Please note this thread has been inactive for 90 days. For the best results, please start a new thread.
Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    Petty Officer 1st Class
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    297

    Default Generator Running At Half Choke?

    I bought a used Craftsman 3500 watt generator at a local pawn shop. Paid $200 which I thought was reasonable. Now the problem I am having is that it will only run at half choke. I have used it about 24hrs and it manages to run about 13 hours on 4 gallons. I am very happy with it just a bit concerned with the half choke. Other notes are that I ran it until empty. After that it would only run at 3/4 choke. I put half a can of sea foam in it ran it for say 30 minutes and it is back to running at 1/2 choke. Im guessing it sucked some crap into the carb off the bottom of the tank? The sea foam seemed to help drastically. Would you run it for a extended time to see if the sea foam breaks some of the gunk up? Another note is that the choke switch has three notches that click. 1 for off, 2 half & 3 on. It runs great when I switch the switch to the middle position. Is it possible that I am worried over nothing and this is normal? The generator runs great but i am concerned that I could possibly damage it or may be burning excess fuel.

  2. #2
    Master Chief Petty Officer
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    816

    Default Re: Generator Running At Half Choke?

    Its not burning excess fuel, its not getting enough thats why it works better with less air.
    Those carbs are simple to work on. Take it off clean out the inside parts with carb cleaner and blow out all the fuel passages with compressed air. Thats usually enough for those little carbs.Sometimes soaking the parts overnight is best. Check the spark plug and fuel filter if one is equipped.
    BTW, I believe this is the wrong section to post this, they have a tech section for non boating related subjects.

Similar Threads

  1. Running half power???
    By ddavis90325is in forum Johnson & Evinrude Outboards
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: April 4th, 2008, 07:54 PM
  2. will only run/idle with half choke
    By coreyb760 in forum Mercury & Mariner Outboards
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: March 22nd, 2008, 09:11 PM
  3. Rigging running lights with no generator....
    By KIGuy52 in forum Boat Topics and Questions (not engine topics)
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: August 19th, 2005, 01:45 AM
  4. '85 Johnson 40 hp running at half speed.
    By bestc1 in forum Non-Repair Outboard Discussions
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: August 18th, 2003, 10:51 AM
  5. '85 Johnson 40 hp running at half speed.
    By bestc1 in forum Johnson & Evinrude Outboards
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: August 18th, 2003, 10:51 AM
  1. iboats Forum Directory - Over 100,000 forum posts organized by topic