JaxDad wrote:
Boon Docker wrote:
"The worst thing for a genset is to sit for long periods - especially gas ones."
My Champion has sat for 6 months every year for the past 6 years, hasn't hurt it a bit. Maybe I'm just lucky. :)
According to Onan’s website they make about 100,000 RV type generators a year.
If you figure most of the last 20 years of production is still out there in customers rigs, that’s about 2 million units.
I recently bought some slip rings for an Onan I was given out of a derelict RV, someone had tried to ‘clean them up’ with 80 grit emory cloth. The dealer, a big factory shop, said they had to order them, they only sell a handful of them a year. Considering how few people even know about ‘exercising’ a generator let alone actually do it, this is quite amazing.
BTW, the ‘exercise once per month’ edict only appeared after Onan became Cummins Onan.
Strangely enough very few other generator mfg’s recommend this ‘exercise routine either.
I always find humor in posts that go to lengths to prove a reason why not to do something. It's common sense that letting any engine sit for long periods is worse than not for a number of reasons. I would bet my Honda CRV manual doesn't say anything about exercising it's engine either. The stand alone generator we just bought for the house sure does though. An entire section on periodic running and storage. I like my odds on dependability and longevity with monthly exercising. To each his own but I think advising not to do it is bad advice - especially given how easy it is.
