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Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368914]

Sun, 27 February 2022 23:54

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

My gen set runs just dandy, I'm happy to say I have easy starts and she doesn't miss a beat. It didn't always behave so well, but it does now, and as ignorance was bliss I thought all was well ...UNTIL ...just as winter was setting in, my pal Colin brought over a little plug-in digital voltmeter. This little device showed displays the output and it turns out things are a bit too enthusiastic, getting up in the high 130's Shocked

....so as it's beginning to warm up a little bit weatherwise, I'd like to get her to kick back to something closer to 120v or so. What's the best way to do that guys?

Larry

Larry - Victoria BC - 1977 ex-Palm Beach "Ol' Leaky" 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. Atwood helium fridge, water heater & furnace. SS exhaust system, Onan, Iota Converter, R134A, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses

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[GMCnet] Re: Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368915 is a reply to message #368914]

Sun, 27 February 2022 23:58

jimk

Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA

Karma: 9

Senior Member

Slow down the engine.

On Sun, Feb 27, 2022 at 9:55 PM wrote:

> My gen set runs just dandy, I'm happy to say I have easy starts and she
> doesn't miss a beat. It didn't always behave so well, but it does now, and
> as
> ignorance was bliss I thought all was well ...UNTIL ...just as winter was
> setting in, my pal Colin brought over a little plug-in digital voltmeter.
> This little device showed displays the output and it turns out things are
> a bit too enthusiastic, getting up in the high 130's 8o ....so as it's
> beginning to warm up a little bit weatherwise, I'd like to get her to kick
> back to something closer to 120v or so. What's the best way to do that
> guys?
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry - Victoria BC -
>
> 1977 ex-Palm Beach "Ol' Leaky" 40,000 miles, PO said everything working
> but forgot the word NOT. Atwood helium fridge, water heater & furnace. SS
> exhaust system, Onan, Iota Converter, R134A, New fuel lines & heat
> exchange hoses
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>

--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

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[GMCnet] Re: Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368916 is a reply to message #368915]

Mon, 28 February 2022 00:26

James Hupy

Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010

Karma: -62

Senior Member

Before you do too much, put a good steady load, like an air conditioner, on
the Onan and then read the voltage. If it goes down to the 121-122 range, I
wouldn't mess with it. If it stays 130, then you need to slow it down a bit
under load.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon

On Sun, Feb 27, 2022, 9:59 PM Jim Kanomata wrote:

> Slow down the engine.
>
> On Sun, Feb 27, 2022 at 9:55 PM wrote:
>
>> My gen set runs just dandy, I'm happy to say I have easy starts and she
>> doesn't miss a beat. It didn't always behave so well, but it does now,
> and
>> as
>> ignorance was bliss I thought all was well ...UNTIL ...just as winter
> was
>> setting in, my pal Colin brought over a little plug-in digital voltmeter.
>> This little device showed displays the output and it turns out things are
>> a bit too enthusiastic, getting up in the high 130's 8o ....so as it's
>> beginning to warm up a little bit weatherwise, I'd like to get her to
> kick
>> back to something closer to 120v or so. What's the best way to do that
>> guys?
>>
>> Larry
>> --
>> Larry - Victoria BC -
>>
>> 1977 ex-Palm Beach "Ol' Leaky" 40,000 miles, PO said everything working
>> but forgot the word NOT. Atwood helium fridge, water heater & furnace. SS
>> exhaust system, Onan, Iota Converter, R134A, New fuel lines & heat
>> exchange hoses
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata ASE
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk@appliedairfilters.com
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:

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Re: Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368917 is a reply to message #368914]

Mon, 28 February 2022 00:52

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Thanks guys, it's in the HIGH 130's (more like 140v) ..so yes, I do have to slow down the engine I guess!

Now I just have to find out HOW to do that Sad

Larry

[Updated on: Mon, 28 February 2022 00:53]

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Re: Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368918 is a reply to message #368914]

Mon, 28 February 2022 06:47

JohnL455

Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL

Karma: 12

Senior Member

There is a jam nut on the eyebolt type device that pulls on the governor spring. It’s right on top when you open the drawer. However, unless someone has messed with it, why has it changed? The rod ends on the governor should be lubricated and the throttle checked for easy movement with no squeaking or binding. Duane recommended engine oil but I prefer a Zoom spout oiler as very light. Others in the know prefer a graphite based lube to not attract dirt. After this lubrication check Voltage and proceed to adjust if needed. Most go for 125-127VAC no load then check with load. Hopefully stable at 123 or so not lower with 2 ACs running.
If there is too much hunting or not enough governor correction, the sensitivity of the governor can be adjusted, but report back first.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

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Re: Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368919 is a reply to message #368914]

Mon, 28 February 2022 10:45

Russell K.

Messages: 178
Registered: October 2016
Location: Dunedin, Florida

Karma: 4

Senior Member

Larry,
The Onan service manual (download) has a great section on adjusting the carburetor and governor if the voltage is too high or too low. It is helpful to have a meter that measures frequency in Hz when adjusting. My onan is a different model but my onan manual shows a maximum no-load voltage of 132 volts, and a minimum full-load voltage of 112 volts. The manual has step by step instructions to help you set it correctly.

Russell

https://www.gmcmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Onan6kwNH_Major-Service.pdf

check out pages 26 and 27.

1978 Eleganza II, Dunedin, Florida

[Updated on: Mon, 28 February 2022 10:50]

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Re: Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368920 is a reply to message #368918]

Mon, 28 February 2022 10:47

boybach

Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island

Karma: 4

Senior Member

JohnL455 wrote on Mon, 28 February 2022 04:47

There is a jam nut on the eyebolt type device that pulls on the governor spring. It’s right on top when you open the drawer. However, unless someone has messed with it, why has it changed?

Well I didn't mess with it! - When I got the coach, 1 year ago this month, the genny ran after a fashion - but had no working choke and had to be manually choked to get it going. The o-ring on air bleed screw on the carb was chewed so she leaked fuel there and the starter stuck along with a bunch of very weird wire routing/crimps and a duff solenoid. Fixed it all so the unit starts and runs fine, just a bit fast then I guess. Maybe the air bleed screw can be adjusted to bring down the speed?

Larry

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Re: Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368922 is a reply to message #368914]

Mon, 28 February 2022 11:33

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

Larry,

Sorry I am so late here, I have been busy and the day isn't done.

Look around and see if you can buy a Kill-A-Watt device/meter/whatever.....

It can report all kinds of things, but frequency and voltage are what you want today and this can be plugged in and it will report either (well, both but only one at a time).

I use that and an extension cord all the time when I am messing with any generators.

Matt

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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Re: Ok ..as were talking Onans this week [message #368927 is a reply to message #368922]

Tue, 01 March 2022 01:09

Ken Burton

Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana

Karma: 10

Senior Member

From my main frame computer days. I could not call the power company unless their supply (under load) was +10% or -5% of rated voltage (120, 208, 230, 240, 440, etc) It was the same spec. for the three main power companies I worked with in 2 states so I assume it is the same country wide.

That makes the acceptable 120 voltage 114 to 132.

When I worked as an electrician in the steel mills we generated our own power at 25 cycles and never much cared what the secondary voltage was unless something failed. We did watch frequency very closely to a fraction of a cycle. We had a pair of 25 to 60 cycle frequency converters.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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