My northstar lantern lites then goes out within 20 to30 seconds. Is it the generator? and if so what # generator do I need? The lantern is about 8 years old and used once or twice a year.

I also have a Northstar 13 kw generator. Mine puts out 58 volts on one side 60 on the other. Does run at 60hz on both legs.

Was your fuel clean?
Put clean fuel in and pump up. Should be fine.

If the petrol doesn't come through first check that you have enough in the tank. If the tank is not full enough it won't come through. If it still fails to come through it's likely that the generator is blocked. This is the tube which the mantle sits on and it has a very narrow opening to force the petrol to convert to vapour when it's warm. Try heating it for a while and it may clear it. Otherwise you'll need to buy a new generator.

Note: while the dual fuel lanterns can burn petrol you should be aware that it gives off poisonous fumes, like cars did before they had catalytic converters. The lantern should not be used indoors with petrol. They are safe with coleman fuel. If you live in the USA, Coleman fuel is cheap but if you're in Europe it's much too expensive. Rather than buying a new generator, if you live in Europe, you could buy a parafin burning lantern like the Petromax 500 available from http://www.pelam.de/index.php?cPath=28_31&language=en&gclid=CIOe46DQnqYCFQkf4QodQxz2Zg
and other sites, or you can pick up second hand Optimus lanterns on Ebay. Both burn parafin, though they need to be primed, and provide at least as much light as the Coleman.

Take apart and clean the jet. should do the trick...

Probably around 76to 78db if I were to guess . Its not alway best to be adding extra mufflers to these engines that were designed with the one they have . Adding mufflers change back pressures and temps on exhaust and effect the performance. Very nice generators. Hope this helps.....

I been using gen for over 20 years on my farm as backup for my solar system and one issue the haeds...many users forget or no one tells them that they need to adjust the heads after every 40-50- hours and any changes in the setting will not allow the grn to start ot it will run for a few seconds than die...look for the exact seerting of the in and out and check tghem and see if that help...good luck. remmber in winter you need low grade oil not high or use synthatic better.

clean out the cabrateor
clean out the tank

caborator needs cleaning

My generator has a switch to turn on the output, you must turn it "ON" to get power.

Check the vent in the fuel cap to make sure its free to breath. It could be creating a vaccume in there and starveing for fuel. Maybe run it with the gas cap off and see if the problem gos away.