What did you do today?

[Beap52 1,198]

Last fall my neighbor gave me a 2010 Briggs and Stratton Elite 8,000 (10,000 surge) open frame generator.  It quit running so they had a whole house one installed.  They were going to junk it because a shop told them it might cost half of what the generator was worth to repair it and wanted to know if I could use it.  Of course I could use it!  The issue was because it was left with gasoline in the tank and carburetor for several years.  After removing the carb two or three times and finally getting it clean. it ran like a champ.  

 

The generator only had 11.5 hours on it when I received it and it now had 14.5.  I try to start it from  time to time (premium fuel and Stabil marine).  This week I went to start and it was running awful.  It was getting too  much fuel and puffing black smoke.  I removed carb and I couldn't see any issue.  I figured it had to be seat and needle or float. I  tried to purchase a needle and seat from local small engine shop with none available.  He'd sell me a new carb $91 or a rebuild kit "almost half the price of a new carburetor".  "Try to  clean the seat and pay attention to the neoprene on end of needle" was his advice.  I found a fellow on computer that used a Q-tip chucked in his drill with polishing liquid and he polished inside the seat.  He said that fuel can make a fine coating that might cause the needle to hang up inside the seat.  When I put it back together, it's once again running like a champ. 

 

Because this generator won't see much service, unless we have a storm that disrupts commercially supplies electricity, I have added a "T" to my supply line between the tank and carburetor.  The "T" allows me to have a way to drain the tank and I will open the drain on the fuel bowl and maybe a dry system will be less problematic.  I'm almost thinking about using something like an old coffee can with hose attached to it and feed the carburetor through my drain line.  That way when I run the generator for a short time, I don't have to put gasoline in the main tank.   

[c-series don 9,453]

@Beap52 I like that Q-Tip idea! I’ll have to remember that. Coffee can is a good idea too 👍🏻 Once I brazed a nipple to a coffee can and ran a line to the carburetor on a 1962 F-250. I taped the can to the west coast style mirror and gravity fed the carburetor because the fuel pump was shot. The guys I was working with that day called me McGyver😂

[HyperPete 536]

Just now, c-series don said:

Once I brazed a nipple to a coffee can

 

[Dan 312-8 46]

Yesterday, first time ever, I took off the carb of a tractor and cleaned one. This is my '96 312-8. This past Monday while cutting the lawn it started acting up and I could not keep it running. Tractor is fairly new to me, only put about 3-4 hours on it since I bought it last year. The dirt in the bowl is what came out of the carburator bowl when I took it apart 😳!

Runs like a champ again.

Thanks to @c-series don for the guidance as to how to do this! 

[ebinmaine 70,792]

1 minute ago, Dan 312-8 said:

The dirt in the bowl is what came out of the carburator bowl

 

Highly likely some of that is debris from ethanol gas usage.  

 

Niiiiice work cleaning that out. 

 

Get non ethanol gas and a good fuel filter and you'll be pleased with that carb for years to come.  

 

 

 

[Dan 312-8 46]

Thanks @ebinmaine, oh trust me, nothing but ethanol free gas in this stable. When I had it down to the frame and engine last May it received new fuel line, and filter. Tractor is all original except for the black band on the hood. 

[Dan 312-8 46]

Here are some before pictures...

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,151]

  Found this banner from the 2018 WHCC Show rolled up in my garage…really needs to be hung up. 
   Miss Vinyl Guys “show specials” each year. Lots of great names/people on it! 
 

 

 

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,487]

Very cool, I think mine is hanging up in SteveBo’s barn!

[19richie66 17,579]

Mine will get hung up soon. Have to free up some wall space first.

[WHX?? 50,776]

I have to put up another building for more wall space...

[adsm08 2,696]

10 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

I have to put up another building for more wall space...

 

I'm currently trying to triple the size of mine for more floor space.

[WHX?? 50,776]

22 hours ago, Beap52 said:

I don't have to put gasoline in the main tank.   

A problem with most backup gennies & not a bad idea. Or just use what @Achto calls a IV bottle for exercising it.  A small gas tank from an old junker whatever. Great for bench running motors too. 

