Generator brands · Portable and petrol
Mac Afric Generator Repairs for Workshops, Sites and Homes
We repair and service Mac Afric generators on site across Gauteng, from wheeled petrol units such as the 7 kW JDP10000E to small air-cooled diesels. Most faults on them come from stale fuel, missed oil changes, overload from tools and compressors, or the long hours of load shedding, and nearly all are repairable. Tell us the model and the symptoms, and you get a quote before we start.
Established 2006
20 years of experience
24/7 operations
We Arrive Within 1–2 Hours
(usually within 1 hour)
Free callouts and quotations
One-year warranty
Qualified and certified technicians
We Service & Repair All Generator Brands
All generator makes and models
1 kVA–20,000 kVA capability
Mac Afric petrol and air-cooled diesel units compared
Mac Afric is a South African tools and equipment brand, and its generators are sold alongside the compressors and welders they often end up running. The range includes petrol generators in a wheeled frame, such as the 7 kW JDP10000E with its key start, and small air-cooled diesels in a sound-proofed case, such as the 5 kW JDP6000-LDENS in the photo, shown with its foam-lined lid open.
The petrol unit is usually lighter and cheaper to buy, but its carburettor suffers when petrol goes stale in storage. The diesel uses less fuel, and its fuel keeps longer, but if it runs dry, air usually has to be bled from its fuel system before it will start, and its case traps heat if the vents are blocked. On both, an AVR or, on simpler designs, a capacitor holds the output voltage.
Running tools and machines from a generator
| Load | What to watch |
|---|---|
| Compressors | What to watchUsually the heaviest starting surge, repeated every time the pressure switch cuts back in, and worse if a faulty unloader valve leaves the pump starting against pressure; size the generator well above the running load |
| Welders | What to watchHeavy, uneven loads that trip a small unit or upset its voltage; check the welder’s input requirement |
| Fridges, freezers and pumps | What to watchMotors that restart on their own whenever a thermostat or pressure switch calls; switch them on one at a time and leave headroom in case two restart together |
| Tills, electronics and chargers | What to watchSensitive to voltage swings; connect them once the generator has settled |
| Long extension leads | What to watchVoltage drops along the lead; use heavier cable for long runs |
Total the running loads and add the biggest single surge on top. Our kVA sizing guide works through an example.
Load shedding, dust and daily starts
Load shedding turns an occasional backup unit into a daily one. A generator bought for the odd outage can run more hours in a month of high stages than in its whole first year, so an oil change that came round once a year can be due within weeks, and the small sump of an air-cooled engine has little oil to spare.
Every outage also means a start, so recoil cords wear faster, and a key-start unit such as the JDP10000E is only as reliable as its battery. In workshops, dust adds to it: air filters block, cooling fins clog, and vibration loosens terminals on the panel. Switch tools off before starting or stopping the generator, and bring loads on one at a time.
What goes wrong on Mac Afric generators
| Symptom | Likely causes | Repair route |
|---|---|---|
| Hard to start, or runs only on choke | Likely causesVarnish from stale petrol narrowing the carburettor jets, water or dirt in the fuel, or a fouled spark plug | Repair routeGenerator not starting |
| Diesel cranks but will not fire after running dry | Likely causesAir trapped in the injection pump and fuel pipes; the system needs bleeding | Repair routeFuel system repairs |
| Fires, runs briefly, then dies | Likely causesLow oil, or the unit on a slope, tripping the low-oil switch; a faulty switch; overload from a compressor or welder starting | Repair routeShutting down or tripping |
| Engine runs, but no power at the sockets | Likely causesOutput breaker tripped, a dead AVR or capacitor, brushes worn short, or an alternator that has lost its residual magnetism | Repair routeRunning but no power |
| Engine surges and the lights pulse | Likely causesA sticking governor linkage, varnish in the carburettor, or a load near the limit | Repair routeFrequency and speed problems |
A Mac Afric service, petrol or diesel
Intervals come from the owner’s manual and run on hours, so a unit used every day is due far sooner than one kept for emergencies, which still needs a yearly service.
- Engine oil drained warm and refilled with the grade in the manual
- Air filter cleaned or replaced
- Spark plug checked, gapped or replaced on petrol units
- Fuel tap, filter and sediment cup cleaned; on diesels, the fuel filter renewed and water drained
- Carburettor cleaned if the unit has stood with old petrol
- Cooling fins, recoil starter and starter battery checked
- Output tested on load: voltage and frequency at the sockets
Between services, check the oil before every run, and use petrol within a month or so or add a fuel stabiliser. More in generator servicing.
Parts, and what to send us
Parts are matched from two plates: the model plate on the frame and the engine’s own plate, because the engine and alternator inside a Mac Afric unit are often widely used designs. Filters, plugs, carburettors, recoil assemblies, AVRs and brushes go in as genuine parts where available, or as quality equivalents matched to the original, and your quote shows which. We do not carry out warranty work, so check a new unit’s warranty with the seller first.
To quote quickly, send the model, its rough running hours, what it was powering when the fault started, and a photo of the panel. We work the same way on other workshop and home units, such as Ryobi petrol generators and Kipor small diesels.
Independent service
We Service & Repair All Generator Brands
Onsite Generator Repairs is an independent generator specialist. We repair, service and maintain Mac Afric equipment as part of our work on every make of generator.
Manufacturer warranty claims go through the manufacturer’s own network. If your generator is still under warranty, check the warranty terms before arranging work by anyone else.
Brand names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Onsite Generator Repairs is an independent service and repair company.
Service areas
Where we work in Gauteng
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What size generator do I need for my compressor?
Check the compressor motor’s rating and starting requirement. The generator needs to be well above the running load, because the motor draws several times more in the instant it starts. The kVA sizing guide covers starting loads, or send us the compressor’s plate details.
Why will my Mac Afric only run on choke?
Usually a jet partly blocked by varnish from petrol that stood too long, so the engine runs lean unless the choke is on. The carburettor needs stripping and cleaning with new gaskets, or replacing. Fresh petrol, with a stabiliser if it will stand, stops it coming back.
How often should it be serviced if it runs every day?
By running hours, not the calendar. Keep a log of outage hours if there is no hour meter, and book the service at the hours the manual sets. With daily load shedding that can mean every few weeks.
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Who we work for
Need a generator technician?
- 24/7 operations
- We Arrive Within 1–2 Hours (usually within 1 hour)
- Free callouts and quotations