re54drider]

Sounds like an issue with the valves. You can have gas and spark but with no compression you get zip. May be a coincidence about the throttle controller, but to me it sounds like a stuck valve or other issue (rings, piston) preventing proper compression. Use a compression tester to verify.

[slick4x4]

sounds like a valve stuck to me also.....
old gas will do that
you might have to pull the head & tap it back down
use some marvel mystery oil to lube the stem
then put some in the fuel to help keep it from re-sticking

[rwhistles]

have had a lot of B&S act similiar after shearing the flywheel key

[blackagatha]

i already checked the valves. the rockers are nice and tight at all times, Not too tight, just right. valves move nicely. compression is obvious when pulling rope. big difference when remove sparkplug

shearing something off sounds most likely, yet I cant figure how. its not like it jammed while cranking the rope, so hit the starter or something, it all went to hell while it was running beautifully