Generator Doesn't

[cabinetman]

Here we are gettin' ready for some hurricanes and today I go to service my generator, and it won't turn over. I changed the oil, drained the gas and put in fresh gas. Go go pull start, it turns a coupla times and then locks up. Now it won't pull crank at all. I even pulled the spark plug and still a no go. Any suggestions?
.

[southernbob]

If it tried to start and then quit, it maybe the "low oil" protection. On my generator the oil has to be filled to the top before it will start. If it is the recoil starter give a good 'bang' on the housing, as there is a pin (or something) that has to engage otherwise pulling the rope does nothing.

[Daryl]

Is there a clutch between the gen and the moror?

[cork58]

Sorry,

Try to find out if it is the motor or gen set that is locked up. In the mean time pull the recoil and see if anything is wrong there. When was the last time you ran the engine? What kind of gen set and how large. You might try to google the motor and key word problem.

[LCHIEN]

Here we are gettin' ready for some hurricanes and today I go to service my generator, and it won't turn over. I changed the oil, drained the gas and put in fresh gas. Go go pull start, it turns a coupla times and then locks up. Now it won't pull crank at all. I even pulled the spark plug and still a no go. Any suggestions?
.

For IC engines, it takes three thngs to make them go...
Air, Spark and fuel.
Air cleaner/filter passing air?
New, properly gapped spark plug, ?
Fresh fuel, clear fuel filter?

Engine turn over, magneto working?

[cabinetman]

Pull cord will not budge the motor to turn over...it's locked...immovable. Everything else has been checked.
.

[leehljp]

Two ideas come to mind for me:
1. Gummed up valve stuck open.

2. Gummed up crank bearings.

I have seen a couple of small engines in my lifetime for some reason gum up in a short time of sitting. Rare but it does happen.

[conwaygolfer]

Generator trouble

Last time mine did that to me, I removed spark plug and sprayed WD 40 into the hole (any lube should work). Then remove the pull starter mechinisms to get to the flywheel. There should be a large nut in the center. Place a socket on it and attempt to slowly turn. Don't over force, but nudge it to see if it will break free. Give the WD 40 or penetrating oil time to do its thing. Hopefully this will work.
Conwaygolfer

[RayintheUK]

I think that the low oil protection works by cutting the ignition circuit, rather than locking anything up, but it wouldn't hurt to re-check the oil level.

If it won't turn freely with the spark plug out, it does sound serious. I'd go with conwaygolfer's flywheel cranking suggestion before much else, Mike.

Ray.

[Uncle Cracker]

Ray is correct... Most low-oil safeties have a pressure sensor (usually a sparkplug-looking thing screwed into the nether-regions of the crankcase, and with a single or two wire terminals) which grounds the ignition circuit after 10-15 seconds of runtime if the pressure has not come up. If this switch has failed, though, the motor will start and run for a few seconds, and then start and run again for a few more seconds if re-cranked thereafter. Your problem sounds like an engine seizure of some sort, but it could also be a foul-up in the recoil starter, which could seize the flywheel if the pawls were engaged.

[Stytooner]

I suspect dirt daubers. (mud daubers)
They seized up one of my compressor motors. It wasn't mounted at the time, but could not turn by hand until I pulled it apart enough to clean it out.

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=743

These could have made nests in the generator motor, in the muffler, in the intake air filter and even in the flywheel area if it isn't sealed up tight.

[Hellrazor]

You can tap on the starter with a hammer to see if it will release. And I said TAP....