Spark plugs for cheap Generators?

Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 14:22
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Gday, I have a 2 stroke $98 GMC job from Bunnings which wont start (and no i dont use it camping).

Its been sitting for 9 months with fuel still in. Numerous attempts to crank it over have failed.

I plan to:
1) drain and refill with new fuel
2) clean the spark plug in case its sooted up

I heard somewhere that maybe a better quality spark plug may assist?
And should i be running it dry before i put it away for long periods?

Any help appreciated.
Thanks

Rev
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Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 14:30

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 14:30
Hi Rev

What I used to do with the mower is take out the spark plug and put some unleaded inside the hole, put the plug back in and then give it a good yank....if there is spark it should fire and it should suck out all the old fuel

good luck
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Follow Up By: revhead307 - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 14:44

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 14:44
Ta,

I'll certainly give that a go.

Rev
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Follow Up By: Gerhardp1 - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 18:12

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 18:12
Aerostart into the air cleaner hole while someone yanks on the rope.
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Follow Up By: Member JD- Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 19:01

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 19:01
Hi REv,
I have one and do the same as troll when it has;nt been used for while..sometimes it takes a couple of go's but it works..for what they are there worth every cent!
JD
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Reply By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 14:52

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 14:52
rev

I've swapped the original crappy plug with an NGK BP7ES. It has the same reach and runs my GMC jobbie far more consistently now.

I've heard that you can get carby problems if you don't empty the float bowl before you put it away for a period of time. I disconnect the power cord from it while it's still running, then turn off the fuel tap and let it run dry. I've had mine stored for months and on the occaision that I need it - it's always worked.
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:02

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:02
Correct plug is BP6ES.
After 9 months 2 stroke fuel could be stale.
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Follow Up By: Member - Omaroo (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:22

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:22
More or less interchangeable I thought. Just different temperature range? I'm using the 7 just fine.
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Follow Up By: Member - 'Lucy' - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:17

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:17
May I be so bold as to ask what size gap you set these 'babies' at
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 18:02

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 18:02
NGK BP7ES for me too - works well, goes bang at the right times.

>May I be so bold as to ask what size gap you set these
>'babies' at

The usual one for any single cylinder 2 stroke: one postcard thickness :)

Mike Harding
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Reply By: Darian (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:03

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:03
Enough of this apologetic banter Rev, re the use of gennies - do we see people heaving and sweating as they quietly push their vehicles into campgrounds, just because someone got there beforehand and may be offended by some noise ? Given due consideration for 1. Regulations that may apply and 2. People and their views on the subject, there must be a place for the camping gennie ! No ?
I say this of course, because I just put a whole lot of spondooliks into a power generation solution :-0) ...... and despite me reputation in camp, its not wind.
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Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:33

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:33
Darian, Im sure everyone appreciates you input into this post BUT plain english is preferable. Give us a clue what you are talking about at least!!!
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Follow Up By: Darian (SA) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 21:54

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 21:54
Well...I've been doing this short course at WAE - "Colourful Writing for Profit" but I realise that I've failed yet another study unit........sigh........
What I meant to say was........"I've got a generator and it cost a lot. I am not a bad man. Other campers don't hate me. Fart power produces few KW".
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Follow Up By: revhead307 - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 23:53

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 23:53
Im seeing a pattern here,

You drive a Jackeroo and you just want to fit in lol.

Not anti generator, i dont take this one camping cos its noisy, and I dont need to. But If i had a speccy quiet expensive one I'd even leave the missus at home in preference.

Rev

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Reply By: Footloose - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:13

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:13
I bought one when we lost power for 4 days and have the same problem.
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Follow Up By: Footloose - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:45

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:45
OK guys, you got me ! Took non working genny out of the cobwebs, took spark plug out. End vewwwy black. Clean, reinsert, pull and up she comes. However this time I turn fuel off and let it run until it dies. Thanks for that info, I didn't know.
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Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:25

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:25
Take it back to Bunnings, they can put it with the return pile!!!
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Follow Up By: Member - John L G - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:31

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:31
--would that be alongside the mountainous pile of dead Engels and Nissan 3 litre motors????.

John G
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Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 20:23

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 20:23
John G!!! Dont know anything about either!!! Just know about 4.2's and Liemack fridges!! ;)
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Reply By: Member - Paul P (Bris) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:28

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:28
G'day

2 stroke fuel "goes off" when stored. New (fresh) fuel and a better spark plug will fix. Run the engine out of fuel after using will assist as well.

Paul
AnswerID: 157545

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 18:05

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 18:05
>2 stroke fuel "goes off" when stored.

I've heard this often but don't understand it - would anyone explain how and why it "goes off" please?

Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: Rosco - Qld - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 19:42

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 19:42
Mike

As I understand it, it all has to do with the oil degrading. I bought from a small engine shop a smallish bottle of 2 stroke synthetic oil which is purported to solve the problem.

That along with a pressure pack can of Nulon "START YA BASTARD" and I can even get the stubborn old Victa to fire up. Same stuff as Aerostart but SWMBO saw it in Repco and reckoned I needed it.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 22:11

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 22:11
"SWMBO saw it in Repco and reckoned I needed it."

