Generator problem - Don't overlook the obvious

[jerry8mm]

I cranked my Generac 55G generator to do its monthly 30-minute run and it cranked quickly, but then shut off after about 5 or 10 seconds. I tried this several times and it always shut off.

I checked this forum and others and found that the most likely problem was a bad fuel pump. I replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter and the air filter, but that didn't fix anything.

After a lot of testing, I found that if I removed a wire from the oil pressure switch, it would run fine. Since this switch shuts the generator off if the oil pressure is below 8 pounds, I assumed that I had a bad switch.

But just to be on the safe side, I installed an oil pressure gauge and found that I didn't have any oil pressure.

To make a long story short, I found that it was low on oil. I added about 3/4 quart of oil and now everything works fine.

Bottom line, don't overlook the obvious when troubleshooting a problem.

[msmith1199]

jerry8mm wrote:
I cranked my Generac 55G generator to do its monthly 30-minute run and it cranked quickly, but then shut off after about 5 or 10 seconds. I tried this several times and it always shut off.

I checked this forum and others and found that the most likely problem was a bad fuel pump. I replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter and the air filter, but that didn't fix anything.

After a lot of testing, I found that if I removed a wire from the oil pressure switch, it would run fine. Since this switch shuts the generator off if the oil pressure is below 8 pounds, I assumed that I had a bad switch.

But just to be on the safe side, I installed an oil pressure gauge and found that I didn't have any oil pressure.

To make a long story short, I found that it was low on oil. I added about 3/4 quart of oil and now everything works fine.

Bottom line, don't overlook the obvious when troubleshooting a problem.

I forgot to take your advice today! Went out to start the motorhome and take it down to top off the fuel tank. As I was pulling out of the garage I tried to start the generator to let it run too and I got nothing. The switch was not lighting up and I was getting no power to the starter. Went and filled up with diesel and came back to put it away. Tried to start the generator again and nothing. So I started looking for the problem. Checked the breakers first and all was good. Tried to start it from the switch on the generator and still nothing. So I start looking at the battery connections at the generator and back at the battery. After getting good and dirty and climbing up under the thing and not finding anything wrong, I figure I'll put the motorhome away and I'm going to have to take it in to have this fixed. Once I got the motorhome into the garage I tried to turn on a couple of 12 volt lights and got nothing. I checked the battery disconnect and sure as heck, I had the 12 volt system disconnected at the switch and forgot to turn it back on when I took the MH out. Flipped the switch and the lights came on. Checked the generator and it fired right up. Apparently the generator starts from the house batteries. I did not know that. I know it now.

[Geocritter]

I have a gasoline powered Onan 7K generator in my 1994 HR. Would I expect to find a low oil shut-off switch on my generator? If so approximately where would it be located?

Steve

[msmith1199]

I once pulled into a big parking lot to unhook my toad so the wife could drive it into the campground. Since this was a several day trip I had not unhooked it in three days so when I did unhook, I found out the battery was dead. No problem, I have jumper cables, I'll jump it from the motorhome batteries. But they are way up on the side of the motorhome and the cables won't reach. So I spend about 10 minutes pushing my Dodge Dakota around (which is a heavy toad) without power steering so I could get it up by the batteries. And of course it's a little uphill which made it even more work.

So once I get the truck up close to the batteries and get the cables hooked up and I've broken a sweat, my wife says, "Why didn't you just move the motorhome back to where the truck was?" Doh!

[mabynack]

I was a diesel mechanic many years ago and that was one of the first steps they taught me in technical school. Check the obvious stuff first. I can't tell you how many times I've been called to work on a piece of equipment that wouldn't start just to find out it was out of fuel or the operator didn't have his foot on the clutch. I've even done it myself. I replaced a battery on an old truck because it wouldn't start. It turned out that the problem was the corrosion between the cable and the clamp.

[wa8yxm]

gbopp wrote:
I believe it's called the K.I.S.S. method. 🙂

No.. his method is called the FACEPLAM method :S


Wish I could say I've never used that method.

[Bruce_Brown]

RoyB wrote:
I got my new Honda 2K portable generator in the January time frame and played with a couple of times to learn all of the ins and outs about it... It was about March I guess when I first took it with me on a camping trip to LOFT MTN - SKYLINE DRIVE VA.

I ran all my batteries all night long and then the next morning with my big smile on my face pulled out my Honda 2K and cranked it up... It ran good and about min later it just shuts down...

I check the oil again and the gas and all looked great - Fired it up again and same thing...

Then I got to thinking maybe its bad gas since it sit in the garage all winter long so I dumped the tank behind a bush and put fresh gas in it... same thing only run about a minute...

