phartman
Well-known member
I need to buy the idle down switch for a Kawasaki GE500AS generator. Anybody know who sells parts on-line for these generators?
Thanks, I appreciate the help.
Thanks, I appreciate the help.
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Kawasaki Generator Parts Source Help: Need a Switch
- Thread starter phartman
- Start date
Stuart in MN
Well-known member
You can find a whole bunch of places by simply googling on 'kawasaki generator parts' but one place that should be reputable is http://www.bikebandit.com/kawasaki-motorcycle-parts/oem-parts/s/m8 . Enter 'Generator' in the blank that says Terrain.
Stuart, the folks at Bike Bandit were very nice, and put me onto the diagram on their website that I needed to find the part #. However....
It's the second time that a Kawasaki bike dealer has told me that since he isn't a Kawasaki generator dealer, he can't order the part. He's prohibited. So even though we know the part and the #, Bike Bandit can't order it.
Crazy.
Same thing that the repair shop told me. They are a Kawasaki motorcycle dealer. They aren't allowed to order the part. They have my generator. Same motor as the 4-wheelers. They know what's wrong with the motor. They know how to make the repair. Can't order OEM parts. I have to do that, and bring the parts to them. Grrrrrrr....
I did find an on-line parts house in Alabama with the part. But this prohibition makes no sense to me.
Pete
Richmond, VA
It's the second time that a Kawasaki bike dealer has told me that since he isn't a Kawasaki generator dealer, he can't order the part. He's prohibited. So even though we know the part and the #, Bike Bandit can't order it.
Crazy.
Same thing that the repair shop told me. They are a Kawasaki motorcycle dealer. They aren't allowed to order the part. They have my generator. Same motor as the 4-wheelers. They know what's wrong with the motor. They know how to make the repair. Can't order OEM parts. I have to do that, and bring the parts to them. Grrrrrrr....
I did find an on-line parts house in Alabama with the part. But this prohibition makes no sense to me.
Pete
Richmond, VA
Generator is back on the fritz again. It will run for a minute or two, then sputter, then backfire a dozen times or so, then either idle back up to full speed or die. You can wait a minute or two, fire right back up again.
In September, the shop rebuilt the carb, replaced the idle down switch, and got it work ok when warm, but never quite right when cold.
Now it is back to running erratically just like last summer before I took it to the shop.
Ideas? Cracked circuit board? Idle down switch when back this quickly?
I'm stumped. Need the small engine brain trust here. Thanks in advance for any guidance you might give me. Winter and bad weather are coming on. Need a generator that works.
Pete
In September, the shop rebuilt the carb, replaced the idle down switch, and got it work ok when warm, but never quite right when cold.
Now it is back to running erratically just like last summer before I took it to the shop.
Ideas? Cracked circuit board? Idle down switch when back this quickly?
I'm stumped. Need the small engine brain trust here. Thanks in advance for any guidance you might give me. Winter and bad weather are coming on. Need a generator that works.
Pete
Oh, one other observation...I can watch the automatic kickdown cable connected to the throttle. Just as it starts to sputter, the cable will move and lean down the carb. That cable is getting a bad electronic signal from somewhere. I thought by replacing the idle down switch it would solve that problem, but apparently not.
frankzlt1
Well-known member
Take your gas cap off and try it. The vent on the gas cap might be clogged of it might be to restricted for air going into the tank.
frankzlt1
Well-known member
The other problem might be if the generator has a mechanical governor, the governor might be going bad.
Got the generator running smoothly. Idle down switch now works, got the choke adjusted, seems to run fine...as long as it is not under load.
Just as soon as I plug in anything direcct to one of the generator outlets, motor sputters and immediately tries to die.
It will stumple and sputter, then come back to life as long as the load is interrupted (I plugged in my power saw and gunned it a time or two).
Governor going bad? How do I diagnose? Something I can repair or do I need a shop?
Thanks again for all your help.
Just as soon as I plug in anything direcct to one of the generator outlets, motor sputters and immediately tries to die.
It will stumple and sputter, then come back to life as long as the load is interrupted (I plugged in my power saw and gunned it a time or two).
Governor going bad? How do I diagnose? Something I can repair or do I need a shop?
Thanks again for all your help.
frankzlt1
Well-known member
Did you try running the generator without the gas cap on. The governor works by the rpm's of the motor. If the rpm's are low the carburetor throttle opens and pucks up speed, when you put a load on it does the throttle open to pick up speed if not the governor is bad if it does your carburetor needs to be replaced. Its cheaper to replace the carburetor than to rebuild.
Yes, I did run without the cap, and that immediately had the motor running smoothly. Runs like a charm now with the cap or w/o the cap.
But now it is doing the same thing as before, but when I put it under load.I put under load and it immediately dies, like the snap of a finger.
But now it is doing the same thing as before, but when I put it under load.I put under load and it immediately dies, like the snap of a finger.
frankzlt1
Well-known member
It sounds to me its the mechanical governor. if it runs good no load and it shuts down as soon as you put it under a load the governor is not responding by throttling up.
frankzlt1
Well-known member
The carb would be the problem if its not the governor. Im going through a similar problem with a portable Honda I'm fixing the governor went bad because the engine would start running to fast after a minute or so, I repaired it then I'm going through the same problem you are now with as soon as a load is applied it dropps out. I'm ordering s new carb and I see if that fixes it. I'll be interested how yours comes out, keep us posted.
