Do-it-yourself gas generator repair

In detail: do-it-yourself gas generator repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

A portable power generator is an indispensable source of energy in conditions where there is no possibility of connecting to electrical mains or the supply of electricity through them stops. They use regular motor gasoline as fuel.

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A portable power generator will be useful wherever there is no permanent power supply, for example, on a trip to nature.

Diesel generators have a large mass, so they are installed permanently as a backup source of electricity. Their gasoline analogue is much lighter, therefore it is quite mobile and is often taken with them to remote hard-to-reach places. Therefore, in the event of a breakdown of the gas generator, it is extremely problematic to call repair specialists; it becomes necessary to repair it yourself, with your own hands.

Portable gasoline power generator.

Such a machine is a mechanism for generating alternating current based on the synchronous rotation of its elements. Moreover, such a current, depending on its model and power, can be either single-phase or three-phase. The first has the ability to generate a voltage of 220 V and supply current to a single-phase load, which is necessary for electric lighting and the operation of most household electrical appliances. The second one can give a load in three phases and provide a voltage of 380 V, which makes it possible to connect welding machines in the first place.

The gas generator consists of an electric generator and a gasoline engine that supplies it with energy. They are connected to each other by a special elastic coupling. A metal box is installed at the electric generator, where a device for turning it on, devices for measuring operation parameters and automatic fuses in case of short circuits are mounted. A gasoline engine can have from 1 to 8 cylinders, depending on the required power, and can also be two- or four-stroke. The latter are used more often because they are more economical and have greater efficiency. The switching method can either be from a spark obtained mechanically using a manual drive, or from a battery.

Video (click to play).

The main causes of failures in the operation of a portable gas generator can be either a breakdown of the engine or a failure of the electric generator. To find out the specific cause of the malfunction, one by one, you will have to check all the nodes that can cause a failure.

Scheme of the internal structure of the generator: 1. Fuel filters. 2. Crankshaft. 3. Air filter. 4. Part of the ignition system. 5. Cylinder. 6. Valve. 7. Crankshaft bearing.

In addition, the load on the generator may exceed its capacity. Then you need to turn it off and check the work. If, during the operation of the unit, smoke begins to rise from it and a burning smell appears, it means that a short circuit has occurred in the winding, then self-repair is extremely problematic, a complete rewinding of the windings is needed.

In general, repairing a gas generator on your own is quite affordable even in the field.

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Gasoline generators, even if they are made in China, very reliable with proper care. However, during their operation, small problems can occur, which can usually be quickly fixed by hand. Serious breakdowns, if the owner knows the device and the principle of operation of the generator, will also not be able to disable it for a long time.

If you arrange the possible malfunctions of the gas generator in a kind of rating, you get the following list:

  • Failure or contamination of the spark plug: difficult or impossible to start, unstable operation.
  • Clogged carburetor: Difficult starting, excessive fuel consumption, unstable operation under constant load.
  • Ignition coil failure: no spark, no start.
  • Starter failures: breakage, cable bite, ratchet destruction.
  • Violation of valve clearances: difficult start, increased noise during operation.
  • Brush wear (on synchronous generators) - no output voltage.
  • Malfunction of the speed controller: floating engine speed, dips when changing the load.
  • Wear of the bearings of the crankshaft and the rotor of the generator - an increase in the noise of operation, oil leakage.
  • Wear of the cylinder, piston rings - difficult starting of a cold engine, excessive oil consumption.

It does not take into account breakdowns that are the result of a gross violation of the rules for operating the generator: for example, scuffing on the crankshaft journal due to insufficient oil level, burnout of the generator windings or voltage converter (on inverter gasoline generators) with frequent overloads.

In fact, malfunctions of a gasoline generator can be divided into three groups: mechanical, electrical and fuel/ignition system faults.

Difficulty starting the generator, which manifested itself suddenly and is not accompanied by an increase in the noise of the engine, is a clear sign of either deviations in the operation of the carburetor (too lean or rich mixture) or a faulty ignition system (weak or intermittent spark formation). Since the diagnostics of the state of these systems are interconnected, it is combined into one section.

Remove the spark plug and inspect the deposits on its electrodes.

  • Dense and dry black soot - A sign of a rich mixture (faulty carburetor, clogged air filter);
  • Oily black soot - a sign of severe wear of the piston rings, oil enters the combustion chamber;
  • White soot - a sign of running on a lean mixture, it is necessary to check the carburetor.
  • Brick brown soot - normal for carbureted engines.
  • Red, green-red soot - a consequence of working on low-quality fuel.

It is easy to check the performance of the ignition system itself because of its extreme simplicity: turn on the ignition, insert a known-good spark plug into the candle cap and, placing it with a skirt on the nearest metal part of the engine, turn the manual starter sharply. If there is no spark, disconnect the ignition switch and the oil level sensor in turn from the ignition coil: if there is still no spark when both elements are disconnected, replace the ignition coil.

If the spark is present and has sufficient strength (white or blue-white), remove the spark plug after several attempts to start. A spark plug flooded with gasoline is a sign of over-enrichment of the mixture, a dry one is a sign of a lack of fuel.

Sometimes, after long storage, the needle and float of the carburetor stick and do not allow gasoline to flow inside. A few times abruptly, but do not hit the float chamber cover very hard and restart.

The most common carburetor malfunction is its contamination. The ingress of dirt into the air channels leads to a re-enrichment of the mixture, in the fuel jets - to depletion. Dirt on the float shut-off needle leads to loss of tightness and overflow of the float chamber, which will be immediately noticeable by fuel leakage from the carburetor.

Consider the maintenance of a carburetor using the example of a Honda GX installed on engines - its design is typical for a gasoline generator.

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  • Remove the float chamber cover (4). Wash it in gasoline or aerosol carburetor cleaner - dirt and deposits accumulate on its bottom.
  • Do the same with the gas cock sump (22).
  • Check if the gas valve is blown in the "open" position.
  • Remove the float shaft (3), remove the float and locking needle (2). Blow out the channel with air.
  • Blow out the fuel jet (25), emulsion tube (11) and all carburetor passages with an aerosol cleaner or compressed air.
  • Turn out the adjusting screw (5), blow through its channel. Then turn it all the way in and loosen it, depending on the type of air filter, by 2 (foam rubber, paper filters) - 2.5 turns (cyclone filters).
  • Assemble the carburetor.

The electrical system of gas generators is quite reliable. Most often, you will encounter two problems: no battery charging on generators with electric start or lack of voltage at the output of the generator.

  • The lack of battery charging is a consequence of the failure of the rectifier or low-voltage winding. Checking this system with your own hands is simple: connect a 12-volt light bulb in parallel with the low-voltage winding of the generator and start it. A burning light means that the generator itself is working properly, and the rectifier needs to be replaced.
  • The absence of voltage at the generator output is most often the result of brush wear. Remove them and assess the degree of wear, replace if necessary. If your generator is an inverter type, check if the voltage comes to the input of the converter by connecting a low-power 220 V lamp in parallel with it.

Video about the phased repair of a gas generator