COMPUTER_PALL
HAWLEY, MN
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Joined: 10/13/2004
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Cleaning up the house vacuum cleaner out by the garage the other day when I decided to use it to vacuum the floor in the MH setting nearby. No shore power available, so I just fired up the genset, plugged the vacuum in & proceeded to vacuum the floor. About 15 seconds into that, the genset dies, as if somebody had hit the off switch. When I hit the start button again, there was no response. Went out to the genset to use the start button there, still no response. There are 2 5amp fuse holders right by the start button, F1 & F2(IGN). The F1 fuse is fine, but the F2 fuse is broke. Checked all the wires in and around the genset and everything looked perfectly normal, so I replaced the fuse and hit the start button again. No response of any sort. Checked the F2 fuse again and it is broke again.
Now something has changed and is causing a dead short in the starting circuit and caused the genset to shut down. All the external wiring looks perfectly normal, no loose connections, no burnt ends. I'm no electrician, especially 12V, so I'm at a loss as to where to even begin testing. This is a 1984 vintage 6.5 Onan genset. Any ideas?
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enblethen
Moses Lake, WA USA
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Joined: 01/05/2005
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Start by disconnecting the remote start cable.
Could be a bad switch.
This will show whether problem is the circuit board in the genset or the remote switch and or cable.
Search here for Gunny357. He is very sharp on gensets.
Bud
Suzuki XL7 pushing Pace Arrow
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TEXAS
Centerville Tx
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Joined: 08/17/2003
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Unhook the battery power from the genset. Look in the bottom of the control box. You should see two relays.Check for lose screws touching the relay connections. Very common if you have the genset I think you have. Post model and serial number.
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COMPUTER_PALL
HAWLEY, MN
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TEXAS wrote: Post model and serial number.
65NH-3CR16020P
C843759018
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Generator Jim
Conway, SC
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Joined: 07/16/2005
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In addition to what TEXAS said, look on either side of the start solenoid toward the top of the control compartment and see if any of the small 1/4 " cap screws (bolts) are missing.
If so, disconnect the battery and get a dentists' mirror and a magnet and hunt around until you find it. When you find it screw it back in and put a double star washer under the bolt head.
Vibration in these older units can back out the panel mounting screws and they fall into the relay wires. Once in a while the "nuts" that are 'spin welded' to the generator frame will break off and go missing. If so, I strongly suggest that you get a couple of small pieces of sheet metal and remove the upper generator thru bolt and install the sheet metal on either side of the control panel. Use small bolts WITH LOCK WASHERS to attach the control panel to the sheet metal. There were originally four spin welded "nuts" on the generator frame. Two at the top on either side of the solenoid and two holding the fuel pump on under the control panel.
JimL
* This post was
edited 08/09/08 06:41pm by Generator Jim *
Jim & Jane Latour
08 Chevy 3500HD, crew cab, dually, Duramax/Allison
05 Wilderness Advantage AX6 365 BSQS, Onan 3.6KY
Retired AF CMS (E9) Power Generation and Onan RV genset Level III tech
Grand Strand Sams
Blog.rv.net
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TEXAS
Centerville Tx
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Jim I see you have that fun also.
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Generator Jim
Conway, SC
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Hi Billy
I've been working generators (ONAN and others) since 1957. My former partner Bruce Schaefer said that he and I have forgotten more than the 'youngsters' know.
It sounds like you are also an active or former ONAN tech. If so, welcome to the bunch along with kg5338 and gunny and a few others.
I've been off the forum and the blog for a while due to a bout with bladder cancer but I'm starting to take an interest in my surroundings again.
JimL
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TEXAS
Centerville Tx
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Jim I worked for Cat from 1973 until 1980. Then went to work for Onan until I was fired by Cummins in 2007. I cared more about helping customers than getting their money big no-no. So now Iam on the disabled list and retired and enjoy helping out when I can. Do not know it all so I also learn with everyone else.
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TEXAS
Centerville Tx
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Joined: 08/17/2003
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Jim I also know about the cancer. Just found out I have bone cancer in my knees and legs. The doc says five to six years maybe.So we shall see. I refuse to go through chemo,saw my father go through that not a pleasant thing.
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COMPUTER_PALL
HAWLEY, MN
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TEXAS wrote:Unhook the battery power from the genset. Look in the bottom of the control box. You should see two relays.Check for lose screws touching the relay connections. Very common if you have the genset I think you have. Post model and serial number.
Thanks, TEXAS. In a previous repair I did recently on the genset, I dropped a small nut into the control box and couldn't find it without taking the whole box apart, so I figured it would just vibrate off into a corner somewhere and not bother anything. WRONG. Based on your advice, I started taking that box apart and suddenly that little nut fell out. Put it all back together and everything works again like it should. You saved me a lot of needless testing. I'll be back.
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