First, check both the oil and gasoline in the engine. Devilbiss recommends you use straight 30 weight oil in the engine. The oil should be a high detergent variety. Gasoline should be unleaded, with a rating of at least 85 octane. If the gasoline is old, it could be contaminated with dirt or water. Replace with fresh gasoline, to see if this corrects the problem.
If the generator does not start, Devilbiss recommends checking out several things. First, the engine choke may be in the wrong position. Second, the spark plug may be at fault. Third, the on-off switch may be in the off position. Another area to look at is the overloading of the generator unit. Unplug all power cords before attempting to start the unit.
Devilbiss states the generator is for outdoor use only. Since it is powered by a gasoline engine, producing exhaust, this generator is not for indoor use. Devilbiss strongly states it should never be run in an indoor environment.
If the circuit breaker keeps tripping, the generator is overloaded. Unplug some of the power tools. Remember, the generator is rated at 5,250 watts; if you exceed this, the breaker will trip. Also, Devilbiss cautions that the power cords may be faulty or have internal shorts.