Community Forums

T46 · 07-27-2018, 08:15 AM

My generstor will not start. I have inspected the fuel line to my generator in my 2000 Fleetwood Flair and found it to me in good shape. However, I found the line to be dry when I installed a new inline fuel filter. I'm seeking advice as to how to address the problem.

manderson2228 · 07-27-2018, 08:17 AM

Id look at the fuel pump next. Might not be working at this point.

MSHappyCampers · 07-27-2018, 10:13 AM

Hi !

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Wish I could help......

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

floridaflash · 07-27-2018, 11:00 AM

We had that problem with a 2000 Sea Breeze. Turned out to be a kink in the pickup line inside the gas tank.
David

leesdx1 · 07-27-2018, 11:11 AM

Did it run before? Do you have more than a 1/4 tank of gas in the main tank?

Waiter21 · 07-27-2018, 12:20 PM

T46, Welcome to the forums. To assist futur posts, I'd recommend placing your Motorhome info in your signature line. Look under "USER CP" tab..

As for your problem. Verify t=you have fuel in the gas tank, Most generator pickups are [positioned so you need at least 1/4 tank.

If this is OK, I'd verify the fuel pump is operating.. Some Generators, if you hold the STOP button in, this causes the fuel pump to run.

chboone · 07-28-2018, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T46

My generstor will not start. I have inspected the fuel line to my generator in my 2000 Fleetwood Flair and found it to me in good shape. However, I found the line to be dry when I installed a new inline fuel filter. I'm seeking advice as to how to address the problem.

If the rubber fuel line has never been replaced you probably have a small crack or pin hole in the line letting fuel siphon back to the tank.

AKIQPilot · 07-28-2018, 07:51 PM

As mentioned, try to prime the pump if the generator has that feature. Push and hold the stop button. You should hear the pump pulse and vibrate. Once the pump pressures up it will stop vibrating. If your pump is vibrating and not pressuring up then you have something wrong between the tank and pump. If the pump isn't vibrating then you may have a bad pump. To eliminate the wiring circuit or if you don't have the prime feature, you can take a small jumper wire and jump between the positive battery terminal at the generator and the fuel pump. Obviously you're messing with gasoline which is very volatile. Sparks and fuel make for an exciting show.

IF it is the fuel line between the tank and the pump chances are you may have to drop the tank. Not the easiest thing to do but not all that bad with 2 floor jacks and a competent helper.

AKIQPilot · 07-28-2018, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chboone

If the rubber fuel line has never been replaced you probably have a small crack or pin hole in the line letting fuel siphon back to the tank.

My Brother in Law has a 2015 Thor Chateau Class C. This spring we were preparing for a big trip where he and his family were going to meet us in Vegas. The generator ran perfect when he put the coach up last November. April rolls around and the generator wont start. Over the phone I helped him trouble shoot the thing. Fuel Pump Runs when priming. No Fuel coming out of the discharge of the pump. Blow back into the fuel line and you can hear bubbles in the tank. hook up a mighty vac to the fuel line and it sucks fuel out of the tank. Drop a hose into a 5 gallon can, hit the prime button and the generator starts and runs just fine.

Time to drop the tank. Turns out a mouse or critter of some sort made a nest right on top of the fuel tank. They chewed right through the rubber hose about 1/2" before the fuel fitting connected to the tank. Not a large hole at all but just enough to let a little air in. The fuel pump never could get enough prime to keep the generator fired up. It would almost run but not quite.

dix39 · 07-28-2018, 08:11 PM

Our '94 Flair had the same type of problem when we first got it. I determined that there was a leak in the line between the pump and the tank. It turned out to be a chafed spot in the flex line between the tank and the hard line. I was able to replace it with a bit of "contortionism". I used a clamp with wings that I could turn with my fingers as I could only get one arm/hand in there.

Best of luck finding the problem.

Steve

tropical36 · 07-29-2018, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T46

My generstor will not start. I have inspected the fuel line to my generator in my 2000 Fleetwood Flair and found it to me in good shape. However, I found the line to be dry when I installed a new inline fuel filter. I'm seeking advice as to how to address the problem.

I will assume that you disconnected the fuel pump output and had no fuel while cranking the engine. If not, then do so and after that, with insuring that the pump is getting 12vdc, the first order of business is to remove the input line from the pump and reattach a new section, dropping it into a milk jug or other, with gasoline. If it runs, you're sucking air somewhere down the line, between the genset and fuel tank.
I once had a case where it would only run for a bit, with the tank full, so theorized that it had an air leak, inside the tank, near the top and probably with a hole rusted through the pickup tube. Never did find out, as I devised a separate fuel tank, just for the genset. Most wouldn't have agreed with the setup, but we got along fine with it, for 9yrs and up until we sold it.

T46 · 08-07-2018, 12:06 PM

Thank you for your response. I connected some fuel line to the fuel pump and put the other end in a gas can and the generator started and ran fine. I also blew air into the rv generator fuel line and heard bubbles in the rv gas tank. Still stumped.

tropical36 · 08-07-2018, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T46

Thank you for your response. I connected some fuel line to the fuel pump and put the other end in a gas can and the generator started and ran fine. I also blew air into the rv generator fuel line and heard bubbles in the rv gas tank. Still stumped.

Nothing to be stumped about here!
It only takes a pin hole to suck enough air and for killing the fuel pickup.
Like I said, it it runs fine when the tank is full and then quits at some level point, then the hole is in the tank's pickup tube. If it won't run at all, regardless of tank level, then the hole is in the rubber line coming from the top of the tank and the most common for this problem.
Some have been able to feel a replacement hose in, while others have been able to partially drop the tank. Best way is, if you might be able to cut an access hole through the floor and over the pickup ass'y. and ten covering it with a marine type access plate for any future problems.

chboone · 08-07-2018, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T46

Thank you for your response. I connected some fuel line to the fuel pump and put the other end in a gas can and the generator started and ran fine. I also blew air into the rv generator fuel line and heard bubbles in the rv gas tank. Still stumped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tropical36

Nothing to be stumped about here!
It only takes a pin hole to suck enough air and for killing the fuel pickup.
Like I said, it it runs fine when the tank is full and then quits at some level point, then the hole is in the tank's pickup tube. If it won't run at all, regardless of tank level, then the hole is in the rubber line coming from the top of the tank and the most common for this problem.
Some have been able to feel a replacement hose in, while others have been able to partially drop the tank. Best way is, if you might be able to cut an access hole through the floor and over the pickup ass'y. and ten covering it with a marine type access plate for any future problems.

The verdict is in. Replace the rubber fuel line.