Someday I will laugh about it…

I posted a while ago that my generator was freezing up in the wee hours of the morning with an extended run system. Based on responses I took the path of least resistance and cut two holes in the plastic tub I already store it in. Headed to Mille Lacs last weekend and figured I would test it out – sure, it was 50 degrees warmer but at least I could see if it runs all night in the tub – after all, what could go wrong? Little did I know that while my buddy and I were watching the Timberwolves, cooking pizza, and crushing brews my honda was working on committing suicide. I fired it up around 6pm, and I woke up around 6am I noted that it had stopped running. I was bummed because I figured that something was wrong with my system and it just kept pooping out around 10-12 hours.

I finally decided to go out around 7am only to find that my generator had MELTED A DAMN POND AND TOOK A SWIM. Apparently my heat trapping box also acted as a nice blast furnace to melt a 6″ deep pool behind the tub, and then it slowly began tipping the tub towards the pool until it slid in, where the exhaust hole I’d cut made for an excellent place to take on water. A tug of the rope confirmed it was hydrolocked. I suppose I should have been somewhat happy that it was the pristine clean water of Mile Lacs, and that it had slid in butt first meaning that the more electrical looking end stayed topside. I made the good decision to not think about it, put it in the truck, and go back to fishing. I would soon find out that my underwater camera was crapping out.

When I got home I pulled the plug, and then proceeded to blast filth all over my garage with a pull of the rope. I went outside for pull #2, but of course it was all out. Then I used every ounce of restraint to NOT try to start it. I drained the oil, the gas, the water hidden in tiny areas. I pulled the panels, the plug, the filter, tipped and twisted it every which way until dry and put everything in a heated garage with a fan on it and all the caps off. Sprayed WD40 liberally on stuff. Then again I used all my restraint to not try and start it.

After googling stuff I got a cheap bottle of oil the next day, checked that everything was dry, and put it back together. Fired up on the first pull and made power. Ran it for 5min and changed the oil. Then I ran it for a few hours under load (1500w space heater) and changed the oil back to my fancy synthetic stuff.

Who knows, maybe I made it out of the woods.

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OMG, that is a funny story.

Happened to a buddy and I while fishing URL in his shack quite a few years ago. Luckily someone driving by noticed a Honda generator sitting at a 45 degree angle, bubbling. They pounded on our door to inform us before it played out like your story…

Since then, I have never taken my Generator out of the bed of my truck. If you build a small stand out of 2×4’s, I’m sure it would be just fine.

If the crankcase filled with water fully, diesel fuel will really help wick the water from the case. Fill it full, pull the plug and pull the cord for a minute or two. Rinse and repeat.

OMG I can’t even imagine having my generator in the bottom of a lake! Way to resuscitate it ‘doc’!!

404 ERROR wrote:

If the crankcase filled with water fully, diesel fuel will really help wick the water from the case. Fill it full, pull the plug and pull the cord for a minute or two. Rinse and repeat.

The initial oil I drained showed no signs of water in it, and the next two changes also did not. No leaks after running smooth under load for a couple hrs. I have a feeling when it finally slid it dropped in the water fast and stopped quick – the air intake is literally designed like straws that want to suck up low lying water.

That said, if anyone has ideas about something else I should do other than run it good a few more times before any lengthy storage, I’m all ears.

Thanks for sharing, glad it is working!

I wouldn’t be worried about oil in the crank case. Because there is oil in there it will stay pretty well lubricated. The biggie that worry would be corrosion of the steel parts. That’ll only happen after a few days.

I guess any steel parts on the intake side may be a concern, but those see some moisture whenever the air is saturated (100% humidity) so it should be fine.?.?

LOL the visual aids were everything

I would think running it a fair amount each day would help to make sure it’s thoroughly dried internally, wouldn’t it?
The only thing that would make your story better is if it fell completely through and you pulled it 30′ feet up by the cord! But if it’s all good, definitely a reason to consider that extra Honda $$$ when looking at generators.

Pailofperch wrote:

The only thing that would make your story better is if it fell completely through and you pulled it 30′ feet up by the cord!

Maybe from now on I will tie the extension cord in a knot around the handle just in case.

biggill wrote:

The biggie that worry would be corrosion of the steel parts. That’ll only happen after a few days.

The one thing I read a number of times across several sites (while furiously googling and not paying full attention) was that time was of the essence and that I should get it running soon to save it. I’m sure someone with knowledge could explain more, but I’m just gonna keep it warm when sitting and then running for the next few days.

It’s a Honda. Just go fishing. It will still be running long after you kick the bucket.

Ohhhh my… when I first started reading this after the image I was thinking it was on the bottom of the lake. Glad to hear it worked out – as said, I think you did everything needed after the incident – now just enjoy having it up and running.

Note to self, don’t buy a generator from Tindall in the classified ads. Great story. Sounds like you did everything you could to save it. Hopefully it keeps working well for you.

This might be a dumb question, but why did you put it on the ice instead of just leave it in the box or on the tailgate?

Bigwalleye30 wrote:

This might be a dumb question, but why did you put it on the ice instead of just leave it in the box or on the tailgate?

I’m curious of this as well. I always just leave it on the tail gate of my truck. The honda should suck gas being level with the tank

I usually put it in front of the truck because it cuts way down on the noise inside the shack. I grabbed the wrong cord this time so it was up by the front wheel.

tindall wrote:

I usually put it in front of the truck because it cuts way down on the noise inside the shack. I grabbed the wrong cord this time so it was up by the front wheel.

Well at least it’s a honda. Will take some major abuse and keep running

Tindal, I run mine on the ice at times too, but only when it’s really cold out and I want to heat my propane tanks with the generator exhaust.

When I do it, I set it on a piece of 2″ foam and put the tote over the top of the generator (tote is upside down), with a hole at the back for exhaust and a hole at the front for cords.

There is an air gap between the tote and foam so the generator can’t overheat, but also can’t freeze up. I’ve never had any ice melt doing it that way.

Hope it helps and gives you some ideas. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s extremely practical by serving multiple purposes at the same time (powers the chargers, lights, and outlets, heats the tanks, keeps the generator running, and provides a noise/vibration dampener to the fish below).

If it’s -10 or higher, I just run it on the tailgate with the tote on top. If it’s in the teens or higher above zero, I skip the tote all together and just run it on the tailgate.

Great post

Wowza!

Also note too that the really good oil like a good synthetic will have the ability to safely absorb a certain amount of water. I think what you did was perfect as far as the crankcase is concerned.

Place the lid for the tote on 2×6’s, then place the cover with a hole for exhaust on 2x4s over the generator for air circulation. Use a bungee to hold it in place. I only cover it if it is below 0, super windy or with precipitation.

I would also suggest not pointing your exhaust at the tanks as you could get Co in your fish house from it. Use a treble light or 100w magnetic heater to warm your tanks instead.