Coleman Powermate Generator - Fixed
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- I was ask by a subscriber to get his Powermate generator running. I don't know the history on it or its run condition. Lets take a look and see what it needs.
Engine#: 12H802-2334-D!
Code: 03041058
I use Harbor Freight Super Heavy Duty Degreaser in my ultrasonic cleaner.
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Brushless Generator, Brushless, Briggs and Stratton, Briggs, Carburetor Clean, Coleman, Fixed, Generator, Generator, Hertz, How To, How-To, Leaking Gasoline, Leaking Petrol, Leaking, Load Test, Oscilloscope, Powermate 2500 Watt Generator, Powermate, Quantum, RPM, Set Engine Engine Speed, Sinewave, Small Engine, Troubleshooting, Ultrasonic Cleaner, Volts, Will Not Start,
Whilst other You Tubers make excuses for poor editing or proclaiming that they would bore us with repetitive content, this channel is methodical and detailed in giving complete information. Thanks once again.
That's exactly why his channel is so good. Details.
Don't understand why most Company's that make small engine equipment can't put something as simple As a Fuel Shut Off Petcock it's just cheap insurance for the customer and helps run small engines out of fuel to make sure there empty good work nice to see it runs @James Condon
Really the store should do it and add 10.00 bucks to price
The only thing I might have done is instead of reusing the captive nut is drill a hole through the wheel shaft and used a Cotter pin to retain the wheel & have it more easily removable for future services. Good video as Always.
I had never seen a generator on a pressure washer type frame. Very educational today Jim. Quantum carb cleans up well. I knew it would. Excellent upgrade by adding the fuel shut off, a unit like that might sit for a while and then suddenly be called to service. Dry carb storage means you will be able to get it going in an emergency situation. Good content! Thank you
I had a guy give me two of those,and yes i thought pressure washer myself, they are heavy too
Wanna know the best thing/process to do with a generator getting put into long-term storage? Go to Home Depot or wherever and buy both a spray can of "fogging oil" and a container of "engineered fuel" for small engines. It's not gasoline; it has no ethanol in it, it doesn't evaporate away all of the important high vapor pressure aromatics like gas does, and therefore it won't go stale over a few months' time (even in a gas can) like gasoline does. Totally empty out all of the regular gasoline that's in the generator's tank and run or drain the carb bowl and fuel line totally empty as well. Then pour in your new amazing engineered fuel, and start the engine on it for roughly 5 minutes. During that time, load up the generator to maximum rated output wattage, balancing and sharing all of that load roughly evenly on both windings. This both ensures that no gas is left in the system, and it imparts a great residual magnetic field in the core so that you don't pull out the generator in a year and have a totally dead power head. You can "flash" it easily enough with a corded drill or even a 9 volt battery, but it's great to NOT need to do that when your power goes out or you need to do the work that has caused you to pull the generator out of storage. 💪😎 Finally, after it's been running like that and you're ready to stop the procedure, get out your can of fogging oil, open the air filter box, turn off the fuel supply valve, and then wait for the engine to start stuttering when the bowl empties out. As soon as that starts, blast the fogging oil spray into the carb intake port and spray until the engine dies and stops turning. It's gonna be smoky so be prepared and give the local 'skeeters a 24 hour notice to vacate the premises. 😸 With engineered fuel in the tank, an empty carb that just had engineered fuel inside rather than real gas, a strongly magnetized rotor, and a piston and cylinder and valves thoroughly protected with a film of fogging oil, all that's left is to put some plastic wrap over the gas tank mouth and thread the cap on over it to seal it. The engineered fuel doesn't evaporate like gas, so sealing it up against moisture is ok. As you see, you bought it in a sealed container. Just keep the generator out of the direct sunlight. Now, the thing is perfectly ready to just uncover, pull out, and fire up. Take off the plastic wrap, turn on the fuel valve, and start that puppy up. It'll smoke again but that stops quickly.
Just came to say this. Looks like they took off a pressure pump and installed a generator head. :/
@@stazeII they are branded by Colman alot,just don't dee these at the campsites, loud as the lawnmower
With the shutoff valve you can close it and let it run till it dies so there is no fuel left in bowl so it will start when needed next time.
