Kipor Generator problem

[War Eagle]

Around Christmas last year I bought a 1000 watt kipor generator, I know a couple others did also. I have only used it a very little bit because it was mainly purchased for football season. Last month I took it camping with me. Fired it up and pluged in a radio and light just to put a small load on it since this was the first time it had been used. Sat around for a while, went swimming and when we came back the generator was not running. Not knowing if someone came by and turned it off I just fired it back up. Messed around went back swimming and came back and it was off again, so I fired it back up. A little while later it was sputtering a bit and shut off. This happened a couple times and then it wouldn't crank. I was thinking that maybe the fuel filter was clogged and decided not to worry with it since the camp ground had power.
Well since I will be tailgaiting/ camping this weekend I decided I better get this worked out. So I dig into this thing to change the fuel filter... can't find one. So I try to crnak it... nothing. Next I pulled the spark plug and see that it is very wet and has ALOT of carbon built up on it (generator has only run 4 or 5 hours tota). So I install a new spark plug, pull the cord one time and she fires right up. I plugged a couple fans into it and let it run for about 3 hours. After it cooled I pulled the spark plug and could see that carbon was already building up again.

An indication that the carborator is running too rich? How do I adjust it? Could it be that I have just not put enough load on the generator to break-in properly? Have any of you Kipor owners run across this?

Thanks for any help/ suggestions.

[bledsoe3]

I have not had any problems with my Kipor. See if this link can be of any help.

[sdtripper2]

About kipor service::oops:

I went to RV dot net and got on their forum
http://tinyurl.com/2hqtnd

Much talk of service worries and stuff in crank case as well as starting issues.
Seems the company main distributor in the USA has some issues.
Not sure what is going on but I have found some dealers are no longer
carrying the Kipor generators any more.

One person seems to have a similar problem as you in using his Kipor for a
short time and then it bellies uP.

One comment from page 2 of the RV net forum

"Here today going tomorrow dealers were selling the Kipor generators down here after the last two big hurricanes hit the Florida coast and many people who bought them learned a lesson that their Fathers told them over and over and that is, You Get What you Pay for."
***

If one feels like reading more on Kipor from other RV owners
Go here to the Escapee's forum ... I searched on Kipor

[War Eagle]

Thanks for the links. I actually found a dealer today that does service the Kipors. I'm going to get it to him this week.

[War Eagle]

Though I would let you know how this came out. Well, the distibutor I purchased my Kipor from was pushed out out when Coast Distribution took over as the soul/ sole distributor for the US market. So, he will not warrent/ refund the purchase, I can't say that I blame him. I contacted Cost Dist and they say they do not handle my model and would not warrent or service it. So my question to them was WHO IS GOING TO WARRENT MY PURCHASE! Next they tried telling me that Kipor provides a 1 year manuf warrenty that begins on the date that they ship it to the distributor.... not when the customer purchases it. I'm telling these people how crazy they are and that someone is going to fix my generator. Next I started up the chain.

To finish the story, the president of Coast Distr called me today. I was very surprised and pleased. He called me by name, had all the info about my generator and the problem I am having. He clearly explained how thye took over the distributorship and Kipors warrenty or lack of. Next he said you have two options: try to get a refund from the dist you purchased from or he would send me a new carburator if I felt I could replace it myself. So I told him that I could and he is sending to me nextday free of charge. Now I'm happy. Took me awhile but I think I will end up with a satisfactory product. And I will use Coast in the future if I have the need.

[sdtripper2]

War Eagle:

So, if a new person trying to make a decision between the Kipor or a Honda
generator, was to ask you your opinion? What would you advise them after
your experience?

Did you get the impression that service and warranty issues would be handled
well going forward with this new "Coast Distribution";
who took over as the sole Kipor distributorship for the US market?

Or would you buy the Honda and not have the worries you hopefully have
averted this time?

[War Eagle]

After my conversation with the pres I would probably buy another Kipor. Coast Dist warrents the units they sale for 2 years, without the backing of the manuf. I would first make sure there was a local agent close that provided service.

But if money were not the issue I would go with the Honda. The Kipor is about 40% less.

[bledsoe3]

I'm glad you got your issues resolved. Lucky for me Coast has a location 30 miles from me. I just hope I never need them.

[SteveH]

I recently had the same problem with a Honda generator...it would run for a short time and quit. Found out it was operator error. There is a small valve in the fuel cap that opens a vent to the fuel tank, and without opening it, it will run for a while until it draws a vacume on the tank, and will no longer draw fuel. That might be your problem.

[War Eagle]

The Kipor has the valve on the gas cap also. No, it is open. My problem is there is too much gas getting to the spark plug. Hopefully the new carburator will fix this problem.

Bledsoe, have you looked for a spark plug yet? I was going to grab a couple extras since I'm burning them up so fast. No luck. I haven't checked a small engine place yet but the Auto Zones and Pep Boys of the world have no record of teh plug that is in my Kipor.

[bledsoe3]

I haven't had any problems yet so I never looked at it.