Re: Onan Generator low operating voltage

On Aug 21, 8:14 pm, "Alan Robinson" <a...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
"mrehmus" <michael.reh...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:1187668261.019488.264100@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx







Well, the genset does indeed put out an adequate voltage even with 2
AC units on line. Until it has run a while. By the end of a 6-8 hour
trip, the volts are down to 106-107 with the front AC unit and the
refrigerator on. Batteries are in float mode so they take little
current.

Today we are in Grand Island, Nebraska where the temperature reached
95. As we pulled into the KOA and my wife went in to register, I
turned off the refer and turned on the rear AC so both AC units were
running. Voltage drooped to 104-106. Within 10 minutes, we had pulled
into the campsite and I ran around to plug into shore power. Before I
could get that hooked up, the genset started surging so violently that
I thought it would stop. Dropped the loads and it idled just fine.

I'm starting to think the genset could use a tuneup, major or minor.
Does Onan have a recommended tune or? I'd like to find someone other
than Camping World to work on it.

Does anyone know the rep of Onan in Elkhart, Indiana? I'll be at
MoRyde having some rubber replaced in the rear suspension. Possibly
they would be a good choice to look at it.

I don't know anything about Onan in Elkhart - but I suspect, given the
location, that a service tech that works on rv generators there will be both
trained and experienced. I agree that it's probably time to have a good
tuneup done - part of it will be adjusting the carburetor and governor while
the genset is hooked to a load bank. Unless you have a way to apply known
loads - up to the maximum capacity of the set - you are shooting in the dark
trying to do a tuneup yourself, or troubleshoot what's happening where when
load is applied for several hours.

Alan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Genset finally failed in Norfolk, Nebraska. Found tractor and small
engine repair shop that would work on the engine.
Mechanic listened to it run and quit and said, "Fuel starvation!" He
took the fuel line from the pump to the carb off, couldn't blow
through it. Dropped the float bowl and found small black pieces in the
bowl. Blew out the line, the needle valve and the bleed. Put it back
together and it ran perfect. Adjusted engine speed to 126 volts no
load, 62.5 Hz and now, with a full load, it puts out 111.6 volts and
doesn't hiccup when the load comes on.

I think the source of the black bits is the rubber fuel line which is
probably disintegrating after 19 years. So an in-line filter and a
fuel line replacement is next on the hit list.

I think Camping World in Fairfield, California has received the last
of my patronage.

Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions.

.

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