Thank you for making this video! I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why I was getting a light but no switch start. Bought a new battery (mine was 3 years old and probably was fine!) and moved the wires to the switch. Worked like a champ!
Also, since based on the comments it looks like several people have had the same issue, any idea why those particular contacters on the switch go bad? Should I expect the same thing to happen on the “backup” set?-at which point I’m hosed, right?
thank you so much for making the video. It's exactly what happened with my Firman generator. Going to call the company and see if I can get a new starter just in the back up but totally working again. sure glad I pulled it out to test. It would hate to have to deal with us in the middle of a power outage during a storm lifesaver.
This video solved my problem!!! Thank you for posting it. I also thought it was my battery but swapping the wires to new connections was fix. Nice Job.
Thank you for putting this together. I haven't tested it yet and will this week. I worked to get this exact generator setup for my folks at their place. It started up just fine after I did all the initial items - putting on the wheels, add oil, fuel, etc. After two successful starts and runs to test power delivery - it wouldn't start again! Tries to crank with the button and makes that awful grinding sound, but no joy! Will be hoping that this is our solution.
Thanks for the video, saved me a ton of time. I found that by jumping the switch it cranked over and just by doing that it fixed the issue without having to move the wires. Perhaps there was just some corrosion not allowing contact as it now starts every time I hit the button. I also found that the steel roller ball on the fuel selector switch gets dried out and wont allow it to go into or out of the center position. I put a dab of silicone bike grease on the ball and rolled it around with my finger to lube it up. it now moves freely between positions. mine was so bad i had to pull the switch to turn the unit to off position.
I have the same model, used it once a year or so ago and it worked great. Brought it out a couple days ago due to ice storm outage and it wouldn’t start initially. But it cranked, unlike yours, but wouldn’t fire. I noticed my (2) circuit breakers were off (0 position). So, I moved them both to on and it fired right up. I was just perusing the manual and TH-cam to see if it mentions needing having the circuit breakers on to start but there is no mention of that. I came upon your video. I see your breakers are off and it runs fine, after your fix. Makes me wonder if something might be up with my switch, something else, or perhaps it was just a lucky coincidence that it fired after flipping those switches. Anyway, thanks for the video, good info to know.
Thank you, Chris. This fixed my Firman generator starting problem. I am curious now if the problem is just a cheap switch mechanism that fails easily or if the contacts inside the switch are fouled. If the other side of the switch becomes unreliable I might open up the switch to see if the contacts are clean.
The issue was that the on/off switch on the upper right is OFF. By swapping the wires, now the switch in the upper right is reversed so it now runs in the off position. All you really had to do was set the switch in the upper right to ON.
Saved my bacon ahead of a storm! You get what you pay for I suppose... I wouldn't get another Firman. A switch like this should not fail, plus this unit is loud as hell! Guess I will be replacing this switch ASAP!
Chris I switched the wires and it still doesn’t turn over When I turn switch to gas the light won’t turn on the propane will but the motor doesn’t when I turn switch on
Sounds like you need a new switch. About $6 from Firman. I can't get my red light to go on at all, either way I turn it. Sounds like you just need a switch though.
After 5 days of operating following the landfall of Hurricane Beryl, my 7553 dual fuel generator with CO2 alarm throttled itself down, backfired a couple of times, and stopped running. I had changed the oil about 10 hours before, and it had over 1/2 tank of fresh fuel. Now when I try to start it, it only whines like an old engine when the bendix of the starter isn't engaging. I've messaged the Chat line on the Firman site but have had no response. It is less than 6 months old and this was the first time it had been used. I changed the oil before the first full 20 hours had passed, and checked it every time I filled it with the right grade of gasoline so I'm stumped. By the way, we were without power for just under 6 1/2 days so I really appreciated its operation while it wa running.
