Fuel gone bad
Diesel left in a tank for years can grow bacteria and form sludge. Gasoline goes stale even faster. That's often why a generator won't start.
As it sitsAny size
Home / Non-running generators
Dead, seized or stripped
Sell a Generator That Won't Run
Won't crank, won't hold voltage, or got stripped while it sat? It still has value, and we'll take it as it is.
Free offer · No obligation
Get your generator offer
Five lines. We call back with a number.
- Won't start or won't make power
- Vandalized or parts stolen
- Flooded or fire damaged
Fastest way to a firm number
- Nameplate photokW, voltage and serial in one shot.
- Control panelInclude the hour meter if there is one.
- The route outGate, stairs, roof hatch or driveway.
Common reasons a set stops
What's usually wrong
Dead controller
Panel lights up, engine won't crank.
No output
Engine runs, alternator gives nothing.
Seized engine
Sat too long without exercise.
Stripped
Batteries, wiring or copper taken.
Still worth something
Where a dead set's value sits
- Alternator copper is usually the biggest part.
- Engine block and cast iron.
- Steel enclosure and base frame.
- Radiator, aluminum or copper.
- Battery, recycled for its lead.
Generator sitting idle? Get a number today.
Worth knowing
Copper or aluminum?
Some smaller alternators are wound with aluminum instead of copper. A nameplate photo or a look behind the end cover tells us which.
Dead generators in depth
Selling a generator that won't run
Generators that sit for years without running develop predictable problems.
Batteries
Starting batteries die if they aren't kept charged. A dead battery alone doesn't mean the engine is bad.
Seized engines
Water in the cylinders can seize an engine. The alternator may still be fine.
Alternator problems
An engine that runs but makes no power usually has an alternator or control fault. Tell us what the controller shows.
Rodent damage
Mice and rats chew wiring in idle generators. It's common and doesn't stop a sale.
Don't spend on it
Repairs rarely pay off on an old generator being sold. Sell it as it is.
Questions
Common questions
Do you buy a generator with the copper stolen?
Yes. The engine, enclosure and frame still have value.
Does it need to be complete?
No. Missing parts get priced in.
Can you move it if nothing turns?
Yes. Skid units get winched or lifted, so a seized engine doesn't matter.