Ridgid Generator Stalling When Hot - Vapor Lock In a Gravity Feed Fuel System?

These units were known for vapor lock problems back in 2012, the year of Superstorm Sandy. I think the final fix was to reroute the fuel line, and replace the fuel filter. Home Depot was taking them back for the "field change". Incredible troubleshooting, BTW. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BZsGu0ENtU

You and Andrew camerata are the only people who can make hour long videos that I watch the whole thing

I have one of these gens bought 6 years ago, I don't think its temperature induced vapor lock. I noticed mine would stall out whenever tank got down about 1/3 full. I made 2" standoffs for the tank and solved the problem. Your solution is more elegant. Great video's!

Received the same exact free generator from my buddies buddy. It sat under his deck for years. He said it never ran correctly. The tank was also rusted. I cleaned and soaked the gas tank. New carb and added new fuel lines and the fuel pump just the way James did it. Once I got it all back together she fired right up! Ran it for hours without issue. Thanks James! 🛠

I just bought a Coleman Maxa 5000 ER with the Briggs flathead. It is equipped with a pulse fuel pump. Vapor lock was the only reason I could come up with as to why have a fuel pump on a gravity fuel system. Waiting on the new carb to show up so I can test the generator. Thanks for your videos. You’ve given me the confidence to start fixing up neglected generators and make them useful again.

I enjoy your show a lot. I think it is the best small engine show that I've seen. Your analytical approach is very good and I have learned a lot about the electronics from watching. The use of a torque wrench on all bolts is very good. Last year, I found out just how important clean male and female threads were to an accurate torque reading (also well lubed). I had to take a twin cylinder 500cc Rotax motor apart 3 times before I figured it out. Your closing says "I hope this helps" is a great thought. In that vein, I offer these ideas: First always check the plug to see what it says. If I take off the head, I always refinish the cylinder by hand with 400 grit wet or dry sandpaper. It's a poor boy ring overhaul with most attention on the upper 2" of the piston. Just back and forth by hand until it looks or feels right. VALVES: I use my drill press to clean and refinish all valve stems, faces and tops. Why tops? So that I can use a wooden knob and hot melt glue to grind and polish the seats. I think that ground seats that are not polished don't last as long, who knows. I put a piece of 600 or 400 wet or dry face up to polish the valve face and down the seat. This is where the wooden knob really helps. When done with the valve, break the knob off. Hot melt glue is not that good. Most of all: follow your instincts, the more you use them the better they will be. These are things I wish someone had told me years ago, I hope they are a help to you. John Mielke in Alaska

I really enjoyed your problem solving on this one. The installation of a pump is always my 'fix' in hot and sunny Australia. We don't have your winter & summer fuel differences here although we can purchase non Ethanol fuel from the pump. My original fix was to reroute the fuel line like you did but I was installing a heat/hot air shield to protect the line which bent over the top of the line leaving a 2" gap at the top for heat to escape. That worked most of the time but now installing a pump solved everything. Very enjoyable getting inside your head to hear your figuring. It's a shame we didn't hear what was edited out ... lol Just remember that we all like to see failures that lead to success so laugh at yourself and we will laugh with you. Learning is a great experience ... Thank you.

James, I love your calm thoughtful and methodical approach. Your knowledge is impressive. I agree with so many others that I rarely watch videos this long but you keep my attention because one feels like they are hanging out with you and learning from the master. Anyone including James. Can unlapped valves run an engine and then cause a lack of intake fuel thus causing the inability to run or restart? I got a Kohler pressure washer from my buddy. It was well saturated with water in the crankcase and cylinder. Changed out the carb with a new one. Took it apart and then got it running. (Hard to start). Seemed to have good compression even under load of power washing. After using it on the house for about 25 minutes It started to act like gas was running out. So I shut it off, refilled. But now even more difficult to start and now won’t start at all. I’ve got a good spark and gas flow seems good to carburetor. Gas in bowl. Could it be the valves needing to be lapped to help suck gas on intake stroke? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.

Nice job James, I've worked this stuff for 50 plus years i love watching you work on these generators and small engine equipment. You make my day sometimes!!!😊😊

Doc., just now watched this video, what a problem child it was. Your persistance overcame the resistance the generator provided. Thanks, very good learning video.

Like Sherwood Maxwell said.. now that you have a fuel pump... you can use a paper filter instead of that crappy screen one. GREAT JOB... you really go above and beyond... excellent video... thank you for your time, cause I know it's a real pain in the butt to film while your working... thank you...

The gas line must always run down stream so air (vapor) will float back to the tank.

Late arrival. Your solution pretty much put that gas line back where it was originally plumbed. Thanks and great video.

You my friend are a very good mechanic. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I don't even own this generator but I enjoy watching you troubleshoot problems and working through them.

Really enjoy how you share - thinking out loud - as you solve this problem. I don't have a machine like this but it was great to learn the relevant issues and solutions.

I've seen around 20 of your videos and I've learned a lot about generators that I didn't know before. I give maintenance to several generators and now I feel more prepared to continue doing it better. Thank you very much. Ramon from Miami, Fl.

As soon as you said "vapor lock", I knew the only solution would be a fuel pump ! I has working on a friends older 5000W Briggs generator with an L head engine. We determined the fuel pump was not working. I could not understand why it had a fuel pump when it was a short straight shot from the tank to the carb. Finally dawned on me "Vapor Lock !" Briggs discontinued their own fuel pump design (looks almost identical to the fuel pump in a Pulsa Jet carburetor) and the replacement looks identical to the one you used. You did a much "cleaner" install. Ours used a couple of zip ties. Old fuel pump part number was 692026. Rebuild kit for the old pump is 393397. Both are discontinued but you may find NOS.

I'm seeing this 2 years after it was posted. I have that same generator. Purchased new from home depot in 2013. The issue you had was one that some of those generators had. On top of the tank there is a black vent that wasn't venting properly. Replace that vent and your problem would be solved. You did a great job trying to deduce the issue but, no insult intended, I had to laugh just a little thinking how many people would Frankenstein their generator with that issue. That said, cleaning the jets was a good idea. I've had to do it to mine. But the top vent was most likely the cause of the vapor lock. Mine is now 11 years old. This year I broke the recoil rope and replaced it. Bought a new battery, replaced the spark plug and fuel filter, and changed the oil in preparation for this coming winter. I mix sea foam in my gas can before I add it to the tank. It's still running like a champ. Kudos on a great video and all the effort.

Another awesome video James. I have a powermate 12,500 watt generator, powered by a Subaru 22 horse-power twin cylinder engine. The bottom of the gas tank is above the carburetor level, yet it has a fuel pump on it- - - - now I know why!

Thanks for the video, I love how you do different diagnostic to trying to figure what's the problem.