For those using a generator for power

[jpratt]

We have seen 7 brand new generators come in to the shop for repair after only a few minutes of run time. These have B&S engines. New in the box is included a bottle of 30W oil. However the owners manual says to use 10w30 in temperatures below 40 degrees. The customer buys the generator, pours the included oil in the generator, starts the machine, a few minutes later the engine grenades. I am going to be able to warranty these for the customers because the oil was included, but B&S says that they will monitor the serial number and deny and other claims similar to this fault.

The 30W oil does not get pumped and the engine seizes. Not pretty. So a word of advice. If you are running a generator in the cold weather make sure you have 10w30 oil in it.

 

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

Odd, all our wacker generators that we have had over the last 12 years all have used shell 15w40 diesel motor oil and NEVER had a failure on those honda motors. A hundred or more of them over the course of 12 years

Your talking about the lil ole 5.6 KW generators right?

What brand generator is it?

BW

 

[jpratt]

Mostly been B&S 7KW sold at Lowes and Troy Bilt dealers. A good generator usually, but not with these cold nights and 30 weight oil.

 

[TexasT]

Just another good reason to buy from a servicing dealer instead of the "big Box" . A little service to go with the sale could prevent problems such as these.

 

[BandAid]

wtf ,you mean there are still areas of the us that are stuck in the stone age,come on now cambodia prolly has electric ,somewhere...

 

[RareT]

wtf ,you mean there are still areas of the us that are stuck in the stone age,come on now cambodia prolly has electric ,somewhere...

My guess is the recent snow and ice storms has knocked out power in some areas.

 

[gsgns4me]

Mostly been B&S 7KW sold at Lowes and Troy Bilt dealers. A good generator usually, but not with these cold nights and 30 weight oil.

I put four engines on 1 of these generators last winter at Lowe's. Had to put 2 engines on a couple others. I would change the engine, go to the truck to get something electrical to plug into the outlet to make sure all is well on that side, by the time I get back there's a hole in the engine. All the ones we had problems with were the ones that the engine sits over the generator vertically.

Also, the log splitters do NOT come from the factory with hydraulic oil in them, no matter what the sales people may tell you.

 

[jpratt]

Yep same ones that we are working on now. These piles are garbage are going to make me a lot of money.

 

[TexasT]

Shipping items with "hazardous materials" in them is very expensive. When packaged in 'little' quart containers it is much cheaper than in an unrated 'container' such as a log splitter or engine crank case.

That is why they come dry. And again any decent servicing dealer takes care of this before delivery to the customer.

 

[jpratt]

My point was that there is oil in the box with the generator. The oil is 30 weight and not to be used in cold weather operation.

 

[gsgns4me]

And my point was that log-splitters used to be sold "Ready-to-Go" as far as hydraulic oil. Now there is a little decal on the tank that says that the system needs filled to proper level before operating. No one sees this decal until I replace the locked up pump and point it out to them, including the sales-people.

 

[jpratt]

And my point was that log-splitters used to be sold "Ready-to-Go" as far as hydraulic oil. Now there is a little decal on the tank that says that the system needs filled to proper level before operating. No one sees this decal until I replace the locked up pump and point it out to them, including the sales-people.

Ah, we have seen that many times also. I love when the blue plastic dust cap is still on the fuel tank underneath the regular gas cap. Engine runs for a few minutes then dies, after a few minutes it will start back up and run again. The blue cap is a dust shield and has a picture of a garbage can on it.