2006 RT Onan 2.8 cutting out

My generator uses the house battery to power it's ignition. Might be your problem
SkipJ

If it's currently in the condition that it last stalled in (haven't tried again to start it), try pulling the fuel line off the fuel filter, preferably the bottom. See if any fuel comes out. If not, I'd suspect the fuel pump.

I'm pretty sure the Microlite 2800 self-generates its ignition after starting.

Jim, "Don't get even. Get odd."

Check the altitude adjustment, and idle. It should be at 60 Hz. A Kill-A-Watt meter is good for that. If it is idling too slow it will surge, and stop.
Like Handbasket said in another post, the manual has a really good trouble shooting guide, if you don't have it, You should be able to get it on line.
The fuel filter could be plugged up, also the spark arrester could be clogged.
2800 Micro Lite Spec. Sheet
My idle screw would vibrate, and I would have to adjust it occasionally, by turning up the idle.

I checked the "usual suspects" (the real easy stuff) first.
Clean air filter. Spark plug looks nice and clean and proper gap.
Oil level full and plenty of gas.
I started it again and turned on the AC. Voltage and Hz was nice and steady 117 +/- and 60 +/- under load.
After 10 minutes it started wavering and finally died.
Started it again and with no load voltage and frequency look good but it only lasted about 5 minutes.
Because it starts and runs good I was thinking it might be heat related. But I don't see a high temp switch??? Maybe something in the control circuit breaking down ??
But even though it runs for a while I guess I shouldn't rule out fuel system problems because it does go up and down for a while before it quits.
Maybe I will take the air filter off and shoot some carb cleaner thru it.

When the weather cools down I will try Handbasket's suggestion. And I will pick up a new fuel filter to change at the same time. Been under there enough for today.

Rodger I do have the service manual. I guess I better start looking the wiring diagrams.

I have ran mine here in the summer with no problems, well over 100 sometimes, so I don't think heat is the problem.
You might try putting a little Sea Foam directly into the carb., won't hurt anything, and might help.

There's no thermal safety switch, AFAIK. 'Heat-related could be an electrical / electronic component breaking down, tho'.

Rodger's got a likely culprit in the spark arrestor screen, tho' mine would run fine with no load when I had issues with that.

Let us know what you find.

Jim, "Mo' coffee!"

Make sure you do not have your hot water heater turned on if you have an electric one.

We purchased a previously owned 05/06 Roadtrek 190 Popular a little over 4 years ago. Shortly after getting it We drove it to Florida and found that on a hot day after driving around that if we stopped in a parking lot and started the generator and then the air conditioner after a few minutes the generator would begin surging and then fail and would not restart. I took it back to the dealer where I bought it and he attempted to fix it by replacing the carburetor which did not help. This proved to be an intermittent problem which seemed to be related to hot weather but if I started it in our driveway on a hot day for exercise it would run the AC with out difficulty. On the other hand if we were on the road and stopped for gas and lunch at a Flying J we could not depend on running the generator and AC.

Then I attended the Roadtrek International Mid-Winter Rally in Orlando Florida, the Onan seminar was given by Mike Potter the owner of Noah's Ark of Cocoa Florida.On a later trip I took my Roadtrek to his shop.

First I was impressed when I called for an appointment and while describing my problem, Scott the service manager told me of some common symptoms which sounded very like mine. He said it was a well known problem that the Onan 2.8 could have problems which are caused by the electric fuel pump the Onan 2.8 has and which can overheat and stop until it cools.

When I went to the shop the technician started the generator and the AC and we took the van for a ride and luckily even though it was only 85 degrees out after about 10 minutes the generator failed and would not restart. On returning to the shop he found the generator would start if directly supplied fuel useing a spray can into the carburetor and so was convinced the fuel pump was the problem. On removing the old pump he noted the dark color of the pump and some spots that appeared black or charred and he commented that it looked as it had been overheated and showed me the new pump which was bright.

This may not be your problem but my Onan 2.8 has run fine every since the fuel pump was replaced.

Bill Dillinger
190 Popular 05/06
Rockville MD

Thought I would give it a try this morning while it was still cool.
After 1:30 minutes running under load I came in to getting something to eat. When I went back out in about 20 minutes it was still running but started surging and then quit. Started it again and it ran for about 20 minutes then quit.
The spark arrester should be an easy one to check so I will do that first.

CJBill, your description with the fuel pump problem sounds like it could be the same problem. I will check the old service manual and see how much work is involved in getting to it.

Any more ideas keep them coming.
Thanks all for the help.

To get to the fuel pump, drop the generator (exhaust off, 3 AC wires, 1 12V DC, fuel hose, and 1 snap connector, 5 bolts). Remove the top of the green box (4 torx heads, lift off).

The pump resides in the left rear corner, taking the service access door as 'front'. About $60 at the Onan dealer. Be wary; somehow they sold me an identical pump, except the outlet was facing the opposite direction and the bracket was about 3/4" too low. Compare carefully before installing.

Have fun! I sure did (ha!) ;)

Jim, "When the chips are down, the buffalo's empty!"