In 2006, I bought a 1200 watt ETQ brand generator. Two stroke, gas mixer.
Problem is, it only cold starts if I take off the air filter and spray in
some ether. After it's started, I can restart it minute later, and it starts
on one pull.

Recently, I ran it dry, drained it, and put in 91 octane pure gas, with the
required two stroke oil.

I can't be running it every day to keep it exercised. What's the answer to
making it more dependable to start? Put a can of ether in the box with the
generator?
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..
..

On Apr 23, 7:14*pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:
In 2006, I bought a 1200 watt ETQ brand generator. Two stroke, gas mixer.
Problem is, it only cold starts if I take off the air filter and spray in
some ether. After it's started, I can restart it minute later, and it starts
on one pull.

Recently, I ran it dry, drained it, and put in 91 octane pure gas, with the
required two stroke oil.

I can't be running it every day to keep it exercised. What's the answer to
making it more dependable to start? Put a can of ether in the box with the
generator?
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
* *www.lds.org
.
.

That's what I have been doing for the 40 years I have had a
generator. A can of ether saves a lot of sore arms, and when you need
a generator you don't want to waste time trying to start the generator.

You have great wisdom. Makes all kinds of sense.
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..
..
wrote in message ...

That's what I have been doing for the 40 years I have had a
generator. A can of ether saves a lot of sore arms, and when you need
a generator you don't want to waste time trying to start the generator.

On Apr 24, 12:04*am, "
wrote:
On Apr 23, 7:14*pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:





In 2006, I bought a 1200 watt ETQ brand generator. Two stroke, gas mixer.

Yes, I agree. It's got a choke, but not a primer.
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..
..
wrote in message ...

IT sounds like it's not getting primed properly. I haven't
had to screw around with that, at least not yet, because
mine are working. But as I understand it, these newer engines use a
primer bulb that you push a few times.
That squirts a small amount of gas into the carb throat
to provide a rich mixture. Assuming it has a bulb, I'd
check out if it's doing it job. As I said, I haven't had to
do this, but I assume if you push it while looking into the
carb, you should see some fuel squirt.

On Apr 24, 8:37*am, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:
Yes, I agree. It's got a choke, but not a primer.
.

I assume you've verified that the choke closes?
If it has adjustable needle valves, you could try
adjusting the idle one. It should run smooth within
a range and given the starting problem, I'd favor
setting it toward the richer end and see what happens.

Other thought is that there could be a problem with
fuel pump not supplying fuel at low RPMs, but being
OK once it gets up to speed. Don't know how they
all work, but ones I've seen use a line from the crankcase,
a so called impulse line, to work the pump. A small
leak in that could prevent the pump from pumping at
low RPM.

On Tuesday, April 23, 2013 8:14:20 PM UTC-4, Stormin Mormon wrote:
In 2006, I bought a 1200 watt ETQ brand generator. Two stroke, gas mixer. Problem is, it only cold starts if I take off the air filter and spray in some ether. After it's started, I can restart it minute later, and it starts on one pull. Recently, I ran it dry, drained it, and put in 91 octane pure gas, with the required two stroke oil. I can't be running it every day to keep it exercised. What's the answer to making it more dependable to start? Put a can of ether in the box with the generator? . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . .

Can of ether, extra bottle of oil, sit on the shelf above my generator. I start it every few months.

wrote:
On Apr 23, 7:14 pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:
In 2006, I bought a 1200 watt ETQ brand generator. Two stroke, gas
mixer. Problem is, it only cold starts if I take off the air filter
and spray in some ether. After it's started, I can restart it minute
later, and it starts on one pull.

Recently, I ran it dry, drained it, and put in 91 octane pure gas,
with the required two stroke oil.

I can't be running it every day to keep it exercised. What's the
answer to making it more dependable to start? Put a can of ether in
the box with the generator?
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.

That's what I have been doing for the 40 years I have had a
generator. A can of ether saves a lot of sore arms, and when you need
a generator you don't want to waste time trying to start the
generator.

A dropper of gasoline would be a lot cheaper.

Stormin Mormon wrote:
Yes, I agree. It's got a choke, but not a primer.
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.
wrote in message
...

