TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATEURS
ALL NON-WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AMATERUS
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 12.28 DATE: July 8, 2012
SUBJECT : ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT ONE?
Now that you found out your weren't as ready as you thought you were, are you ready for the next one? The next one might happen tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year, but it will happen again. If everything is about back to normal, and you now have your commercial power back on, get ready for the next one. If you had a generator that was working, will it work the next time? Will you have enough fuel for it? If it has been running for several days, it's time for it to take a break, and get an oil change.
If you had a hard time getting your generator to start or run, it may have been that you didn't start it enough when you did't need it. Keep it in a dry place so that water can't get into the gas tank. When you shut it down, don't just turn the switch to off, turn off the fuel valve instead. Letting the generator run until all the fuel is out of the carburetor will keep it from getting gummed up as the fuel gets old.
When storing the generator, turn the engine until it reaches the compression stroke. That means the engine valves are closed and no water or moisture will get into the piston or cylinder and let it start rusting.
One of the main things is to do is keep plenty of fuel on hand. It may take a lot of fuel, and you may not be able to just run out and get it. When storing the fuel put a Stabilizer in it too. The gasoline won't go bad it you rotate it out. When you need gasoline for your vehicle or lawnmower, use what you have stored up, and then replace it.
Remember the next one might be just around the corner. Let people laugh at you for keeping a lot of fuel or gasoline on hand, then you can laugh back when you hear them hunting for it themselves.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV