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04-23-2018, 10:36 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 43
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Onan Generator Problem
Recently bought a 1986 28 ft. Soutwind. A project. Has Emerald 1 4k Onan.
Not getting fire to plug. Coach has set up couple years. Any advice on what to check first would be appreciated. Guess I will drop it tomorrow where I can work on it. Thanks, Jerry
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04-24-2018, 05:40 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 345
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I think your plan to pull it and go at everything is the best idea. If there is one item that doesn't fair well being left alone...it's a generator. I would consider taking it to the local Onan shop and let them go through it.
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04-24-2018, 06:22 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kingsville TX
Posts: 1,754
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Look for chewed wires
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04-24-2018, 07:00 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,121
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I don't want to assume,,,, check the oil. Many have a low oil detection system that kill the engine at low levels.
L.
__________________
RVing since 1974!
Lots of Motorcycles
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04-24-2018, 01:54 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3
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Could be the circuit board or possibly a loose connection? As another user said, letting generators sit for a while is a bad idea. They need to be exercised monthly. I usually run mine for 30 minutes with no load and then 30 minutes with Full AC on. One of the many maintenance items that need to be checked when you own an RV. Check out Automotive Wolf car maintenance software for an excellent way to stay on top of all your maintenance. Vehicle Maintenance Software : Car Maintenance Software
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04-24-2018, 06:57 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Almond, Wisconsin
Posts: 1,512
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Had the same problem. If it has electronic ignition it is probably the ignition rotor . Check to see if both plugs spark when you first crank it and when you quit cranking. If I could talk to you I could go on and on as my son-in-law and I just got done working on his for the last two weeks before we got it figured out!!
__________________
 2006 Monaco Camelot 40 PAQ 400ISL - Toad Jeep Grand Cherokee - DW is the Nagivator. Retired to travel and everything revolves around the price of diesel.
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04-24-2018, 09:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kingsville TX
Posts: 1,754
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Boy those older onans are getting harder and harder to find, great gensets, because they only turn 1800 rpms, newer ones turn 3600 and have one less cylinder
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04-25-2018, 06:56 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 685
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Quote:
Originally Posted by avfordguy
Boy those older onans are getting harder and harder to find, great gensets, because they only turn 1800 rpms, newer ones turn 3600 and have one less cylinder
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My old Pace Arrow had the 1800 RPM Onan and I was blown away when I heard my "more modern Onan" scream to life when I first started it!
__________________
04 Southwind 37C W22
DIY Rear Panhard Rod
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04-25-2018, 12:27 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Kingsville TX
Posts: 1,754
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Quote:
Originally Posted by exrench
My old Pace Arrow had the 1800 RPM Onan and I was blown away when I heard my "more modern Onan" scream to life when I first started it!
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Current project is to quiet down a onan micolite 4000
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04-25-2018, 08:12 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Zebulon, NC
Posts: 5,211
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travlinjayco
Recently bought a 1986 28 ft. Soutwind. A project. Has Emerald 1 4k Onan.
Not getting fire to plug. Coach has set up couple years. Any advice on what to check first would be appreciated. Guess I will drop it tomorrow where I can work on it. Thanks, Jerry
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I thought I was Jerry??
Sorry I can't help you with the genny problem, but just wanted to pad my post cound.... 
__________________
Kelly and Jerry Powell with Halo (Lethal White Aussie), Nash the Rat Terrorist, and now Reid, the "Brindle we have no idea puppy"
2020 Grand Design Solitude 390RK-R
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05-02-2018, 12:00 AM
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#11
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,090
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"travlinjayco".....In case you didn't know, many of the 4K's have a release, that let's them angle down to service the upper components. It doesn't need to be dropped, but the front lowers down.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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05-02-2018, 09:15 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Commercial Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: behind the steering wheel
Posts: 2,576
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check for mouse nest between the motor and armature. ive found many with that problem. it breaks the plastic fly wheel that holds the magnetic pickup.
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05-02-2018, 01:14 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Muskoka Ontario Canada
Posts: 3,142
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Dont forget to clean the grounds. They are just as important as power to get proper spark. I have seen it before. We had one that wouldnt start. Put a jumper cable from the frame, to the ground on the side. It started right up. Might not be your problem, but have seen it happen. Like my mechanic friend tells me, `everyone forgets about the ground`. Good luck.
__________________
 2000 coachmen santara 370 5.9 cummins isb
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05-02-2018, 10:37 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 43
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My 4K Onan generator
Thanks to all for all the helpful comments. Little update. I bypassed the low oil cut off switch and it cranked but dies as soon as I release start button.
This afternoon I found as one post stated. The Gen hinges down from back and does help access things. I decided to go ahead and take it from under the coach. All I have done late this afternoon was to pressure wash it. Going to pick up new oil switch, is obviously in need of replacement. Hopefully get it running so I can check more things out. Thanks again for all the pointers on what to check. Jerry
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