I'm behind watching your vids, but you need to prime the fuel line before starting. Most of them have a two way switch that is the prime on the reverse side of the switch.
I have a Fleetwood Flair with the Onan genset. If my gas tank fails below one quarter of a tank my remote start switch on the dashboard won't work. So I added more gas and it always starts working again. It's a built in safety feature on some motorhomes.
I don't know anything about generators but that sounds like an easy fix. I hope so for you. I guess we'll know in a future video. Take care my friend. *Dave*
DenaliDaveB I was hoping It was nothing to serious. Turned out the fuel pump was frozen up. I am sure it will fire up now that I have the fuel pump operating.
THIS IS HOW I FIXED MINE, IN THE CASE OF.... "I CAN'T START MY GENERATOR" It's has been two years since last time it was running, so I started by checking oil level full at gen dipstick (it won't start if low oil because of sensors) then I checked gasoline more than 1\4 tank in the RV (also safety sensors), sparkplug checked for good spark, also checked the manual reset circuit braker ( to be ON) at front motorhome engine compartment for 12v current to the generator to be able to start it, also cleaned the carburetor and even installed new one but same situation, then checked wires and found some has been chewed like gum by rats at the back of starting switch generator panel so I replaced them, at this time the generator started but stay running only by keep pushing the switch on all the time, so then finally I knew it was internal electrical problem from the engine itself, so I took the generator out from my RV to work in my garage, (I did this by myself with some tools and old Mayan tricks ) lol, it's really heavy for one person. I disassemble the unit at my garage and started by removing the cover, then the cooling fan or flywheel unit (it's 2 items in one) until finally I was at the gen rotor and brushes assembly area and this is what I found: one more wire chewed by filthy rats plus the stinky rat nest in the middle of the generator motor coil, I fixed the wire and sanded the commutator copper contacts where the brushes are sitting becouse they were real duty with old urine from the rats, and of course I got rid off the stinky nest, lol!!! Then I assembled everything back together and... bingo it's runing like a champion!!! For this project materials involved was about $60.00 including an aftermarket new carburetor and an harmonic balancer/steering wheel puller (available at any auto parts for $25.00) to pull the aluminum fan out and (flywheel). Just picture this: (Any gasoline engine run smooth if gasoline and DC current aren't interrupted) so following this important principle you'll always find the problem to be fixed. Also if you have a onan microlite 4000 like mine, don't run it for more than a minute without the cover because you'll cook the engine real fast, also keep the eye on the aluminium fan and your fingers after cranking it in case you missing one or two members...just kidding, lol!!! After testing the gen with the help of a gasoline container, a piece of hose and 12v battery, I did put the air cooling assembly back and the rest of components including the cover, then it was ready to be installed at my RV. Once the gen was installed back at my motorhome I started it to be tested for 120v electricity but not before flipping the AC circuit switch (on) at the gen starting control panel (sometimes hiding under or around the panel) to be able to transfer power to my RV GFCI main outlet and electric panel as well, my motorhome it's equipped with GFCI so I reset it and tested for green led light indicating power is ready at my main breakers panel, so I turned my main breaker (on) along the others ones but no power was present at my breaker main switch (faulty main braker) so I flipped it many times, sometimes you can make it work again, mine did work, lol!!! I'm happy because everything works now including the refrigerator for cold drinks and AC for this crazy summer, lol! Later I'll buy me a new main braker, for now this is a resurrected generator story that needed to be shared. If this can help eaven one person to save time and $$$ it'll make me more happy, thanks for reading!
I have the same generator which will not run, I took the fuel line loose and it pumps like hoover dam, did you find any service manual that helped you? The dealer wants $366 when I drive in his parking lot to look at it. $133 an hour to look at it, 2 hrs min I guess.
I've been watching a few of these videos because I've been having issues starting my 1988 Emerald lll generator. It's in a 36ft GULF STREAM Sunstream Hi Rise Class A gas powered coach. I don't know what this guy's coach is but at least he has enough room to access the carburetor and fuel pump. I think Gulf Stream built the coach around the Gen set I had to remove the Gen set halfway out of the coach to access the carburetor. I had to disconnect all of the wiring to even pull it out half way. I've rebuilt the carb it was so full of gunk the choke was stuck closed. No wonder it wouldn't start. Before I reinstall it I'm going to remove it completely and build a slide out tray for it. Would appreciate any ideas for how to do it from anyone! Thanks
Tuomo Huotari He will definitely be in more videos. The work I have been doing can be dangerous for a nosy little dog like Rufus so I can not bring him all the time.
humm, is that the genset muffler tip pointed at the open top gas can? ;p , kind of glad the gen didn't start for you. from this prospective it was hard to tell how far away it was . gasoline is funny stuff, it needs the fuel /air thingy to make life interesting. reminds me of when I was a kid my best friends older brother thought it was funny to drop lit matches into an empty gas can, and yes one day he found the fuel/air thingy, he pooped his pampers that day,lol. no he didn't get hurt, not enough vapors to rupture the can. you gave me an idea tho, if i add a two-way valve, an outboard boat fitting i should be able to feed my genset from a outboard gas can. sence when i boondock i pull a small box trailer full of supplies to extend my stay. thanks for the inspiration.
