Forum Discussion

WTrippe's avatar
WTrippe
Explorer
Mar 04, 2018

RV generator problem.

My generator quit working on me yesterday. It worked fine for coffee in the morning , but at lunch time it would no longer start. It's an Onan MicroQuiet 4000. Model 4KYFA261OOK Serial A070013571.

Here is a video I made yesterday trying to start it when the problem first occurred. You can hear the humming and a slight clicking.

https://youtu.be/2hZAKPptzcY

The simplest suggestion was to try and rotate my fan. I just did so this morning. It sounded like loose metal clinking as I turned it. Then when I went to start it, it made a metal clank sound in addition to the humming, but still no cranking.

The clicking went to a clanking and I'm afraid I'm damaging it more every time I try to start it because there wasn't even a clicking when it first started having problem.

Any helpful suggestions are appreciated.


Thanks,

William
  • Ranger_Smith's avatar
    Ranger_Smith
    Explorer
    Mar 04, 2018
    There were some generators where the magnets inside would come unglued and destroy the generator. Sounds like what happened to yours.
  • SidecarFlip's avatar
    SidecarFlip
    Explorer III
    Mar 04, 2018
    Sounds to me like the starter motor bendix is stuck. Starter motor time most likely. Try taking a hammer and smacking the starter motor (not too hard) just a light tap. That may allow the bendix to extent and engage the flywheel.
  • Lynnmor's avatar
    Lynnmor
    Explorer
    Mar 04, 2018
    SidecarFlip wrote:
    Sounds to me like the starter motor bendix is stuck. Starter motor time most likely. Try taking a hammer and smacking the starter motor (not too hard) just a light tap. That may allow the bendix to extent and engage the flywheel.


    It does sound like the starter drive is not engaging. The hammer trick might work, but it ain't a real fix, it is just a means of diagnosing the problem.

    The metal clunking might be the magnets. It seems strange that you would have two simultaneous problems. Maybe the starter was broken when the engine wouldn't turn.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Mar 04, 2018
    WTrippe wrote:
    ... It sounded like loose metal clinking as I turned it. Then when I went to start it, it made a metal clank sound in addition to the humming, but still no cranking.

    The clicking went to a clanking and I'm afraid I'm damaging it more every time I try to start ...

    You need a professional to look at it. It could be just a problem with the starter or it could be a major failure inside the engine.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Mar 04, 2018
    Sounds like the Bendix gave out. Starter is spinning but not engaging.
    I would remove and check its operation.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Mar 04, 2018
    Back in my day.. I had a car that ate those bendix gears like they were M&M's I kid you not more than a few months was .. Rare.. (I finally replaced the flywheel ring gear)

    I got so I kept a spare gear. Since it slipped nicely over the gear shift lever (FLoor shifter) I simply unscrewed the knob, slipped a spare on and replaced the knob, that way I always knew where the spare was. 15 minutes on teh side of the road or in a parking lot and I was good to go.

    If it is the gear.. Find a Starter/Alternator shop. they can still get 'em way cheaper than a new starter.. Walters in Redford, MI is where I got mine, On Grand River.
  • LittleBill's avatar
    LittleBill
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2018
    like said bendix is either stripped or not completely engaging, that's what i assume is the random metal sounds.

    pull starter and check gear/flywheel for damage before replacing starter
  • WTrippe's avatar
    WTrippe
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2018
    Thank you for the help. I will have to find a place where I can work on it. I think this will be a big project for me. I am not comfortable having to remove the generator from my RV to replace the starter/Bendix.


    Thanks,

    William
  • WTrippe's avatar
    WTrippe
    Explorer
    Mar 07, 2018
    So I called this place and gave them the model # of my generator and they told me this was the replacement part for it.

    https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/starter-onan-191-1630-191-1667-191-2132-1975-on.html

    but from researching this forum, another person said this was the correct replacement.

    https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/onan-starter-191-1798-191-2312-kv-engines-all-year-models.html

    I'm not sure which one is right. I called Onan and they told me the part number is 191-2312. I just want to check before I order the part.


    Thanks,

    William

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