[Shop-talk] natural gas generator

[Bill Engle Sr]

Check the oil level my Generac has a low oil switch that prevents starting.
Bill
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: John Niolon
  To: shop-talk
  Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 6:12 PM
  Subject: [Shop-talk] natural gas generator


  well... today I need a natural gas fed generator guru...

  I've got a Generac Standby Generator for my home 30kw that is powered with
  natural gas.   Has worked fine for 7 years... consistantly comes on once a
  week and exercises itself...   this week it didn't ???

  It has a v6 Ford 3.0L engine, solid state ignition... pretty bullet proof.
  So I try to start it manually.. the engine spins normally and actually
tries
  to fire off but won't continue to run.   I checked fire... It's got it
  (knocked the crap out of me)  I can smell natural gas from the exhaust.

  There is a 1/2" gas line connected to a 'regulator/valve which feeds the
  intake manifold.  The valve has a low fuel pressure switch which trips a
micro
  switch to signal a fault.  The pressure switch activates when gas is turned
on
  and the microswitch (NO) closes when the pressure button activates it.
There
  is a solonoid on top of the valve that I hear/feel actuate when the start
  cycle starts (and again I smell gas.   But the dang thing just won't catch
up
  and run..

  I'm thinking it's a fuel problem...  something maybe in the valve...

  another odd thing...  It wouldn't run Sunday when I tried it manually...  I
  tried it again Tuesday and it started perfectly and ran with no problem...
  tried it again today... NO START!   so now it's intermittent also...

  any ideas, expert direction, CWAG, sorcery, ?????

  thanks
  John