Er, careful there Rosco :))))))
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Follow Up By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 00:04

Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 00:04
As I understand it all petrol goes off not just 2 stroke. I used to notice it a lot with one of my dual fuel cars that didn't run too well on petrol when it had been sitting in the tank to long, top it up with $20 worth and a immediate improvement.
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 00:41

Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 00:41
I'm with you Mike "2 stroke fuel "goes off" when stored"
have a chain saw and a whipper snipper , mix fuel once and use it when i want maybe over a year, I still have no problems

unleaded is meant to have a small shelf life, but again thats what i use.

not know

Richard
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 00:42

Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 00:42
ps and I dont run mine dry
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Reply By: Capt. Wrongway - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:34

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 15:34
G'Day revhead,
You've gummed up the carby by leaving the fuel in too long. Pull it apart, clean it out, stick new fuel and a new plug, and it should start. Never leave fuel in mowers, chainsaws, gensets or the like, for long periods. It will turn to glue. Empty the fuel out of the device and run it dry. You'll have less problems.
IMHO
Capt.
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Reply By: Peter McG (Member, Melbourne) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:15

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:15
Rev,

I had the same problem and others have gone someway to providing solutions. Change the plug. Use fresh fuel. You can get an additive from mower shops to "condition" the fuel so it doesn't lose octane rating. My secret though is a spray of quickstart on the air cleaner foam pad. Works every time. You need to riu the carby dry after turning off the fuel tap when turning it off.

Cheers

Peter
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AnswerID: 157555

Reply By: revhead307 - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:19

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:19
Thanks again for the replies,

I'll get the little bugger sorted out.

Rev
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Reply By: hl - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:42

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 16:42
It's best to use a genuine toyota platinum tipped one. They are available for $98.00
at any good parts supplier.
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:26

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:26
Sorry hl, that'd have to be mate's rates/wholesale. It's not triple figures like all genuine Toyota parts :)))))
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Follow Up By: Member - Crazy Dog (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 22:01

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 22:01
Has anyone asked "PNEUMATIC" what to do? Bet they got an answer in the Old "YOU ESS OF HAY"...

:))))))
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Reply By: dags666 - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:30

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 17:30
rev head I do a far bit of business with bunnings for all the trouble grab your receipt and take it back say it don’t work , mate they wont even argue with you their policy is to not to argue with the customer good luck Dags
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 18:11

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 18:11
And what an excellent policy for a retail outlet to have. I _hate_ having to argue that the product I'm returning really is broken (do they think I have nothing better to do?). So for every dodo customer who returns stuff which is really OK and, maybe, costs the store a few bob they gain a heap of goodwill from people like me who _really_ appreciate it when I say "this widget doesn't work" and they say "no problem sir, would you like to exchange it or have a refund" - such a store has won my business for life.

Mike Harding
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 22:09

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 22:09
Agree 100% Mike. For all the bagging they get, as far as I'm concerned no other retailer comes close to their customer service.
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 23:28

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 23:28
So why should the retailer be responsible for normal servicing????
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 23:50

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006 at 23:50
Sorry Shaker, not sure what you're getting at. I'm happy that this particular retailer does'nt put the customer through the third degree and just offers them a refund or exchange. I can't think of another one that easy to deal with.

BTW I have absolutely no connection with Bunnings other than as a normal paying customer.
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Follow Up By: Shaker - Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 09:58

Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 09:58
Gramps, I couldn't agree more, they are an excellent business.
Which is why I made my comment at the suggestion that it should be taken back due to basic service requirements.
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Follow Up By: dags666 - Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 15:32

Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 15:32
as far as i concerned it gmc and thats the way they sell their products cheap and throw away not to spend money on servicing. 12 months 2 years waranty trust me just take it back and they wont batter an eye lid thats why its so cheap dags
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 17:07

Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 17:07
Shaker,

Ah sorry, I now see your point and agree.
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Reply By: TerraFirma - Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 12:49

Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 12:49
I bought a Kipor 1000ti instead, after a weekend of listening to a GMC $98 special. I know that money is money but the Kipor is virtually silent, really only humms, it's 4 stroke, starts 1st pull all the time, and I use premium so I can leave the fuel stored in the gennie, never lets me down. I got it 2nd hand on ebay for $450 and it had only been used a couple of times. I have also now bought a 3000ti for my boat to run the hot water service and metal halide light, it just humms away at around 54db. If you use a generator a lot then spend the money, you won't know yourself.
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Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 17:39

Wednesday, Mar 01, 2006 at 17:39
I doubt anyone would give you an argument about the Kipor/Honda etc being far better products and given that they cost 10 or 15 times as much so they should be.

But for my application (and I suspect it's pretty similar to many other people) which is battery charging a 90Ah AGM every 3 days or so and running the gen for about 4 hours during the day on an extension cable in the remote places I go to (usually no human for 30km or more) a $98 GMC is ideal.

Now; had I been able to find a Kipor for $450 I probably would have bought it too :)

Mike Harding
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