[JayJay]

I'd like to spread the word about King Craft Generators...I started mine for 7 months, no problem. Eighth month wouldn't start...dh couldn't even get it started, and he's tried for 2 months.
I can't return it to Aldi's because I can't find the receipt.DUH!
Customer service told ME to replace the spark plug first and then clean the carburetor.
Dh has used every tool in his 3 tool boxes and can't get SP out; was taking machine apart to get to SP, but we decided to sell it to a guy who knows how to fix them--at a discount.
Now, of course they won't service the generator since I have no receipt; but one tech said: IF I DON'T USE THE GENERATOR ALL THE TIME, THE SPARK PLUG WILL NEED REPLACING AND I WILL HAVE PROBLEMS!!!
Excuse me...I will have problems??? Stupid me--and I thought generators were for power outages backup!! Stupid me!!
That the company wanted ME to replace the spark plug and clean the carburetor is quite telling...and that was BEFORE they learned I had no receipt. We never used this machine.
I'd like to share this to keep any from making our mistake.
This may save you any inconvenience and I'm still wondering how well it would have held up if replacing parts and cleaning carburetors are required and it hasn't been used. You wouldn't want this reaction in an emergency--which is why you start your generator every month.
Peace....JayJay

King Craft
6000 Watt Generator
Item #1705-11
Toll Free...888 896 6881

 

[JustCliff]

Check your low oil shut off. If you have plenty of oil in the motor, try bypassing the switch. The engine looks like a Chinese made Honda clone. I have had problems with 2 engines of similar design that wouldn't start. I bypassed the low oil switch and they fired right up. Aside from that they ran great, better then I expected.

 

[Davarm]

In gasoline generators used for backup, a common problem is fuel, always put a fuel stabilizer in if you dont use it much. Thats probobly why they told you to check the plug and carb.

 

[TommyJefferson]

Thanks for the heads-up.


Side-note: I've made it my habit to photocopy my receipts for large purchases because the register receipts they give you nowadays fade away over time.

I think it's the thermal laser paper they print them on. Copies made on my ink jet printer last many years.

An alternative is to photograph the receipt with your cell phone, webcam, etc., then upload the image to your favorite storage. I like Google docs and Photobucket.

 

[Davarm]

Thanks for the heads-up.

I think it's the thermal laser paper they print them on. Copies made on my ink jet printer last many years.

Just keep those receipts printed on thermal papper off the dashoard of your car when the sun is out.

 

[VUnder]

You could have that kind of problem with any engine, at any time. I have dealt with spark plugs stuck so bad that I had a 3/4" breaker bar and was sitting on top of the engine with my feet on the firewall and had to put my back into it to get it to move just a little... There is nothing wrong with learning about engines and carburetors, and how to take one completely down and put together and pre-set it to start right up when installed. I took the head off a large V8 engine last week, it fired up on the first try. I also put a kit in a 20 hp briggs on a water well drilling rig, and it fired right up also. On the small engines, it either ain't gettin gas or it ain't gettin fire. Sometimes spark plugs will fire in the open when grounded, but will not fire under combustion pressures. I usually check that by leaving the spark plug wire un hooked and maybe a half inch away from the plug tip and crank the engine, sometimes they will run this way but not with the wire installed correctly. Feel free to ask questions.

 

[JayJay]

Check your low oil shut off. If you have plenty of oil in the motor, try bypassing the switch. The engine looks like a Chinese made Honda clone. I have had problems with 2 engines of similar design that wouldn't start. I bypassed the low oil switch and they fired right up. Aside from that they ran great, better then I expected.

Oh, you may have solved the problem...there is a notice on the motor..which I read!!!don't know why!!--it says this will not start if oil is low, because of the OIL SENSOR...thanks, dude.

 

[JayJay]

Thanks for the heads-up.

Side-note: I've made it my habit to photocopy my receipts for large purchases because the register receipts they give you nowadays fade away over time.

I think it's the thermal laser paper they print them on. Copies made on my ink jet printer last many years.

An alternative is to photograph the receipt with your cell phone, webcam, etc., then upload the image to your favorite storage. I like Google docs and Photobucket.

Good idea--I usually tape my receipts to the back of the manual for large purchases...but, not this time...I think my loving, precious dh brought it to me long after purchase and I didn't follow procedure--but try laminating--which is just packaging tape--the item--preserves ink; esp. when you can't run to a printer or out of ink..I live with packaging tape---former teacher!!

 

[JayJay]

You could have that kind of problem with any engine, at any time. I have dealt with spark plugs stuck so bad that I had a 3/4" breaker bar and was sitting on top of the engine with my feet on the firewall and had to put my back into it to get it to move just a little... There is nothing wrong with learning about engines and carburetors, and how to take one completely down and put together and pre-set it to start right up when installed. I took the head off a large V8 engine last week, it fired up on the first try. I also put a kit in a 20 hp briggs on a water well drilling rig, and it fired right up also. On the small engines, it either ain't gettin gas or it ain't gettin fire. Sometimes spark plugs will fire in the open when grounded, but will not fire under combustion pressures. I usually check that by leaving the spark plug wire un hooked and maybe a half inch away from the plug tip and crank the engine, sometimes they will run this way but not with the wire installed correctly. Feel free to ask questions.

