5500 can be a great generator or a nightmare, depending on how it is cared for. First, the best thing you can do to have a good experience is to run it, a lot. The fuel we buy today , if left in the carburetor for more than 30 days, will gum-up and clog the fuel lines. Therefore, the 5500 must be run for about 20 minutes, once a month, minimum.
Make certain that you RV has more than 1/4 tank of fuel, as there is an automatic shutoff to the generator when the RV fuel level drops below 1/4 tank. Also, make certain that the generator oil level is completely full, as a low oil level will prevent the generator from starting or running.
To get your 5500 started, hold the start button in the “stop” position for 15 seconds. You should hear a ticking sound, which is the priming of the carburetor. Then wait 5 seconds and then press “start” and hold for not more than 15 seconds. If this does not start your 5500, you probably have bad fuel, clogging the carburetor.
I hope this helps.
