A lot of the newer Ryobi Generators now use injection systems to create the fuel-air mixture inside their engine, but many of the older and cheaper models use carburetors. There are some pros and cons to this method. Carburetors are generally cheaper to manufacture but often require significantly more maintenance. This is because the aeration chambers can get gummed up with all those same carbon, gum, and varnish fuel deposits we talked about earlier. Problems in this area are usually first indicated by the generator struggling to start, starting weakly, or sputtering out, but they can eventually result in the generator not starting at all as the combustion chamber receives an insufficient supply of fuel.
There are a few things you can do to fix this. There are fuel additives that you can add to try and break down some of the gunk in the carburetor as it runs, but these are rarely as good as a thorough cleaning. Carburetor cleaner is available in several hardware and auto repair stores. Taking it apart to clean it can be a bit of a headache, and the cleaner is hazardously corrosive, but it’s a necessary step to get your generator up and running if it isn’t combusting properly.
In the worst-case scenario, the carburetor may be damaged and you may need to replace it. If that’s the case, you can once again use the same Home Depot ordering service to find the right carburetor for your model.
