These EU2000’s/EU2200’s/Companions are amazing pieces of engineering. We’ve sold 2740 in the last 20 years, so it’s amazing to see these guys keep on running.
Matt does an amazing job fixing these generator quickly and well. I love to see them come in because I know most times the customer will be very happy when their generator is fixed.
3 Questions for No-Starts (if they think you can fix it over the phone)
Is the gas cap fuel switch on? (it would run for a few minutes then shut off)
Is the oil almost full enough to run out?
While low oil is one of the most common causes of no-start conditions in EU2000s, customers almost never bring them in with low oil because we ask. However, a customer recently asked Andrew if he’s talking about fuel oil… Never hurts to ask.
If it was running and shut off, and it’s newer then Nov 2020, did the CO-Minder light turn on?
3 Problems that cause No-Starts (and what we would do to fix them)
#1 Water In Fuel
Out of 10 generators that come in for no-start right now, maybe 5-6 of them have water-fuel. Customers say things like, “I just get my gas at the filling station, put it in my generator. Are they selling bad gas?” No, Ethanol sucks moisture into the gas can, or they leave them outside. We’ve had some rainy weather which brought in a bunch of generators. Wawa sells Ethanol free gas.
A customer recently asked Gene if it’s OK that he just leaves his generator outside all the time.
In the picture below Matt showed me why a repeat gas/water offender’s generator didn’t work. They couldn’t keep their generators running, they had just bought their fourth generator (second EU2200) because the others didn’t work.
To Drain:
Turn the screw on the carb bowl and gas drains down the tube. You can pull the recoil to drain more gas. If you drain it in to a glass container, you can see the gas and water separate. Suck the gas out of the tank. (Siphon is Orgill 697-8639)
#2 Spark Plug Fouled or has a Piece of Carbon stuck
In maybe 2 out of 10 EU2200 no-start conditions, it is a fouled spark plug, or maybe a piece of carbon got in it. Replace the spark plug.
#3 Carb Corroded / Throttle Motor Bad
In around 2 out of 10 EU2200’s with a no-start condition we replace the $155 carburetor.