Onan clunking on start up

Kelpiesgmc

Kelpiesgmc

Active member
Aug 19, 2023
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Tucson Az
My Onan has been making a weird clanking/pinging noise right as it starts. Noise lasts for half a second and after that it runs great.

Anyone have any idea what that sound is?

(I recently replaced the starter bracket and had the starter rebuilt.)
 

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I would start with the starter gear/flywheel ring alignment. Perhaps loosen the starter bolts on its bracket and rotate it as far away from the flywheel as possible and see if that makes any difference. I think what you are hearing is the flywheel trying to throw the starter gear back onto it shaft as the engine takes off and the two of them may be mated a little too tightly.

Also, I recommend you obtain and install the gasket that goes around the oil filter otherwise your cooling airflow is compromised.
 
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Reactions: Kelpiesgmc and dsmithy
Follow up: I was able to fix the clunking on start up. It turns out there is some play in how the starter motor attaches to the bracket ( new Ragusa bracket). I loosened the bolts and shifted it towards the flywheel and retightened the bolts and it took all that clunking sounds away!
 
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Reactions: Don Jaksa
Carl Stouffer said:
It might be a good idea to replace the rubber donut mounts as well. They settle over time and can cause the starter bracket to break, among other things.
Click to expand...
I actually had to replace them just to get the Onan to slide into the compartment. They were so compressed that the starter bracket would hit. I suspect that's why the starter bracket was broken when I bought the coach.
 
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Reactions: Carl Stouffer
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