Generac Generator Not Making Power

[gdocktor3]

Bought a Generac XG8000 yesterday. Had sat for 2-3 years without being run and the carb was all gummed up. I cleaned all that, got it to fire and run, but it’s not putting out any real voltage. According to my meter it’s only putting out 24 volts. I plugged my Ridgid vacuum into it and it was barely sucking. When I manually raise the throttle, the voltage comes up. I am still running the same “old” gas that was in the tank simply because I didn’t have time to get new gas. Can that be the issue or is it something with the actual generator itself? What controls the throttle on this? The power draw?

 

[American Locomotive]

Does your generator sound like it's running as fast as this one?

The XG8000 is a 3600 RPM generator, and it should always run at that speed.

 

[driz]

I’ve had one for 20 years. After a while it only made 120 v . I checked all the plug connections for contact ( the usual problem ) and it wasn’t it. Finally I took the end cap off where things plug in. Sure enough one of the wires had broken from vibration . Check those , clean the connections up knock he. On webs n crud out. Those things go on forever but the. Vibration can cause you issues.
Make sure you put a fuel shut off on that if it doesn’t have one so you can store that carb dry. Carbs FYI usually run 12-20$ EBay. Mines on its second one.


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[D.Sobek]

Try flashing it.

 

[ezridr60]

I had a stby gen that had a switch that allowed the gen to run at something less than the rpm necessary to produce 120vac. As soon as a load was sensed it kicked into max rpm to produce 120v. Taking the load off it would throttle down. Unfortunately I can’t recall the brand. You could also leave the switch set to max rpm regardless of load. In my case the gen was dedicated to run a sump pump. The sole Load.

 

[driz]

It should be pumping out full voltage when it’s running at a good clip, no tach really needed. That’s interesting how you can excite that genny with a drill. I remember having to wake up gennys from
old cars way back a time or two.


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[gdocktor3]

Try flashing it.

I don’t have a corded drill lol. I’ll try to borrow one I guess.

 

[Outwest]

Is there an automatic idle on/off switch that may not be working? Some Generacs had those.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Check with a meter that shows HZ. Need to be in the 60HZ range (3600rpm) to make proper voltage. It sounds like yours in only showing field flash voltage, which means your flash circuit and windings should be okay. If you're at the correct frequency, it might be an issue with the voltage regulator.

It's been a couple of years since I've worked on one of those, but also check for output at all the outlets, since I remember the outlet wires would vibrate out of the crimps.

 

[klassenl]

I got asked to look at a generator by one of our contractors. They told me it worked fine until the receptacles got changed. I know nothing about generators so I did the old thing I knew - I open the front panel where the plugs were and found they had been wired as a short circuit. Easy fix after that.

 

[peteco]

The capacitor failed on my gen. I could not find an exact replacement but one fairly close. Worked fine after installing.

 

[kelpaso1]

I don’t have a corded drill lol. I’ll try to borrow one I guess.

One thing the guy in the video failed to mention, is, when you are turning the drill chuck backwards to induce magnetism back in the gen, if it works, the drill can start working suddenly. So be aware to let go of the chuck right away.

 

[gdocktor3]

So one of the 120v outlets is dead, the other is 24v according to my meter. That’s the one that barely powered my vacuum. I tried the drill trick and it did nothing. Gonna pull it apart tomorrow and take a better look at the wiring of the outlets. Any other thoughts?

 

[RTM]

I have a generac, and in the troubleshooting section, it says

1 - circuit breaker open
2 - fault in generator
3 - Poor connection to outlet
4 - Connected device is bad

Fixes
1 - reset
2 - get it serviced
3 - check and repair
4 - duh

That was kinda useless.

 

[gdocktor3]

Thanks anyways

 

[bpjr]

You say the voltage comes up when you raise the engine rpm. Did you measure at high speed? It needs to be measured at 3600. My gen has one speed...3600 and no way to adjust the throttle.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

So one of the 120v outlets is dead, the other is 24v according to my meter. That’s the one that barely powered my vacuum. I tried the drill trick and it did nothing. Gonna pull it apart tomorrow and take a better look at the wiring of the outlets. Any other thoughts?

Thanks anyways

Again, have you been able to check the frequency?

Obviously there's a wiring issue if you're seeing different voltages at outlets. When you say, "...manually raise the throttle, the voltage comes up." are you talking voltage kicking into the normal range, or just going from 24v to 30ish?

We can pinpoint the issue with more info and feedback.

