I just bought a Generac EXL8000 with a Briggs 15HP motor and 5.4 hours on the meter. The motor was only running at half throttle, and I could see that the governor spring had been relocated to keep the motor from revving too high. I thought it would be a simple adjustment. However, today I found that even when I removed all the linkages from the governor shaft, the shaft makes NO movement whatsoever, even when the RPM's go WAY too high! So that explains why the sping had been relocated. (Of course, I got the blank stare when I asked about the spring repositioning and why it was only running at half throttle!)

I was also told today that it requires special tools to separate the engine from the generator head. I've been an automotive mechanic for 20 years and have a lot of tools, but do I need something special? I'm assuming that the governor weights are frozen, or the shaft is broken, or something of that nature. I spent too much on the generator to walk away from it unless it's really major! Any help you can give would be appreciated!

Chuck

Briggs owns Generac. Get the model, type and code #'s from the engine (usually stamped on blower housing) and see if you can get a breakdown at briggsandstrattion.com. Post a link and we'll see what we can do.

Sorry I didn't include the info on my original post -- I know better. The model is 030244, revision 01, serial # is 1013959698. If there is anything else that would be helpful, let me know.

I also found these numbers:

On the flywheel cover: "family name 6GNXS.4072GA:EM."

On Block: Model # 0052331
Displacement - 407 cc
Serial # 8030184

On generator frame: Family 6BSXS.MT

I work on small engine never needed anything special yet to take them apart ,besides normal tools and some common since.
But you might try adjusting the gov. arm first,if its not right and the arm is the wrong way it will not move.

DG -- the governor shaft moves freely back and forth, but when the engine over-revs, it should move to slow the engine down. It never does anything in response to over-rev. Any idea what I'll find wrong inside?

Not sure if there is a manual here: Generac Parts

OK, manuals are here: Manuals, Parts List & Wiring Diagrams - Briggs & Stratton

Don't think we have an engine model # yet. Needs to be in the form of: 12H702-0505-01. As in Model, Type and code. Dashes are usually added.

These numbers are usually stamped so that they are barely readable on the blower housing. There are other places too. See the above link for how to engine ID

Engine repair manuals are available on the Briggs site, but they cost money.

Okay, wanted to pass along what I found out. I did take the generator off the engine, but shouldn't have. Found that the governor clamp bolt was not tight enough, and allowed the governor shaft to rotate inside the clamp. Reassembled the generator, adjusted the governor, and it controls the speed perfectly. However, the engine won't run smoothly without a slight spray of carb cleaner in the carb all the time (or with the choke partially on). I have cleaned out the carb, didn't find anything, and have concluded that it may have come from the factory jetted just a touch lean. I have a set of jet drills, as I don't see any method of hi-idle mixture adjustment. Not real keen on this method, but don't know any other way. Any ideas?

Remove carb take all apart and soak in carb cleaner over night.
Then spray out with carb cleaner and run wire cleaner through all jets and ports,
Check needle seat before soaking.check needle if it has a rubber tip then the seat is brass your okay.if the needle has a metal tip then it has a rubber seat and needs to be removed before soaking.
LUCK.