|
09-12-2022, 06:34 PM
|
#1
|
Gone Traveling
Join Date: Aug 2022
Location: New York
Posts: 5
|
Generator problems.
Hello. I have a 5500 Onan, It wont start. It has gas and a good battery. If I spray starting fluid in it it will run as long as I keep spraying into the carb. So I know it has gas and spark.... I took the carb off and took it apart and it is clean and the orifices are clear. Air cleaner is good, both fuel filters are good I don't see anything wrong. Now.... If I prime it for about a minute it will run for a second. I pulled the fuel hose off the carb and turned it over and I do have gas coming out of the hose... Any Ideas
|
|
|
09-12-2022, 06:55 PM
|
#2
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,339
|
Sounds like the carb to me. Could be the fuel pump, but I’m leaning towards the carb.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
|
|
|
09-13-2022, 05:20 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Upper Chesapeake Bay
Posts: 4,836
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by glennaeichmann
Hello. I have a 5500 Onan, It wont start. It has gas and a good battery. If I spray starting fluid in it it will run as long as I keep spraying into the carb. So I know it has gas and spark.... I took the carb off and took it apart and it is clean and the orifices are clear. Air cleaner is good, both fuel filters are good I don't see anything wrong. Now.... If I prime it for about a minute it will run for a second. I pulled the fuel hose off the carb and turned it over and I do have gas coming out of the hose... Any Ideas
|
does it have a bowl mounted fuel cutoff solenoid? if so it may be bad or have a wiring issue for the solenoid…i have a riding mower that used to cutoff intermittently and the solenoid wire was chafed and shorting to the engine case.
__________________
2020 Cougar 315 RLS
2020 Ram 3500 6.7HO 4.10 Dually Aisin
|
|
|
09-13-2022, 09:00 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,034
|
I’d be pricing a new carb. Assuming you are running ethanol gas in it, do you run it dry after use? Are you using a fuel stabilizer?
__________________
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
|
|
|
04-04-2024, 08:15 PM
|
#5
|
Member
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: Long Beach
Posts: 49
|
Air, spark, & fuel is what you need! Once you find out which one your missing you’ll be able to hone into your issue.
__________________
2022 F-250 6.7 Powerstroke 4X4
2023 Keystone Cougar 25DBSWE
|
|
|
04-05-2024, 07:16 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Onaga, KS
Posts: 465
|
Sounds like a varnished carburetor, most likely gummed up because the fuel wasn't shut off and allowed to run dry the last time it was used. (Last Season?)
If you're mechanically inclined, get a carb rebuild kit along with a large can of carb cleaner and rebuild it. If it is varnished and gummed up, you will only need a full gasket set.
__________________
2021 Cougar 25RDS
2019 RAM 3500 Longhorn, Mega Cab, DRW,
Cummins 6.7 HO, Aisin 6 Spd HD, 4x4
|
|
|
04-05-2024, 08:14 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Germantown, TN
Posts: 6,330
|
Bypass any rebuild ideas. A new carb is the way to go with the 5500. $50 to $60 all over the ‘net.
__________________
Jim in Memphis, Wife of 51 years is Brenda
2019 F450 6.7 Powerstroke
2018 Mobile Suites 40RSSA
2021 40' Jayco Eagle
2001 Road king w/matching Harley sidecar
2021 Yamaha X2 Wolverine 1000
|
|
|
04-05-2024, 09:17 AM
|
#8
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,995
|
I agree with Jim. Based on your first post: "If I spray starting fluid in it it will run as long as I keep spraying into the carb. So I know it has gas and spark...."
If it stops running when you stop spraying, it does not have "gas" (it has ether from your spray). So, it has "air and spark", but when the ether (sub for gas) is stopped, it loses gas...
You have a plugged carb passage somewhere. If you spend the time rebuilding it and "miss that one tiny passage" you've wasted the time and expense.
Cut to the chase and just buy a replacement carb, install it and be done with it.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
04-05-2024, 09:26 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: Onaga, KS
Posts: 465
|
If there isn't already a shut off valve in the fuel line, it's recommended that you install one near the generator. Should there be any extended period that you won't be using the generator, start the generator, close the fuel shut off valve and let the engine run until it stalls out due to lack of fuel. Shut off your switch and you shouldn't have this problem again. When you need to use the generator afterwards, open the fuel shut off and start, doubt you will have any further issues with the carb.
__________________
2021 Cougar 25RDS
2019 RAM 3500 Longhorn, Mega Cab, DRW,
Cummins 6.7 HO, Aisin 6 Spd HD, 4x4
|
|
|
04-06-2024, 05:18 AM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florissant
Posts: 701
|
It seems that the float is not free to operate the fuel valve.
__________________
Skids
2019 Bullet 248RKS
|
|
|
04-06-2024, 05:24 AM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Florissant
Posts: 701
|
BTW, with some carbs, sometimes you can free up a stuck float be tapping on the carb with a screwdriver handle.