You are absolutely 100% correct but since know the exact problem it's much easier for me to have the Firman manufacturer ship me a replacement switch under warranty rather than transport a heavy generator back to the store for another generator. They also sell replacement switches on Ebay for less than what I would spend in gasoline but thanks for some good feedback! www.ebay.com/itm/125284701648?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1YHDczOCeQ9ispVOO9LnfNQ28&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=125284701648&targetid=1584739241414&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9013478&poi=&campaignid=15275224983&mkgroupid=131097072938&rlsatarget=pla-1584739241414&abcId=9300697&merchantid=425231743&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgOefBhDgARIsAMhqXA5H7WKGXWhTtrderP3iPib2D2Mm4qSSpU_kOiZH8OSw8ngEblOG1xwaAiPLEALw_wcB
I have this problem. ( I think that is the issue anyways…… I’m not home to try this for a few days. It could be a weak starter solenoid too. I’ll see when I get back home) The bigger problem that I have is that the fuel selector switch seems to always catch up when you try to turn it. Hopefully that isn’t an expensive fix. Has anyone else had this issue? I should have taken it back when it was still under warranty because it always did fetch up a little bit. This has gotten worse over time. If I were to do it again, I would buy a better generator. Something of a bit higher quality. This thing has to work, and it has to be easy to start when my wife is home alone. So far, I’ve been disappointed with it.
![Diagnosing Firman Costco/ Amazon Generator That Won't Start [3 Possibilities]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/7UPyecl-zDM/mqdefault.jpg)
![Diagnosing Firman Costco/ Amazon Generator That Won't Start [3 Possibilities]](/img/tr.png)
This perfectly described my problem and allowed me to fix the generator. Thank you Mr. Caliente, You really did a great job!!!!!
Same here! Thanks!
Thank you for making this video! I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out why I was getting a light but no switch start. Bought a new battery (mine was 3 years old and probably was fine!) and moved the wires to the switch. Worked like a champ!
Thank you so much! I had already changed the battery and was getting ready to take apart the starter when I found this video. Fixed it in 5 minutes!!
Also, since based on the comments it looks like several people have had the same issue, any idea why those particular contacters on the switch go bad? Should I expect the same thing to happen on the “backup” set?-at which point I’m hosed, right?
thank you so much for making the video. It's exactly what happened with my Firman generator. Going to call the company and see if I can get a new starter just in the back up but totally working again. sure glad I pulled it out to test. It would hate to have to deal with us in the middle of a power outage during a storm lifesaver.
This video solved my problem!!! Thank you for posting it. I also thought it was my battery but swapping the wires to new connections was fix. Nice Job.
Easy fix! These Firman generators offer a lot of features, at a very reasonable price!
Ha - I haven’t been able to start mine by way of the start button for years! Now I can!!!! Thanks!
Bro I'm typing this before the video ends I want to say thank you before it ends I been looking for this info
Good to know. Thank you! I purchased this same generator 2 years ago so far no issues 👍
At last, someone with the same problem as me. Thank you. You saved me a lot of time and money.
Thank you for your video it helped me with my problem now all I have to do is order a switch
Thank you for putting this together. I haven't tested it yet and will this week. I worked to get this exact generator setup for my folks at their place. It started up just fine after I did all the initial items - putting on the wheels, add oil, fuel, etc. After two successful starts and runs to test power delivery - it wouldn't start again! Tries to crank with the button and makes that awful grinding sound, but no joy! Will be hoping that this is our solution.
Excellent presentation Sir.
Very interesting video. Although I don't own said generator, I appreciate the quick "How to trace down an issue" class you gave. :)
Glad it was helpful!
You just fixed mine.
I have been pull starting it lately.
Thank You! This worked for my Dual Fuel Firman 7552 as well!!
Thanks for the info, its been a big help...
Thank you so much! Just what I needed! You helped me out so much brother!
EXCELLENT explanation!
Does Firman have a recall for this switch. I have two both have failed. Thank you for this
Thank you good sir. Thank you.
Thank you so much helped me!
Thanks for the video, saved me a ton of time. I found that by jumping the switch it cranked over and just by doing that it fixed the issue without having to move the wires. Perhaps there was just some corrosion not allowing contact as it now starts every time I hit the button.
I also found that the steel roller ball on the fuel selector switch gets dried out and wont allow it to go into or out of the center position. I put a dab of silicone bike grease on the ball and rolled it around with my finger to lube it up. it now moves freely between positions. mine was so bad i had to pull the switch to turn the unit to off position.