Great video James - we will never again get an engine as simple and reliable as a Quantum
What about Briggs and Stratton's cast iron engines or industrial plus engines? I think your saying that basically Briggs and Stratton's quantum engines is basically an industrial plus engine but for residential users. But all engines fail if you don't take care of them right (meaning there will never be a maintenance free engine that will last forever)
@@scrappysgarage7404 NIce statement
Bought my Coleman 1850 watt pulse Briggs & Stratton powered camping generator made in USA in 1994 at Walmart for $399.99 didn't think it would last. Running a 200 amp battery charger for over an hour on job with valves rattling over the years. And have run computer, phone TV and more. Even over throttling it over the years starting bigger stuff. Older Briggs and Stratton is truly bullet proof. Have another old Briggs and Stratton you could over rev it past governor for hours on job for more volts. I tried new cheap 79 Chinese inverter generator to conserve fuel and a little quieter didn't last a few months it went back to the store. Started put wouldn't make any power. Finally went to a Honda 2200 inverter generator and still have the 1850. Converted both to propane and gasoline I only run propane. The Coleman 1851 generator that's Briggs and Stratton powered is truly bulletproof compact and you can't kill it I've used it on the job since 1994. I do thoroughly maintenance it and take care of it. But over speeding a generator or an engine is very hard on one but you have to do what you have to do when you're out on the job and it's your sole power.
I wouldn't sell my Coleman 1850 bulletproof Briggs and Stratton powered generator for nothing. In testing my Coleman converted 1850 on propane and a Honda 2200 new generator converted to propane. The Honda is easier on fuel and quieter. Both generators struggle to start a motor but they did it and the Coleman ran right with the Honda. I did have to lean the propane system out with a load block to get additional power. Without a load block it wouldn't start it on propane. Propane is the lazy man's fuel once you go propane you'll never go back to gasoline. Propane in my area August 15th 2022 is $2 a gallon. It's like a two-stroke then you go to a lot better to a 4-stroke then you go to the very best a 4-stroke on propane. Any of your vapor fuels like propane, natural gas, gasification, hydrogen and more are better than liquid fuels like gasoline, racing fuel, kerosene, diesel and more. To adjust a two-stroke or 4-stroke engine for more power or higher elevation you must take the carburetor apart and change the jet that is if you have an assortment of jets. And you have to deal with draining the bowl and all that. With propane to adjust for more power or high elevations you simply loosen a jam nut and turn a screwdriver and tighten the jam nut back down on the regulator that's it quick and simple. You adjust it by ear and confirm it with a laser heat gun running the coolest temperature. Running propane you can't run one too lean. With propane no carburetor problems, never have to treat the fuel, spark plug and oil looks new. Running propane it doesn't smell as bad. My propane engines can sit for years come back and start it up none of this gasoline or carburetor problems. This is why I call propane The lazy Man's fuel. Natural gas is a good prepper fuel also but they can shut your natural gas off propane they can't.
Those push nuts are a pretty good indicator that an item is built just as cheaply as humanly possible. Big fan of your videos James. Not a fan of cheap manufacturing techniques though. Keep 'em coming. Your content is always educational.
It's hard not to conclude the manufacturer considers it a throw-away item, not to be repaired.
@@ickipoo AMEN
we actually took our engine off the base and re-drilled holes to remount our engine 90 degrees to clear the airbox problem...works beautifully
I was AllWAYS going to but never have, might do it while storm is hitting for extra power
Your a man after my own heart, I hate working with dirty equipment.
Nice of ya to get that one running again for Stanley considering he donated the other units to the channel. 👍
I have cut threads onto shafts with these push nuts. Makes it much easier in the future to service.
I’ve had this exact generator sat in the corner of my workshop for over ten years, it will be interesting to bring it back to life with a view to selling it, this generator has been a good workhorse in the past.
Thankyou for producing great informative videos, your step by step methodical approach is much appreciated.
I just decided to dig out this generator buried in the corner of my workshop, worked out that it hasn’t run for18yrs, took out the plug and put a little engine oil down the plug hole, pulled it over a few times to get the bore lubricated.
Re-fitted plug, put a little gas in the tank give it a pull but it wouldn’t start.
