Onan help

[mytrojan]

The end of last season my generator did not start. Has not started this year either. Does not seem to "catch"- so that leads me to fuel.

Any ideas what to look at? I have not gotten the model number- but it came with the 1971 seavoyager.

If you can send a picture it would help- I have not had alot of with generators- thanks in advance!

[sluggo]

is that it is either fuel or spark. have you tried spraying in some starter fluid? if it starts on that but then quits running that tells you fuel. if it does not start on that, it tells you spark.

I did a search this am, and there are some good places to get old onan generator manuels (I have mine, vintage 1987, but I still found it on line) so start there.

if spark, change the plugs
if fuel, disconnect the fuel line from the carb, and see when you try to start it, if it pumps gas, if it does not pump gas, think dirty line or fuel pump, if it does pump gas think carb.

for the most part you can still get parts for these old things, at least I have, I beleive Cummings crosspoint can get you some as well as buckeye power.

good luck!

and try this link

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85628

[Allen Sr]

If spark it could also be points and condensor.

[Big D]

I agree with all above. First check to see if you have spark. If not; common faults in those are points - check also that they are being actuated by the push rod, and there are thermal cutout switches (little round metal tabs with two wires) on those units that shut down ignition on overheat situations. These switches sometimes fail and prevent ignition. They are usually mounted on the exhaust elbow and on one of the heads. If you are getting spark, look at fuel delivery; if no fuel, there are a few possibilities; check fuel filters, if you have a cylindrical electric fuel pump, the bottom cover comes off with a half twist and there is a filter in there. If mechanical pump or electric, loosen the outlet fitting a bit and see if fuel drips out when you crank her over. If it does, probably carb rebuild, if not, the problem lies with or before the pump, ie perhaps priming the fuel line or a problem with the tank pick-up. Also remember that anything less than 1/4 tank fuel will be below the genny pick-up for safety.

By the way, how often did you use the genny when it ran? Not running a genny regularly under load is the fastest way to kill it.

Keep us posted.

[junnyquest]

Regarding the over-temp protection system. If you have an early model, look for the sensor on the block just below the coil. Make sure the wires are secure, especially at the coil end, as the connection there is subject to extreme vibration and the wire will eventually break. The engine will not start unless this circuit is complete (all wires intact and secure). If the connections check out, temporarily bypass the sensor to illiminate that as the problem.

There is also a low oil pressure protection system. A low oil level condition may cause the system to shut the engine down, so make sure to check the oil level. The sensor is located on the block below the water pump. Make sure the wires there are secure.

If your engine is equipped with an electric fuel pump, it is a solenoid type pump and needs good voltage to operate. Is is possible to disassemble and clean, but pay attention when taking it apart so that you can put it back together! Mine has an inline fuse just before the pump. Check the fuse and look for corrosion.

[captainmaniac]

Start with the obvious (already stated by the other guys), then look closer.... eventually found my problem a couple of years ago was the rubber fuel line from the fuel/water separator to the generator fuel pump. Line had gone hard and brittle and cracked, so when the pump ran it was just sucking air.

I had checked fuel and spark and found spark but no fuel. I found strainer was empty, so disconnected starter cable on genny but left fuel pump wiring in place. Hit start switch, and all it did was run fuel pump to suck fuel through. No fuel ever showed up, so I knew I was sucking air somewhere.