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I never would have thought about replacing the sparkplug, but a cracked porcelin would make the motor act up like mine did. What a good reminder about starting with the basics on diagnosing a repair. Should be ready today or tomorrow. Just in time for an ice storm on Sunday. Yikes.
Good question! I took the bad generator to the Kawasaki dealer the first time this past summer, and he never really fixed it right. I got a $225 bill for my efforts, 6 week wait, and 40 minute drive.
Thinking I would just go buy another new generator, I called an independent small engine repair shop near my house that sells new generators. He urged me to stick with what I had, pay him the $50 to diagnose the problem (which goes toward the total bill should I decide to have him go ahead with the fix). His reasoning is that Kawasaki makes a good product, and a repair is much less expensive than the $1100 replacement that he would otherwise be more than happy to sell me.
I like that approach to business: the independent guy talking me out of spending more money than I need to, and spending less with him when all is totaled.
The first go-round, the generator was at the dealer for over a month, and I had to order the parts they needed. The dealer told me straight out that he didn't make money on the parts, and didn't want to spend time doing it. The generator is about 10 years old. The dealer didn't have a repair manual. I had to find a schematic diagram on the internet so he could find the idle down circuit, and take to him my ownership manual before his mechanic would touch the carb.
So after more than a month, the generator came back, and still never worked correctly.
The independent guy talks me out of spending money on a new generator from him, tells me he'll hear from me within 24 hours as to what was the problem (and I did hear back from him), and told me he could have the repaired generator back to me and into service by the end of the week. I took it in Monday morning, and it is ready for me to pick up today, Thursday. He told me the dealer reassembled the choke mechanism incorrectly, had the output incorrectly set, and failed to replace a bad sparkplug and a bad ignition wire. Total bill to fix the problems created by the dealer as well as what was initially wrong? $125.
Thank goodness for independent guys. You find a good shop, and they are worth their weight.
Thinking I would just go buy another new generator, I called an independent small engine repair shop near my house that sells new generators. He urged me to stick with what I had, pay him the $50 to diagnose the problem (which goes toward the total bill should I decide to have him go ahead with the fix). His reasoning is that Kawasaki makes a good product, and a repair is much less expensive than the $1100 replacement that he would otherwise be more than happy to sell me.
I like that approach to business: the independent guy talking me out of spending more money than I need to, and spending less with him when all is totaled.
The first go-round, the generator was at the dealer for over a month, and I had to order the parts they needed. The dealer told me straight out that he didn't make money on the parts, and didn't want to spend time doing it. The generator is about 10 years old. The dealer didn't have a repair manual. I had to find a schematic diagram on the internet so he could find the idle down circuit, and take to him my ownership manual before his mechanic would touch the carb.
So after more than a month, the generator came back, and still never worked correctly.
The independent guy talks me out of spending money on a new generator from him, tells me he'll hear from me within 24 hours as to what was the problem (and I did hear back from him), and told me he could have the repaired generator back to me and into service by the end of the week. I took it in Monday morning, and it is ready for me to pick up today, Thursday. He told me the dealer reassembled the choke mechanism incorrectly, had the output incorrectly set, and failed to replace a bad sparkplug and a bad ignition wire. Total bill to fix the problems created by the dealer as well as what was initially wrong? $125.
Thank goodness for independent guys. You find a good shop, and they are worth their weight.
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Get a super detailed Bill from the independent repair shop, along with affadavit of incorrectly assembled genset that came back from Kawasaki dealer . . . . .thus document that you were scammed for $225 !!
Mail letter and copies of end result (ie Indy bill & affadavit) to the Kawasaki dealer and ask for your $225 money refunded. If they squawk at it, then tell them you're going to small claims court.
Rip off "vendors" need to pay for their scam. Good luck !!
Mail letter and copies of end result (ie Indy bill & affadavit) to the Kawasaki dealer and ask for your $225 money refunded. If they squawk at it, then tell them you're going to small claims court.
Rip off "vendors" need to pay for their scam. Good luck !!
Just picked up the generator, but told the guy I wanted to make sure it worked before I loaded it into the truck. He laughed and said, "Please...try it." Cranked right up. Before I took it to him, it never ever cranked so easily and quickly. Now it fires right away.
Even when it was new, it needed a shot of ether to crank. Not now.
Very good work, exactly as promised. What a surprise in this world these days. And they thanked me and told me they'd love to have more of my repair work. Jeez, good repairs and a great attitude. This shop- it's a keeper.
Even when it was new, it needed a shot of ether to crank. Not now.
Very good work, exactly as promised. What a surprise in this world these days. And they thanked me and told me they'd love to have more of my repair work. Jeez, good repairs and a great attitude. This shop- it's a keeper.
frankzlt1
Well-known member
That's great to here. I'm a dealer for different generator brands and I always tell the customer the same thing on why by something new when it can possibly be repaired for cheap. Glad you got the right place and people. I would also right send emails what ever you can to Kawasaki to let them know what you went through with that dealer. Its dealers like that that screw the honest dealers over.
Update: Some time now after the rebuild to the carb and retiming the generator continues to run well. But it is just cold-natured. It needs to run a little rich until getting thoroughly warmed up. In the past, as soon as the motor caught, I would push off the choke completely. The motor would die. I have now learned that the motor wants to run rich until warmed up, then kill the choke, and it continues to run like a top.
Not a big difference, but all the world to the motor. They are all a little different, and they want what they want.
Otherwise, the generator operates better than every.
Not a big difference, but all the world to the motor. They are all a little different, and they want what they want.
Otherwise, the generator operates better than every.