Generator Runs A Few Minutes & Dies - Here's Why!

Generator Only Runs A Few Minutes & Dies - Here's Why!
If your generator won't stay running or only runs a few minutes and dies make sure to checkout this video. This could be your problem!
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Easy to follow and thorough step by step tutorials do it yourself (DIY) videos to help you with your broken lawn and garden equipment including snowblowers and zero turn mowers.

I do my best to teach you how to easily diagnose problems the fastest, quickest and most efficient way with real repairs beyond just replacing a spark plug. These tips are for both the homeowner and shop owner.

Whether it be a handheld, two stroke, two cycle engine like a chainsaw, weed eater, weed wacker, string trimmer, grass trimmer, line trimmer, hedge trimmer, strimmer, brush cutter, leaf blower, or four stroke, four cycle units like a lawnmower, wood splitter, lawn tractor, zero turn mower, snowblower, pressure washer, generator or a ride on mower that needs parts installed or replaced, I’m your go-to guy.

My favorite brands of spark plugs are NGK and Champion and are the ones I recommend.

I’ve been a small engine mechanic for many decades and also run my own repair shop so my videos are loaded with tips and tricks that I have learned and want to share with you. You will also find many tool and product reviews from top brands on my channel as well.
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[donyboy]

Watch my video on how to quickly start a generator that's been sitting a long time here;

[VoxxRocks]

A quick trip to YouTube University and voila, I'm back in business! Thank you!

[manuelFlores-iohc]

There was a hurricane this Sunday in Houston and left us with no power for three days my mom’s boos gave her a generator so we could use but it was shutting off every ten minutes thanks to you I was able to fix it and I could get some sleep 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[alang.]

I purchased a new Champion 7500W Duel-Fuel Generator (model # 201040) in October 2021. The gen was exhibiting the same issue as shown in your video with one minor exception. It ran flawlessly at idle. However, when I applied a load, the gen would die out after about 15 seconds. It didn’t matter if it was running on gas or LP gas. The result was the same. I contacted technical support and the tech said it sounded like a bad Overvoltage Controller and he’d ship out a replacement ASAP. After receiving the replacement, I installed it and the same thing would happen. Since it was under warranty, I took it to the service center in Newark, NY for the tech to diagnose what was causing the engine to die out when a load was applied. The issue turned out to be two bad 120V AC 20A GFCI receptacles which, for some reason was causing the engine to die out. After the receptacles were swapped out with new ones, the generator runs great now.
I enjoy watching your videos. I even watch them when the equipment you're working on is not relevant to me. I figure at some point watching your videos can be applied to help me diagnose/fix/repair power equipment in the future. Keep up the good work!

[mariocestra]

A simple repair based on your years of experience. Great job.

[kts]

Mine was brand new duromax got this year and it ran for a few minutes and died. Watched your video and what I did I just straightened the fuel hose so it doesn't look like its pinched and it ran none stop! Thanks for the video!!!

[vetterfellow]

DB73 You're a wizard of small engine repair. Stay safe ol Buddy.

[oleyeller]

Good video. I've had a similar problem with a pressure washer. The problem has a plugged fuel cap.

[patthesoundguy]

I love those bowl drain screws for that very reason, easy troubleshooting. I bet many carbs get pulled and replaced when it was the screen in the tank. Great video!

[petersack]

2:10 ? One, (me) has to wonder, what were those 'engineers' thinking ? WHY not have an in-line filter, like the good 'ole days ? North America is FULL of non-working machines like much for whatever happened to '' user friendly '' serviceable generators/mowers/tillers /etc. Or, at the very least, HAVE THIS FILTER, IN the machines MANUAL, under 'service' listing, in table of contents ? Thank-you, DonnyBoy, for NO BACKGROUND noise (music); and an easy to 'hear' gentle voice: non-intimidating for novice

[markg]

I had an issue with my 8k Champion the other day, it would start and run fine with a light load, but after about 20 minutes or sooner with a heavy load it would bog down and die. Let it sit a few minutes and it would restart and do it again. I am running on propane, dual 40lb tanks, so I knew fuel wasn't an issue. Pulled the plug and it looked perfect, nice and tan, no signs of lean or rich burn. Decided to check the valve lash since I hadn't checked it in about 40hrs of run time, and I found the exhaust valve had basically zero lash and the intake had .001-.002". Set them to .008" on exhaust and .006" on intake, fired it up and it ran for 12hrs straight without a bobble. Looks like the exhaust valve lash was so tight that when it ran under load or for an extended time, it would expand until it wouldn't seat anymore and the engine would die from compression loss out the exhaust port. Pay close attention to your valve lash on these little engines, it's important.

[Luigi-pkmk]

great tip not too many people would suspect the shut off valve, and would be scratching their head over that one!

[riceski]

Thank you - been working on mine for a month and it has the same issue. THANKS

[barrypettit]

Thanks Don, great video. I have a smaller champion i run every two weeks or so and run ethanol free gas. All tips i got from your videos. Thanks and keep up the great work.

[bustabaf]

This is great, man. Thank you for the detailed video. I just got my mom's generator set fixed after watching your detailed video. It would have cost me to wait for 12 hours to get an engineer look it up and fix it while we so much need power supply right now itself

[alainbenoit]

Really good video thank you! And the quality of your camera, the screen is really clear and pleasant to see! It s not blurry.

[joefriday]

Thanks Don. Love your videos. You are a great teacher.

[dereksmith]

I had a Honda exact same set up doing exact same thing drove me crazy everything was cleaned and functioning but believe it or not it was the plug! As the plug got hot it quit firing.

[tomfillmore]

thanks buddy I have a generator smaller model I will do that for sure thanks very much take care have a great weekend

[matthewjohnston]

I’m always surprised how very simple so many repairs are, and how the vast majority of the time it just comes down to following of gas is getting to engine.