 

[Lightning rod]

The attached Xg8000 schematic shows a capacitor excitation option
Not sure if this is your model since there are variations
Go to the generac website and put in your serial number to get the correct schematics
https://soa.generac.com/manuals/6788678/0H5145
But for discussion as peteco mentioned, if your genset has the capacitor option
And it has gone bad, then you would get reduced voltage

 

[gdocktor3]

The generator is now running at 3600 rpm/60 hz. The capacitor is good and reads within range. I’m getting 110 at my outlets now, but when I put a load on it, the motor surges up and down. The carb was just ultrasonic cleaned and it only has a main jet and float with needle. No adjustments. Fresh gas. What else could it be?

 

[goblue1998]

Make sure all the gaskets are good. I had surging trouble once that was an air leak downstream of the carb. New factory Honda gaskets solved the problem.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Usually the surging will be too much air (leaks), not enough fuel (junk in the line or tank) or a worn/plugged up carb (been through some with a MIG tip cleaner that still wouldn't run right).

The governor adjustment hasn't been messed with through all this, has it? How many hours on the meter?

 

[theoldwizard1]

The generator is now running at 3600 rpm/60 hz. The capacitor is good and reads within range. I’m getting 110 at my outlets now, but when I put a load on it, the motor surges up and down. The carb was just ultrasonic cleaned and it only has a main jet and float with needle. No adjustments. Fresh gas. What else could it be?

Surging in small engines is almost always caused by the idle/primary jet being clogged. Or, as others have said, an air/vacuum leak downstream from the carb. Both will cause a lean condition. (The idle jet should be just called the primary jet. Fuel must pass through it at all time or the engine will be lean.)

You do have 2 jets, the primary jet is not adjustable or easily accessed. Usually ultrasonic cleaners will clear any obstruction. Try cleaning again (some people swear by placing the carb body in boiling water for a few minutes). If that does not solve your problem, it is time for a new carb.

BTW, did you drain and clean the tank before re-assembling last time ?

 

[Lightning rod]

Check valve clearances and then governor adjustment

 

[milwaukeephil]

I bought a Generac generator a few years back for $50 because it ran but didn't put out any voltage.

After troubleshooting and researching, I bought a new AVR (Auto Voltage Regulator) off eBay, popped it in, and it was immediately fixed.

I felt so guilty I returned it to the guy who sold it to me!

 

[gdocktor3]

Mine doesn’t have an avr I was told. I will look at the gaskets and clean carb again. Fuel was drained from tank and new fuel filter was installed. Still surging.

 

[bpjr]

I have an old 4.5 briggs that started surging after 10 yrs and found the governor spring was wasted. I could stop the surging by playing with the carb while running. A new spring immediately stopped it. Another 17.5 briggs was doing the same thing but spring adjustment made most of the surging go away. Not on generators but is something to look at.

 

[glibglob]

I don’t have a corded drill lol. I’ll try to borrow one I guess.

why has the video to flash been removed? We need that.

Generac shows the Flashing being done without being connected to the pos. neg. (I think) but other sites state to connect a battery (I think) to the pos neg and then do the flash.

I trust the 2nd but cannot locate the diagram nor a good video showing this.

I really don't have time to Post and wait for help so I wish the video was still up. It's got to be out there I saw it once. But will read through the good people Posting previous mine here and hope it is said. But thank goodness garagejournal is here. Thank you all.

Oh, I have the ever unpopular Generac gp8000e. 50 hours and quit producing electric. Tried replacing the typicals, check through most brand advice, has oil, jimini. 50 hours is all.

Thanks anyone.

 

[RTM]

why has the video to flash been removed? We need that.

Generac shows the Flashing being done without being connected to the pos. neg. (I think) but other sites state to connect a battery (I think) to the pos neg and then do the flash.

I trust the 2nd but cannot locate the diagram nor a good video showing this.

I really don't have time to Post and wait for help so I wish the video was still up. It's got to be out there I saw it once. But will read through the good people Posting previous mine here and hope it is said. But thank goodness garagejournal is here. Thank you all.

Oh, I have the ever unpopular Generac gp8000e. 50 hours and quit producing electric. Tried replacing the typicals, check through most brand advice, has oil, jimini. 50 hours is all.

Thanks anyone.

Googling is sooo hard. Just seconds after waking up from a baseball induced nap.

Flashing Generac Coil With Battery

For those who think it's easier to annoy you than to Google 'Flashing generac coil with battery' themselves.

letmegooglethat.com

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