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Generator loosing power

Posted By: Wolfdog91

Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 12:40 AM

Figured some of y'all might now about this. I got this little 63cc tail gator generator from harbor freight, had it close to two years now and really like it. Does bout everything I need beside run my welder but lately I noticed it's loosing power for some reason like it will barely push my drill half as hard as I need it and my grinder barky watsn to go through that anymore. I've made sure to keep it out the rain, start it once at least every two weeks and let it run. Only use that good pre mixed gas in it and all that good jazz . I the only things that have happened lately I can think of is it tipped over in the truck bed a couple times going down com crappy roads and I cut the extension cord with my electric pruner when doing some yard work. Other than that I don't know what could be wrong. Should I just go get a new one ( it was only like $124 and I've got my moneys worth out of it) or is their something I can do to fix this one ?
Thanks !
Posted By: old243

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 12:49 AM

Is the engine operating at normal speed ? If normal . Probably in the generator part. . If you have a voltmeter check to see what it is putting out. for voltage. under load. old243
Posted By: Drifter

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 12:51 AM

Check if has brushes. They could be wore by now.
Posted By: Leftlane

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 01:10 AM


If it were mine, Id first check online to see if replacement parts were available. You could also find other guys posting about the same issue and if it was fixable of just wearing out.
If not, Id sell it on marketplace to someone who just needs to run lights say at a fishing camp or something. Get $62 bucks for it, and in 62 of your own and get another one.
Posted By: DanN

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 01:18 AM

Is the spark screen plugged with carbon?
Posted By: Northof50

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by DanN
Is the spark screen plugged with carbon?

We have a winner....
there is probably 2 gas filters to check as well
Posted By: Mike C

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 02:22 AM

If not the screen or filter or brushes, do your voltage check. If voltage is not within specs the generating internals may be bad. When you started it up to run every two weeks or so, did you connect a load? Bad for generators to just run them without a load. Just a thought.

Ps. if it was me and you can't find the problem, I would just get a new one for that price.
Posted By: Tactical.20

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 12:58 PM

I just got one for 426$ runs on lp or gas
Posted By: Trapset

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Tactical.20
I just got one for 426$ runs on lp or gas


What size is it? Is it a Harbor freight unit?
Posted By: jeff karsten

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Northof50
Originally Posted by DanN
Is the spark screen plugged with carbon?

We have a winner....
there is probably 2 gas filters to check as well

^^^^ since you made it sound like it started after it tipped over
Posted By: Trapset

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 02:10 PM

Most Harbor freight motors are Predator motors. We use them on our mud motors. The fuel pick up line is actually above the bottom of the tank so it doesn't pick up as much trash off the bottom. As said above, tipping may have caused the gunk to plug your carb or pick up line, mine doesnt have a filter except on fill hole. I would at least pull the carb bowl and see what the gas looks like and if there are any deposits. I occasionally tilt the motor so gas goes to one corner and siphon that corner out till clean. Also might want to make sure the governor or throttle arms didnt get bent or pushed to lower idle.
Posted By: Tactical.20

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by Trapset
Originally Posted by Tactical.20
I just got one for 426$ runs on lp or gas


What size is it? Is it a Harbor freight unit?

I got it on Amazon, new ones were 100$ more, this one was listed as used, said it had some cosmetic damage, lmao, the box had been repaired, almost destroyed, the recoil start thing was bashed in, took and hour to straighten it.
It's a duro pro 4850, tried the gas and lp, looks like it's good to go!
Posted By: waggler

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 02:39 PM

First off I am not an electrical guy. But I recently used a 2000W generator that would run a light bulb but that's about it even thought the engine was running fine. I had it checked out and voltage and cycles were not to specs. Went to the junk pile.
Posted By: CoonsBane

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 02:42 PM

If it's one of the small generators I'm assuming it is a two stroke?
Posted By: Tactical.20

Re: Generator loosing power - 04/18/20 03:48 PM

Ya I think , he said mixed gas
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