Generator vertex 5500 11.0 tecumeseh OHV, runs fast and slow.

SOURCE: Porter Cable 5500w generator (10hp BS) will not regulate speed.

While attending college I worked at a tool rental center and learned a great deal about matching generators to customer requirements and troubleshooting customer owned units. There are simple tests that you can perform, however, first some info on what to expect from a generator. Most generators are overrated and under powered. You should only expect to get about 60 - 75% of rating. Example, a commercial honda 5000w generator has an 11hp motor that can only produce about 9.5 hp at 3600 rpm. If a customer needed 5000w of power, we would rent them an 8000w generator because as the generator is loaded to max the voltage will drop. You generator will probably only provide steady voltage ex. 115v at 60 cycles to about 3500w then voltage will begin to drop. New generators have automatic voltage regulator that varies the power to the armature increasing/decreasing the power of the magnet. These voltage regulators suffer a high failure rate and are expensive. If your generator is not giving you 3500 watt at 115v 60 cycles your engine may have a few problems and your power generator end may need tweaking. (I would not expect to achieve 5500w at 115v with briggs 10hp) .
The governor is about 2 inches in diameter and turns off the cam gear inside the engine. It is flyball type with two or three small arms that react to rpm. The faster the engine turns, more force is applied to the governor arm to reduce engine speed. Easy to test, with engine running use finger pressure against the arm to increase speed and you should feel a greater resistance as the engine speed increases. Another simple test, remove air filter to expose butterfly inside the carb. Move the governor arm and check that the butterfly opens fully. If it does not open fully linkage and governor is not set correctly. Next, start engine and load generator up to max and check that butterfly opens to full as the load increases. When the butterfly opens all the way under load the engine is at max. Add up the wattage of all the tools/appliances you used to load the engine to get an idea of max load . Lets assume that the shop adjusted the governor properly, if the governor was not working the engine would over rev. and damage would occur. As you were told the governor spring controls speed and can be adjusted somewhat by bending tab or adjustment screw. But a review of your generator manual or that series of briggs engine will show that there are several governor springs available and different placement holes on the governor arm to attach the spring that will change the power curve. Pulling on the spring can only do so much, however changing the spring to different gauge /turns/material or differnet location on the governor arm will cause the engine to perform differently. These springs are sold thru briggs dealers by part number for your engine. This would be considered tweaking to get a different power curve.
Now for the generator. Some generators have a capacitor incorporated in the windings. This capacitor must measure within 95% of rating. Remove from circuit for testing. Finally look very carefully at the commutator rings for any evidence of brush bounce. If the brushes do not perfectly seat you will lose power. If your generator is brushless you can only hope that the diodes are within spec. because it is too difficult to test them. They also must be removed to test. Finally if your generator has an automatic voltage regulator the only test would be to replace with a known good part. At the rental center we stocked spare parts so that we could quickly find fault. There is soo much to learn and the life too short. I hope this helps good luck, please email your questions.

SOURCE: generator not running smoothly under load

Hi

I think it is because the governor sistem.(no properly working).Perhaps the governor lever spring is tightened.There is a screw to adjust it,try to locate it.Hope this helps.

regards savumihai71

Craig Butler

• 1730 Answers
• Posted on Sep 11, 2009

SOURCE: no output voltage at all

The generator needs to be 'flashed' to bring back the excitation for output. Is this something you can do? Let me know and I can help you...

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/craig_3fa289bf857b1a3c

Instant Repair Help over the Phone

6ya.com

Save Time & Money by instantly connecting to...

SOURCE: how to set govenor on a briggs 10hp ohv

You should do an inspection of the governor linkage and spring before start, it should be in full fuel and move easily by hand.



Governors tend to not just go bad or even out of adjustment.

Is your real problem a clogged carb?

This would leave the Governor in full fuel and still starving for fuel.

If so remove carb, flush and clean the high speed jet adjust needle valve all the way in back out 1.5 turns and it should run normally again.

Hope this tip helps.

r/
David

SOURCE: My 4 year old Craftsman

Not that i am aware of, however, I suspect that as soon as you load it up it will die again as the load will call for greater speed, and too much fuel from the choke position will cause it to die again.

What I suspect is that your carburator is clogged up at the jets and is not metering the air fuel mxture properly. You may have to disassemble the carburator and clean it. Since the government has mandated that gasoline contain 10% alcohol, it has become a night mare for small engines that are not used very often. The alcohol is very hydroscopic (retains water) and during the off use period, the alcohol evaporates and leaves the water behind to mix with gunk and clog the needle valves.

Try removing the old gasoline. Refill the machine with fresh gasoline and add some "SeaFoam" (an additive) or any other brand additive that will help disolve the built up gunk in the carburator. Remove the air cleaner and try spraying a carburator cleaner down in the air intake while the machine is running, this way the air passages may clear while the new gasoline may dislodge the built up gunk. Note: The carb cleaner will stall the engine.

It is probably wise to run the gas tank dry before storage and only fill when the machine will be used. Stabil is an additive for storage, and it did it's job before the alcohol edict. I am not sure that Stabil will allow long time storage. (more than 3 months) SeaFoam can be purchased at WalMart, stabil is on the shelf of most small engine sales rooms such as Sears.