Took the carb filter out and put some engine starter into the carb and it fired up straight away and carried on running, it also produces power.
It will need a carb clean and probably a fuel line, it will now get an oil change and new carb filter.
Worked out pretty well.
Thanks again James for passing on great info on your channel.
Cool. That's the first vertical shaft generator I've seen in a long long time. A friend of mine (who was also a former employer) had one of these back in 1998 and we used it on jobsites to run our power tools. There wasn't a lot of cordless power tools back in those days.
Clearly, the manufacturer was not thinking ahead when they put that big wheel so close to the air box.
I saw a CLINTON / Tecumseh (had that carb elbow) at the scrap yard. I didn't save it because the carb elbow was snapped off and I didn't believe i had another one but digging in my stash I found a spare (Soo oopsie me) I think it's still there and next time I go there I'll save it. It's in a hiding spot that I put it there.
Nice repair. It is shocking to me how many people just need the fuel system cleaned and working. It leads to a lot of free machines by the side of the road.
I was gifted that same generator 20 years ago and was going to gift it to someone else when I purchased a larger one. My power went out once and the new one failed to start. I dug out the old powermate and it cranked right up first pull. I'm never getting rid of it no way. I store it dry and it never fails to start. The new one, I accidentally forgot to drain it that's why it didn't start. Great video thanks for sharing.
Good job and attention to detail on that generator. It should serve well and reliable. Gotta love the Quantum engines, they were the last long lived :)
Not so good of a design but you got it repaired without a huge amount of work. Looks like a great little generator for small projects. Great job as usual. Thanks for the videos.
I have the same generator and my problem was a gummed up carb didn't replace any thing just cleaned it real well and now it runs excellent
This generator didn't need much, just minor repair, nice work on this one James!
Interesting form factor, generator on a pressure washer frame. As much as I like the Briggs Quantum flat-head engine this is an application that could really benefit from a nice quiet fuel efficient OHV type engine like a Honda GCV-160 or a Loncin. Great video, thanks James!
I really love those combo unit. Generate power and pressure wash at the same time. Put a blade on the bottom and you can cut grass too. Seriously if the power cable is long enough you might be able to turn the engine 180.
That’s what I thought. I lawn mower engine sitting on a pressure washer frame with a generator attached. Interesting combo.
That was quite an easy one, James. I suppose that the advantage of the bigger wheels is that they allow easier movement over rough ground. I still don't like them much though. As for push nuts with the serrated washer I think that they are just cheap.
agreed I have acquired a few of these,they work, they just sit most if the time, great video
Since the wheel does interfere with the air filter replacement, you could have pulled the shaft and drilled for a Hairpin Cotter and washer, to make it easy in future.
@@paulmoffat9306 I would be tempted to thread the end of the shaft and just use a Nyloc nut to hold a washer in place. The cotter pin would work too though.
Good to see this was one straight forward. As you stated, really bad design on the motor placement. I often scratch my head at what the designer/engineer was thinking, or in this case not thinking about maintenance. Changing the air filter should be possible without having to remove the cheap/awful push nuts.
Well done.
Dave.
If it was mine, I would drill the axel and use a washer and a small hitch pin.
Yes, I did not comment but thought the same.
Dave.
I would remove the axel and put threads on each end to get fid of the push nuts.
This Is My Favorite TH-cam Channel👍..!!! Always Very Interesting and Informing... Keep Up all your Good Work James..
i had one of these back 22 years ago and after a year of off grid use i had to open it and clean carbon out of it then put it back together. i had to do that every year because it would loose compression from carbon build up around the valves
A pvs pipe cutter works really well for cutting fuel lines.
I always like looking at your videos, I search for new ones every day to see if you have put any more on here, keep up the good work.
Thanks for another great video James. This one was a fairly simple fix. At least he will have it back in working condition. Always learn somthing from every video. Love your channel and content. ❤
Why did someone turn the engine on the frame 180 degrees ?
7.7.22 Question: Why would one want to buy a brush less generator if the power is more dirty? Thanks for making the video.
I had the same question, so I did some digging. Brushless generators are more powerful, more expensive and lightger. The output isn't limited to the amp carrying capacity of the brushes that their counterpart has. Brushed generators require periodic cleaning of the commutator and brush replacement so maintenance in that area is required (downtime too). Without brushes, the brushless generator can run for a very long time. There are other pros and cons of each.
