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Artum_Snowbird's avatar
Jan 29, 2018

Generator won't start

Onan 4000 gas. I hear a click, then a rattle but it won't turn over. Battery voltage is 13.6, connected to shore power. Ran jumpers from battery to starting solenoid and negative to ground.

Suspect solenoid. Anything else? It ran a couple weeks ago. Drove to the desert in a rainstorm.

Hot outside now. Gen has only 80 hours on it.
  • Sounds like the problem I'm having. Mine doesn't have that bendix sound (the spinning whine). Was it your the solenoid?
  • Measured input and output solenoid voltage. 13.6 in 2.8 out. Removed solenoid 12V 307-2586 model number of solenoid. Thanks everyone.
  • Are your battery terminals clesn snd tight? A little corrosion can cause problems.
  • Reach in on the left side housing and try to turn the flywheel by hand. Starter gear may have broke off.
  • How long and what gauge are the cables used.
    It could be bad starter.Can you turnover genset by hand. Might have access for socket on engine end.
    What series of Onan 4000, full model information and series number.
  • enblethen wrote:
    Sounds like low voltage. If you can connect jumper cables directly to the genset.


    Did that directly to battery terminals.
  • Sounds like low voltage. If you can connect jumper cables directly to the genset.

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