Ed Kennell 41,706 #1 Posted February 11, 2014 I have an Onan 2500w RV generator that will not start. Is it OK to look for help here, or should I go to the non tractor forum ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #2 Posted February 11, 2014 Anyone out there ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelly 1,033 #3 Posted February 11, 2014 You check the basic's gas, and spark ?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #4 Posted February 12, 2014 Thanks Kelly. I inherited this generator that has not been run for 5+ years so with the outages here I tried to get it running. It has some spark, but not enough to fire the plug. It had a Champion H-8 when I got it . I put in a new plug that crossed to ..Autolite 4316.Still won't fire the plug. I now pulled the flywheel and checked the points...they are set at 0.019". I cleaned up the surface of the magneto and magnets, but they looked pretty good. I will put in a new condenser, but am wondering if there is anything else I can check before reassembly. I have not done anything with the fuel yet, need fire at the plug first. Any way to check the magneto ?? All help and comments are welcomed. If not, I guess I'll put her back together with a new condenser and hope I get fire. Points and magneto Magneto surface ID Plate Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gehosky c-125 2 #5 Posted February 12, 2014 Make sure your spacing on the magneto to the fly wheel are correct. also i had same problem with my kohler k301 12hp points looked ok but with cover was of to the points and i turned motor over the spark was real weak changed the points and was good to go Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shorts 182 #6 Posted February 12, 2014 Go back to the basic's, pull the points and clean them, check that the contacts are clean also the mount plate, clean all of the electrical connections and mount plate with a wire brush or piece of emery paper. do the same with the coil and it's mounting bracket also check the coil for continuity and the integrity of the case insulation. reassemble and set the points and coil to flywheel gap. GROUNDS are important in magneto ignitions. If you don't have access to an Onan manual, use what ever small engine manual you have, the basic's and theory is all the same, the mag's are either R.E.Phelon or Wico based Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #7 Posted February 12, 2014 How do you set the mag gap and what should it be? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #8 Posted February 12, 2014 I mean I see the coil position screws and slots, but how do you set or measure the gap with the flywheel in place....it covers everything. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH nut 553 #9 Posted February 12, 2014 When you say it has weak spark, are you seeing spark at the plugs. If so I would put it together and give it a shot of carb cleaner or starting fluid and see if she pops off. then go from there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #10 Posted February 12, 2014 No spark at the plug. If I hold the plug wire against the block, I can see a little fire. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldredrider 2,553 #11 Posted February 12, 2014 Sounds like your points need a good cleaning with Emory cloth. They will get oxidized after sitting a long time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WH nut 553 #12 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Next thing you need to do is lick your fingers and turn it over while holding the bare plug wire. If it curls your toes the plugs are bad. Edited February 13, 2014 by WH nut 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shorts 182 #13 Posted February 13, 2014 Ed, after looking closer at the picture, it appears that the coil is mounted to the points baseplate and that when you adjust the points the coil goes along for the ride, not adjustable like on a mag with the coil on the outside of the magnet that creates the field that collapses when the points make contact. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #14 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) Ed, after looking closer at the picture, it appears that the coil is mounted to the points baseplate and that when you adjust the points the coil goes along for the ride, not adjustable like on a mag with the coil on the outside of the magnet that creates the field that collapses when the points make contact. Actually the coil baseplate is adjustable by loosening the two screws in the slots in the baseplate. I think this baseplate is adjusted to set the timing and the coil / flywheel magnet gap. The part I don't get is there is no way to access the screws or the gap with the flywheel in place. Yes, the points are attached to the coil baseplate but the points gap is also adjustable separately by small screw in the points assembly. Adjusting the points is not a problem, as they can be adjusted with the flywheel removed. Edited February 13, 2014 by ekennell Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #15 Posted February 13, 2014 (edited) I searched Google for Onan generator sets, and found a forum called "SMOKSTAK" that has a good section on these generators. I just received a manual for this unit. This should help. But I think I'll be busy movin snow for a few days before I get back to the ONAN to all who offered help. I will report back when I try some of your suggestions and get her back together. ROCKS Edited February 14, 2014 by ekennell Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shorts 182 #16 Posted February 13, 2014 Don't over do with the snow project! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #17 Posted February 15, 2014 Got the 20"+ snow under control for the moment, So I worked on the Onan this morning. I cleaned and set the points to 0.19" , cleaned the coil and magnet surfaces, cleaned all the wire lugs and ground surfaces, and one of the lugs fell of the coil wire as I was cleaning it. This loose lug could have been most of the problem. I didn't loosen the coil mounting plate as I could not see any way to check or set the coil / magnet gap with the flywheel in place. So I just put the flywheel back on, cranked her over , and I got enough fire at the plug to run her on kerosene. Thanks for all the help....She's not running yet, but I'm sure I can do what needs to be done to get fuel (I'll use gasoline) into her and light her up. I'll let you know when she's makin power. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 41,706 #18 Posted February 17, 2014 Got the new fuel line and tank hooked up today. cleaned the bowl , strainer, and jets. Put a pint of gas in and gave her a shot of starter fluid and hit the start switch. She fired up and ran rough for about 30 sec. , then smoothed out and purred like a Happy Onan. Plugged some lights in and she lit-em up. The Idle-matic setting even works. In this setting, If there is no load, a solenoid pulls the throttle back to idle speed. When the Gen. sees a load, the solenoid drops out and lets her go back to 3600revs. Bring on the power outages..... we got ONAN. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
