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| [GMCnet] Onan Saga [message #181417] |
Thu, 23 August 2012 10:40  |
Gary Bovee
Messages: 177
Registered: August 2008
Karma: 0
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GMCers,
My Onan had not been running well for about the last year. I normally don’t use it much and kept putting off trying to figure out what was wrong with it. Well that came back to bite me.
I had installed new plugs a while back so I knew that was not the problem. I had recently checked the fuel filter and the screen in the fuel bowl to make sure they were clean and they both were. I tried adjusting the carb main fuel adjustment screw and the rubber o’ring on the adjusting screw fell apart. I got a rebuild carb kit and rebuilt the carb. Fired up the engine and it still did not want to run smoothly. It was running a little rich. I pulled the carb and rechecked the float setting to made sure it was not hanging up. When I went to put the fuel bowl back on the rubber o’ring that fits on the fuel bowl had swollen up about an inch too big and could not put the bowl back on. I just love the gas we have now and what it does to rubber parts. I ordered a rebuilt carb from JimK and put it on. Fired up the Onan and it ran so rich there was this large black cloud coming out of my shop in no time. Called Jim and he sent me another one (no hassle to get him to replace it). Thanks JimK! The next carb didn’t cause any smoking, but the engine still sounded like it had a slight miss and adjusting the carb did not make a difference.
My wife and I decided to take a trip to Oregon. The day we left it hit 110 degrees in Red Bluff and on our way north we needed to use our roof a/c. Well the further north we got the worse the Onan run. My wife got a lot of exercise that day. Every time the Onan would start running rough and slowing down the roof a/c would kit off. Then she would have to go turn it back on. We made it to Gene Fisher’s place in Oregon, but by then the Onan was really running rough. Gene took me to every parts house around there to try and buy a set of points and condenser for the Onan, but of course no where could they be found. I tried filing the points and set the timing. Still ran rough. So we decided to try some other things. Gene was nice of enough to drive me over to Jerry Wheeler’s place and Jerry loaned me a Harley coil. (Thanks again Jerry for letting me borrow the coil). Unfortunately that did not help. Gene had a new electric fuel pump so we thought what the heck lets try that too. Still no luck. The more we ran the Onan the worse it got.
My wife and I ended up taking two days to get back home only diving in the mornings because it was too hot in the coach with only one roof a/c to try driving in the afternoons.
When I got back home I installed a new set of points and condenser. WOW!!! The Onan ran like new. Just as smooth as could be at idle or under load. I had read in the Onan manual that the points should be checked after 100 hours. Mine has 430 hours and were probably the original set. Lessen learned.
Moral of the story – Do a standard tune-up (points, condenser & plugs) and set the timing, before you spend hours fiddling around wasting time doing unnecessary stuff.
Also, If your Onan carb main fuel adjusting screw o’ring has never been changed there is a good chance it is leaking especially if you tried adjusting it. As soon as you start turning it it may start crumbling a part and therefore start leaking. Thanks Emery, I learned from an earlier post of yours to check the o’ring.
Now that it runs great I am feeling really daring. I going to install an electronic ignition in the Onan in a couple of weeks.
Gary Bovee
1978 Royale by Coachmen
Red Bluff, CA
Idiot's Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
Wireless Air Systems, Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
Headlight & Turn Signal Reminder Alarms
http://www.gmcidiotsguide.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Saga [message #181418 is a reply to message #181417] |
Thu, 23 August 2012 10:44  |
Mr ERFisher
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Good show
We should name this
Saving the Oman
Gene
FREE WIFI @ Mickey D
On Aug 23, 2012, at 8:40 AM, "Gary Bovee" <gcbgold@digitalpath.net> wrote:
> GMCers,
>
> My Onan had not been running well for about the last year. I normally don’t use it much and kept putting off trying to figure out what was wrong with it. Well that came back to bite me.
