Onan clicking noise? Help!

[Mxracer532]

So here is the whats happening. I keep my Desert Fox Sw-21 (just got it a couple weeks ago) at my parents and my brother called me yesterday saying my trailer was making a loud CLACK CLACK CLACK noise coming from the generator. So i left work and when i got there it was still making the noise. The start button for the generator was lite up so i went ahead and started the gen i let it run for about 5 min or so and shut it off. No more clack clack sound.
Somy mom text me and said trailer was doing it again. I called Northwood and talked to them and they said it sounded like it had a bad starter/stop switch. Anyone else had this problem?

[64thunderbolt]

bad switch or hr meter.

[Mxracer532]

This rig is in near MINT condition and only was touched by a local rv mechanic. Only thing he has done is put duel 6volts on and some roof vent covers.
The same guy is helping me out and going to loan me a genset replacement switch to be 100% sure that is the problem before i buy one. Im pretty sure its a bad switch as i removed the switch last night and it hasnt done it since.

Bob, thanks for doing that as thats exactly what i was thinking was happening.

[BobWanderer]

I just checked my rig, if I hold the rocker switch in the prime/stop position for any length of time, the fuel gauge and the hour meter start working.
Its a rocker switch and has a spring or something similar to return it to center (neutral position), its broken or damaged. On my rig, you can unplug the remote start switch from the generator and the generator will still work if you use the switch mounted on the genie.

[beemerphile1]

I have no idea what power switch you are referring to, a battery disconnect maybe?

Since it is older maybe someone working on it messed it up. You said that you just got it so who knows what hack may have been working on it? Maybe rodents chewed some wires. The meter should not get power when the generator is off.

[Mxracer532]

I should have mentioned that this started out of nowhere and the DF is a 2006 so the wiring being wrong wouldnt make sense as its been fine since new till now. So does it matter or not what position the power switch under the sink is left in? If I left it on would it make any difference? It was the first time I forgot to turn the switch to entirely shut off all power.

[64thunderbolt]

beemerphile1 wrote:
My hour meter clicks when the generator is running. My guess is that you have a wiring problem with the generator installation which is causing the meter to be powered when the generator is off.

X2

[beemerphile1]

My hour meter clicks when the generator is running. My guess is that you have a wiring problem with the generator installation which is causing the meter to be powered when the generator is off.

[Mxracer532]

Also would it matter i my power shut off switch under the sink was left in the on position?

[Mxracer532]

K, got one last thing to add. Last night i took the remote switch panel out and noticed the hr meter had went from 73hrs to 94hrs without running the gen. So when its clicking the hr meter is going.

[YC_1]

Sounds like a bad switch making it go into the priming mode.

[big_buford]

Usually a propane or co alarm will sound when batts are low, never heard of a gen switch doing that with low batts? I would guess bad switch also.

[Mxracer532]

Thanks for the reply, i also read that low batteries is a possibility?
I just had my sister open up my trailer and the start light was lit up. She pushed the stop button and the clicking stopped.

[big_buford]

Disconnect the neg batt cable until you have time to replace it.