17K-Watt Generac LPG Generator

[JohnyMac]

Long story short, my neighbor and I picked up a 17K-watt Generac LPG 4-year old generator for $300-. Estimated run time over the 4-years was less than 100 hours. The folks we bought it off of told us that it stopped working and the generator company didn't have time to sort out what the problem was. The generator company "thought" the engine block was cracked.

The generator company offered them $300- in trade for a new one. The couple went with the new one and before the company came out I offered the couple $300- and just today picked it up.

Kind of doubt that the engine is cracked as the engine is air cooled and does not have a radiator. Oil level is correct and clean as a whistle. 

I have never worked on a generator of this magnitude so this is our plan of attack.

1) Pull the plugs and see if their is compression.
2) If we gotz compression pull out the owners manual and start with the "trouble shooting guide".   

If anybody has experience with this type of generator and wish to offer any advise, don't hesitate sharing your thoughts.

[JoJo]

 Because it's air cooled does not mean the block can't crack. If the engine was running and quickly cooled such as a flood or washing the engine just after running it can definitely crack. Not what I would think as probable. Does it turn over if so do you have spark from your question it sounds like it does.
 It could be a burned hole it the top of the piston, burned valve, broken valve spring or a busted cam. 

If it doesn't turn over first thing is to pull the starter, starters have been known not to release when the engine starts running breaking the starter nose off and jamming the engine.
 
 That was the good news now for the bad.

 Connecting rod broken going thru the block wall. Valve head snapping off embedding in piston and cylinder head, crankshaft broken or twisted.

 I have a feeling it is something simple and the and sounds like they wanted to make a quick sale 

[JohnyMac]

Thx JoJo. Some great stuff. 

[Nemo]

Make sure you have fuel going thru the system into the cylinder.  Then make sure you have spark. 

At the campground I have run twice into problems with those propane ginnys at the campground.  Once the valve to let propane into it was not open and the other had the plug wire come loose.

Start with simple stuff.

Nemo

[JohnyMac]

Thx Nemo.

[Nemo]

Hope one of those fixes it.  Beyond that its way outside my scope of knowledge of things to do or even look at.

Nemo