Help needed! Generator won't run

[JasonB.]

I am in north Alabama. The temps dropped last night and the power is out. Yesterday it was almost 70 degrees. I tested the generator and everything was fine. It sat and ran for half an hour with no problem. This morning with the temps below 30 it will barely stay running with the choke on. If I try to turn the choke off it dies. We've got a new baby boy that is a month old and I really need to keep the refrigerator and bottle warmer working.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

drain the fuel bowl, and try again. still no run?
pull the fuel line, if gas doesnt run out its clogged. ...probably fine plug it.
remove the carb and do your best to clean out the jets.

 

[JasonB.]

Doing those now. I will post back.

 

[JasonB.]

Everything checked out. No issues with fuel supply or carb. Plug looks good. Air filter is good. Same thing. Only runs with choke on. It has something to do with the change in temperature. It ran fine yesterday when it was warm out. I'm going to start randomly adjusting screws. I really don't understand the black magic of carbs.

 

[JohnKal]

Just remember where you started when adjusting the carb. That way you’ll be able to return to the original settings

 

[Rudyjr]

If it only runs with the choke on there is likely something in the jet of the carb. There are lots of good videos on YouTube of this very problem. Usually you can drop the bowl easily by removing the bolt at the bottom and then run a small wire straight up through where the bolt screws in to clear the jet.

 

[nadogail]

You have a fuel problem, sounds like your main jet or high speed circuit is clogged, maybe you have a loss of vacuum. Check your the hold down bolts and gasket on the carb.

 

[JasonB.]

I checked for vacuum leaks and checked the jets. Everything looked fine, but it was still the same thing. I turned this screw a quarter turn clockwise and now it has been running fine.

 

[FredWanaker]

is this a broken hose, I can't tell from the image

 

[nadogail]

If turning that screw a quarter turn made your generator run; you should try to determine how and why your trouble went away.
Could that quarter turn adjustment have been your original problem?

 

[rexer]

Dirt is the enemy of small engine carbs. Very small passages and it doesn't take much to clog a passage. Was probably build up over time and finally came loose and clogged... If you don't have a fuel filter on it , put a mini one on.. All my small gas engine have one besides the screen by the shut off valve... Glad you got it running...

 

[AP514]

If the turn was on the Black Screw on the carb..... that is the Idle screw. Not used in most Generators(unless your Gen has a No load Idle curciut)

 

[AP514]

Here is a Utube Channel...EVERYTHING you ever want to know about Generators and then some...
A GREAT CHANNEL....... IMHO
https://www.youtube.com/user/jcondon2007