By this time a few folks have came by all offering helpful info which none helped...

then one dude walked up and said hmmmm - OK try it now... It fired up again as usually but this time it keeps running. He tells the bill will be $50 and I followed up with Check is in the mail....

Yep - I forgot about the ON-OFF position on the gas cap...

geeesch....



I did have a clue as everytime I removed the gas cap it would make a air exhaust sound. I thought it was building up pressure in the gas tank when running the engine... It was really telling me it was the other way - making a vacuum in the gas tank because the air vent was closed with the gas cap switch...

Oh well - At least I will never do that again...

Roy Ken

I have an ETQ brand generator that gets used a bunch when people use our TT. For this very reason before I ever ran ours I marked the cap with paint markers; RED for off and GREEN for run.

So far it's worked...so far. :B

[rgatijnet1]

Don't forget that if the generator will run and there is no output, that a lot of generators have their own output circuit breaker that can trip. This is usually right on the generator itself and not in one of the other coach electrical boxes. It is often overlooked as being the problem.

[BTPO1]

jerry8mm wrote:
I cranked my Generac 55G generator to do its monthly 30-minute run and it cranked quickly, but then shut off after about 5 or 10 seconds. I tried this several times and it always shut off.

I checked this forum and others and found that the most likely problem was a bad fuel pump. I replaced the fuel pump, fuel filter and the air filter, but that didn't fix anything.

After a lot of testing, I found that if I removed a wire from the oil pressure switch, it would run fine. Since this switch shuts the generator off if the oil pressure is below 8 pounds, I assumed that I had a bad switch.

But just to be on the safe side, I installed an oil pressure gauge and found that I didn't have any oil pressure.

To make a long story short, I found that it was low on oil. I added about 3/4 quart of oil and now everything works fine.

Bottom line, don't overlook the obvious when troubleshooting a problem.

X2 on the oil level. I have the same gen and the oil has to be at the top of the crosshatch area of the dipstick or it shuts down. JMO

[mockturtle]

I recently had the same issue with my generator. It would start up but would shut down after a few seconds. Checked the oil and it was fine so I took out the air filter and tapped it a few times to release any dust and replaced it. Problem solved.

[Jerrybo66]

"Oh well - At least I will never do that again."..

Don't bet on it Ken.. The mind has a tendency to forget. Been there, done that...... A couple times 🙂

[RoyB]

I got my new Honda 2K portable generator in the January time frame and played with a couple of times to learn all of the ins and outs about it... It was about March I guess when I first took it with me on a camping trip to LOFT MTN - SKYLINE DRIVE VA.

I ran all my batteries all night long and then the next morning with my big smile on my face pulled out my Honda 2K and cranked it up... It ran good and about min later it just shuts down...

I check the oil again and the gas and all looked great - Fired it up again and same thing...

Then I got to thinking maybe its bad gas since it sit in the garage all winter long so I dumped the tank behind a bush and put fresh gas in it... same thing only run about a minute...

By this time a few folks have came by all offering helpful info which none helped...

then one dude walked up and said hmmmm - OK try it now... It fired up again as usually but this time it keeps running. He tells the bill will be $50 and I followed up with Check is in the mail....

Yep - I forgot about the ON-OFF position on the gas cap...

geeesch....



I did have a clue as everytime I removed the gas cap it would make a air exhaust sound. I thought it was building up pressure in the gas tank when running the engine... It was really telling me it was the other way - making a vacuum in the gas tank because the air vent was closed with the gas cap switch...

Oh well - At least I will never do that again...

Roy Ken

[nevadanick]

Had a generator brought in one time that had a rod go through the case. They said it didnt have any spark and the electricians figured out why and disconnected the low oil alert. This was from a local mine.

[msmith1199]

Good story! Always check the obvious and the easy first. If you ever call tech support for a computer problem some of the first questions they ask; Is the computer plugged in? Did you check the outlet with something else to make sure it has power? Did you press the on switch? Most people get annoyed with those stupid questions, but there is a reason they ask them!

[punomatic]

cjd10 wrote:
Reminds me of a few years ago we were staying at a racing event for several days and my BIL was using a portable generator for his trailer that wouldn't stay running. He and my nephew worked on it for almost an hour before they realized it was simply out of gas. Each thought the other had gassed it up

I dismantled the water heater burner looking for the elusive cause of its failure to light. Only after I had it all in pieces did it occur to me to try another propane appliance, to make sure it would light. Guess what, it didn't, because the tank was empty...:S Switched to the full tank and voila!