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Topic: Generator won't run, Propane detector (Read 5 times) previous topic - next topic
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Generator won't run, Propane detector
Yahoo Message Number: 89138
Hi John K. You could have some 'gumming up' of the genset carburetor, which is why you want to run it more frequently. I would take off the fuel line and spray some carb cleaner into it, or spay some into the carb where the air goes  in. I actually haven't needed to try this on a genset yet. It sounds like some  gum has gotten into the carb and is causing the speed governor (60 hertz) to  work poorly. That would cause the surging you saw. If you can get it to run for  a while the solvents in new gasoline might clean it out enough. My generator  surges when the compressor cycles on/off, if the A/C isn't set to maximum  cold.
The propane detector actually isn't. It detects explosive  gasses from any source. While intended for the propane, it will detect gasoline  fumes, butane, methane and propellant gasses from aerosol spray cans.(paint,  hairspray, etc.) Even though your valve for propane was turned off at the tank,  propane could have escaped from the lines into the interior. More likely  gasoline fumes, since the generator wasn't working right. That brings up the  problem of how the fumes could get into your LD. If your entry door was open,  that could answer that question.    Ron and Bluebelle, a '99  TKB

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
 
Re: Generator won't run, Propane detector
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 89139
This is a long shot, but might be worth looking into. I seem to recall the people who experienced the cracked fuel line problem (in the line from fuel tank to generator) found that the generator would still work when the tank was full, but not when it got below about the 3/4 level.
 If I were you, I'd fill the gas tank all the way (which I gather you haven't done lately) and give the generator another try. If it works reliably, then I'd start looking for cracks in that fuel line. You can search the website's archives for relevant messages that give the details on this problem.

Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"