Miscellaneous Maintenance; Spark Arrestor Mufflers.14; Cleaning The Generator.14; Battery.14 - Generac Power Systems Q-55G Series Owner's Manual

MISCELLANEOUS MAINTENANCE
SPARK ARRESTOR MUFFLERS
If the generator is not equipped with a spark arrestor
exhaust muffler and is to be used on any forest covered,
brush covered or grass covered unimproved land, you
may have to install a spark arrestor. The spark arrestor
must be maintained in effective working order by the
vehicle owner/operator.
For assistance in ordering, installing and maintaining
spark arrestor exhaust mufflers, contact your nearest
authorized service facility.
Exhaust mufflers supplied by Generac are spark arres¬
tor types. Generac exhaust mufflers for FIV generators
do not have a spark arrestor screen, but are of the more
efficient 'toroid" or "swirl' type. To remove carbon and
combustion deposits from such mufflers, remove the
PLUG from muffler and run engine for about 15 minutes.
Shut engine down, let the muffler cool and install the
plug.
WARNING: BE SURE TO RE-INSTALL THE PLUG
FROM THE MUFFLER TIGHTLY. ENGINE VIBRA¬
TION COULD CAUSE A LOOSE PLUG TO FALL
OUT. WITHOUT THE PLUG IN PLACE, HOT EN¬
GINE EXHAUST IS DIRECTED OUT THE OPEN¬
ING. THIS HOT EXHAUST, DEPENDING ON THE
INSTALLATION, COULD BE DIRECTED TO
AREAS NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE EX¬
TREME HEAT SUCH AS WOODEN FLOOR
BOARDS OR OTHER FLAMMABLE MATERIALS.
THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
CLEANING THE GENERATOR
Keep your generator set as clean and dry as possible.
Dirt and moisture that are permitted to accumulate on
electrical windings have an adverse affect on the insu¬
lation resistance of those windings.
Moisture that is allowed to remain in contact with wind¬
ings will be retained in voids and cracks of the windings.
Dirt makes the problem worse, since it tends to hold the
moisture into contact with the windings. Salt, as from
sea air, worsens the problem since it tends to absorb
moisture from the air. The combination of salt and
moisture makes a good electrical conductor.
CAUTION! Do NOT use a forceful spray of water to
clean the generator. Water will enter the generator
interior and cause problems, and may also contam¬
inate the generator fuel system.
BATTERY
All lead-acid storage batteries will discharge when not
in use. The generator battery should be inspected as
follows:
Once Weekly: Inspect battery posts and cables for
tightness, corrosion. Clean and/or tighten as needed.
Also check battery fluid level, and, if necessary, fill with
DISTILLED WATER ONLY. DO NOT USE TAP
WATER IN BATTERY.
Every Six Months: Have battery state of charge and
condition checked by automotive service facility. This
should be done with automotive type battery hydrome¬
ter.
DANGER: STORAGE BATTERIES GIVE OFF EX¬
PLOSIVE HYDROGEN GAS. THIS GAS CAN
FORM AN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE AROUND THE
BATTERY FOR SEVERAL HOURS AFTER
CHARGING. THE SLIGHTEST SPARK CAN IG¬
NITE THE GAS AND CAUSE AN EXPLOSION.
SUCH AN EXPLOSION CAN SHATTER THE BAT¬
TERY AND CAUSE BLINDNESS OR OTHER IN¬
JURY. ANY AREA THAT HOUSES A STORAGE
BATTERY MUST BE PROPERLY VENTILATED.
DO NOT ALLOW SMOKING, OPEN FLAME,
SPARKS OR ANY SPARK PRODUCING TOOLS
OR EQUIPMENT NEAR THE BATTERY.
DANGER: BATTERY ELECTROLYTE FLUID IS
AN EXTREMELY CAUSTIC SULFURIC ACID SO¬
LUTION THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE BURNS. DO
NOT PERMIT FLUID TO CONTACT EYES, SKIN,
CLOTHING, PAINTED SURFACES, ETC. WEAR
PROTECTIVE GOGGLES, PROTECTIVE CLOTH¬
ING AND GLOVES WHEN HANDLING A BAT¬
TERY. IF YOU SPILL THE FLUID, FLUSH THE
AFFECTED AREA IMMEDIATELY WITH CLEAR
WATER.
DANGER: DO NOT USE ANY JUMPER CABLES
OR BOOSTER BATTERY TO CRANK AND START
THE GENERATOR ENGINE. IF ANY BATTERY
HAS DISCHARGED, REMOVE IT FROM THE VE¬
HICLE FOR RECHARGING.
MAJOR SERVICE MANUAL
To obtain a service manual for your generator, order it
from your dealer/distributor or contact the factory. Be
sure to identify your MODEL NUMBER and SERIES.
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