'93 E350 motorhome - generator clicks fast but won't start

What is the voltage when trying to start it?

Sounds like your battery isn't supplying the required current to start the genny. The 13.5v you measured is either the converter voltage if you were plugged in or the surface charge on the battery. A fully charged battery, after the surface charge has leaked off, is 12.6 or 12.7 volts.

Even if your battery is fully charged it may not have the capacity to supply the genny starting current.

If the battery voltage when trying to start the genny is low, you may need a new battery.

You might want to check the water level in the battery too.

Have you tried starting it with your MH engine running? Are all your battery connections really tight?

Ryan, It sounds like a bad connection or weak house/coach battery. Or, maybe the starter's jammed at the flywheel. Can you get a socket onto the crankshaft to move it, maybe rock the starter out of engagement?

I might have that manual but can't check for a couple days. BGE is a great generator, heavier and larger than the 4KY Micro's, but a way better machine.

How are your other projects going, the Dash A/C, the Brakes?

Mine did the same thing for my BGE gen a couple of weeks ago, turned out the house battery was discharged. kept it plugged in for a couple of days, now it turns over just fine, just won't start. plugs are black and gunky. haven't had time to check for spark yet, maybe this weekend. I have pdf copies of the parts breakdown and the owners manual. willing to share

photobug wrote:
I have pdf copies of the parts breakdown and the owners manual. willing to share

Better source than anything I'd have. I have paper copies for BFA and a few other models. Not even sure BGE is one of them.

We've been on the road - OKC to Red River, NM and from here to South Fork. I got a chance to read the posts on my phone and decided to pull the house battery and take it in to a NAPA in Clayton, NM - tested bad. Replaced it and everything has been good since! I'm still not sure how these batteries work in this coach - I thought I had a dedicated battery for the genny - it's located inside the front driver's side storage compartment and right in front of the genny. The one I replaced however, is under the hood on the front passenger side...

Anyway, the generator started right up after replacing it. My only concern is that I am not properly charging it while driving or while hooked up. I had to disconnect this battery to do all of the AC work that jd asked about and I'm a little concerned I might have messed something up - blown some fuse, etc. in that process.

jd - the AC has been wonderful! I made the conversion to r134a with the help of Tom from the AC Bulletin Board - worked great. Monitored vent temps on the way out here - granted, it wasn't extremely hot Thursday and Friday on our route - mid 80's low 90's - but I maintained 40-44 degrees vent temps the whole way. So far, I'm happy... As far as the brakes, I had to loosen up the adjustment on one of the rear drums. I noticed one getting really hot and smelling hot, so I got a little worried and backed it off a bit. They have worked better than since I have owned the coach - pedal still spongy at the top, but they are better. Probably still need to adjust the rear drums a bit tighter, but I was worried about the heat.

Thanks for all of the replies! And I have all of the online manuals for the BGE too...just located them.
Ryan

All good news Ryan! Glad you went 134 less issues going forward. I've found the gender is very demanding on its battery. Not a big engine but it wants the battery just so. VERY glad you didn't go digging into the starter motor.