IT sounds like it's not getting primed properly. I haven't
had to screw around with that, at least not yet, because
mine are working. But as I understand it, these newer engines use a
primer bulb that you push a few times.
That squirts a small amount of gas into the carb throat
to provide a rich mixture. Assuming it has a bulb, I'd
check out if it's doing it job. As I said, I haven't had to
do this, but I assume if you push it while looking into the
carb, you should see some fuel squirt.

Verify that the choke closes all the way when you close it.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2013 3:11:42 PM UTC-4, Bob F wrote:
wrote: On Apr 23, 7:14 pm, "Stormin Mormon" wrote: In 2006, I bought a 1200 watt ETQ brand generator. Two stroke, gas mixer. Problem is, it only cold starts if I take off the air filter and spray in some ether. After it's started, I can restart it minute later, and it starts on one pull. Recently, I ran it dry, drained it, and put in 91 octane pure gas, with the required two stroke oil. I can't be running it every day to keep it exercised. What's the answer to making it more dependable to start? Put a can of ether in the box with the generator? . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . That's what I have been doing for the 40 years I have had a generator. A can of ether saves a lot of sore arms, and when you need a generator you don't want to waste time trying to start the generator. A dropper of gasoline would be a lot cheaper.

Might be but I can just spray the ether directly into the air filter and it vaporizes so fast that it starts. With a dropper of gas I would need to remove the air filter and put it in the carb.

On Wednesday, April 24, 2013 3:12:57 PM UTC-4, Bob F wrote:
Stormin Mormon wrote: Yes, I agree. It's got a choke, but not a primer. . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus www.lds.org . . wrote in message ... IT sounds like it's not getting primed properly. I haven't had to screw around with that, at least not yet, because mine are working. But as I understand it, these newer engines use a primer bulb that you push a few times. That squirts a small amount of gas into the carb throat to provide a rich mixture. Assuming it has a bulb, I'd check out if it's doing it job. As I said, I haven't had to do this, but I assume if you push it while looking into the carb, you should see some fuel squirt. Verify that the choke closes all the way when you close it.

That's not usually the problem. On seldom run small engines the gas has often evaporated or drained back. So the choke is not effective.

Today I removed, and cleaned the spark plug. Slight bit of carbon. Wire brush, and some spray degreaser solvent. Manual calls for gap .028 to ..030 inches, and this one was under gapped.

I tried a new one, which had much shorter threads. No joy.

Put the cleaned and gapped original plug back in. Started on the very first pull.

Thank you to all who had great ideas, you are much appreciated.
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..
..

theirs nothing you can due to make a etq start an run like a honda

On 4/23/2013 8:14 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
In 2006, I bought a 1200 watt ETQ brand generator. Two stroke, gas mixer.
Problem is, it only cold starts if I take off the air filter and spray in
some ether. After it's started, I can restart it minute later, and it starts
on one pull.

Recently, I ran it dry, drained it, and put in 91 octane pure gas, with the
required two stroke oil.

I can't be running it every day to keep it exercised. What's the answer to
making it more dependable to start? Put a can of ether in the box with the
generator?
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.

On Apr 24, 3:37*pm, "Stormin Mormon"
wrote:
Today I removed, and cleaned the spark plug. Slight bit of carbon. Wire brush, and some spray degreaser solvent. Manual calls for gap .028 to .030 inches, and this one was under gapped.

I tried a new one, which had much shorter threads. No joy.

Put the cleaned and gapped original plug back in. Started on the very first pull.

Thank you to all who had great ideas, you are much appreciated.
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
* *www.lds.org
.
.
The shorter threads plug is probably a different heat range and I
would always stick with the plug recommended by the mfgr. I might be
wrong, but I would think that a shorter threaded length plug would
probably run hotter since there is less metal to dissipate the heat
into the rest of the engine. But, the path to the rest of the engine
would be shorter, so maybe the plug would run cooler. Too many years
since I read all about the temperature ranges of plugs.

There's nothing I can to, to make a scrambled egg
taste like an oreo cookie.
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..
..
"Philaberto" wrote in message ...
theirs nothing you can due to make a etq start an run like a honda

On 4/23/2013 8:14 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
In 2006, I bought a 1200 watt ETQ brand generator. Two stroke, gas mixer.
Problem is, it only cold starts if I take off the air filter and spray in
some ether. After it's started, I can restart it minute later, and it starts
on one pull.