>
> I had installed new plugs a while back so I knew that was not the problem. I had recently checked the fuel filter and the screen in the fuel bowl to make sure they were clean and they both were. I tried adjusting the carb main fuel adjustment screw and the rubber o’ring on the adjusting screw fell apart. I got a rebuild carb kit and rebuilt the carb. Fired up the engine and it still did not want to run smoothly. It was running a little rich. I pulled the carb and rechecked the float setting to made sure it was not hanging up. When I went to put the fuel bowl back on the rubber o’ring that fits on the fuel bowl had swollen up about an inch too big and could not put the bowl back on. I just love the gas we have now and what it does to rubber parts. I ordered a rebuilt carb from JimK and put it on. Fired up the Onan and it ran so rich there was this large black cloud coming out of my shop in no time. Called Jim and he sent me another one (no hassle to get him to replace it). Thanks JimK! The next carb didn’t cause any smoking, but the engine still sounded like it had a slight miss and adjusting the carb did not make a difference.
>
> My wife and I decided to take a trip to Oregon. The day we left it hit 110 degrees in Red Bluff and on our way north we needed to use our roof a/c. Well the further north we got the worse the Onan run. My wife got a lot of exercise that day. Every time the Onan would start running rough and slowing down the roof a/c would kit off. Then she would have to go turn it back on. We made it to Gene Fisher’s place in Oregon, but by then the Onan was really running rough. Gene took me to every parts house around there to try and buy a set of points and condenser for the Onan, but of course no where could they be found. I tried filing the points and set the timing. Still ran rough. So we decided to try some other things. Gene was nice of enough to drive me over to Jerry Wheeler’s place and Jerry loaned me a Harley coil. (Thanks again Jerry for letting me borrow the coil). Unfortunately that did not help. Gene had a new electric fuel pump so we thought what the heck lets try that too. Still no luck. The more we ran the Onan the worse it got.
>
> My wife and I ended up taking two days to get back home only diving in the mornings because it was too hot in the coach with only one roof a/c to try driving in the afternoons.
>
> When I got back home I installed a new set of points and condenser. WOW!!! The Onan ran like new. Just as smooth as could be at idle or under load. I had read in the Onan manual that the points should be checked after 100 hours. Mine has 430 hours and were probably the original set. Lessen learned.
>
> Moral of the story – Do a standard tune-up (points, condenser & plugs) and set the timing, before you spend hours fiddling around wasting time doing unnecessary stuff.
>
> Also, If your Onan carb main fuel adjusting screw o’ring has never been changed there is a good chance it is leaking especially if you tried adjusting it. As soon as you start turning it it may start crumbling a part and therefore start leaking. Thanks Emery, I learned from an earlier post of yours to check the o’ring.
>
> Now that it runs great I am feeling really daring. I going to install an electronic ignition in the Onan in a couple of weeks.
>
> Gary Bovee
> 1978 Royale by Coachmen
> Red Bluff, CA
> Idiot's Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
> Wireless Air Systems, Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
> Headlight & Turn Signal Reminder Alarms
> http://www.gmcidiotsguide.com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Saga [message #181428 is a reply to message #181417] |
Thu, 23 August 2012 11:40 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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The ONAN has a very weak ignition system , so a point that is slightly used
can cause grief.
We supply the newer adjustable point and it does take some other parts to
make it work.
They discontinued the Kit, so we end up combining the new and used parts to
make the kit.
On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 8:40 AM, Gary Bovee <gcbgold@digitalpath.net> wrote:
> GMCers,
>
> My Onan had not been running well for about the last year. I normally
> don’t use it much and kept putting off trying to figure out what was wrong
> with it. Well that came back to bite me.
>
> I had installed new plugs a while back so I knew that was not the problem.
> I had recently checked the fuel filter and the screen in the fuel bowl to
> make sure they were clean and they both were. I tried adjusting the carb
> main fuel adjustment screw and the rubber o’ring on the adjusting screw
> fell apart. I got a rebuild carb kit and rebuilt the carb. Fired up the
> engine and it still did not want to run smoothly. It was running a little
> rich. I pulled the carb and rechecked the float setting to made sure it
> was not hanging up. When I went to put the fuel bowl back on the rubber
> o’ring that fits on the fuel bowl had swollen up about an inch too big and
> could not put the bowl back on. I just love the gas we have now and what
> it does to rubber parts. I ordered a rebuilt carb from JimK and put it on.
