Forum Discussion

Explorer

Oct 02, 2017

Generator takes a long time to start now.

Back on the Solar Eclipse day, we discovered that our RV generator would not start due to a cracked fuel line. I had my local auto mechanic fix it.

The generator now runs, but it takes a very long time to get it to start. Like about 5 minutes of trying.

I wonder if perhaps there was a check valve in the line that they possibly removed while fixing the leak, and now the electric pump at the genset has to run a while to suck fuel back up the fuel line.

Once the generator is running it runs fine.

RV is a 1990 Winnebago Warrior. Generator is a Onan 4000 4BGEFA26101A

Steve

13 Replies

akrv
Explorer
Oct 02, 2017
When he replaced the fuel line he should have dropped the tank and replaced the whole line. It sounds like you still have a leak . There is a shutoff valve on the bottom of the carb that acts as a check valve.
mikebreeze
Explorer
Oct 02, 2017
I had that problem with my genset. It got progressively worse until it wouldn't start at all. Turned out that the fuel pump needed to be replaced.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Oct 02, 2017
You ARE doing the "prime" thing before starting.....right ??

If so, I'd do two things:
Have the choke checked.....and/or watch it as you try to start with the on-gen switch.
Give it a healthy dose of a good carb cleaner. Berrymans or Gumout. Might take a lot if you have a shared tank and it's full.