Caterpillar parts

[Scrubcadet10]

Being a generator, it does not have a low base idle like a mower engine. At the very lowest, I have seen them at 3400 RPM.

But why the presence of the low/idle circuit on this carburetor, is my question. in my experience fixed speed engine usually just have a main.
It is governed at a fixed speed according to the spring set up, but it will surge without that idle stopper screw (plastic one) being ran it and just touching it. Now there is a second screw on the control panel that puts more or less tension on the governor spring to change speed, but i almost have to overspeed it for it to not try to surge......
Im going to sleep and get some coffee in my tomorrow and look at it again.... almost 60 hours this week.

 

[Auto Doc's]

Hi Scrubcadet10,

These kinds of jobs can be challenging, but don't give up.

Are there any signs that the governor arm pinch bolt has been messed with? I never like suggesting resetting a basic governor adjustment, but this one is a weird situation.

Portable generators are set and governed at a higher steady speed, and the base idle circuit is not a factor like it would be with other applications because if the generator power head output required.

Generators do not produce adequate power at lower RPM because low voltage output would easily damage any electric devices connected to them.

Like I mentioned earlier small engine generators run at 3600 RPM and that upper spring tension screw you mentioned is for the adjustment. A DVOM with a Hz setting is used or a Kill A Watt is used to measure the proper Hertz setting of 60-61 Hertz taken at one of the 120V outlets.

The air cleaner also should be in place so the carburetor as an actual proper steady 3600 RPM.

James actually has a video about a similar CAT generator (see the video I attached earlier) which covers a lot of this stuff. These are basically a Honda clone engine setup.

 

[Scrubcadet10]

Yeah I looked at the governor pinch bolt and I didn't see any sign of it being messed with

 

[Scrubcadet10]

i give up
messed with it for awhile this morning, set my speed at producing 120/240V, of course had the choke on so it would run consistent while setting it, turned the choke off and back to surging and even almost dying. increase the tension on governor spring with screw and all it does speed the surge up until you get to a point where the governor pulls it to WOT and starts running rich, then i turn the choke off and it goes back to normal speed and surging.