Problem with leaving the tank dry might be condensation/rust. Keep an eye on that. 

[Beap52 1,198]

26 minutes ago, WHX?? said:

A problem with most backup gennies & not a bad idea. Or just use what @Achto calls a IV bottle for exercising it.  A small gas tank from an old junker whatever. Great for bench running motors too. 

Problem with leaving the tank dry might be condensation/rust. Keep an eye on that. 

I've been mulling around the idea of dumping two cycle fuel into the empty tank sloshing it around and draining it back out.  My thinking is that some of the oil in the fuel will coat the inside of the tank and help preserve it. 

[WHX?? 50,776]

11 minutes ago, Beap52 said:

I've been mulling around the idea of dumping two cycle fuel into the empty tank sloshing it around and draining it back out.  My thinking is that some of the oil in the fuel will coat the inside of the tank and help preserve it. 

Not a bad idea either 

[ranger 1,782]

On 4/28/2025 at 1:10 AM, Beap52 said:

I've been mulling around the idea of dumping two cycle fuel into the empty tank sloshing it around and draining it back out.  My thinking is that some of the oil in the fuel will coat the inside of the tank and help preserve it. 

How about using one of the plastic fuel tanks used for outboard motors on small boats. They have dry break couplings so you can remove them for filling at the gas station, etc. just fit the relevant couplings to the genny and you’re good to go! 

Edited 3 hours ago by ranger

[Achto 28,801]

On 4/26/2025 at 7:50 PM, Beap52 said:

Because this generator won't see much service

 

All great ideas that you have for storage. I have an 8kw w/ a Briggs Vanguard that does not get run a whole lot either. I bring it out a few times a year and let it run for 20 to 30min with a 1500w space heater plugged into it. The space heater puts some load on it to make it work a little. Could actually use about 4 space heaters to really load it down.  After exercising it, I then shut the fuel valve off and let it run until it dies. This ensures there is little to no gas in the carb. I never keep more than a gallon of gas ( no corn squeezin's ) mixed with SeaFoam in the tank, usually less. Mine has a plastic tank so I guess I really could just store it completely dry. 

Edited yesterday at 10:48 AM by Achto

[Wayne0 935]

2 hours ago, Achto said:

 

All great ideas that you have for storage. I have an 8kw w/ a Briggs Vanguard that does not get run a whole lot either. I bring it out a few times a year and let it run for 20 to 30min with a 1500w space heater plugged into it. The space heater puts some load on it to make it work a little. Could actually use about 4 space heaters to really load it down.  After exercising it, I then shut the fuel valve off and let it run until it dies. This ensures there is little to no gas in the carb. I never keep more than a gallon of gas ( no corn squeezin's ) mixed with SeaFoam in the tank, usually less. Mine has a plastic tank so I guess I really could just store it completely dry. 

I have the same unit.

When I DO have to use it, I shut the fuel and run it dry when done. Starts first or second pull no matter how long it sits.

[Ed Kennell 40,513]

First mowing of the fence lines.

 

Then blowing the woods trails. 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 22,151]

Cranked out a 14 mile ride this morning…

 

 

 

[HyperPete 536]

Yesterday, despite losing the governor spring for my Troy-Bilt rototiller, I managed to till Donna's new garden.

Being an area that we sprayed with 30% vinegar to kill the long established grass, I had to do about 10 passes gradually increasing depth until I was about 5 in deep. My shoulders and back are complaining a bit. Tomorrow I will pick up all of the grass that I raked out of it and on Wednesday, 3 yards of garden soil is being delivered.

Then I will begin cutting the 4x6s to size in order to frame both the old half of the garden and the new garden.

She is in Denver right now, I hope to have this finished by the time she gets home.

Oh, I got and replaced the governor's spring today. It's much nicer not having to try to till at low RPM, constantly having to stop to allow it to regain revs.

 

 

 

 

 

I would have much preferred to use the wheel horse tiller, but I'll have it ready for any other tilling very soon!