It’s a great camping unit and lightning plus noise keep animals away
I love mine and only wish I had bought 2 or 3 of them back then
IT is nice to get one once in awhile that is not to bad and easier to fix. great video.
Jim, try SPRAY 9, for cleaning. Cleans best, oil, grease, etc. Can"t be beat......
I just re-watched this today and I cracked up at Jim saying “Oh God” @ 17:36 😂
As the motor mounting holes appear symmetrical I almost wonder if that unit has been swapped 180 at some point? That would put all the badges, label and controls at the front?
i still like the outro a LOT! I have an old cast iron Onan 2.5 that loaded up on me last time the power was out. It's a 4-pole, 1800 r's and good for coolers and such. A real fuel sipper and also a 5K Coleman 10 horse 'L' head for the well pump on 220 volts. Float stuck on the Onan so it may be a new carb. Nice fix on the 2K. Keep on wrenching and BLESSINGS 2 all yall!
Love your channel, thanks for posting, I love to play with generators and anyone with the same interest is a big help!
Home Depot has a line of push nuts made by Everbilt. Also at auto parts stores, Grainger's, Zoro, etc.
They are easy to source. Just not a great design.
You generate good, informative videos like nobody's business!
I’m not a big fan of those push nuts I always take a die and put threads on those wheel studs and then put a nylon locking nut on them works so much better that way.
Good.
Or drill for a washer and cotter pin.
Another great video. I always learn something watching you take apart and clean carburetors. Thanks for making such great and informative videos.
When I first saw the image, I thought it was a pressure washer!! I had the exact same motor on an old one I had
Drill a hole in the wheel axle and use a washer and pin to hold it on for easy filter maintenance... :-)
Another perfect job! No real resuscitation needed.
Cute little unit though very dirty power. I like it for what it is. As always Thank you for the video!!
Hey, on those star lock washers (Not the right name but mEh), I pop the cap off and bend a couple of the tangs and they slip right off. You can also use a couple of small screwdrivers to just push it off when you push with the flats against the back side of the washer. I'm an assembler, sometimes I have to take apart what is not meant to be taken apart.
Hello, Mr. Condon. When measuring volts on the DPE with 12v connected to the brushes. What is the voltage? I have a 5000 watt generator. Thank you.
That's a great question. Not sure, but would guess about 30 volts AC.
Great for Stanley that it didn't take much work, but was sort of looking forward to seeing what a vertical shaft powerhead looked like.
Clearly some company got a really good deal on a bunch of lawn mower engines and figured out the cheapest way to make them into a generator.
These are great for camping but noisy as hell
Interesting generator design. In my very limited experience this unit has the worst no load wave form I have seen. Thanks for an interesting video.
Typical of any brushless generator.
James Condon - I really enjoyed this video, please continue making such. With respect to the oscilloscope waveform depicted under no-load conditions, I suspect that the scope's vertical ADC has entered overload on voltage peaks, causing the false appearance of the voltage jumping down on voltage peaks. You might find that switching to a higher maximum voltage range for display of unloaded condition will result in removal of what appears to be A/D converter over range. (Retired EE familiar with digital oscilloscopes).
It's a shame. Coleman was a brand that represented the best of US manufacturing.
It looks like the engine was mounted backwards. Besides the air filter being behind the wheel, it seems like it would have been designed to have the engine decals on the same side as the frame decals. Even the slope of the engine cover would match the shape of the frame better.
On mowers and power washers the same engine is mounted the other way. Not sure what they were thinking on this one.
great video - this was a great help in getting mine to run again!
Did it sound a little noisy or is that just the nature of this type of generator? Great video James, I always enjoy watching you get these machines running again
I know this is from a year ago, but I have one and it is loud. The handle is a two piece held together with through bolts. The rattle from the handle adds a high pitch noise to the engine noise. Enough to make you deaf if you stay too close to it.
I've never stored empty. I typically run 2 stroke pre mix with non ethanol fuel. I've got 10 years plus from equipment with no carb issues, just run them and keep the gas fresh.
Another great one James thanks for sharing.
