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08-18-2019, 06:43 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Okeechobee
Posts: 13
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Generator surging
Hi, have a 2018 Raptor TH with Onan generator, 48 hrs on it...very rarely used...dry Camping for 2 days, turn it on for an hour no problem, then it started surging? Bad gas maybe?
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08-18-2019, 07:30 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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We had one in a motorhome that would do that. The problem was that the fuel line was located too close to the exhaust system. When the generator was first started and on relatively cool days, never a problem. As the daytime temps rose and the heat around the generator increased (from the exhaust not being properly vented I think) the fuel in the fuel line would vaporize and starve the carburetor. Once that surging started, it was "shut 'er down" and wait for the fuel line to cool off before it would run again.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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08-18-2019, 09:39 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 457
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I have an older 5500w generator that surges when it does not have a large enough load on it. Works fine with the AC or heat on, but if it’s only charging he batteries, sometimes it surges. When that happens, I add some load for a bit and it seems to settle down and run better.
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08-18-2019, 10:46 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Okeechobee
Posts: 13
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Load?? What does that mean
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08-19-2019, 01:30 AM
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#5
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Site Team | Emeritus
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 3,878
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank3132
Load?? What does that mean
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Load is the electric draw placed on the generator. AC, water heater, etc.
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Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Impact 312
2017 Silverado 3500HD SRW
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08-19-2019, 03:12 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Kingston
Posts: 295
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Mine surges under low load conditions as well.
It was worse before I discovered and slightly adjusted the altitude adjustment screw (while it was surging). It's better now but not perfect.
The adjustment screw is really just a mixture (air to fuel ratio) screw, and I believe enriching the ratio helped.
The screw adjustment is fairly obvious, but if needed, I could go out and get a picture for you.
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2013 Raptor 310ts Toy Hauler
2017 Dodge Ram 6.7l CTD DRW Laramie Longhorn
2008 FLHTC Harley.
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08-19-2019, 03:16 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Okeechobee
Posts: 13
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Yes please, our altitude is higher now, we just arrived at our Tennessee property
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08-19-2019, 03:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Kingston
Posts: 295
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Ok, here is a couple of pictures.
If you have never removed the front cover, grasp firmly at the top and pull out, then lift off.
Do not run your generator for long with the cover removed, as it will over heat.
I also added a can of Sea Foam to the fuel tank.
__________________
2013 Raptor 310ts Toy Hauler
2017 Dodge Ram 6.7l CTD DRW Laramie Longhorn
2008 FLHTC Harley.
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08-19-2019, 11:01 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 457
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Ill try adjusting my mixture also, thank you!
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08-21-2019, 03:48 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,034
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There's a YouTube out there about using a rich mixture of SeaFoam to clean the carb on a RV generator. Might search that.
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2018 Ram 3500 Laramie CC DRW LWB 4X4 Cummins Aisin 3.73
Reese Goosebox 20K
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4 LB Cabover
2023 CanAm Defender SXS
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08-21-2019, 04:16 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Dade City
Posts: 1,039
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If your unit has a fuel filter, change it. Where is the unit pulling fuel from? Is there a tank strainer? I have had units(In Class A MH) that the intake screen would plug and had to blow compressed air through it to clear the line. With todays ethanol blended fuel setting over the winter is not good.
I just looked at your location, can you get real gas down there? Marine Gas? Everything runs better on 100% real Gasoline.
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08-22-2019, 03:28 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,034
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Yes, if you can get non ethanol gas, use that. I would add a stabilizer with non ethanol for sure. I've used Startron with good results. Chevron has started selling Techron Marine Stabilizer and I used that the last time I re fueled the bay boat. Found it at AutoZone.
If there is any way to drain the tank, do that. Might have to take the hose off the carb.
I live near Houston, the refining epicenter of the universe, and non ethanol gas can't be sold here because we're in a EPA non attainment zone, because we are the refining epicenter of the universe.
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2018 Ram 3500 Laramie CC DRW LWB 4X4 Cummins Aisin 3.73
Reese Goosebox 20K
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4 LB Cabover
2023 CanAm Defender SXS
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08-22-2019, 06:22 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Home, Idaho
Posts: 3,015
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Seafoam is your friend. I’d run a mix of it year round .. keeps carb and eng clean. Best stuff you’ll ever use
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2007 GMC Classic club cab 4x4 Duramax LBZ
2014 Alpine 3010 RE. 34 foot fifth wheel
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08-22-2019, 08:07 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,467
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My business is vintage Japanese motorcycle carburetors. The corn oil they slop into gas has been a boon for me! A bike can sit up for a month and the pilot jet can clog. I don't know a thing about Onan gennies but on my Champion, the carb is similar in design to a lawn mower carb. The main jet is on the bottom of the float bowl and when a lawn mower or my Champion gennie won't start or runs really rough, I take off the bowl and clean the main jet with a wire tool (I think these are from welders tool kits to clean tips) and some carb spray and all is good as new. The surging can also be the fuel line too near a heat source or a clogged fuel filter. It isn't easy to drain the gas tank on a generator and stuff collects.
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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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08-22-2019, 10:16 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 306
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An added note. Don't fill the tank with fuel then leave it sit forever as old/bad fuel sucks on carburetors or really on fuel injection systems too. Use SeaFoam. Great stuff. Should help.
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2020 GMC 3500 Denali Dually Duramax 6.6
2013 Fuzion 342 ToyHauler (Ours)
2011 Harley Davidson Streetglide custom (Mine)
2012 Harley Davidson TriGlide (Trike) (Hers)
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08-22-2019, 02:00 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,034
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I would try to siphon the gas out and refill only when you know you will use it. Run the engine to totally empty the tank. You might see if you can mount a marine water/fuel separator in the gen space. Use only a Yamaha filter element, not a Sierra.
I have slipped a much bigger rubber hose over a fuel hose to help insulate it from engine heat.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie CC DRW LWB 4X4 Cummins Aisin 3.73
Reese Goosebox 20K
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4 LB Cabover
2023 CanAm Defender SXS
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08-29-2019, 12:00 PM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: magnolia,tx
Posts: 34
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I have a 5.5 kw Onan with less than 100 hrs. Always ran it monthly with load as manual says. No load it started surging. I tried sea foam, carb cleaner, adjusting the mixture screw, and I disassembled it three times to clean it. I did find junk and gunk in the bottom of the bowl but nothing worked. Bought and installed a new carb and it runs as smooth as brand new. I read in several places that new carb is only thing that would fix the surging but didn't believe it. After many hrs of frustrating work on the carb I am now a believer. I also always treat the fuel in the tank.
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2017 Momentum 388 TH
2017 F350 DRW
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08-30-2019, 08:23 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
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All good advice, I would first check the oil level. I had same problem last year and found the level was around 1 or 2 oz. low after running the genny for maybe 20 hours. I have repaired or replaced many small engine carbs, this current gas we use does not last long and should not be left any the carb. When a engine does not run right I automatically suspect fuel/carb, but check the oil level.
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2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
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