My generator has been sitting for a long time and won't start. What could be causing this and how can I fix it?

A generator that has sat dormant and unused for a long time typically fails to start because stale gasoline has evaporated inside the carburetor, leaving behind a hard varnish that blocks the tiny fuel jets, combined with a dead battery or a fouled spark plug. To fix this, first drain all old gasoline completely from the fuel tank and carburetor float bowl. Second, remove the carburetor float bowl and clean out the main jet using a fine wire and aerosol carburetor cleaner spray. Third, remove the old spark plug, spray a small amount of fresh oil into the cylinder, and install a brand-new spark plug. You can troubleshoot long-term storage safely by working outdoors away from open flames. You can verify that your corrective action is successful when filling the tank with fresh gas, priming the system, and pulling the starter cord causes the engine to roar to life and maintain a steady idle.