Ha Re Actually the gas can was in a safe position. I think the camera position had a lot to do with it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I agree that gas is not a thing that should be handled carelessly.
thats what i thought, the old forced prospective thing makes it hard to judge size and distance, like the photograph of a rattle snake on the end of a big stick and the caption states 15foot rattler when it was only 4 foot. i wasn't making up the friends big brother thing that jackass really did that, how we ever made it through childhood is behond me, lol. i see ya got the old war horse shined up, looks great. if you see "I-lean" on the road give me a wave.
I see this is an old comment, and I'm no generator expert.... but I would start by checking the battery cable connections & then possibly replacing the starter if you haven't tried that already. Same procedures as trouble shooting a car engine.
Hey mister you can see if it's got Spark, for a gas engine got to have air got to have that gas and you got to have Spark if you ain't got one of the three you ain't going to have nothing but I'm betting that you ain't got fuel and it's that little shity $25 fuel pump
High priced pieces of shit, i bought a new 3500 watt inverter generator for 699 with a coupon and it runs clean and super quiet and sips gas and runs my roof air and microwave ...use that onan pos for a boat anchor.
Tumbleweed @tumbleweed sorry for my comment misleading you to believe that I in anyway think a Onan is a pos. I was laughing at his ignorance.. I love my 6.5 onan im relaxing right now as it is FEEDING enough power for anything I throw at it... cheers
Really miss Ruffs and Duffs.
RIP as you are in RV Heaven 😔.
I'm behind watching your vids, but you need to prime the fuel line before starting. Most of them have a two way switch that is the prime on the reverse side of the switch.
I have a Fleetwood Flair with the Onan genset. If my gas tank fails below one quarter of a tank my remote start switch on the dashboard won't work. So I added more gas and it always starts working again. It's a built in safety feature on some motorhomes.
As others have stated, you need fuel prime. Try a marine style primer bulb for an outboard motor setup. Cheers!
I don't know anything about generators but that sounds like an easy fix. I hope so for you. I guess we'll know in a future video. Take care my friend. *Dave*
DenaliDaveB I was hoping It was nothing to serious. Turned out the fuel pump was frozen up. I am sure it will fire up now that I have the fuel pump operating.
THIS IS HOW I FIXED MINE, IN THE CASE OF....
"I CAN'T START MY GENERATOR"
It's has been two years since last time it was running, so I started by checking oil level full at gen dipstick (it won't start if low oil because of sensors) then I checked gasoline more than 1\4 tank in the RV (also safety sensors), sparkplug checked for good spark, also checked the manual reset circuit braker ( to be ON) at front motorhome engine compartment for 12v current to the generator to be able to start it, also cleaned the carburetor and even installed new one but same situation, then checked wires and found some has been chewed like gum by rats at the back of starting switch generator panel so I replaced them, at this time the generator started but stay running only by keep pushing the switch on all the time, so then finally I knew it was internal electrical problem from the engine itself, so I took the generator out from my RV to work in my garage, (I did this by myself with some tools and old Mayan tricks ) lol, it's really heavy for one person.
I disassemble the unit at my garage and started by removing the cover, then the cooling fan or flywheel unit (it's 2 items in one) until finally I was at the gen rotor and brushes assembly area and this is what I found: one more wire chewed by filthy rats plus the stinky rat nest in the middle of the generator motor coil, I fixed the wire and sanded the commutator copper contacts where the brushes are sitting becouse they were real duty with old urine from the rats, and of course I got rid off the stinky nest, lol!!!
Then I assembled everything back together and... bingo it's runing like a champion!!!
For this project materials involved was about $60.00 including an aftermarket new carburetor and an harmonic balancer/steering wheel puller (available at any auto parts for $25.00) to pull the aluminum fan out and (flywheel).
Just picture this: (Any gasoline engine run smooth if gasoline and DC current aren't interrupted) so following this important principle you'll always find the problem to be fixed.
Also if you have a onan microlite 4000 like mine, don't run it for more than a minute without the cover because you'll cook the engine real fast, also keep the eye on the aluminium fan and your fingers after cranking it in case you missing one or two members...just kidding, lol!!!
After testing the gen with the help of a gasoline container, a piece of hose and 12v battery, I did put the air cooling assembly back and the rest of components including the cover, then it was ready to be installed at my RV.
Once the gen was installed back at my motorhome I started it to be tested for 120v electricity but not before flipping the AC circuit switch (on) at the gen starting control panel (sometimes hiding under or around the panel) to be able to transfer power to my RV GFCI main outlet and electric panel as well, my motorhome it's equipped with GFCI so I reset it and tested for green led light indicating power is ready at my main breakers panel, so I turned my main breaker (on) along the others ones but no power was present at my breaker main switch (faulty main braker) so I flipped it many times, sometimes you can make it work again, mine did work, lol!!!
