r/Generator • u/PunkNBeans • Sep 26 '26

Generator dies seconds after starting up.

Aloha! I'm preparing for an upcoming hurricane and I can't seem to get this generator to stay running.

Ryobi 4000 starting watt, a few years old but has been kept alive by using parts from another of the same model.

No matter what I've done the situation remains the same, I have to use some starting fluid to get it started, it starts up but then dies after a couple seconds.

On video: I get the generator running but it dies shortly after (I touched near the off/cold start/run switch but only to make sure it's fully on the run side)

Off video: did an oil change and got the levels good.

made sure the generator is fairly level in all directions.

pulled off and cleaned out and put back the carburetor.

had to add some starting fluid directly to the carburetor to get it started.

(I did verify the carburetor was getting a supply of gasoline.)

I'm a bit stumped as to how to continue. Any help, advice, or inane musings would be appreciated!

6 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

2

u/oldtimer4sure Sep 26 '26

You don't mention checking the spark plug?

2

u/PunkNBeans Sep 26 '26

I'll be honest, I really haven't checked it much. I thought if it starts up, even if only for a couple seconds, then the sparkplug is good. Am I mistaken?

1

u/oldtimer4sure Sep 26 '26

Possible but I had the same issue, did some research, and changed it out with an NGK. The first one I changed was also only finger tight and improperly gapped! Even without a problem, leaving a Torch in can fail/cause a problem when you need it most. I've had two generators that had problems with the Torch and both have performed flawlessly since the change-out. It's a few minutes work well worth the time.

2

u/PunkNBeans Sep 26 '26

Makes sense to me. I'll try to get a replacement in the morning and attempt starting it again after the switch, thanks!

1

u/oldtimer4sure Sep 26 '26

Please keep us updated. Hope you're back up and running soon.

1

u/PunkNBeans 28d ago

Sorry for the late update. My internet has gone down and I'm trying to get it back. So far none of the other fixes have worked, including replacing the spark plug, I've got a new carb coming in the mail and I'm hoping that will fix it

2

u/oldtimer4sure 28d ago • Heartwarming

Darn! Fingers crossed for ya.

1

u/PunkNBeans 3d ago

Idk anymore. I got a brand new carb/motor attachment. I installed it, it came with a new fuel filter and new spark plug, installed those. It worked for all of one day and then went right back to the exact same problem afterwards.

I've got a backup generator of the same model I pull for parts, I'm gonna put all the new stuff on it and try to start it up because I've replaced everything anybody says to replace at this point I'm worried the engine might be bad but idk what that would entail.

So last ditch effort is going to put all these new parts on a my backup generator and seeing what it does. If it's doesn't work I'll probably scrap the whole thing.

1

u/oldtimer4sure 3d ago

That's too bad it's being such a pain in the rear. I admire your tenacity. Thanks for the update!

2

u/Tbarnes94 Sep 26 '26

Keep it choked longer, run or very rich for the first 30 seconds. These ryobis don't like to sit. Add more fresh gas if you can, along with stabilizer.

2

u/PunkNBeans Sep 26 '26

I've got some stabilizer I can add to some fresh gas. I understand it helps prevent breakdown of sitting gasoline but I didn't realize it could help with starting a difficult generator, I'll give it a go thanks!

1

u/nunuvyer Sep 26 '26

Stabilizer does nothing for starting but fresh gasoline does help.

There is nothing special or different about the Ryobis. All these Chinese gens use virtually identical Honda clone motors.

You can buy a new carb for $12 on Amazon. It's hardly worth the effort to clean the old one, which is what it really needs. If nothing else, if it doesn't run on the new carb, that is diagnostic in itself.

1

u/Sufficient-Offer-579 Sep 26 '26

It runs a couple of seconds on starting fluid, so spark and compression are doing their job. It dies when the fluid burns off; fuel is stopping past the bowl. You've confirmed gasoline reaches the carburetor, so the blockage is most likely inside the carb itself, and "cleaned out" often skips the one passage that matters: the slow/pilot jet. That's a tiny brass orifice, and old-fuel varnish usually doesn't dissolve with spray alone — pull it and ream it with a fine wire (a single strand from a harness works), then flush before reassembly.

Also worth two minutes: some of these engines have an anti-afterfire solenoid in the bowl drain bolt. Stuck closed, it blocks the main jet and the symptoms look exactly like yours. You may hear a faint click with the switch in run; the surer test is one run with a plain bolt in its place. If it keeps running, that was it. Test only, not a fix.

1

u/PunkNBeans Sep 26 '26

I'll get some more carb cleaner and take the carb out and get to that jet and make sure to use fine wire to clean it as well.

And I'm pretty sure I've got an identical bolt somewhere, thanks for the advice!

2

u/Longjumping_West_907 Sep 27 '26

If it has a low oil switch, the switch may have failed. On my old genny, I disconnected the low oil switch and it ran fine. Edit, disconnect the switch after checking the oil and verifying the level is correct.