Generac Starter Motor

[Aussiecowdog]

Can the starter be pulled from the Impact 36 without dropping the generator unit? It is in a 2004 Lance 820.

[AnEv942]

Very straight forward question, Yes you need to drop the generator to change starter. Are you?

Though you may be actually asking whether or not this is something you could do (doesnt require dropping) or if taking to a shop (because it requires dropping).

There are many things that can cause no start. Last of which is the starter motor itself-though they do fail.

As you didnt state symptoms, (grunting, clicking, intermittent or simply not turning over etc) I assume youve already determined thru trouble shooting it actually is the starter. You didn't state how you determined starter is issue. Just reiterating if you havent gone thru the troubleshooting steps you stand a good chance of reinstalling and it still not starting.

But at risk of stating what you have already done- mechanically the contactor (or starter solenoid) is 1st suspect. It is easily tested and or replaced/accessible with gen in camper, more importantly it also, by jumping its main terminals will verify if starter motor is bad.
But again with no other information you may only be asking if you should/want to tackle.

[BillS]

Proper diagnosis should be done to determine if it's actually the starter and not some other component such as the starter relay or the circuit board. It's been my experience that there are more circuit board failures than starter motor failures. If the circuit board isn't working properly, the starter won't work.

Bill

[Fuzzy_Bear]

I did mine on my previous Arctic Fox. I had to remove it from the camper because it was inside the shroud. Later figured out it wasn't the starter, but that I had not properly connected the ground wire.

Doug

[sleepy]

Aussiecowdog wrote:
Can the starter be pulled from the Impact 36 without dropping the generator unit? It is in a 2004 Lance 820.

I had to have mine replaced. I phoned Jim Allen (former customer service manager at Lance Camper)... he had been North American Rep for Generac for several years before he went to Lance.

We were on our way west... he advised me to wait and take our camper to Johnnie Walker RV in Las Vegas, NV

Jim said they were the best in the country for servicing Geherag generators.

I went there about 6 weeks later... I watched them drop the generator out the bottom of the camper and mount it on a carrage to work on it.

It would be a bear to work on without experience and the proper equipment.

The starter was replaced, everything was adjusted to the standards outlined in my Generac manual and recommended by Lance.

It is still working perfectly.

Note: The Generac cost more than $3000 when new in your camper...it is well worth repairing.... and worth the trouble to run it for 30 minutes every month.

Phone Johnny Walker... ask for Ken Allen (no relation to Jim) and ask him for advice....he was shop boss.

good luck... BillS gave a good answer too.

chet

[BillS]

Aussiecowdog wrote:
Can the starter be pulled from the Impact 36 without dropping the generator unit? It is in a 2004 Lance 820.

So far I haven't had to replace the starter, but it's probably not replaceable from inside the compartment. Almost all service work done to a Generac Impact generator requires removal from the camper except for spark plug replacement, an engine oil and filter change, or an air filter replacement.

I've had mine out several times for various repairs and it isn't that difficult, but a bit time consuming. It is removed by lowering from the bottom of the compartment after disconnecting the electrical and the LP gas connections. Lowering the generator from the camper is easier with a helper to steady and guide the generator when lowering it to the shop floor. A hydraulic floor jack is a good tool for this purpose and a transmission jack is even better.

Bill