Starting the genset....

[ischua]

My Onan Emerald generator has 43hrs on it in 20 years . Would not start no spark no gas. My dad hadn't run it in 15yrs he owned it and it had no fuel shut off. Years of varnish in the carb. Cleaned the points with a file and then took the bottom off the carb and cleaned all the gunk out and a oil change now runs like new. Fix/elemnate one problem at a time.
1 Check for spark .............. A if yes go right to the carb
B if no clean points/ electronics then see #1

[KC1BUD]

Originally Posted by Big Dan

Hal,
It's supposed to run on gasoline from the chassis tank, but shut off at 1/4 tank so that one can't run themselves out of gas with the generator. From what I've read here, that seems to be a fairly standard mode of operation, yes?

I normally go at a problem like this from the standpoint that it needs fuel, spark, and compression, timed properly, to start and run. But being so green to this, I'm hoping I'm just overlooking something really simple. Like, should I unplug the shore power? Or should the engine be running to start the genset? Ignition key in the accessory postition, perhasps? I can't imagine why it would need to, but I'm learning really quickly just how much I don't know. I am, however, lovin' every minute of it.

Thanks for your reply, and please keep 'em coming.

Dan

Dan,


I must admit I like your name. Here is what you do. If it is a generator that runs on gasoline follow the gas line from the generator's carburetor back to the motor-home gas tank. There should be some kind of a fuel shut off that is off.
Go even further back generators had winter/summer settings that could affect the running of them.

I had an 1985 motor home that had a generator older than the motor home. It had a fuel bowl(for trapping dirt and water) and the winter/summer switch, all of these things had a direct outcome on whether the generator ran or not.If you look on line you might find a rudimentary owners manual to help you in situations like these.

I hope this helps.

Happy New Year!