Life expectancy of Onan generator?

[jim kanomata1]

Since were a Onan dealer, they teach us to run the generator for 20 min.
every other month.

> Don't get me wrong, I'm fairly happy with the honda. It is only 2 pole so
> weighs 216 lbs vs over 400 for the Onan. I was shocked that it was so loud
> being water cooled and all. It has two fans, One on the radiator and one
> on the end of the engine like a lawnmower engine. That fan blows air through
> a heat shield which encloses the exhaust to cool it. Kinda cool. Probably
> a safety feature. I built the door on the compartment to honda's specs which
> draws the air across the carb and fuel pump to cool them.
>
> The lower weight helps since I have it in the same place the GMC had it,
> behind the rear axles. BUT. You have to run the honda at least every 3-4
> weeks or the carb clogs up from the crappy fuel. The Carb is the only
> thing you CANNOT work on without pulling the genset out. Had I known this,
> I
> would have designed a sealed door on the top of the compartment when I
> fabbed it. May still do that If I pull it again for any reason.
>
> I have a calendar reminder to check the battery level and run the genny
> every 3 weeks... Probably not a bad idea for any Genset.
> --
> -Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
> Scottsdale, AZ
> 77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
> 2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
>
> Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
>
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[Matt Colie]

> Since were a Onan dealer, they teach us to run the generator for 20 min.
> every other month.

Yeah,
I bet that they do.
Let me tell you all about that over ice cream some time.
Suffice it to say that as an engine guy and once a ship's electrician, I wouldn't.
This is not to say I would ignore it. Far from, but there are better things to do.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
Now with both true Keyless and remote entry
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[johnny]

I run mine every couple of weeks loaded for a minimum half hour. On our big sets, half an hour loaded a week. Clessie would of been proud. They
need to get up to operating temperature for a while. It also helps to turn the fuel every couple of years.
One of the problems FEMA has is their gensets. They want a week of operation, which means several thousand gallons of diesel in a tank. Even with
reasonable set testing, they never turn the fuel. Consequently, they either have to have the fuel refiltered (they don't) or end up with sets which
won't run in an emergency (which happens to them regularly). Delta committed the same effup at Hartsfield the other week, which cost them some
several millions in missed flights and unmeasured loss of loyalty. They cranked and ran the set regularly, but never tested the dwitchgear. It
didn't when the chips were down.
What this leads up to is, the only true test of your coach genset is to fire it up, and then turn on all the electrics you use and run them for a
stretch of time. hgalf an hour or an hour will do - the set will reach operating temp and run there a while. If you have to use alcohol laced
gasoline in your Onan, I'd suggest a shutoff valve in the fuel line. After use or when you're going to park the coach for the winter, turn the fuel
off and let the set run dry.

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.

"Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon

 

[a.]

> ...If you have to use alcohol laced gasoline in your Onan, I'd suggest a shutoff valve in the fuel line. After use or when you're going to park
> the coach for the winter, turn the fuel off and let the set run dry.
That won't get it out of the pump, where it caused the most "damage" to mine. Some of it was self inflicted. I was pretty sure the shellac in the gas
had cemented the parts in the pump together. But I bungled the dis-assembly and mucked up the check valve at the bottom.

It took a week of soaking in acetone to free up the piston. Which ate up the cover gasket.

I had to have a good Samaritan here send me his old pump so I could scavenge the check valve and gasket to get it operational.
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Highest price does not guarantee highest quality."