Post by ohioautotech on Nov 29, 2016 22:30:33 GMT -5
First time customer comes in the door. He found the shop on the internet while looking for a Generac dealer. Asks if we work on Generac Generators. _ Yes. Ok I have a generator that will not run. Brings it in and it is an RV generator that is at least 15 years old with a pigtail coming ou tof it ending in an outlet. . Quick look finds that as soon as you try to start it gasoline pours out of the carburetor, so it needs a new carb. He asks why a new carb instead of repairing the one on it. Generac , like many small engine manufacturers do not sell repair parts for carbs. Customer asks if we can find parts to repair carb on internet? Well we might be able to but the time spent could run into more money than a complete carb or money spent looking and coming up with nothing could be more than cost of new carb. Ok Well he says, I do not have the money for a new carb, will just leave it here until I have the money for it.
A couple months or so goes by before he calls and says he has money for carb when can he pick up his Generator. When we tell him it depends on how soon the carb comes in. He is not happy. We explain that special order parts are not ordered until the customer has paid for them.Apparently he forgot that?
Start working on it and it is a mess. Someone has worked on it before and had the carburetor off. When they put the carb back on the left out the gasket between the carb and engine.The generator is enclosed in a cabinet and when mounted in an RV the generator exhaust is pointed downward and cooling air is drawn up from the bottom.. This generator has apparently not been in an RV for some time and has been run while sitting on the ground as evidenced by all the carbon and soot buildup inside the housing. The air filter is black and filled with carbon pieces, old carb is black inside and intake port is black with carbon. Clean that up, install carb install new air filter, change oil as it is full of gasoline.
It now runs, but is hard starting and will not rev up easily. Further investigation finds that from being run with the exhaust very near the ground the exhaust pipe and muffler are severely restricted.SO decarbonization is attempted with the engine running. Does not work. So off comes exhaust and carbon cleaned out of piping and muffler. engine still starts hard but now revs up easily. Check compression and it is low but within general guidelines for small engines. No exact figures are given for compression on many small engines due to them having a compression release during cranking for easier starting. Check of starter system show battery weak but still serviceable, starter draw is within specs. Since it has been started and stopped with not enough time to charge battery it is necessary to put battery charge on it.
Strange, it now starts easier with charger on it. You still have to hold throttle plate closed but it starts faster.
Now that it will rev up next is to make sure it will hold under a load. Plug in a drill to check and generator is not putting out. This means it has not been used in a very long time. If generators are not used and output loaded in a while they lose their ability to generate electric.So we flash it to get it charging, works good now .
Final diagnosis form all steps done- due to generator being placed on the ground with no provision for exhaust and cooling air engine was damaged by overheating and ingestion of carbon laden exhaust. This was all explained to customer when he finally came to pick it up 2 months after it was done. Was also sown to customer when he picked it up as it was no longer 90* out when repaired and now around 40* and it would not start ( when metals get cold they contract which increases clearances and lowers compression ) . At that time he was ok with diagnosis, got to see for himself what he was told. Paid his bill , loaded it up and left.
Couple hours later he called , demanding his money back, , very rude on phone, threatened us. Sorry, we did not break it, you did.
Got a bad review form him, but he left out the truth. Research by me found out he pretty much makes his living buying and selling on Craigslist and Face Book sale sites. I figure he bought the generator off one of those sites hoping to make money on it but got shafted. Sorry, but a business cannot subsidize someone
elses bad business decisions.
As always- "Buyer Beware". Yes one can get some good deals from online sales sites, just watch out. If it says that it runs good, just needs a fuel pump/ battery/starter/ fuel filter etc- no it does not run so it cannot run good. If you cannot see and hear it run, let it sit.
A couple months or so goes by before he calls and says he has money for carb when can he pick up his Generator. When we tell him it depends on how soon the carb comes in. He is not happy. We explain that special order parts are not ordered until the customer has paid for them.Apparently he forgot that?
Start working on it and it is a mess. Someone has worked on it before and had the carburetor off. When they put the carb back on the left out the gasket between the carb and engine.The generator is enclosed in a cabinet and when mounted in an RV the generator exhaust is pointed downward and cooling air is drawn up from the bottom.. This generator has apparently not been in an RV for some time and has been run while sitting on the ground as evidenced by all the carbon and soot buildup inside the housing. The air filter is black and filled with carbon pieces, old carb is black inside and intake port is black with carbon. Clean that up, install carb install new air filter, change oil as it is full of gasoline.
It now runs, but is hard starting and will not rev up easily. Further investigation finds that from being run with the exhaust very near the ground the exhaust pipe and muffler are severely restricted.SO decarbonization is attempted with the engine running. Does not work. So off comes exhaust and carbon cleaned out of piping and muffler. engine still starts hard but now revs up easily. Check compression and it is low but within general guidelines for small engines. No exact figures are given for compression on many small engines due to them having a compression release during cranking for easier starting. Check of starter system show battery weak but still serviceable, starter draw is within specs. Since it has been started and stopped with not enough time to charge battery it is necessary to put battery charge on it.
Strange, it now starts easier with charger on it. You still have to hold throttle plate closed but it starts faster.
Now that it will rev up next is to make sure it will hold under a load. Plug in a drill to check and generator is not putting out. This means it has not been used in a very long time. If generators are not used and output loaded in a while they lose their ability to generate electric.So we flash it to get it charging, works good now .
Final diagnosis form all steps done- due to generator being placed on the ground with no provision for exhaust and cooling air engine was damaged by overheating and ingestion of carbon laden exhaust. This was all explained to customer when he finally came to pick it up 2 months after it was done. Was also sown to customer when he picked it up as it was no longer 90* out when repaired and now around 40* and it would not start ( when metals get cold they contract which increases clearances and lowers compression ) . At that time he was ok with diagnosis, got to see for himself what he was told. Paid his bill , loaded it up and left.
Couple hours later he called , demanding his money back, , very rude on phone, threatened us. Sorry, we did not break it, you did.
Got a bad review form him, but he left out the truth. Research by me found out he pretty much makes his living buying and selling on Craigslist and Face Book sale sites. I figure he bought the generator off one of those sites hoping to make money on it but got shafted. Sorry, but a business cannot subsidize someone
elses bad business decisions.
As always- "Buyer Beware". Yes one can get some good deals from online sales sites, just watch out. If it says that it runs good, just needs a fuel pump/ battery/starter/ fuel filter etc- no it does not run so it cannot run good. If you cannot see and hear it run, let it sit.