Anyone work on R.V. Generators?

[azdesertrhino]

We've got a little motor home and it has a Onan Emerald1 Genset generator. Never used it much but I want it running. The only way to keep it running right now is to continually manually mess with the choke. I believe I am forcing the choke closed, (choking down on the air) to keep it running. If I let go of the choke it dies. Anyone have any input before I take this thing to a repair shop?

TIA,

 

[LazarusMJ]

Are you letting the engine warm up? If you let go of the choke (let it open) and the motor dies, it could be too cold to run with that much air. Or your jetting could be off, causing a lean condition that only lets the motor run with the choke on (closed).

 

[olivedrabcj7]

my dad sells RV's and alot of them come with those generators. ive seen this problem alot on them. have you tried running it with the choke about half open until it warms up? usually you can back the choke off once its warm. if it still tries to die even after its warm then you need to re jet the carb on it.

 

[azdesertrhino]

The generator tries to die as soon as I let off the choke, cold, warm, it doesn't matter. Is re-jetting the carb (or the need to) caused by deposits in the jets or ? The thing used to run fine and then when I tried to use it a few days ago this problem arose. Could it be caused by just sitting too much?

By the way, thanks for taking the time on this off topic issue. It is much appreciated!! :wave:

 

[lesslimited]

Possibly fuel filter?

RV generators do need to be run, with a load, usually monthly.
It's also good to use some Stabil if it won't be used for a while.

When I had no-start problems with mine (also Onan Emerald) I ordered the service manual from the local distributor, and followed the troubleshooting guide and was able to determine the problem was in the ignition. Of course, rather than being the easily accessible pick-up module, my problem was the rotor, which required seperating the generator from the engine...

HTH

 

[Matthew Currie]

Could be fuel filter, bad gas or clogged jet/junk in carb. Make sure the gas is fresh, blow out the lines, and if there's a main jet needle, try opening it up a little. Sometimes just moving it a little will clear it up. If the problem persists it's worthwhile to take the float bowl off the carb and clean it out, and try to blow out the jets.

 

[azdesertrhino]

Thanks for the input, I'll check some things out tomorrow and hopefully post positive results,

 

[Goatman]

Just some thoughts here. If it sat for a long time, varnish can form, and if it formed in the jets it would choke down the amount of fuel, causing a lean condition which could be helped by partially closing off the choke. You could try cleaning the jets, or try running some strong gas cleaner through the tank first, and let it run for awhile.

 

[olivedrabcj7]

Just some thoughts here. If it sat for a long time, varnish can form, and if it formed in the jets it would choke down the amount of fuel, causing a lean condition which could be helped by partially closing off the choke. You could try cleaning the jets, or try running some strong gas cleaner through the tank first, and let it run for awhile.

my thoughts exactly.

 

[MyJeepXJ]

Just some thoughts here. If it sat for a long time, varnish can form, and if it formed in the jets it would choke down the amount of fuel, causing a lean condition which could be helped by partially closing off the choke. You could try cleaning the jets, or try running some strong gas cleaner through the tank first, and let it run for awhile.

Yet another good reason to convert it to propane. I ended up scrapping a gen due to extensive sitting damage. The next one I got, I ran it biweekly and had little problems with it.