Recently, I ran it dry, drained it, and put in 91 octane pure gas, with the
required two stroke oil.

I can't be running it every day to keep it exercised. What's the answer to
making it more dependable to start? Put a can of ether in the box with the
generator?
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.

Temp range has some to do with the length of the porcelean insulator inside the plug, but I can't remember more than that.

Shorter threads means the spark is in the wrong place, and the internal volume of the cylinder is different.

Besides, the one that came with seems to work now.
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..
..
wrote in message ...

The shorter threads plug is probably a different heat range and I
would always stick with the plug recommended by the mfgr. I might be
wrong, but I would think that a shorter threaded length plug would
probably run hotter since there is less metal to dissipate the heat
into the rest of the engine. But, the path to the rest of the engine
would be shorter, so maybe the plug would run cooler. Too many years
since I read all about the temperature ranges of plugs.

On Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:11:42 -0700, "Bob F" wrote:


That's what I have been doing for the 40 years I have had a
generator. A can of ether saves a lot of sore arms, and when you need
a generator you don't want to waste time trying to start the
generator.

A dropper of gasoline would be a lot cheaper.

Ether is cheap enough, but it can destroy an engine real fast. I prefer
to avoid it unless nothing else works. I've always wondered why they
dont sell aerosol gasoline spray. I have wanted to try it in a mist
spray bottle but never have yet. I agree with the person who said that
the gas evaporates, and has to get to the carb by pulling the cord.
That's why ether starts it, but so would a mist of gas, and that would
be safer.

It wouldn't hurt to put a small amount of carb cleaner in the gas and
let it run awhile to clean out the crud. A tablespoon per gallon is
about right for those small engines. I do it yearly or more.

Same problem most of us have. From what I've read the gasoline needs to
be stored in a tight container and fuel stabilizer added. I use a shot
of carb cleaner to start those cranky small engines... it will loosen
the gunk on the valve stems on 4 cycle engines though and a valve can
stick so go easy with it. Either would be better but the carb cleaner
is usually what I have handy. Back to the gasoline... a month without
stabilizer in it.. up to a year with it (so they say). I can tell you
the 5 year old gasoline in my 2 stroke generator didn't work when the
power went out here. The current plan... empty the generator and I
think I'll try storing the gasoline in a 5 quart empty plastic oil
bottle with some stabilizer and use that for storing gasoline. Maybe it
will work when the power goes out. Storing gasoline now days is
difficult. The stuff just doesn't store well.

"Fat-Dumb and Happy" wrote in message
...


Same problem most of us have. From what I've read the gasoline needs to
be stored in a tight container and fuel stabilizer added. I use a shot of
carb cleaner to start those cranky small engines... it will loosen the
gunk on the valve stems on 4 cycle engines though and a valve can stick so
go easy with it. Either would be better but the carb cleaner is usually
what I have handy. Back to the gasoline... a month without stabilizer in
it.. up to a year with it (so they say). I can tell you the 5 year old
gasoline in my 2 stroke generator didn't work when the power went out
here. The current plan... empty the generator and I think I'll try
storing the gasoline in a 5 quart empty plastic oil bottle with some
stabilizer and use that for storing gasoline. Maybe it will work when the
power goes out. Storing gasoline now days is difficult. The stuff just
doesn't store well.

If you look around you can find statiosn that sell gas without the ethanol
in it. I have started using it in the small engines and can tell a lot of
differance in the way they run. Before my 5 kw generator engine speed would
hunt around and not stay stable without a load on it. Now that I have
switched, it stays smooth. I also use the Sta-bil in the gas all the time.
I have a garden tiller that I used about this time last year and put it in
storage. I don't know how much gas was left in it, but put about 1/4 of a
tank of gas in it and it started and ran just fine.

I have had to clean out the generator twice in the past for leaving the fuel
in it for over a year, but I run it every month and put some fresh gas in it
more often.

If you have gas that is not used very often, put it in your car every month
or so and buy some more for the samll engines. Only mix the gas with oil as
you need it.