__________________
Skids
2019 Bullet 248RKS
|
|
|
04-06-2024, 06:35 AM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Cotulla, TX
Posts: 463
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasin1
does it have a bowl mounted fuel cutoff solenoid? if so it may be bad or have a wiring issue for the solenoid…i have a riding mower that used to cutoff intermittently and the solenoid wire was chafed and shorting to the engine case.
|
My 6 boys and I all have RVs with the Onan 5500 generators. There are several issues I’ve had to contend with, but I’ll focus on what I’ve found relative to the symptoms you’ve described. As mentioned above, your carb has a fuel cutoff solenoid attached. If you have fuel in the carburetor bowl, then the solenoid is not the issue. Start with that by removing it and making sure the spring and plunger move freely. If no fuel in the bowl, but fuel in the rubber hose attaching to the cutoff solenoid, then start with that by removing the cutoff solenoid and making sure the spring and plunger move freely. The solenoid sticking has presented itself twice in the family’s RV group. Assuming you have fuel in the bowl, then you have a decision to make of either replacing the carb with an OEM Onan ($400), installing a Chinese knockoff, or relying to resurrect (Easter was last week) your existing carb. I’ve had limited luck with carbs from China. Primarily the ease of starting without a lot of priming. The difficulty in starting is related to finicky choke mechanisms the China carbs seem to have. I do keep a spare China carb on hand for when time does not permit trying to fix the OEM carb. In my opinion, the OEM carb is worth trying first to fix because….it will likely work better than the China offerings. The Onan 5500 carb is flawed in that it has one internal passage that is not accessible. Immersing the carb in Sea Foam for 2 days then using high pressure air to purge all visible openings would be your first try. I still have a container from years back of Gunk® carb cleaner that I use. It’s not the spray can type you find now, but if you can find it, it comes in a gallon size can and employs a metal basket that holds the disassembled carb parts that are then immersed in the solution. If you can successfully remove the blockage in that hidden passageway, you will have the best starting and running generator. I suspect there are forum members out there that have managed to get one of the China carbs that work properly. After 3 tries I’m not one of them.
__________________
Mesa, AZ
2019 Alpine FL3700
2020 F-350 King Ranch
Retired Fire Capt/paramedic 34 yrs
Current owner 2 HVAC companies
Past owner Res/Com electrical
|
|
|
04-06-2024, 07:44 AM
|
#13
|
Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: Duluth
Posts: 68
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by glennaeichmann
hello. I have a 5500 onan, it wont start. It has gas and a good battery. If i spray starting fluid in it it will run as long as i keep spraying into the carb. So i know it has gas and spark.... I took the carb off and took it apart and it is clean and the orifices are clear. Air cleaner is good, both fuel filters are good i don't see anything wrong. Now.... If i prime it for about a minute it will run for a second. I pulled the fuel hose off the carb and turned it over and i do have gas coming out of the hose... Any ideas
|
origanal post is sept 2022
__________________
2018 Keystone Springdale SS 202QB
2016 Chevy 2500 HD CC LTZ 6.6 Duramax
|
|
|
04-06-2024, 08:52 AM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,462
|
Crud can get into your fuel shutoff solenoid as has been pointed out. Cleaning the solenoid isn't a bad idea. BTW: Carb dip will destroy anything rubber in a carburetor so take care to only dip parts that are metal. It will also (generally) not clean internal passages; a welder's wire and compressed air and perhaps a can of spray cleaner will do the job. One issue with small engine carburetor is that if you remove the bowl, the oring that seals the bowl to body will often be distended and not want to return. Perhaps have a new bowl oring on hand. Lots of folks swear by Sea Foam products but I have not found any of them useful. Be it spray or stuff you pour in your gas. Stabil is what I use in my gas cans which I use to power my small engine stuff (lawn mower and lawn tractor).
Can't say I disagree about Chinese knock off carburetors but I always keep one or two spares in the even that the knock off carburetor on my old clunker riding mower has carb issues. Not really worth cleaning as they are less than $20 or so.
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
|
|
|
04-06-2024, 10:15 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: East Valley, AZ
Posts: 171
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don77
origanal post is sept 2022
|
LOL...gotta love it!
I belong to a couple forums where threads 10 yrs or older get resurrected.
Still good info sometimes come from them but it's still funny!
__________________
Raptor Dave
It's not camping...It's an adventure!
|
|
|
04-06-2024, 06:45 PM
|
#16
|
Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,995
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor Dave
LOL...gotta love it!
I belong to a couple forums where threads 10 yrs or older get resurrected.
Still good info sometimes come from them but it's still funny!
|
The date of the thread is the first thing I usually check... This time I hadn't and, well, once again, we're all reviewing a previous issue from some time ago... So, yep, we probably won't be "helping the OP", but...
It's still good information for someone with an Onan generator, or with a riding lawn mower that's been in storage over the winter.... Spring means lots of small engine equipment and every one of them has a carb to contend with....
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|