Adjusting Valve Clearance; General; Long Term Storage - Generac Power Systems XG 6500 Watt Series Owner's Manual

3.5 ADJUSTING VALVE CLEARANCE

After the first 50 hours of operation, check the valve clearance
in the engine and adjust if necessary.
Important: If feeling uncomfortable about doing this procedure or
the proper tools are not available, please take the generator to the
nearest service center to have the valve clearance adjusted. This is
a very important step to insure longest life for the engine.
To check valve clearance:
1. Make sure the engine is at room temperature (60° - 80° F).
2. Make sure that the spark plug wire(s) is removed from the
spark plug and out of the way. Remove spark plug(s).
3. Remove the four screws attaching the valve cover(s).
4. Make sure the piston is at Top Dead Center (TDC) of its
compression stroke (both valves closed). To get the piston
at TDC, remove the intake screen at the front of the engine to
gain access to the flywheel nut. Use a large socket and socket
wrench to rotate the nut and hence the engine in a clockwise
direction while watching the piston through the spark plug
hole. The piston should move up and down. The piston is at
TDC when it is up as high as it can go.
5. Insert a 0.002 - 0.004 inch (0.05 - 0.1mm) feeler gauge
between the rocker arm and valve stem. Correct clearance
is when a slight drag is felt when sliding the gauge back and
forth. If the clearance is either excessively loose or tight the
rocker arms will need adjusting.
To adjust valve clearance:
1. Loosen the rocker jam nut (Figure 27). Use an 8mm allen
wrench for the 3.6kW/10kW and 10mm allen wrench for
the 6.5kW/8kW to turn the pivot ball stud, while checking
clearance between the rocker arm and the valve stem with a
feeler gauge. Correct clearance is 0.002-0.004 inch (0.05-0.1
mm).
The rocker arm jam nut must be held in place as the pivot ball
stud is turned.
When valve clearance is correct, hold the pivot ball stud in
place with the allen wrench (10mm for 3.6kW/10kW, 13mm for
6.5kW/8kW) and tighten the rocker arm jam nut. Tighten the jam
nut to 174 in/lbs. torque. After tightening the jam nut, recheck
valve clearance to make sure it did not change.
2. Install new valve cover gasket.
3. Re-attach the valve cover.
Start all four screws before tightening or it will not be possible
to get all the screws in place. Make sure the valve cover
gasket is in place. Replace spark plug(s).
4. Re-attach the spark plug wire(s) to the spark plug(s).
5. Repeat steps for cylinder #2 on 10kW units.
NOTE:
NOTE:
Figure 27 - Valve Clearance Adjustment

3.6 GENERAL

The generator should be started at least once every 30 days and
be allowed to run at least 30 minutes. If this cannot be done and
the unit must be stored for more than 30 days, use the following
information as a guide to prepare it for storage.


NEVER store engine with fuel in tank indoors
or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas where
fumes may reach an open flame, spark or pilot
light as on a furnace, water heater, clothes
dryer or other gas appliance.
Allow unit to cool entirely before storage.


3.7 LONG TERM STORAGE

It is important to prevent gum deposits from forming in essential
fuel system parts such as the carburetor, fuel hose or tank during
storage. To avoid engine problems, the fuel system should be
emptied before storage of 30 days or longer, as follows:
• Remove all gasoline from the fuel tank.
Drain fuel into approved container outdoors, away from

open flame. Be sure engine is cool. Do not smoke in the
vicinity or light a cigarette.
• Start and run engine until engine stops from lack of fuel.
• Allow the engine to cool, then drain oil from crankcase. Refill
with recommended grade.
• Remove spark plug and pour about 1/2 ounce (15 ml) of engine
oil into the cylinder. Cover spark plug hole with rag. Pull the
recoil starter a couple times to lubricate the piston rings and
cylinder bore.
Maintenance
15