IVE BEEN DIGGING FOR THIS VIDEO. THANK YOU
I have the same model, used it once a year or so ago and it worked great. Brought it out a couple days ago due to ice storm outage and it wouldn’t start initially. But it cranked, unlike yours, but wouldn’t fire. I noticed my (2) circuit breakers were off (0 position). So, I moved them both to on and it fired right up. I was just perusing the manual and TH-cam to see if it mentions needing having the circuit breakers on to start but there is no mention of that. I came upon your video. I see your breakers are off and it runs fine, after your fix. Makes me wonder if something might be up with my switch, something else, or perhaps it was just a lucky coincidence that it fired after flipping those switches. Anyway, thanks for the video, good info to know.
Thank you, Chris. This fixed my Firman generator starting problem. I am curious now if the problem is just a cheap switch mechanism that fails easily or if the contacts inside the switch are fouled. If the other side of the switch becomes unreliable I might open up the switch to see if the contacts are clean.
The issue was that the on/off switch on the upper right is OFF. By swapping the wires, now the switch in the upper right is reversed so it now runs in the off position. All you really had to do was set the switch in the upper right to ON.
The on off switch on the right is a circuit breaker for the electrical outputs.
Fantastic! Thx
Thanks man great video
i have the same issue, thx for the info!
Saved my bacon ahead of a storm! You get what you pay for I suppose... I wouldn't get another Firman. A switch like this should not fail, plus this unit is loud as hell! Guess I will be replacing this switch ASAP!
However that redundancy is very useful 😎👍
Chris
I switched the wires and it still doesn’t turn over
When I turn switch to gas the light won’t turn on the propane will but the motor doesn’t when I turn switch on
Sounds like you need a new switch. About $6 from Firman. I can't get my red light to go on at all, either way I turn it. Sounds like you just need a switch though.
What happens if you move wires and it doesn’t crank
After 5 days of operating following the landfall of Hurricane Beryl, my 7553 dual fuel generator with CO2 alarm throttled itself down, backfired a couple of times, and stopped running. I had changed the oil about 10 hours before, and it had over 1/2 tank of fresh fuel. Now when I try to start it, it only whines like an old engine when the bendix of the starter isn't engaging. I've messaged the Chat line on the Firman site but have had no response. It is less than 6 months old and this was the first time it had been used. I changed the oil before the first full 20 hours had passed, and checked it every time I filled it with the right grade of gasoline so I'm stumped. By the way, we were without power for just under 6 1/2 days so I really appreciated its operation while it wa running.
Good sharing… means other contact may quit soon too. Short life.
Thanks for sharing Chris.
My pleasure!!
Hey Chris
You know you can return that back to Costco 5-10 yrs after you buy it, they might ask for a receipt only if they don’t sale they no more.
You are absolutely 100% correct but since know the exact problem it's much easier for me to have the Firman manufacturer ship me a replacement switch under warranty rather than transport a heavy generator back to the store for another generator. They also sell replacement switches on Ebay for less than what I would spend in gasoline but thanks for some good feedback! www.ebay.com/itm/125284701648?chn=ps&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1YHDczOCeQ9ispVOO9LnfNQ28&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=125284701648&targetid=1584739241414&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9013478&poi=&campaignid=15275224983&mkgroupid=131097072938&rlsatarget=pla-1584739241414&abcId=9300697&merchantid=425231743&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgOefBhDgARIsAMhqXA5H7WKGXWhTtrderP3iPib2D2Mm4qSSpU_kOiZH8OSw8ngEblOG1xwaAiPLEALw_wcB
my is bring new has the same problem
thank you
Mine runs at high idle and never lets up. Any advice.... It new and has only run for about 30 minutes ever.
Exactly my problem. Generator still doesn’t run but at least it turns over now.
I just paid $300 for this and it turned on one time. Now it wont turn on at all. And 3 of the outlets aren't working.
I have this problem. ( I think that is the issue anyways…… I’m not home to try this for a few days. It could be a weak starter solenoid too. I’ll see when I get back home)
The bigger problem that I have is that the fuel selector switch seems to always catch up when you try to turn it. Hopefully that isn’t an expensive fix. Has anyone else had this issue?
I should have taken it back when it was still under warranty because it always did fetch up a little bit. This has gotten worse over time.
If I were to do it again, I would buy a better generator. Something of a bit higher quality. This thing has to work, and it has to be easy to start when my wife is home alone. So far, I’ve been disappointed with it.
Really a cheap switch 😢
Biggest piece of crap I ever bought