I got a free Cummins Pro4000 generator. It has a 120V/240V switch and two DC plugs, and another 20V plug and one 30V plug...

I've never owned one and this one may have seen it's better days. I started it up and it ran like ok I guess, wasn't a smooth "idle" it was puttering quite a bit. There is an ON/OFF switch but I'm not sure it works. Someone said to start it just flip the switch to on and pull the cord. But the switch doesn't stay on the ON position so I just pulled the cord and it started.

Apparently the ON/OFF switch didn't work to turn it off either, I had to let it run out of gas and just fill my garage with smoke...
Well actually, it puttered to death, didn't run out of gas...


Just wondering if anyone's got one and knows a lot about them?
I've got some questions, trying to figure out if I've got something salvagable or just a trashed generator...

What kind of gas do they use?
What kind of engine is it?
What kind of services/"tune-up's" can I do to it (make it stop puttering and run smoothly).

Also, when it was running, I plugged in a work light to one of the DC plugs and it wouldn't even turn on. So I don't even think the generator works...
Hmm...

 

sounds like it's got a short. I'd open it up and start checking for shorted wires first thing. Also, does it have a manual choke on it? That may be why it's puttering.

 

You better get it fixed quick.. You may never know when North Korea blows up Arizona and New Mexico.

 

if you can't find a short, take apart the switch and verify that it has spring tension on the catch... if you don't feel like taking it apart, then buy a new switch.

The switch is most likely your power on circuit breaker. It's either tripping itself or it's shorted down the line. if it's tripping itself, then you need a new one. They go bad often in my experience. The manufacturers usually make them so they wear out on the safe side, rather then not trip at all.

 

all of the generators i've ever used were a four cycle so they were just like taking care of a car, but all generators i know of are a carb setup.

possible reasons for sputtering could be: bad carb, dirty fuel/semi blocked fuel line, bad spark plugs/ignition wire, or (in the case of a previous riding mower) it could have been overheated to the point that it just will not run right and will ramdomly shut off.

I used marvel mystery oil and it cured my mower problem, but for the rest you should know how to check a fuel system/carb, and an ignition.