More Onan 5500 - sputters bad under load
I've had 8 trouble-free years with my Onan 5500 in my 2007 Toy Hauler. I'm just over 400 hrs and have done the basic maint up to now.
I had noticed in the last few trips, the gen was harder to start than usual. Took it a while to get primed, coughed and sputtered a bit before starting.
Then on the last trip I took I noticed that the rough starting was continuing into my trip.
I was prepping for another trip this summer when we had that massive heat wave, 110-112 degrees. While cleaning the RV I was running the gen and AC. After about 15 min or so, the gen sputtered real bad. Didn't die, but it was barely running. Shut everything down, waited a while and started it back up. Started and ran fine for a few until I put the AC back on. Again, horrible sputter.
So I figured it was time to do the fuel pump, fuel filters, spark plugs etc that I have read about on here.
Finally got around to it yesterday - all the above was completed.
Startup was rough again, but I figured as much after having it apart. Ran it for 10 min or so then turned on the AC. It sputtered momentarily but came back up to normal rpm and ran fine for 20-30 min.
With the AC running I turned on the microwave. Horrible sputter, had to shut it down.
Tried again after 30 min, it started rough again but ran fine once going. Turned on the AC and bad sputter again.
So I've got something else going on.
I went through the code process, it's comin up with a code 13, undervoltage fault.
I personally think the undervoltage error is due to the thing sputtering and barely running, this throwing that code. But I'm not a gen mechanic so I don't really know.
My gut (years of dirt bikes) tells me it's a fuel/carburation issue. I know how bad dirt-bike carbs get.
Several folks on this board buy and install new carburetors and that sometimes solves their prob. I'm thinking that might be the issue, but don't want to make a $250-275 purchase for nothing.
Does anyone know if these carbs are serviceable? Can you get the float bowl off so you can properly clean them? Or are they permanently sealed?
If it's not serviceable then I'm trying to decide if I should go for the new carb or am I just being stupid and should get it to a mechanic to deal with the undervoltage code and whatever the fix for that is?
Just curious what you all think.
I had noticed in the last few trips, the gen was harder to start than usual. Took it a while to get primed, coughed and sputtered a bit before starting.
Then on the last trip I took I noticed that the rough starting was continuing into my trip.
I was prepping for another trip this summer when we had that massive heat wave, 110-112 degrees. While cleaning the RV I was running the gen and AC. After about 15 min or so, the gen sputtered real bad. Didn't die, but it was barely running. Shut everything down, waited a while and started it back up. Started and ran fine for a few until I put the AC back on. Again, horrible sputter.
So I figured it was time to do the fuel pump, fuel filters, spark plugs etc that I have read about on here.
Finally got around to it yesterday - all the above was completed.
Startup was rough again, but I figured as much after having it apart. Ran it for 10 min or so then turned on the AC. It sputtered momentarily but came back up to normal rpm and ran fine for 20-30 min.
With the AC running I turned on the microwave. Horrible sputter, had to shut it down.
Tried again after 30 min, it started rough again but ran fine once going. Turned on the AC and bad sputter again.
So I've got something else going on.
I went through the code process, it's comin up with a code 13, undervoltage fault.
I personally think the undervoltage error is due to the thing sputtering and barely running, this throwing that code. But I'm not a gen mechanic so I don't really know.
My gut (years of dirt bikes) tells me it's a fuel/carburation issue. I know how bad dirt-bike carbs get.
Several folks on this board buy and install new carburetors and that sometimes solves their prob. I'm thinking that might be the issue, but don't want to make a $250-275 purchase for nothing.
Does anyone know if these carbs are serviceable? Can you get the float bowl off so you can properly clean them? Or are they permanently sealed?
If it's not serviceable then I'm trying to decide if I should go for the new carb or am I just being stupid and should get it to a mechanic to deal with the undervoltage code and whatever the fix for that is?
Just curious what you all think.
