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Onan generator

Rouski
Explorer
Explorer
says take to repair shop.any idea how expensive repairs for this might be?should I just look into buying new generator for motorhome? serial #4KYFA26100K
31 REPLIES 31

bounder39zman
Explorer II
Explorer II
is there any chance the fault code is "14" and not "41" this is a common code (over frequency) and can happen if governor speed is just a little high. also, if field brushes are bouncing on a dirty rotor, this will cause control board to incorrectly read a high speed, as speed is read off of generator stator a.c. signal

bounder39zman
Explorer II
Explorer II
is there any chance the fault code is "14" and not "41" this is a common code (over frequency) and can happen if governor speed is just a little high. also, if field brushes are bouncing on a dirty rotor, this will cause control board to incorrectly read a high speed, as speed is read off of generator stator a.c. signal

harold1946
Explorer
Explorer
The tool for cleaning is called a slick- stick and are available online for around $25.00. Not a difficult job, but on some the genny must be removed.
Harold and Linda
2009 CT Coachworks siena 35V
W-22 Workhorse 8.1L
Explorer Sport toad

Sam_Spade
Explorer
Explorer
bounder39zman wrote:

if it runs 10-20 minutes before shutting down, probably not low on fuel.


How do you figure that ?
'07 Damon Outlaw 3611
CanAm Spyder in the "trunk"

bounder39zman
Explorer II
Explorer II
if u getting fault code 41, that is a "generator rotor fault".
the control board is not sensing field volts. could be (and most usually) a problem with field brushes/slip rings on rotor. also could be an open winding in rotor, or control board itself. Brushes are not easily accessed on this model. air scroll and flywheel must be removed which of course, means gen. must be removed from coach. So, might need $20.00 in parts (new brushes), and 300.00 labor, or two to three times that if rotor bad. control board also several hundred.
if it runs 10-20 minutes before shutting down, probably not low on fuel.
If you keep that gen, hopefully u can find a good, honest shop with experience on these units to diagnose it correctly. otherwise you can waste a wad of money on parts you dont need. The 4KY Microquiet sets
retail $ 3200+ You can find places on interweb sell around $2900 or so

Sam_Spade
Explorer
Explorer
Dennis12 wrote:
You are going to find, fill tank. Problem solved.


IF....this only happened to him once, then that is very likely.

Has anybody mentioned checking the oil level too? I forget.
'07 Damon Outlaw 3611
CanAm Spyder in the "trunk"

Sam_Spade
Explorer
Explorer
D.E.Bishop wrote:
you can feel the pump trying to prime the engine.

Not a conclusive test at all.

It might be TRYING to pump but not getting the job done.
'07 Damon Outlaw 3611
CanAm Spyder in the "trunk"

Dennis12
Explorer
Explorer
You are going to find, fill tank. Problem solved. I will invoice you later.
Dennis Hoppert

Beverley_Ken
Explorer
Explorer
Quote " right now there is only 1/4 of a tank in the coach so I need to fill it up just to rule that out".
That could very well be your problem, The generator fuel pickup is usually at the 1/4 mark to prevent using all the fuel in your tank, so you will be able to drive.
Its probably just starting to suck air in and then starving the generator. Try more gas first, cheapest option.

Ken
2006 Winnebago Outlook 29B E-450.
2012 Honda CR-V AWD
Blue Ox Aventa LX tow bar and Brake Buddy Vantage.

D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Explorer
Just a suggestion, if filling the fuel tank doesn't solve the problem, you can rule out the pump by pressing the stop start switch to STOP/START switch to stop with your hand on the pump you can feel the pump trying to prime the engine.

Other than that start with the Trouble shooting suggestions in your manual and you'll probably find that everyone who suggests you should exercise it more often is correct and your fuel system if fouled from lack of use.

And should you need to have someone else do the work, it's about $125.00/ hour labor here in L.A.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson

David Bishop
2002 Winnebago Adventurer 32V
2009 GMC Canyon
Roadmaster 5000
BrakeBuddy Classic II

gafidler
Explorer
Explorer
2006 coachmen motorhome, has 71 hours , you don't need a new generator , you didn't use the one you have , so why buy a new one.

Sam_Spade
Explorer
Explorer
DownTheAvenue wrote:
Rouski wrote:
it is in a 2006 coachmen motorhome, has 71 hours on it Onan 4000 model 4KYFA26100K.


And that is the root cause of your problem. That is less than 7 hours per year. According to Onan, the generator should be run 2 hours monthly at 50% load. Your generator should have 264 hours on it just for exercising it.


My first thought too.

HOWEVER.....when the carb gums up from non-use it usually causes different symptoms, like won't start or hard to start or won't come up to speed.

If it really runs OK and holds a load for 10 to 15 minutes, that probably rules out the carb as the primary problem.......and likely puts you back to the fuel pump. They are a well known weak point. Mine had similar symptoms when it failed.

It would be a good idea to put a healthy dose of a good carb cleaner in the gas too, just as routine maintenance.
'07 Damon Outlaw 3611
CanAm Spyder in the "trunk"

DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Explorer
Rouski wrote:
it is in a 2006 coachmen motorhome, has 71 hours on it Onan 4000 model 4KYFA26100K.


And that is the root cause of your problem. That is less than 7 hours per year. According to Onan, the generator should be run 2 hours monthly at 50% load. Your generator should have 264 hours on it just for exercising it.

Rouski
Explorer
Explorer
could be a fuel pump, and who knows what else.

Rouski
Explorer
Explorer
it is in a 2006 coachmen motorhome, has 71 hours on it Onan 4000 model 4KYFA26100K. last couple of times out the generator will run for like 10 or 20 minutes then die. the fault code is 41. right now there is only 1/4 of a tank in the coach so I need to fill it up just to rule that out.