Oil is not included with this generator. You must purchase oil and add it to the generator before use.

A Mobility Kit is available. Contact your local dealer, sold separately

Oil is not included with this generator. You must purchase oil and add it before use.

The generator will work with standard oil. If you choose to use synthetic oil, you must remember to continue to use synthetic oil in the future. Mixing standard and synthetic oil is not recommended and will void any warranty.

Do not connect this generator to a home or office electrical system. The surge watts available is relatively small compared to the needs of home use. Connecting a generator to your electric utility company’s power lines or to another power source could damage your generator and your appliances, and could cause serious injury or even death to you or a utility worker who may be working on nearby power lines. Plug your appliance(s) directly into the generator, do not plug the generator into any electric outlet in your home. Doing so could create a connection to the utility company power lines. You are responsible for ensuring that your generator’s electricity does not feed back into the electric utility power lines.

The generator may not function properly because of air flow getting through the mixer. For this reason, this generator is not recommended for high altitude use above 3,000 feet.

The oil level in this generator should be checked before each use. When the oil level is low, add oil until the level is sufficient to operate this generator. The oil capacity for this Model GEN4000 Portable Generator engine is 18.5 fluid oz.

To drain the oil from this generator: The oil needs to be drained from the crankcase only if it has become gummy or has been contaminated with water, dirt or debris.
Place a bucket underneath this generator to catch oil as it drains.
Unscrew the oil drain plug located on the crankcase underneath the oil filler/dipstick cap.
Allow all the oil to drain from this generator.
Replace the oil drain plug and tighten.

The oil should be changed after the first 20 hours of operation. The oil should then be changed every 6 months, or for every 100 hours of use time. The oil should also be drained and changed if it becomes gummy or contaminated with water, dirt or debris.

For more information on the wattage used by the most common household appliance and electrical devices plugged into generator power, please download the Wattage Worksheet page HERE. In general, this size generator will only provide power to a very small refrigerator.

This generator is not intended to power sensitive electronic equipment such as TVs, DVD players, stereos, desktop computers or laptop computers without the use of an appropriate line conditioner and/or surge protector (both not included). Sensitive electronic equipment should be operated on approved inverter type generators or pure sine wave generators. For additional information consult the devices operation manual or call customer service at 1-866-460-9436 Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time.

Avoid the use of extension cords if possible. If you choose to use them, be sure they are sized adequately to handle the flow of electricity. An undersized cord can overheat, short out and cause a fire.

Too many devices may be connected to your generator, causing your generator to become overloaded. Disconnect the devices connected to your generator one by one until you have reduced the draw on the generator to within the generator's rated wattage. For more information of the difference between running watts and surge watts see the Surge Wattage Vs. Running page on this website. For more information on the wattage used by the most common household appliance and electrical devices plugged into generator power, please see the Wattage Worksheet page on this website.

Your generator should be set up on a firm, level & dry surface. Do not use this generator in wet conditions (rain, snow, active sprinkler system, wet hands, etc.). Always keep this generator dry and operate it with dry hands.

Because the hot exhaust may ignite some materials, keep flammable materials away from this generator and several feet of clearance on all sides of this generator during operation. Do not enclose this generator in any structure. Do not smoke near this generator. Do not operate this generator near open flame. This generator may emit highly flammable and explosive gasoline vapors, which can cause severe burns or even death. A nearby open flame can lead to an explosion even if not directly in contact with gasoline.

NEVER use a generator inside a home or a garage, EVEN IF the doors and windows are open. ONLY USE OUTSIDE and far way from windows, doors and vents leading into an enclosed area. Using a generator indoors can kill you in minutes. The generator produces an exhaust that contains carbon monoxide. This is a poison you cannot see or smell. Do not attach a chain or rope to secure the generator to a post as this can be difficult to remove in the event of an emergency.

Always ground the generator before use (see "How & why do I ground my generator?" under the Using My Generator section in this guide). Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in highly conductive areas such as metal decking or steel work. GFCIs are available in-line with some extension cords.

Do not touch bare wires or outlets (receptacles). Do not allow children or non-qualified persons to operate this generator.

The generator may not function properly because of air flow getting through the mixer. For this reason, this generator is not recommended for high altitude use above 3,000 feet.

If this is the first time your generator has been used, please see the "How do I prepare my generator for it's first use?" under the Preparing My Generator For Use section of this guide to properly prepare your generator for it's first use.

