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06-06-2016, 05:14 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 4,248
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Gen start question
Just picked up our 2016 Greyhawk 31FK - but we're second owner so no PDI and not much of a chance to test anything.
So far the only bump is the genny. Our old Onan 4K fired up with little effort. I'm a bit confused about the start procedures.
Do I always Prime before starting? Or is that only in cold weather? If so, how long do you hold Prime down for?
I've held Start for 5 seconds or so about three times and it's cranking but not catching. I will check to make sure I've got more than 1/4 tank of gas, but any suggestions if it continues to be grumpy?
thanks
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06-06-2016, 07:23 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 360
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Mine can take some time to start, when it's been unused for awhile. I hold the starter till it starts or dies. It can take 2 tries to get it going.
__________________
Bruce
2012 Greyhawk 31 FK
Flat towing a 2008 Miata.
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06-06-2016, 08:01 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
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Congratulations on the new to you Greyhawk and welcome to the forum.
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Sherm & Terry w/rescue Eydie (min Schnauzer) & Charley (std Poodle)
SOLD:2015 Jay Flight 27RLS, GY Endurance (E), Days: 102 '15, 90 '16, 80 '17, 161 '18, 365+ '20
SOLD: 2006 Ford F350 PSD, 4WD, CC, LB, SRW, Camper pkg., 375,000mi
Full timing: Some will think you're crazy, some will be envious, just enjoy the freedom!
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06-06-2016, 08:52 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 4,248
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whelp - it's just not starting. cranks but doesn't catch. 25 hours on the clock - so it has to be something simple. time to debug the thing.
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06-06-2016, 10:08 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Morganton
Posts: 724
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Mine is like that start it will sometimes die restart and its fine if it sits a while long crank to start
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06-07-2016, 03:31 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Maplesville - Home Base
Posts: 3,059
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If the Onan hasn't been run for a while the fuel system needs to be primed. I run mine every month and before the first start attempt I prime for 15-20 seconds. Then I press the start side of the switch and it fires in a few seconds. I NEVER run the started more than a few seconds then re-prime if necessary. Starters will get hot and burn up. Don't need that.
__________________
Ed
KM4STL
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS, Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X, TST Systems 507 TPMS, RV Flex Armor Roof
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06-07-2016, 06:07 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Beautiful West-Central Florida
Posts: 166
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On mine, you hold the switch to the prime (off) position until it lights up, then hold the start position until it starts. That usually takes less than 15 seconds.
That said, I bought mine second hand from a guy who had already had to replace the carburator because it gummed up from sitting too long. He said, and I do religiously, to run the genny for at least 30 min once a month. I have owned the unit for 3 years now and the genny starts every time.
If yours won't start it may be carburator gumming.
__________________
Mike
2012 Greyhawk 31DS
2012 Ford Edge Toad
If I had anything better to do I would be doing it :)
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06-07-2016, 06:11 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: --
Posts: 2,392
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__________________
2023 Ford F-150 XLT SCREW 3.5EB (Max Tow Pkg., Black Appearance Pkg., Bed Utility Pkg.)
1727 Payload / 4150 RAWR
On the sidelines taking it all in.
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06-07-2016, 06:48 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: North Western West Virginia
Posts: 671
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I often have to re-prime as many as 3 times before the thing will start. It's a very common issue.
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The Logan's
2018 Jayco Alante 31v
Me, Dear Wife,
2 Bluetick Hounds
1 Newfoundland
1 Newfoundland / Black Lab Mix
1 Cairn Terrier
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06-07-2016, 10:37 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Freehold
Posts: 20
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If it just cranks with no start and a full tank of gas, you may want to check the fuel pump. I had similar issue on my old genny when I first owned it. After removing the fuel line I clamped on a gravity fed line affixed to a small container with a little gas in it. She started right up. Replaced the fuel pump and issue was resolved.
The onan on my Greyhawk operates and feels no different than my old 23 year old genny. That genny always started on the third go when cold and not used for a while, beit a few days or a few months. It also had a start position lever on the side of the unit itself. If off, it wouldn't crank.
Starting The New genny is identical, hold prime and start, kicks in after two or three goes cold, one go when warm. Never had varnishing or gumming issues on the old genny. It would sit upto three months without a start.
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06-08-2016, 05:37 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,526
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We had our gen set for two weeks before it started giving me trouble starting. With less than one hour on it, the fuel pump was bad. I could have opted to wait six weeks for an appointment with Cummins/Onan but instead replaced the fuel pump. Since then it works like a charm but it does take about two tries before it starts and requires priming for a good twenty seconds or so.
__________________
Mike, Sue, Sissy and Little Man
2015 Ford F350 Lariat FX4 6.7 CC DRW
2015 Eagle Premier 351RSTS
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06-08-2016, 08:32 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Denver
Posts: 4,248
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Thank you all! I was out fiddling with it last night. And "fiddle" is about all I can do because I'm not much of a small-engine guy. I held prime down for 30 secs, at the genset (not inside) and I could hear clicking and eventually smelled gas.
So, although I didn't yank the fuel line from the carb and actually see gas, I thought the fuel pump might be working.
While cranking, I yanked on the two wires at the top that connect to the carb. I'm guessing one could be a choke? Not sure what the other one could be, throttle?
Anyway - I was able to get it to catch and fire and run for about 5 seconds by pulling those wires. But 5 seconds was about all I could get.
The meter says 27 hours on it, so clearly someone had it running before me.
I'm thinking I really need to check the fuel pump, yank the line off and watch it pump gas to the carb as the next step.
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06-08-2016, 08:13 PM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Freehold
Posts: 20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pconroy
Thank you all! I was out fiddling with it last night. And "fiddle" is about all I can do because I'm not much of a small-engine guy. I held prime down for 30 secs, at the genset (not inside) and I could hear clicking and eventually smelled gas.
So, although I didn't yank the fuel line from the carb and actually see gas, I thought the fuel pump might be working.
While cranking, I yanked on the two wires at the top that connect to the carb. I'm guessing one could be a choke? Not sure what the other one could be, throttle?
Anyway - I was able to get it to catch and fire and run for about 5 seconds by pulling those wires. But 5 seconds was about all I could get.
The meter says 27 hours on it, so clearly someone had it running before me.
I'm thinking I really need to check the fuel pump, yank the line off and watch it pump gas to the carb as the next step.
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I forgot to mention that. My old pump did manage to move some gas but not enough to sustain it running. If it is the pump, Cummings replacements run about $200-250. Pretty pricy for a pump that some Nissan fuel pumps can be substituted for about $75.
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