Onan tips and reading lamps??

[ralph d. edelbach]

When we bought our '74 Glacier in January, the 4 KW Onan started
from both inside control panel and by using the start switch on
the unit. A few weeks ago I tried and didn't have any luck. Same
problem yesterday.

Symptoms: Upon depressing the start switch on the unit, I get a
few seconds of a soft, dull clicking sounds which stops even though
the start switch is still depressed. If the switch is released and
pressed for a second time or more, the noise occurs again. After
charging the battery last night, it is doing the same thing this morning.

Since I'm planning on taking it to the vintage sports car races
at Summit Point, West Virginia in a few weeks and they have no hookups,
I'd like to have power if possible. If not, I'm still going but will
have to rough-it a bit more. Just like the "goode olde days."

Looking at the GMC maintenance manual, I see how to checkout the "no
cranking" condition by jumping various terminals on the PC board and
I will do that in the few days but I assume the noise is either the
fuel pump starting and then shutting off since the carb float chamber
is probably full or the fuel solenoid valve opening as I'm
attempting to crank the unit.

Any other "hot" tips to look at if the terminal jumping doesn't
work?? Thanks for the info.

I'm also searching for some small goose-neck reading lamps that I
can mount in different places to help the old eyes see better. I know
they must be out there somewhere but I haven't been able to find any
since I started looking. Sources??????

 

[none]

- -----Original Message-----
From: Ralph Edelbach
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Thursday, April 30, 1998 4:52 AM
Subject: GMC: Onan tips and reading lamps??

>When we bought our '74 Glacier in January, the 4 KW Onan started from both
inside control panel and by using the start switch on the unit. A few weeks
ago I tried and didn't have any luck. Same problem yesterday.
>
>Symptoms: Upon depressing the start switch on the unit, I get a few seconds
of a soft, dull clicking sounds which stops even though the start switch is
still depressed. If the switch is released and pressed for a second time or
more, the noise occurs again. After charging the battery last night, it is
doing the same thing this morning.
>
>Since I'm planning on taking it to the vintage sports car races at Summit
Point, West Virginia in a few weeks and they have no hookups, I'd like to
have power if possible. If not, I'm still going but will have to rough-it a
bit more. Just like the "goode olde days."
>
>Looking at the GMC maintenance manual, I see how to checkout the "no
cranking" condition by jumping various terminals on the PC board and I will
do that in the few days but I assume the noise is either the fuel pump
starting and then shutting off since the carb float chamber is probably full
or the fuel solenoid valve opening as I'm
>attempting to crank the unit.
>
>Any other "hot" tips to look at if the terminal jumping doesn't work??
Thanks for the info.
>
>I'm also searching for some small goose-neck reading lamps that I can mount
in different places to help the old eyes see better. I know they must be out
there somewhere but I haven't been able to find any since I started looking.
Sources??????
>
>Ralph..........First thing, check the battery terminals and make sure
they're tight. Check and make sure you've got a good ground. It could be as
simple as this! Take a look at the small high intensity reading lamps in the
stores or even garage sales. They all have a transformer that reduces 110 to
12 volts. Throw the transformer and base away and mount the rest of the lamp
anywhere you need it. They even come in different colors to co-ordinate with
your GMC. Jim Davis sivad
>
>

 

[thomas g. warner]

sounds like either a dead battery or bad starter solenoid.

>When we bought our '74 Glacier in January, the 4 KW Onan started from both
inside control panel and by using the start switch on the unit. A few weeks
ago I tried and didn't have any luck. Same problem yesterday.
>
>Symptoms: Upon depressing the start switch on the unit, I get a few seconds
of a soft, dull clicking sounds which stops even though the start switch is
still depressed. If the switch is released and pressed for a second time or
more, the noise occurs again. After charging the battery last night, it is
doing the same thing this morning.
>
>Since I'm planning on taking it to the vintage sports car races at Summit
Point, West Virginia in a few weeks and they have no hookups, I'd like to
have power if possible. If not, I'm still going but will have to rough-it a
bit more. Just like the "goode olde days."
>
>Looking at the GMC maintenance manual, I see how to checkout the "no
cranking" condition by jumping various terminals on the PC board and I will
do that in the few days but I assume the noise is either the fuel pump
starting and then shutting off since the carb float chamber is probably full
or the fuel solenoid valve opening as I'm
>attempting to crank the unit.
>
>Any other "hot" tips to look at if the terminal jumping doesn't work??
Thanks for the info.
>
>I'm also searching for some small goose-neck reading lamps that I can mount
in different places to help the old eyes see better. I know they must be out
there somewhere but I haven't been able to find any since I started looking.
Sources??????
>
>
>
>
>

 

[russ bethel]

Had a similar situation today. Found that I was not getting steady voltage
from the battery to the Onan. I replaced the battery cable to the Onan and
everything was fine as far as cranking. I could not get it to start though
and found that the points had corroded. After changing the points and
condenser everything worked fine.

Russ Bethel
1976 Glenbrook
- -----Original Message-----
From: Ralph Edelbach
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Thursday, April 30, 1998 6:36 AM
Subject: GMC: Onan tips and reading lamps??

>When we bought our '74 Glacier in January, the 4 KW Onan started from both
inside control panel and by using the start switch on the unit. A few weeks
ago I tried and didn't have any luck. Same problem yesterday.
>
>Symptoms: Upon depressing the start switch on the unit, I get a few seconds
of a soft, dull clicking sounds which stops even though the start switch is
still depressed. If the switch is released and pressed for a second time or
more, the noise occurs again. After charging the battery last night, it is
doing the same thing this morning.
>
>Since I'm planning on taking it to the vintage sports car races at Summit
Point, West Virginia in a few weeks and they have no hookups, I'd like to
have power if possible. If not, I'm still going but will have to rough-it a
bit more. Just like the "goode olde days."
>
>Looking at the GMC maintenance manual, I see how to checkout the "no
cranking" condition by jumping various terminals on the PC board and I will
do that in the few days but I assume the noise is either the fuel pump
starting and then shutting off since the carb float chamber is probably full
or the fuel solenoid valve opening as I'm
>attempting to crank the unit.
>
>Any other "hot" tips to look at if the terminal jumping doesn't work??
Thanks for the info.
>
>I'm also searching for some small goose-neck reading lamps that I can mount
in different places to help the old eyes see better. I know they must be out
there somewhere but I haven't been able to find any since I started looking.
Sources??????
>
>
>