| Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246061] |
Tue, 01 April 2014 14:43  |
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Richard Andis
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2013
Location: HELL Paso, TX
Karma: 0
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I went to the storage yard today in order to checkup and exercise my GMC. Coach fired up no problem after giving it it's mandatory dozen pumps on the gas pedal.
When I fired up the Onan from with the remote start switch everything seemed to start up just fine. .....well, almost. Heard some additional racket (other than normal) going on in the area of the Onan compartment. Sounded very similar to a cooling fan banging around a fan housing. I then tried to shut it down remotely but when it almost was dead and I released the button from the off position, it would start right back up. Ran outside and hit the off button on the Onan itself and the same thing happened. Pulled the spark plug leads and the Onan shut down but it continued to try and start back up. Disconnected the 12 pin plug with no effect. I summarized that the Onan starter had been possessed or something. I ended up disconnecting the rear battery and things finally went quiet. That cable was HOT!
After a bit, I reconnected everything in an attempt to recreate the event. Onan started right up with no additional noise and shut down normally with the remote and local switch.
Anybody else have this happen?
Valhalla - 1978 GMC Royale rear twin [SOLD]
Walküre - 1974 VW Thing (Toad)
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| Re: [GMCnet] Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246083 is a reply to message #246061] |
Tue, 01 April 2014 17:43  |
Jim Miller
Messages: 501
Registered: March 2008
Karma: 10
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I would start looking at the solenoid on the starter. It could be stuck in the engaged position due to dirt or welded contacts. It is easy enough to take off and inspect.
--Jim
On Apr 1, 2014, at 3:43 PM, Richard Andis wrote:
>
>
> I went to the storage yard today in order to checkup and exercise my GMC. Coach fired up no problem after giving it it's mandatory dozen pumps on the gas pedal.
>
> When I fired up the Onan from with the remote start switch everything seemed to start up just fine. .....well, almost. Heard some additional racket (other than normal) going on in the area of the Onan compartment. Sounded very similar to a cooling fan banging around a fan housing. I then tried to shut it down remotely but when it almost was dead and I released the button from the off position, it would start right back up. Ran outside and hit the off button on the Onan itself and the same thing happened. Pulled the spark plug leads and the Onan shut down but it continued to try and start back up. Disconnected the 12 pin plug with no effect. I summarized that the Onan starter had been possessed or something. I ended up disconnecting the rear battery and things finally went quiet. That cable was HOT!
>
> After a bit, I reconnected everything in an attempt to recreate the event. Onan started right up with no additional noise and shut down normally with the remote and local switch.
>
> Anybody else have this happen?
>
>
> --
> Valhalla - 1978 GMC Royale rear bath
> Walküre - 1974 VW Thing (Toad)
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--Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza II
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH
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Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza II
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH
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| Re: [GMCnet] Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246091 is a reply to message #246086] |
Tue, 01 April 2014 18:43 |
Jim Miller
Messages: 501
Registered: March 2008
Karma: 10
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On Apr 1, 2014, at 7:05 PM, Richard Andis wrote:
> Thanks, that's pretty much what I was thinking. The problem didn't repeat itself. This one of the reasons I like to exercise the coach when it's
> not actively on the road.
You can probably get the solenoid off without pulling the starter off the machine but if it were mine I'd go ahead and pull the starter for inspection. Given the behavior you described you could have damage to the leading edge of the driving gear teeth - and while it is off it would be a great time to inspect the nose bushing, commutator and brushes.
Worn nose bushings can result in tremendous current draw and lethargic starting. A nose bushing costs just a couple of dollars and will do wonders for starter performance.
I bought bushings and brushes last March from J&N Auto Electric, here are the specifics:
P/N JN-133-48000 "DE BUSHING" 0.50/ea in 3/2013
P/N JN-133-48001 "CE BUSHING" 0.50/ea in 3/2013
P/N JN-141-48038 Brushes 1.04/ea in 3/2013
--Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza II
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH
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Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza II
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH
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| Re: Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246099 is a reply to message #246061] |
Tue, 01 April 2014 19:21 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
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Richard,
I have been having the same exact issue. It has been intermittent, and usually when it has not been run in a while. After it is warmed up it seems to be ok. Until I figure it out I have been careful to do the first start up from the control panel instead of the remote switch. I have never been a fan of grabbing spark plug wires (been zapped too many times). I just reach down and pull the 12 volt wire off the starter solenoid and that shuts it down.
