Many people who own generators keep them in storage throughout the colder months of the year. With spring and summer just around the corner, now is the best time to make sure your device is in working order.
Whether it is for tailgates or severe weather preparedness, your generator should be ready to go whenever you need it. If it has been out of commission for a while, following through with a few quick tests and tips is highly useful in ensuring that it is operational.
Checking Your Generator Before Starting
First thing, pull your generator out into an open space and look for any signs of damage. Inspect the floor of the area in which it was stored to see if any gas or oil has leaked. Give your generator a wipedown to remove dust and dirt and continue your inspection.
The next step would be to check the gas and oil. If it has been more than three months since you have run your generator, always add fresh gasoline; stagnated gas is corrosive and could damage your generator if not addressed. Adding or changing the oil is also a smart idea. Oil can clump and become sludgy over time. This can also damage your generator.
The air filter and spark plugs are two of the main components that operate your generator. Check the filter and make sure that it is clean and look at the spark plug to make sure that it is not damaged or frayed.
Many owners close shut-off valves before storage and completely forget about it by the time spring comes around again. Checking those, as well as on/off switches and chokes may seem silly, but these are common mistakes made before attempting to start a generator that has remained unused for a while.
The Test Run
The final step is to go ahead and fire it up! If everything in your initial inspection checked out and you find it unusually difficult to start your machine, have a technician look. The professionals at Bozeman Distributors can diagnose and repair any other problems your generator may have.
If your generator starts immediately, allow it to run for a few minutes and see that operation is smooth with no skips, sputters, stalls, or anything else out of the ordinary.
Making sure that your generator is functional for when you need it is very important through the warmer months. While our Honda generators are known for their durability and reliability, dormancy of any machine can affect performance. Inspect and test your generator before it is too late.