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Re: Onan Microlite 4000 shaft locks up on occasion
bounder39zman wrote: The problem as described by initial poster is caused by starter drive. Onan tech for 35 years+. Have fixed this issue literally dozens of times. have worked on hundreds of Microlite/Microquite gensets, and seen engines lock up due to broken con. rods, crankshafts, balance shafts, camshafts, dropped valves, seized rotor bearings, etc. However, since it can be freed up by jerking on flywheel/blower wheel, and then seems to run ok, would bet the farm on being a starter drive problem. Thanks. I was leaning toward the starter being the problem also. I figure I'd keep going with it for a few more weeks until I have the opportunity to drop the generator for repair. And what might be the issue? Starter gear not retracting? Starter gear broken tooth? Can anything REALLY BAD happen by me continuing to use it with questionable starter drive issues?1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Onan Microlite 4000 shaft locks up on occasion
Kpackpackkelley wrote: If it has a ridge at the top you’ll have to get it reamed if it still runs good and makes electricity. You can look on YouTube and see ridge on cylinder wall and how they ream them and it may be in your service manual. I've heard of a ridge forming. I should have said I've never heard of a cylinder sticking on it. If you've seen it, I'll take your word for it. I never say never. I can fix most things, but once you start talking engine tear down, I'm out, and would likely just get another generator. Kpackpackkelley wrote: Granted he didn’t take care of it as it had 1800 hrs on it. Not sure running 1800 hrs means he didn't take care of it. As I said, I know a couple guys that have had 3000+ hrs and 1 guy that had 5000+ hrs on their Onans (different models). I take care of mine (mostly) and maintain regularly, although I've had carb problems where the cylinders walls were washed out by gas (gas in the oil). And even though I know I shouldn't run it for only a few minutes a day to run a microwave, that's what I do. So who knows, you may be right. I appreciate and listen to any suggestion or theory.1KViews0likes0CommentsRe: Onan Microlite 4000 shaft locks up on occasion
Kpackpackkelley wrote: How many hours on the generator? They get a ridge at the top of the cylinder and get stuck on it. Interesting. I've never heard that one before. I have about 1700 hrs on it. (Low compared to others I know. One guy I know has 5000+ hrs on his) I haven't had any problem since my other post on 4/09/22. When the generator finally breaks for good, I'll know what the problem was LOL. I'm about to end my drycamping in a couple weeks and head to a park for the next 5 months, so no genset needed for awhile.297Views0likes0CommentsRe: Onan Microlite 4000 shaft locks up on occasion
Jerrybo66 wrote: I've had almost the same experience. The generator wouldn't turn over to start. I reached in beside the unit until I could feel the motor cooling fins. I was able to turn it by hand a little and it fired up. It's done this a few other times.. It must have something to do with the position it stops..??? I've had the generator in my RV of 14 yrs as a mostly dry camping fulltimer and it's never happened before, and now twice in 1 week?? I was able to break the shaft free again using a wrench. (No way I can spin it by hand like you were able to) It fired up again like nothing happened. The first time after breaking the shaft free, the shaft with cooling fins spun freely, but this second time, the shaft DID spin, but not freely, as if the starter is dragging it? Don't know.297Views0likes0CommentsOnan Microlite 4000 shaft locks up on occasion
I have an Onan Microlite 4000 generator and the shaft locked up when I powered off. This is a new issue and it runs fine otherwise. Oil level is fine. I broke the shaft free with a wrench on the shaft end with some hard push/pulls on the wrench, and the generator went back to starting and running fine. Then about a week later, the shaft locked up again. This last time, I noticed when I powered off, there was a "bell ringing" sound when the generator came to an abrupt stop, at the end of it winding down.6.2KViews0likes24CommentsRe: KWIKEE STEP MOTOR REPLACEMENT SERIES 32
I'm not able to see the gear in the motor housing in your pics. Maybe we're talking about different things. I'm talking about the gear under the plate held with 1 philip head screw. See pic. I have '97 Coachmen I would take pics of the parts but my cell camera broke.417Views0likes0CommentsRe: KWIKEE STEP MOTOR REPLACEMENT SERIES 32
My original step motor had the plastic gear. So just replaced plastic with plastic. Yours was metal, ozarkwoods? Wow, lucky. That one I pulled from the pickapart whose housing would not work, had metal innards, 2 interlocking fingers(?) rather than gears. I couldn't figure out how to get those to work. Oh well, guess I'll be posting again soon with a problem LOL426Views0likes0CommentsRe: KWIKEE STEP MOTOR REPLACEMENT SERIES 32
You won't believe this, because I don't believe this...but my Cardone step motor failed AGAIN. That makes (2) failures in less than a year each. Wow. This time it wasn't the motor itself, but the plastic gear in the head assembly stripped out. Since I still had the original bad kwikee motor, I took the gear out and put it in Cardone head. Its all working again now, but I will never, ever buy a Cardone anything, ever again.427Views0likes0CommentsRe: KWIKEE STEP MOTOR REPLACEMENT SERIES 32
Well after a mix up at Checkers/O'Reillys I finally received my motor after waiting 2 weeks. Had to pay for new and then get refunded after returning old motor. The new motor looked the same, but again, the gear had to be filed down for the conversion gear to fit. I should have removed that part off the old motor to avoid having to do it again. DOH! I also had to grind down that little ear on the motor for it to seat properly. Lastly, I had to remove the c-clip before mounting the conversion gear. I dont remember if I had to the first time. Otherwise the rest was the same for me, pretty straight forward and easier now with my experience LOL. I DO hope this is the last time I have to do this. This motor better last more than 10 months.383Views0likes0Comments
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