Need some help trouble-shooting our generator

41Woodie · Post by **41Woodie** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:30 pm

The Onan 4000 Emerald Genset in our new, to us, 2001 24' RB is giving me a fit. If I crank it it fires right up reasonably well but immediately dies. If I hold what I believe to be the governor to the left (facing the generator) it will continue to run albeit poorly. If I don't interfere, the engine starts and the governor immediately moves to the right and the engine dies.
This continues for probably 6-10 minutes and each repetition it runs a bit better. Finally it gets to a point, after multiple attempts, that the governor moves to the right as before but then as RPM's decrease it moves back to the left, as I believe it should, and from this point the generator continues to run, roughly but in short order it smooths out and will function perfectly.
It bogs a bit when the A/C compressor cuts in but it immediately compensates and runs properly with good stable electrical output. There is fresh gas in tank and it is full, the oil level is correct and the unit has fewer than 100 hours on it. I'm a firm believer in exercising the generator every two weeks and have had to deal with this exact problem four separate times now. Any thoughts would be appreciated

Mike Jean Bandfield · Post by **Mike Jean Bandfield** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:22 pm

I've no direct experience with Onan gensets however your description sounds like an automated choke problem. If your Onan has a bi-metalic coil actuated choke it has likely broken, become maladjusted or the linkage is broken or binding.

If you do have this type of choke, it is a fairly simple diagnostic to determine whether the choke is functioning properly.

Mike

BornFree_n_Now · Post by **BornFree_n_Now** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:18 pm

Onan has a carburetor cleaner that you spray into the throat of your carburetor (follow directions on can and be ready for some toxic white smoke), which helped alleviate a similar sounding problem on our unit ~~

Mel Wilbur · Post by **Mel Wilbur** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:48 pm

You might want to check the altitude adjustment to be sure it is correct for you current location.

41Woodie · Post by **41Woodie** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:19 pm

Mel Wilbur wrote:You might want to check the altitude adjustment to be sure it is correct for you current location.

Checked it first, I purchased the coach in eastern Iowa, I live in central Oklahoma so there isn't a big difference in altitude. We're having some rain and as soon as it slacks off I'm bringing the coach home and tackle the problem.