The most common reasons that the generator will not start are:
The fuel valve is turned to "Closed", and must be set to "Open" for the generator to start.
The choke is set to "Open/Run" and must be set to "Closed/Choke" for the generator to start.
The generator is not on a level surface. If the generator is not level, the low oil shutdown might be triggered. Move the generator to a level surface.
If all of these actions have been taken and the generator will not start, it could be the gasoline, oil or spark plug.
Check the gasoline
If the generator is out of gas, add more gasoline to the generator.
If the gas has been sitting in the fuel tank of the generator for some time, the gas could have become contaminated and gone bad. Drain the gasoline, and add fresh gas to the fuel tank. (See "How do I empty the fuel tank?" in the Generator Care & Maintenance section.)
Check the spark plug
If the sparkplug is dirty or damaged, it could prevent the engine from starting. For instructions on removing the spark plug see the "How should I care for the spark plug in my generator" in the "Generator Care & Maintenance" section.
Verify that the spark plug is sparking by first pulling the spark plug cap off spark plug. Take spark plug out using a spark plug wrench. Loosen the four gas tank bolts using a 10mm wrench. Put the spark plug back into the boot and hold it onto bare metal. Make sure the on/off switch is in the ON position. Pull the starter. You should see a spark.
If the sparkplug is not sparking, check the condition of the sparkplug:
If the sparkplug is dirty, clean the spark plug with use a wire brush to clean any dirt from around the spark plug base.
This generator comes equipped from the factory with a spark plug. If you have questions regarding the spark plug, please contact Customer Service at 1-866-460-9436 Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time.
Check the engine switch
There are two wires in the back of the engine switch that could have become disconnected during transportation of the generator. These wires must be connected for the engine switch to work, and allow the generator to start. If the wires have become disconnected, reconnect if possible, or a re-soldering of the connection may be needed to fix the issue.
If your generator will still not start after completing the adjustments listed, call our customer help line at 636-532-9888, Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time.

The most common issues resulting in a disturbance of the electrical output are:
The electrical device or appliance connected to the generator is not on or not working, or may contain a short. Check that the device is working on another outlet or try connecting a different device to the generator to eliminate this possibility.
The extension cord that is being used to connect your electrical devices to your generator is not working properly. Try a different extension cord to connect your devices.
The reset button has been triggered by a power surge. Press the AC or DC reset button to reset the circuit breaker.
Too many devices may be connected to your generator, causing your generator to become overloaded. Disconnect the devices connected to your generator one by one until you have reduced the draw on the generator to within the generator's rated wattage. For more information of the difference between running watts and surge watts see the Surge Wattage Vs. Running Wattage page on this website. For more information on the wattage used by the most common household appliance and electrical devices plugged into generator power, please see the Wattage Worksheet page on this website.
The governor screw may need to be adjusted. WARNING - DO NOT ADJUST THE GOVERNOR SCREW WITHOUT USING A VOLTMETER. ONLY ATTEMPT THIS IF YOU HAVE A VOLTMETER AND ARE FAMILIAR WITH USING IT. IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE GOVERNOR SCREW COULD RESULT IN DAMAGE TO YOUR GENERATOR OR OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY AND COULD VOID YOUR WARRANTY. When the voltmeter is plugged into the VAC to the reading should be 110 to 120. If the reading is too high or too low, adjust the governor screw, which is located above the pull start (on the green metal shroud). Turn it clockwise to turn volts up and kick up the idle. You may have to compensate for the increased idle from the governor screw with the idle screw.
The carbon brushes may be worn down. To correct, turn off generator, then look at the brush holder at the end of the generator to determine if the brushers are still against the copper bands on the end of the rotor. If they are worn down, replace the 2 wires the same way they came off.
The AVR has shorted or burned out. Turn off the generator, then remove the 2 screws at the end of the generator. Look for the burn spots on the back side of the AVR. If there is burn spots, replace the AVR.
If your generator will still not produce enough power after completing the adjustments listed, call our customer help line at 636-532-9888, Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time.

The most common issues that keep generators from running smoothly are:
The choke must be turned to the "Open/Run" position once the generator has been started. SLOWLY move the choke lever from CLOSED TO START position to OPEN TO RUN.
The generator is out of gas or is low on gas. Add gas to the fuel tank.
If your generator will not stay running after completing the adjustments listed, call our customer help line at 636-532-9888, Monday - Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM Central Time.

When transporting or storing this generator for an extended time, you should:
Allow the generator to fully cool before moving it. A hot engine and exhaust system can burn you, and ignite some materials.
Empty the fuel line by turning off the LP fuel and allowing the generator to run several minutes as the fuel runs out.
Disconnect the spark plug if you are planning to store this generator for longer than one year without use.
When choosing a storage location, do not crowd or cover the generator, or obstruct any ventilation openings.
Do not drop or strike this generator while moving it.
Store this generator in a cool dry area, free of excessive dust.

Routine maintenance of the air filter helps maintain proper airflow. Occasionally verify that the air filter is free of excessive dirt. The air filter will require more frequent cleaning when operating this generator in extremely dusty areas.
To clean the air filter, remove the foam filter element from the generator and wash it in warm water and household dish detergent. Thoroughly rinse and dry. Pour a small amount of motor oil onto the filter, ring out ALL excess oil, and reinstall the foam filter element in the generator. Unscrew the bolts, or unsnap the clips at the top and bottom of the air filter cover, located below the choke lever, to access the foam filter element.

Routine maintenance of the air filter helps maintain proper airflow. Occasionally verify that the air filter is free of excessive dirt. The air filter will require more frequent cleaning when operating this generator in extremely dusty areas.
To clean the air filter, remove the foam filter element from the generator and wash it in warm water and household dish detergent. Thoroughly rinse and dry. Pour a small amount of motor oil onto the filter, ring out ALL excess oil, and reinstall the foam filter element in the generator. Unscrew the bolts, or unsnap the clips at the top and bottom of the air filter cover, located below the choke lever, to access the foam filter element.