15 year old Generac not running...replace?

[sandyut]

Just put another regulator on it. I had to do that in my shop because the tube heater couldn't handle to pressure that the house required. Staging regulators in natural gas is common, you locally bring the pressure down at the engine so it only see's the 2 or 3 wc required.

Corey

thats what they proposed, but why would it need this all of a sudden after 15 years?

 

[processhead]

Yup they replaced that. $250 plus time and BS to guess that was the issue = $800 and it was not the cause of the problem.

I would have an issue with them billing for time and material that did not correct the problem, although it does tend to point towards the gas supply.

 

[sandyut]

I would have an issue with them billing for time and material that did not correct the problem.

could not agree more. I have a bone to pick with them on a couple levels.

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

When they replaced this regulator, what pressure did they set it to?
Did they try adjusting it way down so the engine would run?

 

[sandyut]

When they replaced this regulator, what pressure did they set it to?
Did they try adjusting it way down so the engine would run?

the internal regulator is not adjustable...I asked them and Generac what the output was preset at and no one can answer that...seems F'ed up to me.

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

Didn't know this was internal, non-adjustable.

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

If it was me (and I'm an old-school mechanic from the 70's) and I had the money, I would replace it.
The thing isn't going to do you any good if it won't run when needed.

 

[sandyut]

If it was me (and I'm an old-school mechanic from the 70's) and I had the money, I would replace it.
The thing isn't going to do you any good if it won't run when needed.

I am leaning that way. its old and was not well cared for. if its no longer reliable then its useless. Its a lot of money to replace, but we can add many circuits to a new one. now it can only power 2 refers, the garage and a couple outlets in the house. its enough, but far generous. its still flashlights in the bathroom and such. Also, I will know the history on it. I want to see the quote on the replacement. the conduits and wiring into the switch are all in place. so might not be a total bone job? remains to be seen.

 

[processhead]

the internal regulator is not adjustable...I asked them and Generac what the output was preset at and no one can answer that...seems F'ed up to me.

The demand regulator output runs at a negative pressure, a vacuum. They are factory preset, and I am not aware of any user adjustments on them.

Did you ever find an hour meter on this unit? Really curious how much actual use it has seen.

 

[sandyut]

Did you ever find an hour meter on this unit? Really curious how much actual use it has seen.

I havent. The oil comes out very dark when I change it. If there are no outages it will about 12 hours a year doing self tests. Last year it rand for 2.5 days straight plus weekly for about 8 hours, then randomly here and here for an hour or two. Before I bought the house 3 years ago is a black hole.

Before our first winter I changed the oil and it was black as tar. My guess was many years without being changed.

 

[Coreymacc]

thats what they proposed, but why would it need this all of a sudden after 15 years?

There are a few things it could be, the pressure of the service main could have been increased over 15 years and the generator just didn't like it, the factory non adjustable reg could be failing and the new external one will be stepping the pressure down to a level the old one can handle. If this is just a fuel issue, replacing the whole generator seems drastic, like buying a new car because the carburetor needs replacing.

All my opinion
Corey

 

[sandyut]

There are a few things it could be, the pressure of the service main could have been increased over 15 years and the generator just didn't like it, the factory non adjustable reg could be failing and the new external one will be stepping the pressure down to a level the old one can handle. If this is just a fuel issue, replacing the whole generator seems drastic, like buying a new car because the carburetor needs replacing.

All my opinion
Corey

I hear ya, my concern is its the tip of the iceberg and we are going keep having issues and more service. @ 135/hour plus parts it runs up a tab pretty fast.

 

[Coreymacc]

I havent. The oil comes out very dark when I change it. If there are no outages it will about 12 hours a year doing self tests. Last year it rand for 2.5 days straight plus weekly for about 8 hours, then randomly here and here for an hour or two. Before I bought the house 3 years ago is a black hole.

Before our first winter I changed the oil and it was black as tar. My guess was many years without being changed.

Unfortunately one late oil change that lets the oil darken will cause subsequent oil changes to come out "dark" at least for a while. Changing it more frequently will eventually wash the dark oil out. Dark oil is not a death sentence, its not great, but not 911 yet.

Corey

 

[processhead]

I think I would want to rule out fuel issues before making a jump to a new generator, since you might have ongoing fuel problems with a new unit.

Dark color when changing the oil is less of a concern than a unit that is using significant oil between changes or has major oil/fluid leaks.

 

[Coreymacc]

I hear ya, my concern is its the tip of the iceberg and we are going keep having issues and more service. @ 135/hour plus parts it runs up a tab pretty fast.

I definitely hear that. I guess the cost of the new unit will help point you towards a decision. Hopefully its no too crazy a cost.

Corey

 

[processhead]

Most home units don't operate enough. For that reason, they are set to exercise periodically. If there is a problem with the unit starting, you don't want to find out about it when the power goes out.

 

[sandyut]

I think I would want to rule out fuel issues before making a jump to a new generator, since you might have ongoing fuel problems with a new unit.

I dont think its a fuel issue. as in the gas supply from the meter as the gas company was out and verified all was well. Even replaced the home regulator and set it where they want it. he check the flow and all that jazz too. I talked with him a while and feel confident that is not the problem. If it were, everyone using gas would be having a fit. And our range, fireplaces, garage heater are all running normal.

I definitely hear that. I guess the cost of the new unit will help point you towards a decision. Hopefully its no too crazy a cost.

Im expecting it to be spendy. But two refers full of meat and everything else is spendy too.

Most home units don't operate enough. For that reason, they are set to exercise periodically. If there is a problem with the unit starting, you don't want to find out about it when the power goes out.

Yup. It stopped working attempting the weekly exercise. the only bright spot is it happened on the exercise and not on a two day outage.

 

[radioguy]

I had gensets at all the cell sites I maintained. They don't get used enough unless there are extended outages. You have an old school generator that is just broken in. No major mechanical problems. Find a different mechanic to look at it. At 15 years you have a rubber seal gasket diaphragm that is dried out / leaking. A knowledgeable tech should be able to diagnose in an hour or less. At the wireless company there are gensets out there 40+ years. Mostly diesel.


RG

 

[Jim_C]

Yup they replaced that. $250 plus time and BS to guess that was the issue = $800 and it was not the cause of the problem.

I'm thinking you may wish to consider finding a new service company. Sounds like these folks may be running up the tab.

Gas only comes out at a certain pressure from the meter. Not much can affect that without affecting everything else in the house.

A good question to ask any and all service companies is how good they are at troubleshooting systems that run on natural gas.

 

[sandyut]

I'm thinking you may wish to consider finding a new service company. Sounds like these folks may be running up the tab.

Gas only comes out at a certain pressure from the meter. Not much can affect that without affecting everything else in the house.

A good question to ask any and all service companies is how good they are at troubleshooting systems that run on natural gas.

Valid points. We are up in the mtns. only a couple options. The company we have been using is rated extremely well, not saying thats the end all be all. I do feel they are stuck on the supply as the issue and I dont agree with that.

100% agree with your comment on the gas supply.

nearly all gens up here are propane or NG...

I feel like my unit is so old, there arent many service folks around who have seen them much. but who the F knows.

I wouldnt mind having more of the house on the gen and a new one would get us that for sure.