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Home generator thread

58,826 Views | 549 Replies | Last: 4 days ago by barnacle bob
Diggity
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4:49p, 9/6/24
AG
I think I'm starting to zero in on the issue.

when I pull off the air filter assembly, the thing runs great on propane and NG. I don't get why it starts to get starved as soon as I put it back on but that seems to be the case.
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In reply to Diggity • 5:15p, 9/6/24
Diggity
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In reply to [removed post] • 5:22p, 9/6/24
AG
I was thinking the same, but the silly thing won't run when I put the cover back on and no filter.

Do you think an oil submersion will help the situation? Seems like a bad carb to me
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In reply to Diggity • 6:10p, 9/6/24
Diggity
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In reply to [removed post] • 6:14p, 9/6/24
AG
the thing dies.

would it be stupid to blast the thing with gumout carb cleaner? seems silly on a brand new generator, but the hassle of returning this thing and finding another one is making me hesitant to give up.
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In reply to Diggity • 6:18p, 9/6/24
Diggity
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In reply to [removed post] • 6:30p, 9/6/24
AG
not a dumb question. I've tried both ways. Feel like I've exhausted about every angle I can control.
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In reply to Diggity • 6:57p, 9/6/24
AlaskanAg99
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7:01p, 9/6/24
AG
It's brand new. Go to their website and find an authorized repair shop, call them and bring it in.

This is what I'm doing but I think I know what my issue is. They may say...you forgot to take the wrapper off the air filter (I know this isn't the issue).
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Diggity
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In reply to AlaskanAg99 • 7:13p, 9/6/24
AG
yeah, guess I'll be calling back. They won't respond to my emails.
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P.H. Dexippus
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7:51p, 9/6/24
AG
Can you post a picture of you cover as installed? I'm wondering if the fit is wrong.
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Diggity
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In reply to P.H. Dexippus • 8:28p, 9/6/24
AG
Here you go. Not sure how else they would go

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AlaskanAg99
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In reply to Diggity • 8:31p, 9/6/24
AG
Diggity said:
yeah, guess I'll be calling back. They won't respond to my emails.


Make sure you ask if they have room to drop it off.
I was told by 1 shop to call back in a month, I did, and it was another month off. Can't be in the queue if they don't have it in hand.
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P.H. Dexippus
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In reply to Diggity • 9:08p, 9/6/24
AG
I take it you have the same auto choke as I have? Is it in auto mode or are you operating in manually ? I wonder if that's malfunctioning.
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Diggity
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In reply to P.H. Dexippus • 9:14p, 9/6/24
AG
mine looks the same, but I just have "off/cold" and "on/warm".

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10:29p, 9/6/24
Diggity
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In reply to [removed post] • 10:52p, 9/6/24
AG
Yeah, I was thinking the same. Seems like whatever air that is supposed to be getting in from the vents in the bottom isn't happening.

I didn't see any obvious kinks when I looked at it just now, but I'll take a closer look in the daylight.

Thanks for helping me diagnose this. Been a learning experience!



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Diggity
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10:58p, 9/6/24
AG
I don't think I mentioned this already, but when I took out the engine oil that came with the generator, it looked like pea soup. Keep in mind, the thing maybe ran for a total of a minute or two after I filled it.

Is that common? I had never seen oil look like that.

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In reply to Diggity • 11:59p, 9/6/24
Diggity
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In reply to [removed post] • 12:02a, 9/7/24
AG
I used the quart of oil that was provided with the generator. Thought it looked a little odd on the dipstick but didn't notice how nasty it was until I drained it.
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AgLiving06
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7:47a, 9/7/24
That's not how mine looks when I drain it, granted they may have given you break-in oil and maybe that's different than regular.

I did google around on Westinghouses' and it seems like replacing the carb is a standard thing on those. If you've never put gasoline in it, it shouldn't have been bad, but seems like that happens.
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P.H. Dexippus
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In reply to Diggity • 7:58a, 9/7/24
AG
Whoa, negative. Mine most definitely did not look like that after running for the entire break in period. I think it's recommended you run their Dino oil for the break in, then switch to synthetic. I think I'd complete the break in with more Dino then make the switch.
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AgLiving06
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2:31p, 9/7/24
@Diggity...to confirm, it runs fine when you remove the filter? Seems like an airflow issue at that point.
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Diggity
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In reply to AgLiving06 • 3:27p, 9/7/24
AG
Correct. Don't have much issue keeping it running with no filter/cover
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SnowboardAg
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12:14a, 9/8/24
AG
By chance does your regulator have little plastic plug caps around it - if so, those need to be removed as part of the packaging. Not saying this is it, but I ran into a similar issue on mine where those caps restrict the diaphragm from moving properly.
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Dill-Ag13
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4:37a, 9/8/24
AG
Is that the 11500 Diggity? Mine ran great on propane on second attempt. Might be a defect.

I chased the rabbit hole on 1/2" hose and it'll run fine, a guy did the calcs on btus vs %load and no meter upgrade from the 7" WC/250cfh standard meters is needed.
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Diggity
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In reply to Dill-Ag13 • 10:45a, 9/8/24
AG
Correct.

I think it must be a defect. We'll see how long it takes to get looked at.
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Diggity
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6:02p, 9/8/24
AG
Well the good news is that I've been able to start the break in period today.

I discovered (somewhat accidentally) that the engine stays running if I have a load on it (hair dryer in this case). Once I shut down the load, the engine will stall.

Anyone have ideas on what would be causing this? Seems to not like idling.
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ttha_aggie_09
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6:23p, 9/8/24
AG
Picked up Westinghouse 13,000 trifuel today. Ran it off Natural Gas and went through the interlock process and powered on zones. Couldn't get ac started but I didn't really try shutting everything down and I don't have soft start yet.

So far, so good!
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P.H. Dexippus
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 7:01p, 9/8/24
AG
Which model? 9500tfc, 10500tfc, 11500tfc or 14500tfc? If you scored a 14500tfc, I'd be curious to know where you came by it
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to P.H. Dexippus • 7:09p, 9/8/24
AG
13k but the model is 10,500 Tri Fuel
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Diggity
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In reply to ttha_aggie_09 • 9:10p, 9/8/24
AG
I tested the house on the generator. Can't run the back of the house with just the 2 ton AC without crapping out.

Not sure if it's a gas pressure issue or just a crappy unit but I'm getting frustrated. Might just return this thing and wait for the larger Duramax.
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SnowboardAg
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9:19p, 9/8/24
AG
Lemon law - return it if you can. Sounds like a lot more problems then you should have
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justsomeguy
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In reply to Diggity • 9:10a, 9/9/24
AG
Diggity said:
Got my Westinghouse today and attempted to break it in.

Not having much luck so far. The generator starts up fine on NG but turns itself off after about 10 seconds.

I'm not sure if it's not getting enough pressure from the gas meter or what. Seems like it should be able to idle even if pressure is low but what do I know?

I'm planning on getting a propane tank to test that out and try to isolate the issue. Would rather not put any gasoline in there if I can avoid it.


FWIW, had the exact same issue and I closed the NG valve almost halfway and it started and ran perfect. Then I slowly opened it up.
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justsomeguy
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In reply to Diggity • 9:11a, 9/9/24
AG
Diggity said:
I tested the house on the generator. Can't run the back of the house with just the 2 ton AC without crapping out.

Not sure if it's a gas pressure issue or just a crappy unit but I'm getting frustrated. Might just return this thing and wait for the larger Duramax.


Put a soft start on it. Even if it's a 2 ton, it still is drawing more amps at startup than your gen can output.
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