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Generator doesn't start

Yahoo Message Number: 18152
Just getting ready to go the the dry camp ralley in Eugene and testing out the generator, it won't start. There is no contact happening at all. Is there a fuse somewhere that may have blown? Haven't used the generator since July.

Re: Generator doesn't start

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18153
You should run your generator every 30 days or so, with some load, but this is to excercise the generator itself I think, not the engine. I am only bringing this up because ours went about 60 days because we were away longer than planned, and would not start from the Silverleaf panel. It did start when I used the manual button on the generator itself, but it was a stuggle. It puffed and stumbed for awhile. Not sure why it acted this way.
No idea what you have ... one of those minimum information posts, but you should have a manual button on the generator. There is also a breaker near the switch on ours, but I think this is a master breaker for the generator output, I will have to try it and see.
If it does not even click, then I guess I would get out the voltmeter and start looking around, starting with the chassis batteries. Refer to prior posts for necessary voltmeter accuracy (just kidding).

I assume there is a fuse somewhere, but I wonder why it would just blow now. When fuses blow, something is wrong, so I would not just replace it (if you find a bad one) and be on your way.

Good luck ...

John and Terry

2005 Affinity #6453

Re: Generator doesn't start

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18154
Try starting it from the remote panel in the bedroom (presuming you have one).
Or try cycling the 'House Battery Switch' from on to off and back again. Wait a few seconds between swich movement.
Occasionally my Silverleaf gets cranky and doesn't communicate with the generator properly, and this remedy somehow straightens things out. After doing the aforementioned 'switching', the dash panel will then start the generator just fine. (Silverleaf says my software need to be updated.)
Regular excercise (operation) of the generator is a must, per the other reply. Onan will not honor the warranty if the unit hasn't been excercised regularly.

Bob Fuzak

'02 Magna #6148

Re: Generator doesn't start

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18156
I had a similar problem and found the silent time setting was screwed up. Just a suggestion.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Generator doesn't start

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18178
Quote from: sadiedogtwo"
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Thanks for all the suggestions about getting generator to start. It remains one of those mystery's as we did all that was suggest, took the cover off the generator where the 3 fuses are housed, all were good but there didn't appear to be any power to fuse 3, which is the glow plug fuse. Still nothing was happening, all 3 start locations sounded dead, and then after putting it all back together tried to start from generator, pushing down and lifiting up the bottome part of the rocker switch at the same time, and it started. Still don't know if there was a loose wire or if this particular start button actually has a reset mechinism and thus the lifting of it worked. Time will tell but thanks for all your suggestions.