Thanks VUnder--I am not mechanically or electronically inclined---I know my limits..see I'm the daughter of a carpenter/house builder, a man who had only a 6th grade education, and you wouldn't find a corner out of plumb on any of his houses.
I trimmed out our last house, laid hardwood floor, hung doors, painted, AND even put up a wall or two by myself; but I didn't get his brick-laying gene...I really sucked at that.

But, we are gonna try that bypass the oil sensor dingy.:dunno:

 

[VUnder]

Thanks VUnder--I am not mechanically or electronically inclined---I know my limits..see I'm the daughter of a carpenter/house builder, a man who had only a 6th grade education, and you wouldn't find a corner out of plumb on any of his houses.
I trimmed out our last house, laid hardwood floor, hung doors, painted, AND even put up a wall or two by myself; but I didn't get his brick-laying gene...I really sucked at that.

But, we are gonna try that bypass the oil sensor dingy.:dunno:

My dad was exactly the same way. His dad only went to school for maybe two months. Education has nothing to do with how smart somebody is. I believe you can do it. There is somebody around there like me that will be glad to get you familiar with it.

 

[RevWC]

In gasoline generators used for backup, a common problem is fuel, always put a fuel stabilizer in if you dont use it much. Thats probobly why they told you to check the plug and carb.

Sounds like the problem to me is the lack of stabilizer as ethanol turns to water that in turn can damage the carb. Have made this mistake

 

[VUnder]

Sounds like the problem to me is the lack of stabilizer as ethanol turns to water that in turn can damage the carb. Have made this mistake

Now, another real question. How can the alcohol be separated from the gas? I know the alcohol is a problem. Alcohol is harder on the rubber parts in fuel systems. Usually, the water collects in the fuel bowl, corrodes while you are not using it, and it develops holes in the bowl. I have a shop and work on vehicles. I don't think the labels on the gas pumps are telling the truth. I have replaced fuel pumps with full tanks of fuel. The tank had to be emptied. Whole tank seemed to be complete alcohol, did not smell like gas at all. Last weekend I was flagged down by a fire truck driver. He was going to a fire, but alcohol made the diaphragm in the trucks fuel pump go bad. Bad when you have to put the fire truck out before you go to the fire. Will the gas/alcohol separate if left sitting long enough?

 

[VUnder]

Sorry, my computer did a restart, and it would have double posted.

 

[RevWC]

Sounds like the problem to me is the lack of stabilizer as ethanol turns to water that in turn can damage the carb. Have made this mistake

Sorry, Ethanol retains water that damages the carb.

The Problem With Ethanol | Highlands Today

 

[Jimmy24]

Always run your air cooled small engines out of fuel, before putting them up, even if you start it every month. Use the Sta-Bil for alky gas and try to use the higher octane gas.

I have done this procedure on all of them for the last 30+ yrs and never have one not start when needed. Mowers, gensets, chainsaws, weedeaters, bandsaw mill, everything.

Jimmy

 

[ZoomZoom]

For those using StaBil, consider switching to their Marine Formula

It does a better job, especially with Ethanol.

 

[VUnder]

Some of the two stroke oil has stabilizer in it, may not be bad to put some two stroke oil in you gas as the gas nowadays is very dry.

 

[The_Blob]

You could have that kind of problem with any engine, at any time. I have dealt with spark plugs stuck so bad that I had a 3/4" breaker bar and was sitting on top of the engine with my feet on the firewall and had to put my back into it to get it to move just a little... There is nothing wrong with learning about engines and carburetors, and how to take one completely down and put together and pre-set it to start right up when installed. I took the head off a large V8 engine last week, it fired up on the first try. I also put a kit in a 20 hp briggs on a water well drilling rig, and it fired right up also. On the small engines, it either ain't gettin gas or it ain't gettin fire. Sometimes spark plugs will fire in the open when grounded, but will not fire under combustion pressures. I usually check that by leaving the spark plug wire un hooked and maybe a half inch away from the plug tip and crank the engine, sometimes they will run this way but not with the wire installed correctly. Feel free to ask questions.

sounds like you need some PB Blaster for Christmas! :2thumb:

 

[JayJay]

Thanks for all the info--we were aware of the bad gas--there is a station here that carries gas for farmers, diesel, and we were just now emptying all our gas cans in the shed and replacing them with that good gas...

We had about 45+ gallons and now will refill those cans. And empty the generator, refill with good gas and try that route.

 

[VUnder]

sounds like you need some PB Blaster for Christmas! :2thumb:

Naw, I usually get a call after somebody has exhausted every other avenue. I spent last week getting a 2 1/2" dia pin out of a large hydro ax tree cutting machine. A 30 ton jack wouldn't budge it. If I couldn't get it out, the next step was to call Caterpillar to come here from three hours away. It took a while, but I finally got it out and saved the pin. The pin would have been 250.00 to replace. The guy cut a large tree and a pin on the bottom had fallen out, and he ran over a short stump with a 100' tree in the grabber on the saw head, and it snapped the boom off. Had to replace the whole boom. Got it all together, and learned the tree had broken the saw motor when the ruckus happened. Saw motor was 13,000.00, so logging can be expensive sometimes. In the picture, we built the trailer, that is 32,000 lbs of wood.