Sketchy issue

[pwrchrd]

Greetings,

I purchased a 2006 Winnebago Outlook last May and the Onan generator said it had 118 hrs on it! Ran like a champ!
The last 4 months of the year I didn't use the generator and when I tried to start it it would simply turn over but not fire. I figured gummed up carb so I took the two wing nuts off the air cleaner housing and the air filter, pulled the filter, squirted gumout and starter spray in and turned it over, still wouldn't start. Took it into the repair shop and they called today to tell me that the choke assembly was "disassembled". Since I know I didn't take it apart, and this was working fine, questions;

1) Can they rattle apart?
2) Could the repair shop have swapped generators on me during another service engagement in the last 4 months? Wondering how one would know since I don't see serial numbers for the generator listed in the original docs I have for the rv. Is there a way to check an internal hours meter against the gauge in the RV?

Note: Generator panel was locked but I would bet those are pretty easy to pop open.

Waiting to hear back if this is a warranty item.

[pnichols]

Also what might help with Onan generator reliability: Keep this stuff in your main fuel tank during storage so that once a month, whenever you do run the Onan, it gets exposed to this additive ... it might be good for your main engine, too:

http://www.goldeagle.com/brands/sta-bil?gclid=CKm6ntWvzsMCFU1afgodSK8Agw&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Mocoondo]

Generator issues happen no matter the number of hours on the unit. The fact that you didn't run it for four months tells me it gets very minimal use. Run it an hour under load every month. Tell the shop to fix it and get on with your life.

[Cruisineasy]

I have a 2011 Jayco Greyhawk. My generator's choke sticks. I just start it from outside by holding the choke on till it starts..

[Cruisineasy]

pwrchrd wrote:
Greetings,

I purchased a 2006 Winnebago Outlook last May and the Onan generator said it had 118 hrs on it! Ran like a champ!
The last 4 months of the year I didn't use the generator and when I tried to start it it would simply turn over but not fire. I figured gummed up carb so I took the two wing nuts off the air cleaner housing and the air filter, pulled the filter, squirted gumout and starter spray in and turned it over, still wouldn't start. Took it into the repair shop and they called today to tell me that the choke assembly was "disassembled". Since I know I didn't take it apart, and this was working fine, questions;

1) Can they rattle apart?
2) Could the repair shop have swapped generators on me during another service engagement in the last 4 months? Wondering how one would know since I don't see serial numbers for the generator listed in the original docs I have for the rv. Is there a way to check an internal hours meter against the gauge in the RV?

Note: Generator panel was locked but I would bet those are pretty easy to pop open.

Waiting to hear back if this is a warranty item.

[fortytwo]

There's a reason the makers recommend these small generators be exercised once a month. The tiny jets in the carb can get virtually to completely blocked in a few months of non-use. Just a spec of varnish from evaporated fuel will make it run rough. On larger carbs the jets are also larger and you can get gumout or other carb cleaner through them to eventually clear them. Difficult with the tiny jets - just can't get enough cleaner through them to melt the varnish.

Good luck in finding a rebuild kit. Don't think they are available - even after market. If the carb clogs they want to sell you a complete replacement carb.

There are previous threads on this subject. Some have installed fuel cut-off switches to allow them to run the carb dry (can be hard on the fuel pump); others have installed a "y" or "t" to flood the carb with cleaner before shutdown.

Can't explain the choke linkage issue.

[leeper]

The only place I would have my Onan generator worked on is at a Cummins/Onan factory shop. Others are just guessing.

[klutchdust]

Be very careful when using starting fluid or 'ether' in an engine. Having wrenched my career on engines large and small it can do significant damage when not used properly. That clacking you hear when your engine is running on ether is metal

to metal as it washes the oil off internal parts. Anything can rattle loose, my wife says I have a few screws loose.

[TyroneandGladys]

I had some major issues with a generator shop in AZ PM me and I will tell you who I had problems with and what the problems were.

[LI-Camper]

I have an Onan on my 2004 Jayco greyhawk. It would start but then quit after 15 minutes. The culpret was the electric fuel pump. This seems to be a common problem. The part cost about $80 from an Onan dealer. After I watched my mechanic replace the fuel pump, I think I could do the next one (I hope I don't have to!). It is located on the left side and requires only a few nuts or bolts removed (I think two). Good luck.

[ksg5000]

Onan has been making generators for a LONG time ... might help the generator experts if you provide the model and spec number of your generator.

Also - you should consider obtaining the operator/repair manual for your specific Onan - can buy directly from Onan or likely find it on-line for free. Having the manual may come in handy and you should keep in the RV at any rate.

[OFDPOS]

I know not apples to apples , but our Generac we had , on a trip it ran just fine the night we boonedocked (spelling?) ran for about 2 hours.
Didn't use it for a few days , then needed to so went start it and wouldn't stay running .Went out lifted up the cover and tried to start it with the button on the gen samething started looking and kinda moved the throttle linkage around and I guess it was the choke linkage slipped back and I tried to start it up again and ran perfect.
I had a can of WD40 and just kinda sprayed the linkage. Never had another problem with that part of it..
So maybe the choke linkage was binding or ?

[pwrchrd]

Unless the choke assembly is kept in place by he air cleaner, I didn't loosen it.
Awaiting the repair quote.

[ksg5000]

Does that imply that reassembly fixed the issue? How much?

[DrewE]

1. Unlikely but possible. Perhaps you accidentally dislodged something in removing the air cleaner without realizing it (or partially dislodged it and it vibrated loose from there).

2. I guess theoretically possible, but extremely unlikely in my opinion. What possible motive would a repair place have for surreptitiously replacing the generator with a similar or identical one? How long do you suspect a repair shop that did shenanigans like that would stay in business?

Having a carburetor gummed up from gas sitting in it for several months is not beyond the realm of possibility. While replacement would be one way to fix that, I'd try running some cleaner (such as Seafoam) through it first to see if that gets it working well again. (Actually, I'd probably also take the carburetor apart and try cleaning it manually before buying a new one, too, but I wouldn't expect everybody to try that. I don't know how amenable these carbs are to this kind of work.)