I haven't seen one of these vertical shaft generators in quite some time and there is probably a good reason for it. Also, anything that uses push type nuts to hold the wheels on isn't made for more than wheeling it around in the garage before it gets drug out to the street.
I think I'd run a threading die over that axle and run a nylock nut on instead of a push nut, to make it easier to replace the filter and service the carb in the future.
Wish they still built these units because I would buy two of them in a heartbeat
As always, nice video with great info👍
Strange design, looks like they had "storage" in mind for this model. I wonder ... would it be possible to modify this and turn the apparatus completely around so that it becomes more serviceable ? I have also considered installing a sliding plate mounted with a couple of wing nuts for the same purpose. Personally I don't care too much for overly compact things, they tend to complicate things somewhat in the long-run, but if you're in an apartment, maybe you might have to make those sort of compromises . Patience always pays off though, good video !
hey guys welcome back I think you should mix it up on your next video throw us all off
Nice little gen., grest fix Doc.
I love watching you work.
What cleaner do you use in the ultrasonic bath? I soaked a carb in degreaser an it turned jet black and was ruined. The zinc pot metal is very reactive.
thanks for connecting the oscilloscope.
I thought James might be overestimating how dirty it was, but, yeah, that was a pretty dirty sine wave.
I thought for sure the gas leak would be from a defective tank,,, that particular gas tank is infamous.
I've got a twelve year old Toro personal pace that's on its 4th gas tank,, fortunately for me I've never had to pay for one.
I've grabbed heavy trash lawnmowers with that particular Briggs over the years and kept myself in gas tanks.. lol
The Briggs quantum engines are good. I have 2 push mowers that have the same engine as that generator. Also in my experience if it runs good without cleaning the carburetor it will almost always come back and bite you in the butt. Happened to me a few times it ran good then started surging like crazy
Did you consider turning the whole thing around on the frame? The decals would be facing forward and, as you say, the air box would be accessible. Don’t know if the mounting holes would line up. Love your videos.
I did consider it. Was not sure about the mounting holes. Also most likely the wires running from the stator to the outlet would have also been short.
i love it when a plan comes together lol
It looks like the engine needs rotated 180 degrees for the airfilter to be changed. Is that possible?
Hello what solution did you use for sonic cleaner ? Thanks good content sir
Harbor Freight Super Heavy Duty Degreaser
What about the emulsifier brass
tube under main jet? That is usually where the worst collection of debris is found? The mechanic tapped on the main jet port tube
...upside down rather brisket and out pop's the brass emulsifier.
IE brass tube both ends open with
multiple open ports along lenght.
Good Job, James!
It really is a silly arrangement, later models have the axle placed lower and smaller wheels.
I wonder how difficult it would be to turn the motor through 90 or 180 degrees.
I like old Briggs & Stratton flathead engines. I bought a Brute 22 self-propelled lawn mower from a repair shop just because it had a Briggs flathead engine. It was made in February 2012. Is it the last one ever? I paid $175. It's in great shape but the self-propelled wheel is not working. How do they work? Could a dope like me fix it?
James, why do you feel strongly about screw gear type hose clamps being inferior to spring type? Great video!
Over time the screw clamp digs into the line and tension holding the line is decreased unless you screw it in more. The spring clamp will always hold the tension even if it digs into the line. At least until it rusts and falls apart.
I never use screw type period
not sure why Coleman would put a nonremovable wheel in front of the carburetor? Another great video, thank you.
I think the earlier models had smaller wheel so was not an issue. At some point they redesigned with larger wheels but failed to consider the impact.
Servicing is always the last consideration!
Sure seems like they're saying this is a "one season product".
It’s great for pulling around a camp site with the bigger wheels. Love it
Could the engine be turned 180 degrees to make it easy to service?
Great job on the generator.
Just a thought, but it appears that the engine is mounted backward on the frame. Is it possible that someone mounted the engine wrong. If the engine could be turned with the emblem in front, the airbox would clear the tire on the other side. I googled this generator and all the photos I could find show it with small wheels.
When removing the carb and jets from the ultra sonic, wouldn't it be better to blow the jets and carb out with compressed air and a blow gun, in order to remove all of the loosened particles?
