The Generac generator starts but won’t stay running. For electricity supply to travel from electrical devices in homes and buildings to the outlets we will use, it needs an electrical generator.
These generators shouldn’t just start easily and smoothly, but should also end when you decide they should.
If your generator turns itself off after a few minutes after one starts it up or if the generator stops working without you turning it off yourself, then it’s just not doing its job well enough.
If this is indeed the case with your home’s generator, then you really need to look into getting a new one as soon as possible so that you can turn on all of your appliances again.
Generac generator starts but won’t stay running
In addition to other mechanical issues, a generator may not run due to overloading, inadequate fuel, clogged fuel caps, and carburetors.
The generator shutting itself off has different causes depending on the scenario, with some of them quite simple to fix.
In this guide, we detail as many of these causes as possible as well as their respective solutions for you to try out.
To get accurate results you’ll need your generator’s manual on hand to identify various parts and procedures we may mention throughout the article but if you do have experience using one similarly then that should suffice for now.
It is possible that the carburetor is clogged
The carburetor may be clogged with varnish or encrusted shellac. If old gas was left in the small engine for too long.
Many of the volatile ingredients evaporate and leave behind a thicker substance more like varnish than gas which can clog up the small jets and ports of the carburetor and prevent the engine from running.
If you know the small engine was not used or run for a long time, remove old gas from the float bowl and clean the carburetor to get it back into good working order. If that doesn’t work, replace the entire Carburetor with a new one.
Replace the Carburetor Repair Kit
The most common cause of a carburetor becoming clogged is by leaving fuel residue in the generator over an extended period of time. If the fuel is left there for too long it can create a thick, sticky residue-like substance.
This can easily block the intake valves to your carburetor causing it to stop working properly and preventing your engine from starting up as normal.
If you think your carburetor might be clogged, try cleaning it with something that removes residue
after which if this doesn’t work then you probably need to buy a new part or even rebuild your existing one or purchase another one from someone who is able to do this specifically for you.
Problem with Fuel Cap
The level of fuel in the tank drops as fuel is consumed by the engine. In order to compensate, fuel caps have vents that let air into the tank. Fuel cap vents that are clogged block air from entering the tank and cause a “vapor lock.”
This locks vapor in the tank with no space for liquid; resulting in little or no flow of fuel to the carburetor causing the engine to stall.
Trying slightly loosening a clogged fuel cap vent and starting your engine again will reveal whether it is clogged. If loosening it allows your car to stay running it’s probably clogged and should be replaced right away.
Dirty spark plug
The spark plug ignites the fuel to create an explosion that pushes down on the piston, starting the cycle over again. However, dirt and contaminants from rocks from trails will find their way into your spark plug.
If they are there when you start up the Generac generator it’s possible they just ran into a spot where they had a hard time getting out.
So always keep your generator clean and free of debris when storing it away after use so that metal bits don’t get stuck in your spark plug.
Clogged air filter
Air filtered by the generator’s air filter is then directed to the carburetor, where it mixes with fuel for ignition in the combustion chamber before being directed to the air filter.
Its spongey element gets clogged up with time as impurities are caught in the air.
If you’ve checked the fuel supply and noticed that it’s not working well, then you must check your air filter first as it might be torn or too dirty.
Open up your generator’s air filter housing by using a screwdriver and then take out the spongy part of your air filter (the element) to inspect if it is torn or full of dirt. If so, buy a new one.
Overload issue
The safest way to start a generator and use it for power generation or other purposes is to make sure you have the motor off before you start up the generator.
If you try starting a generator without having the motor currently disconnected from its loads then chances are that it won’t even start because this tends to be what causes overloads within the machine.
To help alleviate this specific problem then disconnect some electronics components from the electrical grid in your house.
Once you do so, try generating surplus energy once more but if your generator doesn’t still
independently shut off whenever it detects an overload then it may very well mean that there is a serious issue that needs addressing as soon as possible.
Related Guides