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3.6 ADJUSTING VALVE CLEARANCE
After the first 50 hours of operation, check the valve clearance in
the engine and adjust if necessary.
Important: If feeling uncomfortable about doing this procedure or the
proper tools are not available, please take the generator to the nearest
service center to have the valve clearance adjusted. This is a very
important step to insure longest life for the engine.
To check valve clearance:
Make sure the engine is at room temperature (60° - 80° F).
Make sure that the spark plug wire is removed from the spark plug
and out of the way.
Remove the four screws attaching the valve cover.
Make sure the piston is at Top Dead Center (TDC) of its
compression stroke (both valves closed). To get the piston at
TDC, remove the intake screen at the front of the engine to gain
access to the flywheel nut. Use a large socket and socket wrench
to rotate the nut and hence the engine in a clockwise direction
while watching the piston through the spark plug hole. The piston
should move up and down. The piston is at TDC when it is up as
high as it can go.
Insert a 0.002 - 0.004 inch (0.05 - 0.1mm) feeler gauge between
the rocker arm and valve stem. Correct clearance is when a slight
drag is felt when sliding the gauge back and forth. If the clearance
is either excessively loose or tight the rocker arms will need
adjusting.
To adjust valve clearance:
Loosen the rocker jam nut (Figure 21). Use an 10mm allen wrench
to turn the pivot ball stud while checking clearance between
the rocker arm and the valve stem with a feeler gauge. Correct
clearance is 0.002-0.004 inch (0.05-0.1 mm).
NOTE:
The rocker arm jam nut must be held in place as the pivot ball
stud is turned.
When valve clearance is correct, hold the pivot ball stud in place with
the allen wrench and tighten the rocker arm jam nut. Tighten the jam
nut to 174 in/lbs. torque. After tightening the jam nut, recheck valve
clearance to make sure it did not change.
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Figure 21 - Valve Clearance Adjustment
Install new valve cover gasket.
Re-attach the valve cover.
NOTE:
Start all four screws before tightening or it will not be possible
to get all the screws in place. Make sure the valve cover gasket
is in place.
Re-attach the spark plug wire to the spark plug.
Repeat the process for the other cylinder.
3.7 GENERAL
The generator should be started at least once every seven days
and be allowed to run at least 30 minutes. If this cannot be done
and the unit must be stored for more than 30 days, use the following
information as a guide to prepare it for storage.
DANGER
NEVER store engine with fuel in tank indoors
or in enclosed, poorly ventilated areas where
fumes may reach an open flame, spark or pilot
light as on a furnace, water heater, clothes dryer
or other gas appliance.
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Section 3 — Maintenance
Commercial-Industrial-Residential Portable Generator System
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