small engine fuel issue

[Old Techo]

I have a 3 year old electric start 9kVA generator.    I also have a 45 year old 5kVA generator.

Both are only for emergency power for our house.  We had a scheduled power outage coming up so I thought I'd give the oldie a run.  I've not used it for 3 years.

Anyhow, checked the oil and filled the petrol tank. Opened the tank tap and before I could crank it some fuel began dripping from the carby.

Hmmmmmm... not had that before.  Must be crap under the carby needle valve.

Pulled the carby off and apart and the needle valve looked clean. Picked up the float and shook it about... petrol inside making it heavy

I found a small crack in the float so hung it on a bit of wire with the crack lowest and used a heat gun to expand the air and push out the petrol. It came squirting out but it took about 5 cycles of heat/cool to get it dry.

I can't understand how the crack could occur in use.   Perhaps the dent has been there since new?   Anyhow, some solder solved the problem

[Old Techo]

The genny age has always been an estimate but just now I found the B&S engine ID stuff

3 groups...  Model, Type and Code.  The code is the manufacturing date.

Mine is 17/08/1978

[nsgnomad]

Just a whipper snapper then eh? But your guess was pretty good.

[Old Techo]

Roger,

My guess was based upon when we needed it.

In our early days here we had only tank water and if the mains power was off then we had no water.

Nothing to wash or shower, let alone drink

Here is the B&S engine code thingy...

[jr]

Good thing it is old as a new one would be plastic and you would not be able to repair that.
It does look like someone has had the float out before and damaged it.

JR