5500 watt generator won't start. Runs as long as starting fluid is applied. Checked gas flow, wire connections, on switch,took carb apart and checked float valve

Check gaskets / seals / piston rings as it sounds like oil contamination is fouling the plugs.

Sounds like gummed carb, you may have to pull apart and clean the jets.

Try squirting starter fluid and see if the engine tries to start. If it does, then focus on the carburetor. If you're sure the source of the trouble is ignition related, check for good continuity on the coil wires to the other end. If it's a stator operated coil, check all connections from the coil to the stator and make sure you have good clean connections and ground.

Many of these small blowers have an alloy key moulded into the flywheel, if this has sheared it will knock the ignition timing out, and will never run.

Hi I am Kelly,
I read that you did a carb cleaning. Remove the fuel float bowl again. In the area of the float bowl nut threads is the main fuel jet orifice and fuel tube. Break off a toothpick and use the BLUNT end up inside the threaded area in a twisting manner to wipe any debis from the main fuel orifice. Also if you remove the air filter and look in the throat of the carb. There is a brass tube at the 6 o'clock position. Spray that with carb cleaner and watch for carb cleaner to come out of the main fuel orifice in the threaded area. Once you have done this youshould check fuel flow. Get a spary paint can lid and place it under the carb / float. Turn on the fuel and watch fuel flow. It should fill the spray paint can lid in about 10 seconds. If you do not have good fuel flow then you will need to inspect the main fuel supply at the carb connection. It should really be a rapid rate from the fuel hose coming form the tank. Low flow here you must inspect the tank exit port, fuel shut off and any in line filters. Good flow here but low flow under the float... you need to spray carb cleaner UP beside the float needle with the mainfuel hose removed to get any debris out of the needle and seat area. Then spray from the main fuel line connection DOWN through the float needle and seat. Reconnect the main fuel ine and test flow. Once you have good fuel flow re-install the float bowl and attempt a start.

If you have the same result... read this:
IMPORTANT: The engine is equipped with a low oil level sensor. Make sure the oil level is serviced fully. If there is a low oil level condition (or bad sensor) it will shut off the ignition.
It is quite possible that your oil level is high enough to get an engine start but as soon as oil is circulated in the engine the sensor is activated. If you suspect a low oil level sensor problem disconnect ONE wire from the sensor and test unit again.

After doing ALL of the above you still have the problem just respond here and I will continue to help you.

Kelly

Hello, ushicks/me hillybilly. One question how old is the fuel in then generator tank,Hey. If it has a fuel filter replace it. Modern gasoline is junk fuel and after a few months it looses some chemical proprieties. GB...stewbison

fuel, fire, mechanical. Miss one and she won;t run. Are you sure the gas was good? Not some old can laying around that may have turned or become water contaminated? If it was fresh gas, then take off the air cleaner and spray a little wd-40, or ether, or brake cleaner whatever is flammable into the carb throat. Just a 1 second shot is all it should need. Try and start with that. If it starts and then dies quickly, still a fuel problem. maybe a gasket is damaged, or the jet is clogged. When you said you checked for fire, you acutally took the plug out and had it grounded while spinning the motor and saw spark? If you saw a hot spark then you have eliminated fire. Mechanical not likely if it was running well a short time before. If a valve was damaged, it would still run but not too well. My gut feeling is it is related to fuel.

No, not the filter, you will need to try to prime the carb better then with starting fluid, pour some gasoline down the carb, you may have to do this a few times, but everything will fire back up again once you get the air out of the system

It sounds like your carb might have some tarnish built up in it and the jets inside the carburetor are not letting enough fuel through. This is really common among generators and lawnmowers because they sit for so long unused. So what happens is, with the choke "on" you are reducing the amount of air allowed into the fuel/air mixture. As you move the choke to the "off" position, you are allowing more air into the fuel/air mixture but not enough fuel is not being allowed in the mixture so it runs too lean and stalls out. Also, don't use tools to clean the carb jets, they are usually made out of brass and a tool can scar the inside of them and create resistance for the fuel flow. Hope this helps!

Hi, You did a good job of diagnosing your problem. Gas in bowl and dry plugs, starts with fluid, But, to quote you, "won't go through carb" . If you feel confident, you should disassemble and clean the carb, as that is going to be the problem. As a tip, if the genset is going to sit make sure to turn off the fuel flow to the engine and run till the engine dies. They do not like to sit any length of time with fuel in the carb. Good Luck, this should Fixya!