ETHANOL-BLENDED FUELS
NOTICE:
Do not use E15 or E85 fuel in this product. It is a
violation of federal law and will damage the unit
and void your warranty. Only use unleaded gasoline
containing up to 10% ethanol.
CHECKING/ADDING FUEL
See Figure 11.
DANGER:
Risk of fire and serious burns: Never remove fuel cap
when unit is running. Shut off engine and allow the unit
to cool at least five minutes. Remove cap slowly.
WARNING:
Gasoline and its vapors are highly flammable and
explosive. To prevent serious personal injury and property
damage, handle gasoline with care. Keep away from
ignition sources, handle outdoors only, do not smoke
while adding fuel, and wipe up spills immediately.
When adding gas to the generator, make sure the unit is sitting
on a flat, level surface. If the engine is hot, let the generator
cool for five minutes before adding gas. ALWAYS fill the fuel
tank outdoors with the machine turned off.
Turn the fuel valve to the OFF position.
Remove the fuel cap slowly.
Fill the fuel tank to 1 in. below the top of the fuel neck.
Replace and secure the fuel cap.
WARNING:
Always shut off engine before fueling. Never remove
fuel cap or add fuel to a machine with a running or hot
engine. Make sure the unit is sitting on a flat, level surface
and only add fuel outdoors. If the engine is hot, let the
unit cool for at least five minutes before adding fuel.
After fueling, immediately replace fuel cap and tighten
securely. Move at least 30 ft. from refueling site before
starting engine. Do not smoke and stay away from open
flames and sparks! Failure to follow these instructions
could result in a fire and cause serious personal injury.
NOTE: Always use unleaded gasoline with a pump octane
rating of 86 or higher. Never use old, stale, or contaminated
gasoline, and do not use a lubricant/gas mixture. Do not
allow dirt or water into the fuel tank. Do not use E85 fuel.
OPERATION
ELECTRIC START
This generator model is provided with both electric start and
recoil start capabilities. Avoid prolonged cranking, as it can
damage the engine.
The battery provided is a nominal 12 volt sealed rechargeable
lead-acid battery and can be operated in any position without
leakage. It complies with non-spillable battery regulations.
Its convenient size offers a 30% reduction over conventional
batteries.
NOTE: Brand new generators are shipped with the battery
connections disconnected. The positive and negative
terminals must be connected to the battery before the Electric
Start feature will work.
For initial battery connection, see Connecting/Disconnecting
Battery.
STARTING THE ENGINE
See Figures 12 - 15.
NOTICE:
On a level surface with the engine off, check the lubricant
level before each use of the generator.
NOTE: If location of generator is not level, the unit may not
start or may shut down during operation.
Unplug all loads from the generator.
Turn the fuel valve to the ON position.
Pull the choke out to the START position.
NOTE: If engine is warm or the temperature is above
50˚F, push the choke in to the RUN position.
Start the engine.
Put the engine switch in the ON position.
1
Slide down and hold the lock button while pushing
2
the engine switch to the START position. Release the
switch when the engine starts.
NOTE: The battery may require charging before the
generator can be started using only the engine switch.
The generator can be started by pulling the recoil starter
grip. Once the generator is started, the battery will charge
as the unit runs. If the engine switch will not start the unit
once the battery has been fully charged, check the circuit
protector fuse and replace if needed following instructions
in Changing Engine Battery Charge Circuit Fuse in the
Maintenance section of this manual.
To start the engine using the recoil starter:
Put the engine switch in the ON position.
1
Pull the recoil starter grip until the engine runs.
2
NOTE: Do not allow the grip to snap back after starting;
return it gently to its original place.
Allow the engine to run for 15-30 seconds, then move
the choke to the RUN position.
Page 14 — English