Community Forums

Editorialz · 05-14-2023, 01:47 AM

Hi all,

anyone with experience of working on an Onan Emerald Plus 4000 Genset Model No. 4BGEFA26110M would be most welcome.

It's doing little more than whirring on start and I've done the usual checks for oil, diesel tank over half full and am now contemplating swapping out the carb + control board and voltage regulator.

Have I missed anything as this has been sitting up for several years before we purchased it and it's on its way over to Ukraine as a mobile field hospital for medics so it's something that we really do need to get working?

MrMark52 · 05-14-2023, 08:43 AM

What does “whirring” mean? The starter is turning but it’s not engaging with the flywheel, or it’s engaging but the engine isn’t starting? Or something else altogether?

Not uncommon for carbs needing rebuilding or replaced. Same is true for the circuit boards and very possibly the brushes (depending on how many hours are on it). Might need to polish the commutator as well.

Onan Service Manuals can be found for nothing with some diligent searching on the ‘Net - might even find the one for yours in the Files section of this site.

TandW · 05-14-2023, 08:43 AM

Do you have a diesel or gas unit?

Soppy · 05-14-2023, 10:55 AM

Is it a propane fueled generator ?

153stars · 05-14-2023, 01:01 PM

The noise in my mind could be starter Bendix sticking/staying engaged and spinning the starter . These starter gear are spin to engage spring return, not solenoid to engage like most autos. How long is the sound, just as it starts, seconds or minutes.

RaynorternWI · 05-14-2023, 09:21 PM

If I am getting the description right it could be the starter drive.

I have seen a lot of starter bendix clutches get sticky and not engage the starter gear to the flywheel. At that point the starter just spins. I have also seen it happen from low battery voltage or bad connections or grounds not spinning the starter fast enough.

Sometimes once broken lose they will work. Otherwise you need to replace the starter drive.
It is a common enough problem that there are 49 listings for them on E-Bay.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=onan+starter+drive