Our new Pleasure Way Pursuit has an Onan 4 KW generator. It is very temperamental to start. I have to prime it and try to start it a number of times before it will run. When it runs, it works fine. It doesn't seem to make a difference if I try to start it from the panel inside the RV or outside in the generator compartment. Any suggestions on what I can do to make it easier to start? I will appreciate any feedback.

Try this. From the outside hold the stop switch in, in a few seconds you will here the fuel pump start, keep holding the switch, when the fuel bowl in the carburetor is full the sound from the fuel pump will change, then release the switch, then push the start switch and hold it until the generator is running, not just starts, but running.The start system is designed to hold the start switch until the engine is running. Which is different than we are all used to.Dusty

My Onan 4KW generator is also tricky. As you say, once it gets started it runs fine. Since yours is new it should not be a dirty carburetor or a clogged fuel filter. I do use an additive in my gas tank to compensate for ethanol, on the advice of my mechanic, and it seems to help. Generators apparently don't like ethanol. I do wish RV manufacturers would look elsewhere for generators.

Just because it's new it doesn't mean it couldn't have sat long enough to evaporate the fuel out of the bowl and leave some varnish behind. If new isn't it still under warranty? Ask the dealer to check it out.Failing that I'd get some fresh fuel to it and once you do get it running run it under a load (I use the AC) for an hour or so. I make a point to run mine for 20 minutes around the 1st of every month. - good luck-

A good first step, though, is to hold the switch in STOP till the fuel pump stops clucking. OK, clicking, but I think of it as clucking. I find I have to do that twice. Our generator, same model, goes like this:1. Hold in STOP till Clucking stops2. Attempt Start. May sometimes start, usually does not3. Repeat 1. above4. Attempt Start. Almost always DOES start

Interesting input, especially from Dusty R. I may be too quick to stop cranking . I have been running it regularly, it has 18 hours on it and I am pretty confident there is no varnish in the fuel bowl.

Gnerator starting | Good Sam Community

Calisdad
Explorer
Sep 21, 2014
Just because it's new it doesn't mean it couldn't have sat long enough to evaporate the fuel out of the bowl and leave some varnish behind. If new isn't it still under warranty? Ask the dealer to check it out.

Failing that I'd get some fresh fuel to it and once you do get it running run it under a load (I use the AC) for an hour or so. I make a point to run mine for 20 minutes around the 1st of every month. - good luck-
mockturtle
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2014
My Onan 4KW generator is also tricky. As you say, once it gets started it runs fine. Since yours is new it should not be a dirty carburetor or a clogged fuel filter. I do use an additive in my gas tank to compensate for ethanol, on the advice of my mechanic, and it seems to help. Generators apparently don't like ethanol.

I do wish RV manufacturers would look elsewhere for generators.
Dusty_R
Explorer
Sep 21, 2014
Try this. From the outside hold the stop switch in, in a few seconds you will here the fuel pump start, keep holding the switch, when the fuel bowl in the carburetor is full the sound from the fuel pump will change, then release the switch, then push the start switch and hold it until the generator is running, not just starts, but running.
The start system is designed to hold the start switch until the engine is running. Which is different than we are all used to.

Dusty

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