Onan Generator Stops Running

[WaltandLynne]

I went to the coach to exercise the generator today. I haven't done it since the spring (I've been away at Boy Scout camp and couldn't do it sooner). The battery was dead. I jumped the generator from my truck directly to the generator battery lugs. After a few seconds of cranking, the generator started and I unhooked the jumper cables and was putting them away when the generator stopped. I thought perhaps there was no fuel, so I checked. Both tanks are relatively full, but I switched tanks anyway. I re-hooked the jumper cables and it started again. I thought, "Great, I fixed the problem". As I was putting the cables away, the generator stopped again. Grrrrr! After the fourth cycle like this I decided to review the definition of insanity and ask somebody or check myself into a mental health facility. So, what do you think?

The generator has always worked fine with no problems. Any help you could offer would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Walt

[Tom S.]

The obvious first question I would ask is did you check the oil level? I believe these have an auto shut-off if they sense low oil levels. Next I would look at the fuel system. Is it propane? If yes, I believe it also has to have a certain pressure to run, so if you are low on propane, you may have enough pressure to get it to start, but not enough to keep it running.

[awaywego]

Are you sure the tank shut off had not cut the propane off? Try to light a burner on the stove to make sure you are getting gas. Check the regulator and see if it is solid green not half green and half red.

[H. John Kohl]

My first impression is it quit running because the battery was too dead to continue to produce spark. I would recharge your battery and try it again.

[Mudchief]

I agree with John.

[mhs4771]

That was my first thought, if the batteries are totally dead may not have enough life to keep things going.

[DQDick]

Add me to that list. Pulling the jumper cables and then it dies puts the battery as the most likely problem.

[NCFischers]

Battery first then oil level.

[RonD]

The Onan will have flashing lights on the start panel, count the flashes, and look in the book there will be the answer

[mainer]

The Onan generator needs to be run every month with a load on it. At times we went a few months not doing it and our generator would act up like yours.

There should be some error code displayed and your book should explain it. If not, in our case we found out that there was corrosion on the armature (not sure if I spelled that correctly) and had to be cleaned.