Onan Microlite 4000 shaft locks up on occasion

bounder39zman wrote:
The problem is with the starter drive gear . the gear is made of a plastic/fiber material and the drive parts wear with use, then "bind up" in the flywheel-blower wheel teeth. when you reach in the air intake end and grab the flywheel fins you can usually break it free by turning it in opposite direction of normal rotation. the only fix is to replace the starter, which usually requires pulling the genset from the RV, as the enclosure cover has to be removed to access starter. There are really cheap starters available on-line, but they are really "cheap"! You get what you pay for...I would go with ONAN part; 191-2351, usually available for under $100 from Onan parts dealer.

An important reminder....

Always disconnect the battery to the generator if attempting to turn the fan with hand.

The problem is with the starter drive gear . the gear is made of a plastic/fiber material and the drive parts wear with use, then "bind up" in the flywheel-blower wheel teeth. when you reach in the air intake end and grab the flywheel fins you can usually break it free by turning it in opposite direction of normal rotation. the only fix is to replace the starter, which usually requires pulling the genset from the RV, as the enclosure cover has to be removed to access starter. There are really cheap starters available on-line, but they are really "cheap"! You get what you pay for...I would go with ONAN part; 191-2351, usually available for under $100 from Onan parts dealer.

Jerrybo66 wrote:
I've had almost the same experience. The generator wouldn't turn over to start. I reached in beside the unit until I could feel the motor cooling fins. I was able to turn it by hand a little and it fired up. It's done this a few other times.. It must have something to do with the position it stops..???

I've had the generator in my RV of 14 yrs as a mostly dry camping fulltimer and it's never happened before, and now twice in 1 week??

I was able to break the shaft free again using a wrench.
(No way I can spin it by hand like you were able to)
It fired up again like nothing happened.

The first time after breaking the shaft free, the shaft with cooling fins spun freely, but this second time, the shaft DID spin, but not freely, as if the starter is dragging it? Don't know.

I've had almost the same experience. The generator wouldn't turn over to start. I reached in beside the unit until I could feel the motor cooling fins. I was able to turn it by hand a little and it fired up. It's done this a few other times.. It must have something to do with the position it stops..???