External Generator Fuel Pump

[Marc14857]

unlike others I have not had many problems with my FP 6000 generator until now. The unit starts and picks up some
Load but tends to trip off. I noticed that the external fuel pump which you can usually hear working just makes a pumping sound every minute or so where previously it you could hear it all the time. I'm trying to figure out if I have a fuel pump problem or an electrical problem to the fuel pump. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
Marc

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Does your FP have a bleed valve at the engine that might be open??

 

[SG]

unlike others I have not had many problems with my FP 6000 generator until now. The unit starts and picks up some
Load but tends to trip off. I noticed that the external fuel pump which you can usually hear working just makes a pumping sound every minute or so where previously it you could hear it all the time. I'm trying to figure out if I have a fuel pump problem or an electrical problem to the fuel pump. Any advice appreciated.

Thanks
Marc

That's an external "portable" generator powered by gasoline?

Marc:

• What do you mean 'to trip off'? The generator itself stops? The external fuel pump stops? or ?
• If you turn-off any loads (e.g., inverter/charger, AC unit, etc.) and let the unit run, then does the 'trip off' occur?
• If not, as you add loads, with the generator warmed-up and running fine -- what happens if you load-up the generator?
• How many hours on the generator? Is this the first season? Could the carb be gummed-up? (Gasahol, or fuel sitting in the bowl for an extended period

 

[Marc14857]

The Fischer Panda 6000 is a diesel powered generator. It is about 10 years old with 175 hours. Have never had this problem before. When the unit trips it simply stops running, there is no fault light illuminated high temp low oil pressure etc. I am starting to convince myself the problem is either with the external fuel pump, the power to the fuel pump or perhaps the fuel solenoid. As I indicated in my initial post I don't hear the fuel pump running as it did before. I am guessing it is a diaphragm type pump that should run all of the time. I'm going to try and check the voltage to the pump with the generator running and see if I have a constant 12 volts. If not I may try to supply 12 volts from a different source and see if it makes a difference.

 

[Ken Cross]

Sounds like you are on the right track. If you have compression, fuel is the most likely culprit.

Ken

 

[SG]

Sorry, I Googled an 'FP 6000' and ended-up with an portable Briggs and Stratton (picture up above).

I renew my question, if you just let the Fischer Panda run with no load, will it die? Then the rest of my questions. If you add a little load, does it kick-off right away. If you add load slowly, does it make a difference? Is it just a threshold "limit", above which it kicks off?

As I recall the Fisher Panda is a variable RPM engine which modulates up and down to deal with the need for increased load to generate more AMPS. As such, I'd be careful adding juice to the fuel pump. It might be like a conventional constant volume pump on -- or it may not. I'd check with them before I started adding external, non controlled voltage (or amps).

One of the grips with the Fischer is that it's control systems are too complicated for it's electronics. We have a heavier, somewhat bigger, old-fashioned 7KW constant RPM, Westerbeke generator. It may be dumb, but it certainly has continued to run very reliably since mid-1998.

 

[seadaddler]

I have the 4200 FP and I have 2 relays and 1 is for the starting system and the other one is for the electric fuel
pump and also the internal cooling pump.
Try calling FP and they are in Fl and they helped me with a problem that was with the relay and they were very helpful that did not need buying any parts,can get the relay in local auto store but the relay was OK but it was a bad connection where the relay plugs into and used a screw driver to make tighter and my relays are the same and can be switched,
Nick

 

[SG]

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/834993/Fischer-Panda-Agt-6000.html?page=10#manual
Shows the Fuel Pump / Start Relay position

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/834993/Fischer-Panda-Agt-6000.html?page=11#manual
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/834993/Fischer-Panda-Agt-6000.html?page=11#manual
Note the fuel solenoid valve position
From the top, the throttle shut-off solenoid


Page forward. You might try to manually run the pump, using the instructions on page 48 or so in the manual link above.

It possible, I suppose that your mesh filter is blocked a bit too? Then it couldn't take larger volumes?

I'd look through the manual (it may be clearer in the original German) ;^))) the English translation seems adequate to me... but ...

 

[Marc14857]

Spoke with Tech Support at Fischer Panda and they agreed problem was probably external fuel pump. Installed the new style Facet pump yesterday and generator seems to be running fine. Good support from the folks at FP.

 

[SG]

;^)))) Good!

By the way, do you have a Racor filter with a visible water seperation bowl sitting in front of the Panda?

 

[Marc14857]

Yes I do an R12 with plastic bowl.

 

[seadaddler]

I have a 4200 FP and don't have a Filter on the Gen but the factory did install I think it is a Racor R-12 filter water separator and has a water drain on the bottom to check for any water

 

[SG]

Good. That also should be a 30 micron predicted too. It looks clean?

 

[Rick486]

My filter is an R12SUL, which I believe is 2 micron.

 

[NotCook]

I was going to suggest a clogged primary or secondary fuel filter...