Chinese Generator questions.

Couple years ago daughter lost electrical power for a protracted time, she panicked and bought a big box store generator. Not a name brand, probably a Honda knock off, probably 10 to 12 hp, overhead valve engine, manual start - no battery. Worked for her in her time of need. Was shut off and left in garage until now when power went down again. Of course, no start. Landed in my shop. (Funny how things like that end up in Dad's lap.) A shot of starting fluid in the carb and it started and ran. So Ignition was OK. Obviously, a fuel issue. Took carb down, washed out old fuel and whatever crud I found, reassembled. Starts and run fine now. (Got lucky.) Daughter will be advised to empty fuel before storage in the future.

Now, I didn't take the time to get a complete education on this unit. Have 2 questions for someone who has serious experience in these beasties:

1) The carburetor has a solenoid operated needle valve on the bottom. What is it for, and when is it energized? (Again, no battery, so must be energized only when engine/generator running?)

2) There is a short pipe between head and muffler with an appendage hanging down from midsection of the pipe. Never saw anything like that. What's it for? (See picture.)

The solenoid shuts the fuel off when the ignition is shut off (only open for power on) so the engine won't diesel on the lean mixture it is most likely set up with. Muffler pipe I have no idea. I always run all my "long term" storage engines out of gas with a fuel shutoff valve. Never have a problem restarting them when needed.

The appendage might be some sort of resonator, or vibration minimizer. On my old Lumina car, there was a hollow canister hanging down from the intake piping. I assume that is what that was for also.

I always run the engine out of gas for storage but I go one step further. Add a little Stable before you run it dry.

I have one Chinese generator that will only start with either. Recoil start. Always carry either for it.

Cant answer your question, so I put in a call to Key Fong Pang.

Gene

Can't help you with those questions, but you don't have to drain the gas out of it, add fuel stabilizer, stabil. Also you should start it once in awhile for her, not only so it can run, but plug a light into it and run it under a load to keep the generator windings working.

I have one of the cheap Chinese generator it runs fine but if you shut it off & the engine is still
hot/warm it won't restart until the engine is cool/cold I don't think its the coil has spark when hot. Dave F.

#1 is a fuel shut off solenoid.

#2 is a water or condensation collector. Heat from the exhaust is supposed to burn off the water collected.

Of the Chinese Honda knockoff generators. There is one in particular to consider, the "Champion". They are built with better materials and to closer tolerances than the real Honda.

$27.44 for a quart of that B&S magic juice. For almost a dollar an ounce it must be good.

I agree the solenoid on the carb is a fuel shut off. But, how does it get power? Since it is a manual crank with no battery, where does it get power for the initial start? Wouldn't think hand cranking speed would generate enough power to open it... Interesting!

Wondering if the pipe on the ex pipe is some sort of emissions control? Air injection for a cat converter?

Briggs has another stabilizer like that but will keep fuel up to 3 years.