I'm happy because everything works now including the refrigerator for cold drinks and AC for this crazy summer, lol! Later I'll buy me a new main braker, for now this is a resurrected generator story that needed to be shared.
If this can help eaven one person to save time and $$$ it'll make me more happy, thanks for reading!
I have the same generator which will not run, I took the fuel line loose and it pumps like hoover dam, did you find any service manual that helped you? The dealer wants $366 when I drive in his parking lot to look at it. $133 an hour to look at it, 2 hrs min I guess.
i have a 1998 winnebago Chieftain i belive you ave the same mine is on a Ford Chassis can you tell me wear the fuel shut off switch is located ???
I've been watching a few of these videos because I've been having issues starting my 1988 Emerald lll generator. It's in a 36ft GULF STREAM Sunstream Hi Rise Class A gas powered coach. I don't know what this guy's coach is but at least he has enough room to access the carburetor and fuel pump. I think Gulf Stream built the coach around the Gen set I had to remove the Gen set halfway out of the coach to access the carburetor. I had to disconnect all of the wiring to even pull it out half way. I've rebuilt the carb it was so full of gunk the choke was stuck closed. No wonder it wouldn't start. Before I reinstall it I'm going to remove it completely and build a slide out tray for it.
Would appreciate any ideas for how to do it from anyone! Thanks
I put a new fuel pump that I bought on ebay and it still not getting gas. What do u do?
Hope to see more of Rufus the Dog.
Tuomo Huotari He will definitely be in more videos. The work I have been doing can be dangerous for a nosy little dog like Rufus so I can not bring him all the time.
humm, is that the genset muffler tip pointed at the open top gas can? ;p , kind of glad the gen didn't start for you. from this prospective it was hard to tell how far away it was . gasoline is funny stuff, it needs the fuel /air thingy to make life interesting. reminds me of when I was a kid my best friends older brother thought it was funny to drop lit matches into an empty gas can, and yes one day he found the fuel/air thingy, he pooped his pampers that day,lol. no he didn't get hurt, not enough vapors to rupture the can.
you gave me an idea tho, if i add a two-way valve, an outboard boat fitting i should be able to feed my genset from a outboard gas can. sence when i boondock i pull a small box trailer full of supplies to extend my stay. thanks for the inspiration.
Ha Re Actually the gas can was in a safe position. I think the camera position had a lot to do with it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I agree that gas is not a thing that should be handled carelessly.
thats what i thought, the old forced prospective thing makes it hard to judge size and distance, like the photograph of a rattle snake on the end of a big stick and the caption states 15foot rattler when it was only 4 foot. i wasn't making up the friends big brother thing that jackass really did that, how we ever made it through childhood is behond me, lol. i see ya got the old war horse shined up, looks great. if you see "I-lean" on the road give me a wave.
Ha Re
I sure will! :)
there is a HaShem for people who do dumb stuff. Don't try this at home.
My rv generator barely turns over. It's as if it has a dead battery. Any suggestions?
I see this is an old comment, and I'm no generator expert.... but I would start by checking the battery cable connections & then possibly replacing the starter if you haven't tried that already. Same procedures as trouble shooting a car engine.
How can you start my RV generator by turning it on through the batteries or online hook-up
you need fuel pressure to get to the Gen --SIR
OYEP NOT GOING TO WORK HE IS HOOKED TO THE CARB THE FUEL PUMP IS HOOKED TO THE LINE GOING IN TO THE CARB
well sitting there staring at it aint gonna fix it lol
+Rick Rader Yes it does! :)
What unit shuts generator off when gas tank goes below one quarter
i give up on onan gennys.
it sounded good otherwise, good luck.
All fixed. Runs great!
Hey mister you can see if it's got Spark, for a gas engine got to have air got to have that gas and you got to have Spark if you ain't got one of the three you ain't going to have nothing but I'm betting that you ain't got fuel and it's that little shity $25 fuel pump
Dear Lord if I knew little about what I was doing I certainly would not put it on line! How a little learning is a dangerous thing.
Don't look down on people like that. There's nothing wrong with not knowing what you're doing. Get off your high horse.
High priced pieces of shit, i bought a new 3500 watt inverter generator for 699 with a coupon and it runs clean and super quiet and sips gas and runs my roof air and microwave ...use that onan pos for a boat anchor.
A N haha love it
how many batteries did you need for storage, and where did you put them?
Tumbleweed @tumbleweed sorry for my comment misleading you to believe that I in anyway think a Onan is a pos. I was laughing at his ignorance.. I love my 6.5 onan im relaxing right now as it is FEEDING enough power for anything I throw at it... cheers
fuel pump or carb full of crap
All fixed. Fuel pump was all crudded up. WD40 to the rescue!
cool those damn generators can be a pain in the ass when you let them sit with fuel in them and the modern gas is no help
darangemaster1
Very true!