onan 5500 gold with 297 hrs

[lumberjack]

This is my 1st post on this forum, so please bear with me. I have cleaned out my carb real good, and this is what is whats going on.
When I 1st start the gen. i let it run for 3-5 minutes before i kick on the air. When i kick it on my gen dies out.
So it turn off the air , re-start it and turn it back on for the 2nd time , and it stays running after that.
Ive changed the air filter fuel filter , but not the plugs yet.
I just dont think it could be the plugs , cause it starts and runs with no missing at all.
Anyone have any thoughts about this little gremlin i have ?
thanks for any help
this is in a toy hauler with the generator in the front and the fuel station in the rear of the camper
Have pleny fuel and it is fresh

[Roll]

Originally Posted by lumberjack

This is my 1st post on this forum, so please bear with me. I have cleaned out my carb real good, and this is what is whats going on.
When I 1st start the gen. i let it run for 3-5 minutes before i kick on the air. When i kick it on my gen dies out.
So it turn off the air , re-start it and turn it back on for the 2nd time , and it stays running after that.
Ive changed the air filter fuel filter , but not the plugs yet.
I just dont think it could be the plugs , cause it starts and runs with no missing at all.
Anyone have any thoughts about this little gremlin i have ?
thanks for any help
this is in a toy hauler with the generator in the front and the fuel station in the rear of the camper
Have pleny fuel and it is fresh

Plugs can function fine when not under load and then fail when a load is applied but I'm not convinced your problem is spark plugs.

Your generator should be completely serviced about every 100 hours. Do you know if it was professionally serviced, ever? I would take it to the shop for a complete checkout.

One other thought: Your AC compressor builds up pressure when running and starting it before the pressure bleeds off can cause damage and/or cause it to draw a huge electrical load as it attempts to cycle. Are you running the AC, then shutting it down and trying to start the Gen immediately?

[lumberjack]

thanks for the quick reply.
This happens only on my 1st start up. I do shut the ac off and let the gen run a while before cutiing it off
After that , when i restart the gen and kick the ac on it does not kill and runs perfect.
Its only on my 1st start up when the gen dies out . Its like my govenor is not kicking up to compensate for the load.
Again, after the 2nd time It seems to kick up and run fine.
thanks

[Roll]

Originally Posted by lumberjack

thanks for the quick reply.
This happens only on my 1st start up. I do shut the ac off and let the gen run a while before cutiing it off
After that , when i restart the gen and kick the ac on it does not kill and runs perfect.
Its only on my 1st start up when the gen dies out . Its like my govenor is not kicking up to compensate for the load.
Again, after the 2nd time It seems to kick up and run fine.
thanks

I assume you wait for the power to come on, meaning you see the lights on the microwave or TV come on before starting the A/C. It takes my gen (same unit you have) almost a minute to spool up to usable voltage. I wait until I see the microwave lights come on before I tap into the 120v.

[SRT]

Having the same generator I would let it warm up for a few minutes before hammering it with a sudden heavy load.

[Clay L]

Originally Posted by Roll

I assume you wait for the power to come on, meaning you see the lights on the microwave or TV come on before starting the A/C. It takes my gen (same unit you have) almost a minute to spool up to usable voltage. I wait until I see the microwave lights come on before I tap into the 120v.

The voltage on the two Onan generators I have had comes up in a few seconds but the transfer switch delays the connection to allow the generator time to stabilize.

I wonder if you are seeing a transfer switch delay that is a little longer than normal.

[teddyu]

OP. Sounds like you are losing 12VDC to the generator fuel pump when the AC is initially starting. I've reread your post and did not see anything about breakers tripping, so it sounds like the engine is being starved of fuel. Verify that your converter is charging the coach batteries before the next inital start. If DC power is only coming from the converter, a large voltage drop could cause the converter output to disappear. JM2¢...

[Franka548]

It sounds like the automatic choke is not closing fast enough when you put the generator under load while it is still relatively cold. Try letting it warm up for a couple extra minutes or so before you turn the a/c on.
Frank

[lumberjack]

Thanks for all of you guys help.
I just want to let everyone know, that i brought my camper to a guy in my hometown of lafayette la. , and he is known as the
"Oanan Man".
I had tore down my carb twice because i let it sit to long and of course ot gummed up with varnish.
I would spray it with carb cleaner and blow air thru the jets.
I dropped it off to him yesterday am and he called me around 2pm and said you can come pick it up , it is ready.
When i got there , i couldnt wait to ask him what he found.
He said the carb was still blocked up some and he takes them off and soaks them in a strong solution for a few hours.
Puts them back together and makes the fine tune adjustments .
That is the reason when i would put on the A/C it would kill my genny.
It would run perfect without a load , but he said when you put a load, that it was starving for fuel.
Hope this helps someone else that is having the same problems.
thanks again for everyones help.
This mans name is Murphy and has been working on Onans 20 plus years.