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MAINTENANCE
NOTICE
Never dispose of fuel or fuel contaminants by
dumping either of them into a sewer, on the
ground, or into groundwater or waterways.
Always be environmentally responsible. Follow
the guidelines of the governmental agencies for
proper disposal of hazardous materials. Consult
local authorities or reclamation facility.
LONG-TERM STORAGE
WARNING
Never store a generator with fuel
in the tank indoors or in a poorly
ventilated area where the fumes can
come into contact with an ignition
source such as: a pilot light of a stove,
water heater, clothes dryer or any
other gas appliance; or a spark from
an electric appliance.
NOTICE
Fuel stored for as little as 30 days can go bad,
causing gum, varnish and corrosive build-up
in fuel lines, fuel passages and the engine.
This corrosive build-up restricts the flow of
fuel, preventing an engine from starting after a
prolonged period of storage.
The most commonly experienced faults with
portable generators are directly attributable to
stale fuel. Such faults are not covered by the
generator's warranty.
The generator should be run at least once per month
for 30 minutes under no less than one-third load. If
this is not possible, the generator should be prepared
for long-term storage as described hereunder.
Proper care should be taken to prepare the generator
for any long-term storage. This will protect the
generator's function and appearance, and will make it
easier to start when next required.
Storage Procedure for 1 – 3 Months
1. Clean the generator as outlined in Cleaning the
Generator.
2. Add a proprietary fuel stabiliser to the fuel tank
and then add fresh fuel up to the tank's maximum
capacity (see Checking and Adding Fuel). Follow
the manufacturer's recommendation for correct
amount of stabiliser to add.
3. Start the generator and run it for 10 minutes to
ensure that treated fuel is distributed throughout
the engine's fuel system.
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4. Stop the generator (see Stopping the Generator).
5. Turn the fuel control switch to the OFF position if
not already done in Step 4.
6. Turn the fuel cap vent to the OFF position.
7. Allow the unit to cool down and then move it to a
clean, dry place for storage.
Storage Procedure for Greater than
3 Months
1. Clean the generator as outlined in Cleaning the
Generator.
2. Drain the fuel (see Draining the Fuel).
3. Start the generator, if possible, and run the
engine without load until it stops when the last
remnants of fuel have been used. (See Starting
the Generator and Stopping the Generator).
4. Change the engine oil (see Changing Engine Oil).
5. Remove the spark plug (see Spark Plug
Maintenance) and pour a tablespoon of clean
engine oil into the spark plug opening. While
placing a clean rag over the spark plug opening,
slowly pull the recoil starter handle to rotate the
engine several times. This will distribute the oil
and protect the cylinder wall from corrosion during
storage.
6. Reinstall the spark plug (see Spark Plug
Maintenance).
7. Slowly pull the recoil starter handle until
resistance is felt, at which point the piston is
coming up on its compression stroke and both the
intake and exhaust valves are closed. Storing the
engine in this position will help to prevent internal
corrosion.
8. Move the unit to a clean, dry place for storage.
Removal from Storage
Follow the normal procedures for pre-operation
checks and starting (see Before Starting the
Generator).
Use only fresh fuel to refill the tank, if necessary,
rather than re-using any old fuel.
If oil was inserted into the cylinder prior to storage,
the exhaust may smoke for a short while after starting
the generator; this is normal and will cease within a
minute or so of running time.
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