More Onan 2.8KW questions - carburetor

[backbencher]

Hi folks. Just got back from one of Uncle's mandated trips to lovely Kuwait, and so of course the '01 Dodge Roadtrek has been sitting idle, inexpertly stored by my buddy (for free, mind). The fridge is full of mold, the shower faucets need replacing, etc. The problem I come to y'all for is the generator carburetor.

The gen runs. Here's how to get it started in cold weather. Make sure the van is dead set level. Start it. It dies. Wait 25 seconds, start it again. Do this for 15 minutes, and once it runs past 1 minute, start adding loads - fridge, electric heater, laptop, etc. Then it will run for hours - occasionally it will drop when a load kicks on, but will start right back up.

Local RV dealer (not Roadtrek) says the carburetor is a sealed 50 state unit from Onan, and they can't even spray carburetor cleaner in it. All they can do is replace it, which after 3 hours of labor to drop & reinstall the generator, comes to nigh on $1K.

So what do y'all do? Keep in mind I'm a full timer w/ limited tools - anything I do is pretty much in someone else's parking lot, unless I can go to the Navy base & use one of the Auto Self Care bays.

[1775]

TexasVet01 wrote:


The only thing wrong with Onan Gensets is where RV Manufacturers put them.

I used to be (still am) a Level II Onan Tech and I found that most times you couldn't begin to work on the genset until you could get it out and on a bench or shop floor.

Happy Travels,
Lew

You have said it perfectly! My Onan is hanging down under a chassis with no more than 7 to 9" of clearance depending on location. I know many can get under there, but not all of us can and I have to rely on a service center to just change the oil. This is no fault of Onan Cummings. Any generator would have been installed there per the design of the RV. We have been satisfied with the Onan - other than where the RV manufacturer put it.

[BudJ]

"The only thing wrong with Onan Gensets is where RV Manufacturers put them."

Being a Level III User, the 'only' - well mostly the 'wrong thing' is having to work on the genset in the first place. And they are LOUD.

Otherwise, I'm happy with mine.

Bud

[TexasVet01]

Joecool255 wrote:
I bought mine used so the maint. history is unknown. The main problem seems to be finding someone that knows all about them. You are however the first I have heard of not having any problems with Onan. Guess they do make a good one every now and
then.

The only thing wrong with Onan Gensets is where RV Manufacturers put them.

I used to be (still am) a Level II Onan Tech and I found that most times you couldn't begin to work on the genset until you could get it out and on a bench or shop floor.

Happy Travels,
Lew

[Joecool255]

As I am not able to post my opinions without someone getting offended as in my last post. Please do no contact me further and remove me from your site.

[backbencher]

I should add to this topic - changing the oil & the air filter had a marvelous effect - generator runs fine now - probably the oil was low.

[Joecool255]

Ok, no further comment from me.

[My_Roadtrek]

Welcome to RV.Net.
Hopefully you will also be able to add something positive to the forum, than just a complaint about a product that doesn't really deserve it! Not knowing the history of your generator how can you blame Onan, for something that most likely is not their fault?
The windings, bearing, etc. could be rusted from lack of proper maintenance. We are talking about a 17 year old generator with a questionable past.
And your comment: "Guess they do make a good one every now and then". Is unfair to the Onan company.

[Joecool255]

I bought mine used so the maint. history is unknown. The main problem seems to be finding someone that knows all about them. You are however the first I have heard of not having any problems with Onan. Guess they do make a good one every now and
then.

[Horizon170]

Joecool255 wrote:
I have a 1996 Explore Class B with a Onan Gen. I have put more money into it than I care to say. New carb. 5 different shops in different states and always another problem with it operating properly. If I could find another gen. maker (never an Onan)to fit in the same place I would in a heart beat. Last trip it runs fine until sometime during the night then just quits. have to get up and restart it. Have herd of NOTHING but problems with Onan.

I have an Onan that I have used for 15 years (1999) with no problems. Of course I perform maintenance as per the instruction booklet.
Spark plugs, oil change/filter and air filters for the most part.

[BillJ999]

My Roadtrek wrote:
Most people on here, who maintain their Onan's per the owners manual, have no problems. My ran perfect for 8 years until I sold the RV. Being loud is the main complaint.
Is it possible, that at one time, your Onan wasn't maintained properly?
Where have you heard "nothing but problems"? Probably from owners who didn't take care of their gen-sets, then complain about them.

I'm sure you're right in many of the cases. I would add another issue that Onans seem to have: poor repair shops. That isn't the generator's fault, of course. It seems that a good proportion of the repairs aren't done right, which leads to gensets that are serviced over and over and over ... hence their poor reputation.
Mine ran a little rough when I got it. Now, I can clearly see that the more often I run it, the better it goes. It's nice and smooth now. They do seem to be well built.

[My_Roadtrek]

Most people on here, who maintain their Onan's per the owners manual, have no problems. My ran perfect for 8 years until I sold the RV. Being loud is the main complaint.
Is it possible, that at one time, your Onan wasn't maintained properly?
Where have you heard "nothing but problems"? Probably from owners who didn't take care of their gen-sets, then complain about them.

[Joecool255]

I have a 1996 Explore Class B with a Onan Gen. I have put more money into it than I care to say. New carb. 5 different shops in different states and always another problem with it operating properly. If I could find another gen. maker (never an Onan)to fit in the same place I would in a heart beat. Last trip it runs fine until sometime during the night then just quits. have to get up and restart it. Have herd of NOTHING but problems with Onan.

[tatest]

Motorcycles are moving toward fuel injection, small engines like those in gensets and powers have not yet been pushed there by EPA or even CARB regulations. It's not just Onan, nobody satisfying CARB can supply anything other than a tamper-proof replacement carb for a small engine.

Onan could probably move to port FI on thes small engines, get past the problem of fuel gumming up tiny perts and jets, but would the additional cost also cost market postition? Would FI really solve the "unused engine" problem, on just make fuel system maintenance even more expensive.

Reality is, right now, whether it is your genset, chainsaw, mower, ony brand, when you let them set for months unused with todays gasoline fuels, good chance that they are going to gum up. Real problem with onboard gensets, compared to some of these other small gasoline engines, is that most of the service cost will be labor to remove and replace the genset.

One advantage, maybe only advantage, of LPG fueled gensets is that the fuel does not gum up the carb.

[BudJ]

No big deal Jim, but carbs have been replaced without dropping the Onan, like mine. The labor might be about the same as dropping the Onan though, probably a little less.

Bud