Ralph Mowery wrote:

If you look around you can find statiosn that sell gas without the
ethanol in it. I have started using it in the small engines and can
tell a lot of differance in the way they run. Before my 5 kw
generator engine speed would hunt around and not stay stable without
a load on it. Now that I have switched, it stays smooth. I also use
the Sta-bil in the gas all the time. I have a garden tiller that I
used about this time last year and put it in storage. I don't know
how much gas was left in it, but put about 1/4 of a tank of gas in it
and it started and ran just fine.

Easiest way is to buy your gas at a FBO's (Fixed Base Operator) facility.
FBO's service small aircraft. AvGas is 100 Octane with no additives. Almost
the same thing is available at a marine docking facility.

"HeyBub" wrote in message
...

Easiest way is to buy your gas at a FBO's (Fixed Base Operator) facility.
FBO's service small aircraft. AvGas is 100 Octane with no additives.
Almost the same thing is available at a marine docking facility.

It might be if the airport was not around 15 miles away. Also looking on
the internet the prices are $ 5.65 for 100ll and $ 4.99 for jet A. That is
about a dollar or so higher than the service stations and I would have to
make a special trip across the county to the airport.


There are several other stations around that has the gas with out ethenol in
it that are within a couple of miles from the house.

On 4/30/2013 1:10 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Easiest way is to buy your gas at a FBO's (Fixed Base Operator) facility.
FBO's service small aircraft. AvGas is 100 Octane with no additives.

A couple questions.

Will TSA agents let me through security with an empty gas can?

If I use avgas in my lawn mower will I have to mow with my flaps down?

On 4/30/2013 12:10 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Ralph Mowery wrote:

If you look around you can find statiosn that sell gas without the
ethanol in it. I have started using it in the small engines and can
tell a lot of differance in the way they run. Before my 5 kw
generator engine speed would hunt around and not stay stable without
a load on it. Now that I have switched, it stays smooth. I also use
the Sta-bil in the gas all the time. I have a garden tiller that I
used about this time last year and put it in storage. I don't know
how much gas was left in it, but put about 1/4 of a tank of gas in it
and it started and ran just fine.

Easiest way is to buy your gas at a FBO's (Fixed Base Operator) facility.
FBO's service small aircraft. AvGas is 100 Octane with no additives. Almost
the same thing is available at a marine docking facility.

A partial list of stations selling ethanol-free gas in the US and
Canada can be viewed he

http://pure-gas.org

You can also check the websites of car and motorcycle clubs. The
street rodders and the like often maintain lists online as a
convenience for their members (and the rest of the world, too).

Only if it's brand new, and doesn't smell like gas.

Yes, full flaps for manicured lawns.
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..
..
"04 Quebec" wrote in message ...
On 4/30/2013 1:10 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Easiest way is to buy your gas at a FBO's (Fixed Base Operator) facility.
FBO's service small aircraft. AvGas is 100 Octane with no additives.

A couple questions.

Will TSA agents let me through security with an empty gas can?

If I use avgas in my lawn mower will I have to mow with my flaps down?

"04 Quebec" wrote in message ...
On 4/30/2013 1:10 PM, HeyBub wrote:
Easiest way is to buy your gas at a FBO's (Fixed Base Operator) facility.
FBO's service small aircraft. AvGas is 100 Octane with no additives.

A couple questions.

Will TSA agents let me through security with an empty gas can?

If I use avgas in my lawn mower will I have to mow with my flaps down?



On 4/30/2013 9:03 PM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Only if it's brand new, and doesn't smell like gas.

Yes, full flaps for manicured lawns.
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.


Cleared for takeoff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNWfqVWC2KI

Wonder how they do that?
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..
..
"04 Quebec" wrote in message ...

Cleared for takeoff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNWfqVWC2KI

On 5/1/2013 5:24 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:
Wonder how they do that?
.
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
.
"04 Quebec" wrote in message ...

Cleared for takeoff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNWfqVWC2KI



What you see is NOT what you get...

Check it out:

http://flyingthingz.com/products/skycutter.html

"04 Quebec" wrote in message ...

Cleared for takeoff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNWfqVWC2KI


On 5/1/2013 6:24 AM, Stormin Mormon wrote:

Wonder how they do that?


Accelerate to V2min then gently pull back on the stick?