westwind1938
terrell, texas
New Member
Joined: 11/02/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
When I hit the start button it sometimes starts fine, other times it will not turn over. It seems to have too much compression. If the motor stops on compression that's when it will not start. Any other time during the cycle it seems to get a "running start" at the compression and will start fine. New batteries and starter have not fixed the problem. Please help.....
|
j-d
Sunny Florida USA
Senior Member
Joined: 09/04/2003
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Not enough info. What year, make, model genny is this?
Are all your cable connections good? If you have new batteries and a new starter, and you really think it's compression, some gennys get carboned up.
You might get more play on this in the Tech Issues Forum, farther down in the forums list.
God Bless, jd
2003 Jayco Escapade 31A on 2002 Ford E450 V10 4R100
|
estonsask
edmonton, ab, canada
New Member
Joined: 02/21/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Just guessing and brainstorming here, but.....it could be a 'soft spot' in the starter. I've seen that in a car before - I went through all the battery, cables, and other stuff until someone suggested the starter and it worked fine ever after.
One other thing - it could just be a bad Bendix that isn't releasing. That happenned to us on an Onan this summer. It wouldn't crank and I kept trying until I saw smoke coming out from behind the generator. I took it to Cummins and all's they did was reach in to the fan, gave it a spin in either direction until they heard the Bendix release, and voila!!! It's worked fine ever since. As far as I understand, the fan is direct connected to the shaft and you can reach it by opening the cover and reaching behind and below the air cleaner on the left hand side. You should be able to feel a round disc which should turn. This should also answer your 'high compression' question.
One more idea...the newer Onans use the red light on the on/off switch at the generator to give some diagnostics. Check the manual to see if yours has it and try to decipher the code if there is one. The manual does list the codes.
Not sure if this will help...just some more ideas to try out.
|
westwind1938
terrell, texas
New Member
Joined: 11/02/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
It is a 1998 Microlite 4000 in a 98 Coachmen. I can manually rotate the flywheel to compression and it will not turn over. Any other time in the cycle it seems to get a "running start" at compression and it will start.
|
body_surfer2
lake forest
New Member
Joined: 04/14/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
My Onan 4000 died on me and ended up buying a new Honda portable generator, 2000, for $1,000.00 It is super quiet and only has 1/2 the output as the onan, but 99% of the time I dont need 4,000 watts anyway. The old onan was so so noisey--embarrassing I thought.
If I need the 4000, I can buy another Honda and run them in parallel.
|
|
|
ron.dittmer
Near Chicago
Senior Member
Joined: 02/26/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
westwind1938 wrote:Please help..... On my 8hp Tecumseh engine snow blower, there is a feature inside the engine such that there is no compression when you pull the rope to start it. It makes starting the engine easy without straining yourself fighting compression. When the engine responds, compression has begun. I don't know how it works, but maybe there is something like it on your generator that should work the same way, but doesn't.
* This post was
last
edited 11/03/09 03:59pm by ron.dittmer *
View edit history
Bought new in June 2007, Phoenix Cruiser-2350
Fits inside our garage.
Dingy towing a red Toyota MR2 Spyder
See The Inside by clicking on "View Profile" and scroll down
|
oldschoolmalibu
North, MS
New Member
Joined: 07/25/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
I have the same generator on my 88' Travelmaster. I can hit the start button and it turns over about 1/2 turn and stops like the battery is dead. I can hit the button another time or two and it will do the same thing until finally it gets to a spot in the stroke of the motor where it releases enough compression where it can turn over. I have installed new battery, had the starter checked and its ok, and had all connections checked. The mechanic who checked it said that he sees them alot like that. He said they just have alot of compression and you have to get the motor in the right spot of its stroke and then it will start fine. I have only had this about 6 months so I didn't know how it acted before but it has done it ever since I acquired it. These motors on these generators do have alot of compression, but I have often wondered if this was just my generator doing this, or if alot of people had theirs act like this and if it was as common as the mechanic says. If its not common, what can I do to remedy it and "free it up" if you will?
The only thing that bothers me is sometimes when the starter does get spinning, it takes several seconds for it to fire. Sometimes even like 30 seconds.
I will be curious to see everyones input on this.
|
body_surfer2
lake forest
New Member
Joined: 04/14/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
My old onan would do this too. I had to run the RV engine while starting the genny so that I got maximum voltage out of the battery as applied to the genny's starter. Sometimes, I would just have to wait 5 min. to let the batteries charge again before starting the genny. Mine would take more like 2 minutes to start.
|
westwind1938
terrell, texas
New Member
Joined: 11/02/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks to all that responded. Special thanks to oldschoolmalibu who was right on the money. I have solved the problem by taking the side cover off and reaching around the fan shroud and turning the fan backwards. This will get it off of compression and it will start. CAUTION if you like your fingers do not reach the fan if it is moving. It may take a few seconds to stop after a failed start.
|
Goldencrazy
madison wi
Senior Member
Joined: 06/21/2007
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club
Offline
|
Another success story through sharing on RV.net. Isn't this great?
|
|
|
