Onan generator squeals under load

[popsntexas]

I have a 2001 winnebago 37g Adventurer with an Onan Marquis Gold 5500 Generator. On our return home from a trip last week the generator started squealing under load. We had been driving in extremely dusty conditions and the generator is Coverdale in dust. Changed oil , filter, and air filter with Onan Oem parts and oil last spring . Any ideas? Could it just be dust? squealing noise is intermittent and not constant. Powers A/C and appliances still without a miss and is not due for oil or filter change yet.

[lwasouth]

Belts (Between engine and alternator) got dusted and will probably have to be replaced

[jelag]

I believe this generator is a direct drive unit... there are no belts... years ago, before Cummins bought Onan we used to repair many of the end bells on the generator... the outside end bearing would fail and spin in the housing.... thus the squeal.. we machined out the housing and installed a larger (heavier) bearing to support the end of the rotor... as I remember we did 3-4 a month for the local Onan Distributor... I have no clue if they ever improved the quality of this end bell... but that's where I'd start....

[Johndale]

Originally Posted by lwasouth

Belts (Between engine and alternator) got dusted and will probably have to be replaced

X2
Mine is the same unit and is belt driven. I have a spare and it cost about $15.

[ga traveler]

Originally Posted by jelag

I believe this generator is a direct drive unit... there are no belts... years ago, before Cummins bought Onan we used to repair many of the end bells on the generator... the outside end bearing would fail and spin in the housing.... thus the squeal.. we machined out the housing and installed a larger (heavier) bearing to support the end of the rotor... as I remember we did 3-4 a month for the local Onan Distributor... I have no clue if they ever improved the quality of this end bell... but that's where I'd start....

The gold series does have a belt drive.

[jelag]

ga traveler... thanks for the update... I've not seen a Onan that was belt driven... so I assume the issue is a loose belt...