Loved the video once again and keep them coming James :-)
Yes...I used aerosol brake clean after an ultrasonic cleaning before I got a compressor.
Yes. I do not show it, but I wash the parts with water after and use compressed air to dry them.
@@jcondon1 Thanks James for the reply. :-)
will engine mount holes line up to mount it diffrently to have access to carburetor better?
I wonder if the engine can be rotated 180º (without rotating the power head) and the engine mounting bolts would still line up with the generator holes? I saw picture of this same generator but different model year. The wheels were smaller and the axle was mounted lower on the frame. The frame was a little different to accomodate the lower axle location and smaller wheels. Maybe Coleman realized the error of the design with larger wheels.
Wouldn't rotating it 180 just change which wheel blocks the airbox? Need to turn it 90 degrees!
I thought this was a pressure washer at first. 😆
Great repair as always , the output voltage waves are very dirty as you say. I wouldn't trust this generator or any brush less generator on electronic loads , too much harmonic distortion stresses capacitors and filter circuits. Strictly simple resistive loads and motors without soft start or capacitor run functions. .Still a handy size to store and quickly locate to where it's needed.
Would running through a UPS help any?
@@lnk4328 A good UPS will protect your equipment but it in turn will be living a hard life and the one to die young. By good UPS, I mean one that will do automatic voltage regulation. The cheap standby UPS units don't do AVR.
@@killer2600 Thanks for that. I have a '99 model 1850/1500 Powermate. The few times that I have needed it, I use it with my computers UPS to power my router and a small TV. Never needed for more than 12 hours.
The UPS would protect any equipment but the UPS,s components would be stressed maybe the higher quality UP,s have higher spec components that can tolerate and filter out higher frequencies and voltage spikes.
From the thumbnail I thought for sure you had a pressure washer there.
Another great video James!
Hello James
As alway I enjoy your videos. But I was wondering if might do a show on experimenting making a hydrogen powered generator. Maybe using HH+ compound or something similar for the catalyst. I think it would be fun to see it running and find out how long it will run. As Opposed to gasoline.
Hi James easy jobs are always the best Excellent video thank you always learning with your help mate
Thanks Dean
James when lapping the valve seats why not use a dril to turn the lapping tool instead of by hand ?
I can and I have. The engine was in bad shape just put the valve stem in the drill chuck. th-cam.com/video/xtZlTCi_mtY/w-d-xo.html But have also heard that the back and forth motion from hand lapping is better. No idea if that is true.
@@jcondon1 Hand lapping gives you better control. You can feel if its right as it moves back and fore. Using a drill certainly is quicker but it is not so easy to keep the downward force centralised.
9:19 "Well guys, this might be a quick video". Me: *looks at timeline, "I think not", *guffaw
Great find
lol,, Stanley is lucky to have you as a friend,,, :-)
It’s going to be the summer of Stanley. He dropped of 3 more things that do not run. Looking forward to fixing them.
Clamp the carb in bench vice and hook up gravity bottle to bench test for flooding or leaks.
Or just blow into the fuel inlet while you flip the carb upside down.
You could instead of putting the push nut back on you could tap the shafts that hold the wheels on and just add some nuts to hold the wheels on and just push the caps over the nuts @James Condon
Nice easy Repair
Do Small engines need anti seize on the bolts going into the aluminum blocks.
It would be a good idea
Hey James, hoping you would be able to help me with a problem I am having with my generator. This is on a 9000W predictor generator and while the generator is running the power coming from the outlets cycles between being on and off. The engine is running very well and isn't being loaded and there are no circuit breakers being tripped. I have replaced the AVR with no luck.
Would also check the brushes and clean the slip rings. Also could be a broken wire on the rotor or a broken solder joint on the connection to the slip ring. That is a common failure for rotors.
@@jcondon1 I was able to pull the rotor out of the stator housing and didn't see any broken solder joints or any burn marks. I re-assembled the stator and attached a 12V battery to the slip ring leads. This produced a constant 60ish Volts while the generator is running and was kind of powering a light. Thank you for your help and expertise.
Update, found out I kept getting bad AVRs in the mail. Finally got one that fixed my problem.
What is the "Moose PEE " that you pour into the Ultrasonic cleaner ?
Could you turn the motor 180 degrees?