Onan 5.5HGJAB-901A Carburetor Fuel In plugged

[GetaRock]

Hello young and old, we have a problem and it seems to me like 🤪 rocket 🤪 science 🤪

I do NOT know carburetors

New to us '01 Winnebago with the Onan 5.5HGJAB-901A generator has not been run in years ?, seller was sketchy on it.

It will run if I manually add fuel thru the air inlet.

Pulled fuel line after filter and got flow with 'PRIME' command and with Start.

Used a Turkey baster with tubing to slip onto fuel inlet pipe and found it plugged.

Pulled Carb and used that Turkey baster again to add straight STP carb cleaner thru the inlet while the carb was upsidedown to allow gravity to get the cleaner to the clog.

After a few minutes and squeezing then releasing the baster, it cleared gum then brown fuel then blew clean cleaner out one side of the inside of the carb.

Then when carb is rotated to upright it plugged 😔.

I am thinking I should be able to force fuel in the inlet and out the carb in any position? So I intend to continue cleaning tomorrow.

I have access to a small air compressor and am considering blowing from the inside of the carb out thru the inlet, add more cleaner repeat.

Any thoughts?

Sincerely,
Two rungs beneath Novice
🤣

[Iceclimber]

I suggest your carb may need a rebuild. Use the googles and find a shop. Alternative is to completely replace the carb, if you don't know those devices don't try to rebuild one yourself. Don't ask me why. I have screwed up a lot of carbs by trying to save money.

[twinboat]

The carb has a needle valve and float in it.

It's like a toilet where it fills to a certain level and the float comes up and shuts the needle valve.

You can pump some gas in the inlet until the bowl is full but then it stops.

The air being sucked into the engine thru the carb is what draws gas up out of the bowl. That passage thru the jet gets plugged and stops flow.

Take the bolt out of the center of the bowl on the bottom and remove the bowl. Pay attention, the float is hanging on a pin that can fall out. Once the bolt is out and bowl is off, the passage for the gas is up thru where the bowl bolt was.

Soak, spray, brush out, blow out that passage.

[mokurt]

The carb has to be completely disassembled.
Soak the carburetor body in carburetor cleaner along with the jets.
After soaking rinse the parts off with parts cleaner or a degreaser and water.
Use compressed air to blow the parts and passage ways off.
The passage ways in in the carb body and jets could still be clogged if the fuel crystallized.
You can use a fine wire like guitar strings or a welding tip cleaner to check passage ways.
,check the jets also.
Buy a rebuild kit and find/follow instructions.
Avoid buying a new China made carb if you want to replace the carb.
Also replace the intake gasket if it's not included in a kit.

[craigd853]

Originally Posted by GetaRock

Hello young and old, we have a problem and it seems to me like 🤪 rocket 🤪 science 🤪

I do NOT know carburetors

New to us '01 Winnebago with the Onan 5.5HGJAB-901A generator has not been run in years ?, seller was sketchy on it.

It will run if I manually add fuel thru the air inlet.

Pulled fuel line after filter and got flow with 'PRIME' command and with Start.

Used a Turkey baster with tubing to slip onto fuel inlet pipe and found it plugged.

Pulled Carb and used that Turkey baster again to add straight STP carb cleaner thru the inlet while the carb was upsidedown to allow gravity to get the cleaner to the clog.

After a few minutes and squeezing then releasing the baster, it cleared gum then brown fuel then blew clean cleaner out one side of the inside of the carb.

Then when carb is rotated to upright it plugged 😔.

I am thinking I should be able to force fuel in the inlet and out the carb in any position? So I intend to continue cleaning tomorrow.

I have access to a small air compressor and am considering blowing from the inside of the carb out thru the inlet, add more cleaner repeat.

Any thoughts?

Sincerely,
Two rungs beneath Novice
🤣

Hello, sorry for your issues. If I were you I would save myself the headache and go on Amazon and buy one. They are less than $50.00 dollars and well worth not to spend time and effort to fix the gummed up carb. Good luck

[153stars]

Read good and bad on China carb for Onan. If you go that route and it doesn't seem to run proper, try to swap the jet from old carb. 90% of time I can remove bottom jet that holds the bowl and idle jet clean and get any small engine running again.
Your genny has elect. fuel pump. Fuel pick up is at 1/4 is tank the sucks air, as not to empty the fuel tank. I've almost never had I need a valve fail closed unless from piece of rubber hose. Most of time the issue was a needle leaking and flooding the carb. You talked about inverting it that will definitely close the needle. With the bowl removed or carb removed it should be able to test the pump "carefully." Catch gas in container. Like said take care not to loose float pin or needle valve wire clip. Disassemble carb in pan or cloth so not to loose little parts. Brake cleaner is stronger than carb cleaner to blast out orifices in carb cleaner.... wear rubber gloves safety glasses.

[Iceclimber]

I retract my advice to fix it.
https://www.amazon.com/541-0765-Carb...46752446&psc=1

And I agree with the above advice to replace. I have had 100% success rate with Chinese carbs on multiple devices. I personally don't care if it comes from the darkest corner of China or the moon if it works. I replaced my entire air dryer assembly with a China setup and it solved lots of problems instantly. Plus this stuff is so cheap you can keep spares on board.

[donr103]

Look on you tube.. step by step on cleaning carbs.. very easy.. try KEVIN CAUDELL.. he walks you thru it.. see my old post.. I walk you through it..
Good luck and keep us posted

[GetaRock]

1. Thanks for all the advice
2. Apologies for forgetting to respond
3. Carb cleared . . . by me :⁠-⁠)
4. Found this awesome video cleaning this carburetor. Easy to listen to, excellent tips:

https://youtu.be/xvBJeX2o2Ik?si=Ihpc7RWSE5wyCkA2

I only removed the top plate and carefully removed jet, cleaned with spray carb-cleaner.

Generator purrs like a well fed kitten.

Thank you all.

[Arch Hoagland]

Thanks for the update, glad to hear all is well.

[donr103]

Thanks.. glad to hear.. onan carbs are made to be servied in the field..
Good luck and keep us posted