We have this 7000watt generator, subaru engine. 6 years old. I wound up taking off the air filter foam (it was clean but smells of gas). Hasn't started / been used in months. Gas tank is full.

Unit runs fine as long as you keep spraying with starter fluid : )

On the carb, I sprayed through choke with carb cleaner. There's a little screw on the side of the bowl... unscrewed that and gas came out (and then stopped now that I think of it... should it just keep coming out that side screw?

Took off the bowl and cleaned out a bit of silt. Gas was flowing so I turned off gas line valve.sprayed carb cleaner around the round thing (the float?) Gas will stop coming if I manually lift the float

Put the bowl back on. try starting, no luck with out starter spray. take the side screw off bowl and gas comes out. (so carb is filling with gas).

The carb is kinda wedged in there between engine, back of air filter holder, etc. Had to tilt generator on 45 deg. angle to see bottom of carb somewhat.

What next? Somewhere I read it doesn't make sense to take a carb apart... just order a new one? That make sense?

 

sorry,these pics look correct orientation on my PC. Can the admin please rotate them? Sorry? (that's not something userrs can do, right?)

 

I have a same generator model and engine. No it's not worth trying to clean or rebuild the carb. I had the same problem by not draining the gas. Get a new carb, slap it on and never leave old gas in it. Let the gas run out.

 

I almost never replace a carb. Heck, it's easier to clean one then to take it off and replace it, and definitely cheaper and better for the landfills. There are small holes in the bolt that holds the bowl on. Get a can of gumout carb cleaner and a set of torch tip cleaners from the welding supply area of a box store or tractor supply, and clean the holes out. Based on how clean that carb looks, it probably needs a very minimal amount of attention.

 

cheese - thanks. that's encouraging. I did notice gunk on the end of the bolt. didn't think / certainly didn't see holes on the bolt.

norm - I'm trying to google the numbers stamped on the carberator. is there a place you recommend for buying a carb if the bolt cleaning doesn't work?

And I thought I read that carbs were 20 - $30. I'm coming up with 60 - 120... i thiink if that's the cost, i might work on it a bit more : )

and I know the gasket around the bowl wouldn't hurt to replace...

 

You can buy replacement carbs for pretty cheap, but they are pretty cheap China knock offs.

I would at least give it a try to take off, lightly disassemble, spray the heck in every nook and cranny!

You got nothing to loose!

 

I don't recall on that carb the bolt may not have holes in it, the holes may be in the part of the carb that the bolt screwed into. There is a jet inside that hole where the bolt goes too. Make sure it is cleaned out with the torch tip cleaners and spray. This carb should be easy to clean.

 

Almost certain that will have a screw in jet and maybe emulsion tube.

 

Thanks again!

2 things

1) how would you position things to get to the bottom of the carb? Put the entire unit on a table I guess would be good, but lifting it up is heavy. I was leaning then entire generator back 45 deg then getting on the ground to try to see things. I'd like to lay it down 90 degrees, but remember - I'd lift the right or left side of my lawn tractor to work underneath it... and then the engine would smoke for a while - the oil / too much of it got in the wrong places while tipped so far? Same with snow blower? I think there was a vent hole on the top of the gas tank. After being tipped a bit, I noticed the machine was peeing through the vent hole : )

2) any recommendation on where to get replacement parts? I know the bowl washer is very flimsy and wouldn't hurt to replace.

 

#1 depends on which way the engine is oriented and several factors. Getting it up higher or getting down on the floor to work on it as it sits would be the best options.

#2 Your local small engine shop.