Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Buy it.....They are very quiet. They made about 3 different styles of mufflers and you would need a below the floor mount for a trailer.

They run at 1800 rpm and that helps keep the sound down and is also why they lasted a very long time usually. They can go for thousands of hours with proper service. Sounds like you found a good one but it should be run tested....

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Thanks for your help on this, one last question can you tell me the age of unit by these numbers.
model # 4.0BGE-1R/26100E
Serial # J870G.

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

The newer machines have the build date as the first 4 numbers of the serial number.

J-87 may be the month and year.....but I am not sure on that.

Oct. 1987...possibly

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

looking at a used onan model 4BGEFA 26100J ---says he has been having problems starting the unit also when he had it last running the engine would rev up then go down then rev up again---- not much to go on but any ideas on a fix & is this a good unit??? Price is almost a steal but do not want to buy a money pit either-- whats a fair price on a used one--- Thanx & Regards FED 387

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Just a follow up on my problems with an Onan 10K generator.

The generator would run for around 30 minutes and shut down. Code was always 36. We checked fuel flow and fuel pump power which was fine. Finally I shook the E1 fuel pump wire on the circuit board connector and it shut off. Checked connector and it was good. Checked the board connections and they were tight.

What is happening is the vibration from the generator is causing a connection issue on the board. Needs a board but they are $800.

So I decided to wire around the fuel pump circuit and put a separate wire to power the pump. If I had more time I would have wired it into the relays already inside the sheet metal but it appears everything is run off grounding not positive signal.

Here is what I did, put a small switch on the dash next to the generator start switch. Pulled power from the lighter circuit and put another fuse in line. Ran the wire down to the generator and connected to the fuel pump wire. So when I start the generator I also flip the switch on the fuel pump circuit. Now runs all day no more problems. Total amount the fix was $15.

When you shut off the generator you just flip the fuel pump circuit off also. Even if you don't it will still shut off.

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Don the fuel pump power circuit on many Onan PC boards has this same problem. I have replaced countless A-1 controllers as that is what Onan calls them.

They routinely run for some time and than shutdown.....and may or may not restart. Diesels as well as gas engine units.

Your solution is fine....but obviously you have to remember to shut off the pump switch.

Sometimes the pin connections are the problem but more often it is internal to the PC board....heat seems to be the problem....The hotter it is out the more likely they are to fail.....

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Yes they are good units but older. They have not made those for well over 10 years. Unstable engines are almost always a carb issue. Dirt inside it will cause problems. They are also very sensitive to adjustments of the mixture as well as the governor mechanism.....

Like all small engines....if they sit with gas in them and are not used you are going to have problems....It is a very common problem and adding fuel stabilizer is not always going to prevent this issue.

There is no way to say if it is worth buying without seeing it and doing an evaluation of what it may need.

Looks tell a lot but sometimes they don't look all that good but work fine. Sometimes they look good but have serious problems that would be costly to repair.

Get it running.....try to stabilize it....see if it has normal AC output....Go from there...

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

I have a motorhome with a Guardian RV 5500 gas generator by Generac and it is leaking oil. It sounds fine but the oil runs out in a stream. The generator only has 198 hrs. Any ideas. Thanks, Bob

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Thanks guys for this forum! I have noticed that you recommend replacing the fuel pump and fuel filter in many of your fixes. Where do we get parts for the Onan generators? Do local parts stores carry them? Jim


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Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

I am replacing a generator that had its own internal "chassis" battery charger. Its battery was totaly isolated from the rest of the trailers "house" batterys which was powering up the 1600 watt power invertor and the 12 lighting tasks of the trailer. We are now installing a onan 6K 6HDKAH-1044K quiet diesel gen set. Do I need to run some type of power isolater from the "house" batterys to the "chassis" battery keep the chassis battery charged to run the generator fuel pump and starting system? Thanks Bill

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Bill......On that model battery charging output is an option. It would have had to be ordered with B183 which is a 10 amp battery charging output.

The ID label shows a lot of info and I would look there to see if B183 is listed anywhere. If not the only other way to tell if it has battery charging is to run it and put a voltmeter on the battery after it is running. Battery voltage should rise if it does. If it does not it will slowly drop.


If it does not have that option you have to make other provisions to charge the generator battery. Motorhomes and RV's often have a DC converter and they use that to charge the battery.

If you do not have battery charging and want to isolate the generator and it's battery from the rest of the RV all you need to do is add a small external type automotive charger that runs on 120 volts and is connected to the battery. Any small charger with a 5-10 amp output will work.

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Nobody? Anybody know where to get Onan genset parts? Jim

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Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Jim, Cummins owns Onan or vice-versa. You should be able to find a Cummins dealer locally. I got some parts from Cummins Jacksonville one time when we on the road moving a boat. They have several lacations, some are down in the middle of the state.

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Thanks Painter. Jim

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Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

And dig real deep in your pockets --Onan replacement part prices are EXORBITANT !!!!! Your gonna need the title to your car ,pick of the litter and your first born to buy even the smallest part!!!! My experience it was cheaper to buy a non running gen and take off the part I needed---- it was a small carb choke spring and choke plate and then turn around and sell the gen for what I paid for it!!! ended up getting the parts for free---FED 387

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Onan 10K Diesel Generator. What (in hours) is the lifespan of these units / when do they get to the point where they start having the kind of problems. Where its better to replace the unit rather than fix it? Just asking out of curosiusity as mine only has around 1200 hours on it. For future reference.
Thanks

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

I have seen them with 20,000 hours on them. Most need fairly expensive generator related parts around 10,000 hours. New ones are $10,500 so fixing them is a good idea.

Engines are good for as long as you take care of them.

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

I have not seen any Onan Diesel RV units with more than about 8-10 thousand hours myself. They generally don't get used anywhere near that many hours for most owners. Yes the generator ends will likely need parts or repairs more than the engines. If you service the engine regularly and do preventative maintenance it will usually not fail. I have seen deterioration of the generator ends from weathering and just age. Engines are Kubotas or Isuzus and very reliable. 8-10-12 kw Onans are very good units and give thousands of hours of service.

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

OK thanks guys. My plan is to trade my toter before it gets too much age on it and starts giving me problems.Right now its still like brand new. So I really just needed to know for future reference. Mines got the Kubota engine. Ive been changing oil, oil filter and fuel filter every 200 hours or less sometimes and before the off season. Have not had a bit of trouble with it. Now the gas powered generator that was in my old trailer before I got the stacker I have now. That was a POS from day 1. LOL Never having one of those again. LOL

Re: Generator Questions and Answers, by R&J Control Inc
 

Don I was doing a search and seen this old thread. Did you replace the fuel pump on your 10k onan and do you remember how it came out was it difficult ?

If you could e-mail me at 1952rrc@gmail.com regarding I would appreciate it

Re: Generator Questions
 

Great thread/THANKS guys.Just curious what the life of a generator is,before it needs rebuilding /replacing.I just purchased a 2005 diesel pusher
with a Onan 7500 generator in it with about 1000 hrs.Never owned one before.

Re: Generator Questions
 

With a Diesel Onan as long as you keep good oil changes with a quality oil and filter, give it plenty of fresh air/don't over heat it, chances are it may out live you. What hurts a gen set is sitting. They like to be run with a load.

I have seen a few with over 7500hrs personally. I don't think 15K would be out of the question if maintained.