HF 61169 inverter generator question

Harbor Freight 61169 is the discontinued 2500W/2200W inverter generator. If anyone here has one, could you tell me if the hole in the left side of the carburetor above the G in RUIXING is open or plugged?

Mine surged badly at idle when run at the most recent 3 month interval. The cure was removing the idle stop screw and prying up the black idle or pilot jet the screw head holds in, and blowing out the jet and the idle passage that exits beyond the throttle plate.

The main jet and emulsion tube also remove easily out the bottom. It's a pretty simple carb to disassemble and clean. I used a numbered drill shank to measure the idle stop screw setting.

The first time I blew air into the end of the passage on the left side of throat inlet some carb cleaner unexpectedly came out the side, through the type of hole that's normally plugged with a brass ball. But its ID doesn't look like anything was ever pressed into it.

The engine now idles as smoothly with the hole open or my finger over it, as the idle passage is also fed through the air cleaner, but it's a possible entry for dirt or small insects which might have been the original problem. The carb bowl was clean.

Afterwards I tested the genny at full load with two coffee pots and a hotplate (pure resistance) plugged into a 20A Variac. The output held

121V right up to 19A, then dipped as the OUTPUT light turned off and OVERLOAD came on. Switching the load on and off at 18A didn't change the KAW output voltage reading at the other outlet. I think the current reached 22A briefly, on the analog Variac meter.

-jsw

Reply to
Jim Wilkins
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I poked around on youtube and mostly found reviews... There was one video on converting it to propane though that you might find of interest:

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The kit came from:

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Might be part number 3103. The rubber gasket worked but wasn't an exact match for this generator. He had to stretch it a little to get the holes lined up.

There was a couple spots where you could sorta see the left side of the carb but I don't think it shows what you want.

Video is 11:42 long and download was 44mb.

I liked the kit. It is a thick rubber washer that goes in between the carb and air cleaner. Uses a couple of regulators for propane. Guy said it cost him $231. Ouch! but propane would be nice for intermittent generator use...

I know your band-width limitations, so I tried to add some details in case you hadn't seen this and were interested :)

Reply to
Leon Fisk

Thanks. I used up most of my monthly 1.5GB cellular internet allotment searching, and am back on dialup. That's the disadvantage of having antenna TV instead of cable.

This shows the small hole into the idle air passage on the right above the larger blind hole. The other brass-plugged manufacturing access hole is obviously yellow.

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The company name ruiXing and model 127 are identical. They didn't answer the phone in person or call back. I can leave the hole plugged during storage since I remove the side cover to check the oil before starting anyway.

-jw

Reply to
Jim Wilkins

I just looked at the very similar carb on a 6.5HP 212cc Predator engine. That hole was never drilled although the boss has an indentation there to center a drill bit.

Reply to
Jim Wilkins

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That image is way better than what was in the youtube video.

I've got one of those stashed away, still in the box. Bought it several years ago and haven't gotten around to using it yet...

It sounds like your better off with it plugged and remembering such, just in case it really shouldn't be.

Reply to
Leon Fisk

I tested it on my log splitter last year, to reveal any manufacturing defect during the return window. It was a direct bolt-on swap for the

5.5HP Tecumseh. Apparently the protruding muffler blocks installing it on a brush chipper.

It worked fine and was quieter and more convenient to start and stop than the Tecumseh. I'm hoping it will work out better on the sawmill which could use more HP and is awkward to pull-start in the raised position.

I think I'll turn a brass plug for the hole, attached to a long red ribbon marked "Remove Before Flight".

-jsw

Reply to
Jim Wilkins

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Blowing compressed air through the carburetor passages cured mine of that. The carb is simple and easy to disassemble, but take note of where the hoses go and how the electric motor linkage is connected. The idle screw gap fit a #33 (0.113"/2.9mm) drill bit shank.

I never saw whatever clogged it so I don't know exactly how I fixed it. I suspect the blockage was in the pilot (idle) air passage that ends in a small hole beyond the throttle plate. It begins as a larger round hole in the intake opening, and on mine another hole from outside the air cleaner intersects it at a right angle.

Plugging this unfiltered air entrance didn't seem to affect engine operation. I asked HF and r.c.m. if another genny's carb had that hole plugged but got no answer. I made a storage plug / idle screw gauge on the lathe to keep bugs out, attached to a red "remove before flight" ribbon that extends out of the access cover to remind me to remove it and check the oil.

After the repair it held 121V and 60Hz solidly at up to a 19A+ resistive load, about an Amp above spec. I confirmed that it doesn't interfere with my antenna TV and can start my refrigerator or microwave, so I didn't exchange it under warranty for the smaller model that HF currently sells.

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In June 2017 they told me the control module is the common failure and they hadn't found a source for spares.

-jsw

Reply to
Jim Wilkins

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