Problems when RVing in extreme heat

[DonTom]

Drug my Cabella's genny out of the shed after 9 months

The large 4K yellow 120 VAC only one? I had one of those also, never used. I gave it to my next door neighbor who often helps me out, such as picking up packages on my Reno front porch when I am on trips like this. I gave that genny away when I received my two EFI inverter gennies that, IMO, make all other gennies I have used seem like junk.

-Don- Baker, NV

 

[Ex-Calif]

The large 4K yellow 120 VAC only one? I had one of those also, never used. I gave it to my next door neighbor who often helps me out, such as picking up packages on my Reno front porch when I am on trips like this. I gave that genny away when I received my two EFI inverter gennies that, IMO, make all other gennies I have used seem like junk.

-Don- Baker, NV

I'll have to double check but I think it has 220v out. It's 5,000w and has a 30amp rv plug and electric start.

 

[DonTom]

I'll have to double check but I think it has 220v out. It's 5,000w and has a 30amp rv plug and electric start.

Mine was different. Yours looks better than the one I gave away. Mine was a good 15 years old, but never used even once. Never started or anything. I did put the oil in it, but no gasoline was ever in the tank.

 

[Ex-Calif]

Mine was different. Yours looks better than the one I gave away. Mine was a good 15 years old, but never used even once. Never started or anything. I did put the oil in it, but no gasoline was ever in the tank.

It actually belonged to my kid, Josh, who you met.

He went through a poor patch and I bought it at a big discount. He only used it a couple of times.

My little harbor freight one isn't starting. I think I gotta pull the carb and clean it.

 

[Lou Schneider]

I'll have to double check but I think it has 220v out. It's 5,000w and has a 30amp rv plug and electric start.

View attachment 2493593

It's 120 volts only. From the description on Cabella's web site:

"This RV-Ready design features a 120V 30A (TT-30R) RV outlet, a 120V 30A outlet (L5-30R), and a 120V 20A household duplex outlet (5-20R), all with covers for added protection."

 

[Ex-Calif]

It's 120 volts only. From the description on Cabella's web site:

"This RV-Ready design features a 120V 30A (TT-30R) RV outlet, a 120V 30A outlet (L5-30R), and a 120V 20A household duplex outlet (5-20R), all with covers for added protection."

Yeah the L5-30r plug in the picture threw me.

I mixed it with a 220 dryer plug. I haven't been out to the genny yet.

 

[DonTom]

It's cool here this morning, and my Onan has the same problem as mentioned in message number 86 here. A spin indication from inside, but the generator starter is NOT spinning. I do hear a weak click and another sound which I think is the fuel pump when I try to start from the genny. So now I know at least part of my Onan starting problem is NOT heat related. I am not sure, but I do not think the starter is spinning. I do not now how much noise it makes when it has no load.

I took a rubber mallet and one hard hit on the upper section (the section that floats on springs or whatever above the frame) and then it started right up, it is running well as I type this.

Any guesses on what is causing this intermittent starting?

It's an Onan QG 5500. Carb model, not the new EFI that Onan now makes.

-Don- Kingston Camp, NV

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[Mark_K5LXP]

Any guesses on what is causing this intermittent starting?

It's scared of the guy with the hammer.

Actually, if there is direct cause/effect with the kinetic repair at least you isolate it to an area. Depending on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go, you isolate to solenoid or starter with measurement. First pass though is to assure integrity of all connections. Not the best access so it's a judgement call to attempt this surgically, or collaterally by shotgunning with new parts. At some point the hammer may not be big enough.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[TheBar]

A good whack fixes many things. It works when my wife gives one to me.

 

[Utclmjmpr]

It could be the starter brushes aren't seated or a loose connection in the circuit..>>>Dan

 

[DonTom]

It's scared of the guy with the hammer.

Actually, if there is direct cause/effect with the kinetic repair at least you isolate it to an area. Depending on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go, you isolate to solenoid or starter with measurement. First pass though is to assure integrity of all connections. Not the best access so it's a judgement call to attempt this surgically, or collaterally by shotgunning with new parts. At some point the hammer may not be big enough.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

The problem could be mechanical, such as the starter gear not engaing to the flywheel.

I will probably need to remove the genny from this motorhome to fix it. If I do that much work, I could be temped to replace it with that Onan EFI model. It looks like Onan is finally getting away from their old 1960's technology.

But the EFI model is already discontinued? I wonder what went wrong there!

-Don- Kingston Camp, NV

 

[DonTom]

It could be the starter brushes aren't seated or a loose connection in the circuit..>>>Dan

Something like that is what I also expect. An alignment problem or whatever in the starter where the brushes are not always making contact.

-Don- Kingston Camp, NV

 

[Wasillaguy]

In high-school I worked part-time at a little TV repair place. Particular models would come in and the guy would lift them 6 inches off the bench and drop them, a couple times.
Receipt said "reseated components- $20."

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

Back in my radio repair days there was one model that would consistently come in for no receive. First test was to whack it in a certain spot with a small brass hammer. It didn't fix it but it revealed the problem before you even opened it. We'd save up a bunch of them and fix in bulk. (MT500's)

No start could be a number of things like starter brushes, electronic module, or other un-fun thing to diagnose. But rule out the simple stuff first. Fasteners loosen, wires corrode. Sometimes just a visual once over can find the stupid simple problems. It's not always the hard terrible reasons so run the easy ones out first.

Mark B.
Albuquerque