I've had 4 people look at my generator and now I'm tired of messing with it. I want to replace it but don't want to pay the $2500 that Cummins/Onan wants for a new one. Anyone know where I might be able to obtain a used/rebuilt one? Or does anyone know of a reliable tech that repairs these?

Jim, Beyond eBay & CraigsList, the only thing I can suggest for a used one is to call or send an email to the service department managers of various RV dealers in your area. As far as a good tech goes, I used the then-new Cummins-Onan distributor/service center in Spartanburg SC when the Tiger's 2800 failed under warranty in 2006. I can't really recommend that route. I had to return to have a vital bolt in the governor linkage tightened about a month later. The original tech was no longer there. Years later when replacing the fuel pump, I found that he had also left out a vibration isolator the 1st time. They mailed it to me free, with no more proof than a phone call & an emailed photo. It didn't really change the noise & vibration, but it still left me with a bad taste. I'll be glad to help you troubleshoot it if you want to try. There are 3 pretty simple things that are common failure points. None cost over $250-300 and a half-day of DIY work, tho' you do need to drop the box to get to at least one of them. Jim, "Blessed is the end user who expects nothing, for he shall not be disappointed."

Jim,While I can only aspire to one day be as "wrench savvy" as Handbasket, here's my $.02.In my limited experience, the Onan 2800 is a reliable device - provided one does as one should with respect to maintaining it. And, having read your posts for quite a while, I suspect you do so.The 2800 IS very fussy about oil levels - and they say so in their manual. (I used to think it wasn't there, but I was corrected on that point). That's really easy to check. And, the recommended 2800 oil level is different that every other Onan genset. Some "new" techs don't know that - yet.If you're going to go see an Onan service facility, you might think about the http://www.cumminspowerclub.com/. Their $15 (as I recall) annual membership is good for a 10% discount on anything and everything "Onan" you get from or have Cummins/Onan do to/for your genset.Finally, were it me, I'd take Handbasket up on his offer in an instant.Cheers.

I took this thing to a Cummins Onan dealer and they told me the windings were bad and couldn't be repaired and wanted to sell me a new one. I just didn't believe them when the thing had been running so good. It's just that now it only runs when I continue to hold the switch down and even then it doesn't output the current I need. I dropped it and took it to a electrical shop but they can't figure it out.

Jim&Carolyn wrote:I took this thing to a Cummins Onan dealer and they told me the windings were bad and couldn't be repaired and wanted to sell me a new one. I just didn't believe them when the thing had been running so good. It's just that now it only runs when I continue to hold the switch down and even then it doesn't output the current I need. I dropped it and took it to a electrical shop but they can't figure it out.Jim,Exactly the problem I had a few years ago - had to hold the switch down so it would "run". An earlier oil change used the incorrect mark on the dipstick.The problem was the oil level. My unit, like most I think, seems to be quite picky on that point. Filled 'er up (two or three tablespoons of oil) and fine ever since. Now we're careful on oil changes.But, it could be something else.My suggestion within Onan is to ask to talk with the tech first. I went in my car, it took some persuading, but I did get to the tech for a question or two. He did understand, I took the rig a few days later, they confirmed the issue, and I both paid the bill and found the tech again to say "Thank$".Cheers.

Do you know if the dealer checked the windings with a meter by unplugging the big multiwire white connecter? If he just asked the symptoms and came up with that, you may be taken for a $$$ ride. I ask because while that is the worst $$ way the gen can fail suddenly, there's at least one other way (voltage reg, easy fix, one hidden screw, about $250 part). And believe me, I know your frustration! They completely rebuilt the electrical part of mine under warranty due to a similar failure at _8_ hours. IIRC, Onan was billed about $1600 for that. That's when they left the bolt loose and left a mount out.And yes, you may have a low oil float switch as retraite said. They discontinued that sometime in the past, but I don't have a clue as to when. And it _will_ give the same symptom. If you have an owner's manual, read the proper procedure for checking oil. Mine ('06) requires you to remove & wipe the dipstick, then set it on the hole, not screwed in, to check the level. Screwing it in before reading will give a false reading resulting in low oil.And trust me, I'm not particularly wrench savvy, just persistent... ;)Jim, "No, the other one."

Onan 2800 Generator | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

retraite
Explorer
Mar 10, 2014
Jim,

While I can only aspire to one day be as "wrench savvy" as Handbasket, here's my $.02.

In my limited experience, the Onan 2800 is a reliable device - provided one does as one should with respect to maintaining it. And, having read your posts for quite a while, I suspect you do so.

The 2800 IS very fussy about oil levels - and they say so in their manual. (I used to think it wasn't there, but I was corrected on that point). That's really easy to check. And, the recommended 2800 oil level is different that every other Onan genset. Some "new" techs don't know that - yet.

If you're going to go see an Onan service facility, you might think about the http://www.cumminspowerclub.com/. Their $15 (as I recall) annual membership is good for a 10% discount on anything and everything "Onan" you get from or have Cummins/Onan do to/for your genset.

Finally, were it me, I'd take Handbasket up on his offer in an instant.

Cheers.
Handbasket
Explorer
Mar 10, 2014
Jim, Beyond eBay & CraigsList, the only thing I can suggest for a used one is to call or send an email to the service department managers of various RV dealers in your area.

As far as a good tech goes, I used the then-new Cummins-Onan distributor/service center in Spartanburg SC when the Tiger's 2800 failed under warranty in 2006. I can't really recommend that route. I had to return to have a vital bolt in the governor linkage tightened about a month later. The original tech was no longer there. Years later when replacing the fuel pump, I found that he had also left out a vibration isolator the 1st time. They mailed it to me free, with no more proof than a phone call & an emailed photo. It didn't really change the noise & vibration, but it still left me with a bad taste.

I'll be glad to help you troubleshoot it if you want to try. There are 3 pretty simple things that are common failure points. None cost over $250-300 and a half-day of DIY work, tho' you do need to drop the box to get to at least one of them.

Jim, "Blessed is the end user who expects nothing, for he shall not be disappointed."

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Onan 2800 Generator

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