Will The Harbor Freight Storm Cat 2-Cycle Generator Start After Many Years?

Рет қаралды 965

Жыл бұрын

Originally recorded May 6, 2023.
It has been a good 3 or 4 years since I have started the Harbor Fright Storm Cat 2-cycle generator. I just never had the inclination t run it, and it turns out that probably wasn't a good idea.
When I opened the gas cap, whatever residual gas in the tank really stunk bad. There was very very little in there, and I figured that mixing "freshly stale" gas with it would rejuvenate it.
The starter rope recoil is really wonky now and doesn't want to fully retract. I gave it a go, then another, and another and another and another. It actually did fire up, but stalled. That was either because I took the choke off too fast (most likely) or because it really didn't like that fuel.
Then I remembered why I haven't started this in a while. It won't hot restart. For this, hot restart means restart at all once it has fired. The engine kicks back and rips the starter rope out of my hand. I remembered this part, which is why I wore gloves. I tried and tried and tried again, but every time it would rip the cord out of my hand.
I let it sit for a while and tried again and it still ripped the cord out of my hand. It wasn't going to run, this time.
Consequently, while my hand didn't hurt, which is usually what happens, my arm did hurt pretty bad for the next few days. Because the recoil isn't working properly, and because it kicks back, next order of business is to pull the recoil mechanism and drill start it. I have done this before in the past, never recorded. I just have to remember what exactly I did to make that work. At the time, any of the drills I had weren't powerful enough to turn this thing over except for my AC powered drill, kind of useless in the event of a power outage. China to the rescue, there are more that have arrived, perhaps one of them can muster up the courage to spin this beast over while it kicks back and fights not to run.
It seriously feels and seems like the ignition timing is off. This could be due to a sheared flywheel key, but it doesn't really make sense as to why it might shear, or also why it will initially start. It could also be that the magnet has moved or shifted, that sounds like the more probable issue. I will revisit this soon.
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Пікірлер: 31

@Epiccatsandkittens Жыл бұрын

The generator was fighting back and saying, " I ain't gonna drain that cover for you"

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

I'll coerce it into submission!

@lexmarks567 Жыл бұрын

I think the last time the harbor freight 2 cycle generator ran was the Giving back video where you made noise for the shitailans. If you need a spare pool cover pump I have one that was given to me by a former co-worker. I have no use for it. I've topped off my generator while it was running. I have brought a battery powered fuel pump to transfer fuel from the 5 gallon jugs to the generator. Need to unbox it and try it out.

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

Yes, I had forgotten about that video! But that was the big generator I ran in that one, not this little guy. I think it's been sitting even longer. Spare pump wouldn't be bad to have, I can hang on to it. Or perhaps hook both of them up and get it drained faster. I know people who fill their cars up while they are running. I've seen bad things happen from that, and I'm not saying fire. Lidl had an oil transfer pump of some kind with 12V battery clamps. I bought that, and tested it with water, so I'd imagine it may handle gasoline. Almost definitely it will handle it, for how many times is another question.

@BOB12349307 Жыл бұрын

a choke is designed to let the engine warm up. let it run for a minute before turning it off

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

A soon as the engine runs, it's time to start backing off the choke slowly, and you place it to where the engine runs the best until it is fully warmed up and running. Usually on this, it only takes a second or two. Perhaps I was a bit overzealous taking the choke off.

@AMDRADEONRUBY Жыл бұрын

I really likes this mini generator seem to be useful as an second generator. It looks like an small BBQ. Just a simple question about the Storm siren I heard in the video even if it's "not" related about your video It was a test or you going to get bad a storm? It's impressive for such a small and cheap generator it's still works after years.

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

Yes, my big one is much nicer. Yes, it does kind of look like a small barbecue. The siren you ask about was for a real event, but it's not for a storm. Around here we have volunteer fire departments. So while there are always people at the firehouse, others are always "on call". They find out hearing that siren, then check in on their radios to find out where, and respond if possible. That's why you'll always hear them in my videos, they go off all the time, whenever there's some sort of event.

@AMDRADEONRUBY Жыл бұрын

@@jaykay18 thanks for the reply Jay

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

@@AMDRADEONRUBY I always do my best to reply.

@tallboyyyy Жыл бұрын

I still think that the flywheel's key that engages the drive shaft may be partially sheared off causing the timing to be off and making it kick back. I've seen similar symptoms on Mustie1's channel and its usually the key.

@lexmarks567 Жыл бұрын

Differently a timing issue. I had a lawnmower that when you tried to start would rip the cord out of your hand. It was a sheared flywheel key. flywheel keys are designed to break to protect the engine.

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

@@lexmarks567 I can definitely see a sheared flywheel key on a lawnmower. That blade hits an immovable object, there's still all that inertia behind it. That energy has to go somewhere. So it goes to the weakest link, which is the soft metal that makes up the flywheel key. Makes great sense. But why would it shear on a generator that never "hit a brick wall"? That's the part I can't figure out.

@lexmarks567 Жыл бұрын

@jaykay18 good question. Maybe it wasn't torqued to proper spec and worked its way loose. But why would it cold start no issues but recoil when attempting a hot restart. Something is causing the engine to fire in the wrong rotation.

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

@@lexmarks567 Great question. It's also possible the magnet has moved. I have aspirations of taking a look at it today, but I'm wrecked at the moment, I made 8 videos over the last 2 days and have one I have to make today. If I'm a bit more "with it" later today I'll take a look and find out. I at least want to see if I can start it with my drill.

@tallboyyyy Жыл бұрын

@@jaykay18 It was made in the China is the problem. No further explanation needed. 😉

@markschlageter3976 Жыл бұрын

If you leave it at the curb, you likely will not have to deal with it further.

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

That is 100% correct. They'll come and get it before the garbage truck does!

@AnthonyLoPrimo Жыл бұрын

Oof. Is a disassembly in the works sometime?

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

The engine itself is intact. Seems to be an ignition timing issue as far as I can tell. There will be a very very partial disassembly so I can get to the crank bolt, and throw my drill on it and see if I can spin it over that way. I might leave it that way while I'm at it.

@dynatrak Жыл бұрын

Sure looks like a timing issue to me. Question is, how did the key get broken on the flywheel!?

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

I can easily see how the key could break on a lawnmower by trying to mow an immovable object. That's the whole point of it. How it broke on this (if that's the issue), I have absolutely no idea. Made in China?

@dynatrak Жыл бұрын

@@jaykay18 You're probably right about the China pride.

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

@@dynatrak Well I guess enough people have spoken, I'm going to need to pull out that generator and take a look. Plan today is just to drill start it, if that's even possible, but I'll see how far I get.

@jaykay18 Жыл бұрын

I did just what I said. I was out there for some time, and did get it running. I came it hot, tired, probably sunburned, and with 70 minutes of video!!! The only info I will divulge is that the pool is now devoid of water on the cover.

@dynatrak Жыл бұрын

@@jaykay18 Excellent! I knew you'd get it running. Will be tubed!