Yep that's right, hard to believe but tomorrow I am going to look at a 2000 22 foot Class C which only has 8K miles on it. Chevy Vortec 454, 2 Owner, first was elderly couple, current couple have had it 3 years. Always garage kept, photos look very good & clean.A couple issues that owner and I spoke about. The generator has never been used. It has been started, but not used for any length of time. Last time they tried to start it, it wouldn't fire.Question for those of you in the know...getting a complete tune up and once over....any idea on cost of this type of service? I want to be sure to be armed for negotiations should I be interested in the rig.She also said the dash air is not holding freon, but I figure this isn't a huge deal.It has brand new tires! Thanks in advance for everyone's input on the Genset situation.

If genset is an ONAN 4KY series, and the carb got gooked up with stale gas, probably needs a new carb. Going price is about $200 and you can change it yourself. If it won't turn over when you go to crank it, there could be other problems. Folk think the Monthly Exercise ONAN wants us to do is all about the fuel system. Not so, it also drives moisture out of the windings and keeps the slip rings clean.You need a GOOD, CHARGED, battery to start the genset.Previous owners spent $700 on genset before we bought the coach. Replaced the Carb and the Control Module (little electronic logic board). Couple months later we looked at the coach and the genset would start but not carry a load. I fussed/fiddled with the carb and finally replaced it.With the age and few miles, you can expect issues like stuck brakes on the chassis. If you're lucky enough for the brakes to work, the fluid should be flushed at a minimum and the three flex brake hoses (two on front, one on rear) replaced. Coach'll no doubt be pretty, but could still have leaks. I'd suggest finding a nearby RV shop with a Pressure Tester (SealTek). Negotiate your best price for the coach then make it contingent on a clean leak test. If it passes, that's your price. If it fails, you can walk away or negotiate again. Test should cost around $100.

Just a thought With it sitting that long the coach battery might be dead. I would start the RV and after it has run for 5 minutes or so while still running try starting the generator.

dash air could be big bucks,,, don,t try to start the gen till its had at least a carb clean out, and new plug. some gen sets won,t start inless they have more than a quarter tank of fuel. sounds like a nice rv but figure your gonna have to work on it some.454 about 8mpg.

Thanks for the info guys. They actually have been using the coach. Took it camping just 4 weeks ago...they have just never had a need to use the Genset....and yes, when I had my class A I exercised that Generac each and every month!I might have discounted the dash air situation....I will call my mechanic on that one.

Cost on the generator is unpredictable. Almost surely it will need a carb (not rebuildable on the Micro-series Onans, which it probably has). In the humid South unless the garage was air conditioned, it may need some/much more. Worst case, moisture from condensation _may_ have caused corrosion on the slip rings (medium bad) or rotor (may be terminal). The _maybe_ good news is that it takes having 1/4 tank or more of gas to run the generator, so that might be the issue. Even with monthly use the fuel will drain back to the tank over time. If it's a Micro 4000, I think it has a 'prime' function on the stop side of the switch (not on the 2800). It'd be worth checking the fuel gauge, adding some if needed, leaving the chassis engine running, and trying priming, then starting. Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

Question.. 2000 Model Class C Generator-Never Used

12 Replies

TyroneandGladys
Explorer
Sep 10, 2013
Just a thought

With it sitting that long the coach battery might be dead. I would start the RV and after it has run for 5 minutes or so while still running try starting the generator.
j-d
Explorer II
Sep 10, 2013
If genset is an ONAN 4KY series, and the carb got gooked up with stale gas, probably needs a new carb. Going price is about $200 and you can change it yourself. If it won't turn over when you go to crank it, there could be other problems. Folk think the Monthly Exercise ONAN wants us to do is all about the fuel system. Not so, it also drives moisture out of the windings and keeps the slip rings clean.
You need a GOOD, CHARGED, battery to start the genset.
Previous owners spent $700 on genset before we bought the coach. Replaced the Carb and the Control Module (little electronic logic board). Couple months later we looked at the coach and the genset would start but not carry a load. I fussed/fiddled with the carb and finally replaced it.
With the age and few miles, you can expect issues like stuck brakes on the chassis. If you're lucky enough for the brakes to work, the fluid should be flushed at a minimum and the three flex brake hoses (two on front, one on rear) replaced.
Coach'll no doubt be pretty, but could still have leaks. I'd suggest finding a nearby RV shop with a Pressure Tester (SealTek). Negotiate your best price for the coach then make it contingent on a clean leak test. If it passes, that's your price. If it fails, you can walk away or negotiate again. Test should cost around $100.

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Question.. 2000 Model Class C Generator-Never Used

12 Replies

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