I still don't know if it is a starter solenoid issue or a control board issue. Please let us know if you figure it out. The noise is definitely the starter hanging up on the flywheel.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
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| Re: [GMCnet] Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246102 is a reply to message #246099] |
Tue, 01 April 2014 19:43 |
Jim Miller
Messages: 501
Registered: March 2008
Karma: 10
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On Apr 1, 2014, at 8:21 PM, Steve Adams wrote:
> still don't know if it is a starter solenoid issue or a control board issue. Please let us know if you figure it out. The noise is definitely the starter hanging up on the flywheel.
Richard said he disconnected the 12-pin control board connector during the event and it made no difference - the starter stayed engaged. That piece of information rules out the control board as the cause of the misbehavior in his case.
--Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza II
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH
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Jim Miller
1977 Eleganza II
1977 Royale
Hamilton, OH
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| Re: Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246113 is a reply to message #246061] |
Tue, 01 April 2014 21:03 |
Ernest Dankert
Messages: 133
Registered: May 2007
Location: Ogden, New York
Karma: 1
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My Onan had the electric choke wire unhooked from the starter solenoid. When I reattached the electric choke the starter motor would not disengage after the engine started. I disconnected the electric choke wire at the solenoid and the problem disappeared.
That's my story and I am sticking with it.
1977 Eleganza II
Ogden NY
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| Re: [GMCnet] Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246135 is a reply to message #246061] |
Wed, 02 April 2014 07:17 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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At Montgomery, a neighbor had the same problem. I found that the interior
switch was sticking. However, when you removed 12 VDC from the control
board, that problem should have been eliminated.
Ken H.
On Tue, Apr 1, 2014 at 2:43 PM, Richard Andis <randis2@elp.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
> I went to the storage yard today in order to checkup and exercise my GMC.
> Coach fired up no problem after giving it it's mandatory dozen pumps on
> the gas pedal.
>
> When I fired up the Onan from with the remote start switch everything
> seemed to start up just fine. .....well, almost. Heard some additional
> racket (other than normal) going on in the area of the Onan compartment.
> Sounded very similar to a cooling fan banging around a fan housing. I then
> tried to shut it down remotely but when it almost was dead and I released
> the button from the off position, it would start right back up. Ran outside
> and hit the off button on the Onan itself and the same thing happened.
> Pulled the spark plug leads and the Onan shut down but it continued to
> try and start back up. Disconnected the 12 pin plug with no effect. I
> summarized that the Onan starter had been possessed or something. I ended
> up disconnecting the rear battery and things finally went quiet. That cable
> was HOT!
>
> After a bit, I reconnected everything in an attempt to recreate the event.
> Onan started right up with no additional noise and shut down normally
> with the remote and local switch.
>
> Anybody else have this happen?
>
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246149 is a reply to message #246061] |
Wed, 02 April 2014 09:33 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Future emergency shut down. Close throttle by hand and then close choke. Better than getting shocked or arcing coil.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: Interesting Anomaly - Onan [message #246343 is a reply to message #246061] |
Thu, 03 April 2014 22:21 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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| Richard Andis wrote on Tue, 01 April 2014 13:43 |
I went to the storage yard today in order to checkup and exercise my GMC. Coach fired up no problem after giving it it's mandatory dozen pumps on the gas pedal.
When I fired up the Onan from with the remote start switch everything seemed to start up just fine. .....well, almost. Heard some additional racket (other than normal) going on in the area of the Onan compartment. Sounded very similar to a cooling fan banging around a fan housing. I then tried to shut it down remotely but when it almost was dead and I released the button from the off position, it would start right back up. Ran outside and hit the off button on the Onan itself and the same thing happened. Pulled the spark plug leads and the Onan shut down but it continued to try and start back up. Disconnected the 12 pin plug with no effect. I summarized that the Onan starter had been possessed or something. I ended up disconnecting the rear battery and things finally went quiet. That cable was HOT!
After a bit, I reconnected everything in an attempt to recreate the event. Onan started right up with no additional noise and shut down normally with the remote and local switch.
Anybody else have this happen?
|
I had that problem and it was the control board. I've since ditched the old Onan, but I vagely remeber that the start solenoid on the control board can stick and cause that.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
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