> Fired up the Onan and it ran so rich there was this large black cloud
> coming out of my shop in no time. Called Jim and he sent me another one
> (no hassle to get him to replace it). Thanks JimK! The next carb didn’t
> cause any smoking, but the engine still sounded like it had a slight miss
> and adjusting the carb did not make a difference.
>
> My wife and I decided to take a trip to Oregon. The day we left it hit
> 110 degrees in Red Bluff and on our way north we needed to use our roof
> a/c. Well the further north we got the worse the Onan run. My wife got a
> lot of exercise that day. Every time the Onan would start running rough
> and slowing down the roof a/c would kit off. Then she would have to go
> turn it back on. We made it to Gene Fisher’s place in Oregon, but by then
> the Onan was really running rough. Gene took me to every parts house
> around there to try and buy a set of points and condenser for the Onan, but
> of course no where could they be found. I tried filing the points and set
> the timing. Still ran rough. So we decided to try some other things.
> Gene was nice of enough to drive me over to Jerry Wheeler’s place and
> Jerry loaned me a Harley coil. (Thanks again Jerry for letting me borrow
> the coil). Unfortunately that did not help. Gene had a new electric fuel
> pump so we thought what the heck lets try that too. Still no luck. The
> more we ran the Onan the worse it got.
>
> My wife and I ended up taking two days to get back home only diving in the
> mornings because it was too hot in the coach with only one roof a/c to try
> driving in the afternoons.
>
> When I got back home I installed a new set of points and condenser.
> WOW!!! The Onan ran like new. Just as smooth as could be at idle or
> under load. I had read in the Onan manual that the points should be
> checked after 100 hours. Mine has 430 hours and were probably the original
> set. Lessen learned.
>
> Moral of the story – Do a standard tune-up (points, condenser & plugs) and
> set the timing, before you spend hours fiddling around wasting time doing
> unnecessary stuff.
>
> Also, If your Onan carb main fuel adjusting screw o’ring has never been
> changed there is a good chance it is leaking especially if you tried
> adjusting it. As soon as you start turning it it may start crumbling a
> part and therefore start leaking. Thanks Emery, I learned from an earlier
> post of yours to check the o’ring.
>
> Now that it runs great I am feeling really daring. I going to install an
> electronic ignition in the Onan in a couple of weeks.
>
> Gary Bovee
> 1978 Royale by Coachmen
> Red Bluff, CA
> Idiot's Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
> Wireless Air Systems, Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
> Headlight & Turn Signal Reminder Alarms
> http://www.gmcidiotsguide.com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.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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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Saga [message #181433 is a reply to message #181428] |
Thu, 23 August 2012 12:05 |
Gary Bovee
Messages: 177
Registered: August 2008
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
|
|
The ONAN has a very weak ignition system , so a point that is slightly used
can cause grief.
We supply the newer adjustable point and it does take some other parts to
make it work.
They discontinued the Kit, so we end up combining the new and used parts to
make the kit.
Jim,
Another reason why I want to convert to electronic ignition.
I can remember converting my drag car points and condenser ignition system
to electronic ignition way back in the early seventies. Worked great at
7,500 rpm. I don't think I will have to worry above that with the Onan.
Smile
Gary
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Kanomata
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 9:40 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Onan Saga
On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 8:40 AM, Gary Bovee <gcbgold@digitalpath.net> wrote:
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Saga [message #181445 is a reply to message #181417] |
Thu, 23 August 2012 12:59 |
mjbourgon
Messages: 259
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -1
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Senior Member |
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Good to hear you got the beast running smoothly. Where did you buy your
points? I've done all the other things but I think changing the point
would be great idea
Thanks
Marcel in Santa Teresa
On 8/23/2012 09:40, Gary Bovee wrote:
> GMCers,
>
> My Onan had not been running well for about the last year. I normally don’t use it much and kept putting off trying to figure out what was wrong with it. Well that came back to bite me.
>
> I had installed new plugs a while back so I knew that was not the problem. I had recently checked the fuel filter and the screen in the fuel bowl to make sure they were clean and they both were. I tried adjusting the carb main fuel adjustment screw and the rubber o’ring on the adjusting screw fell apart. I got a rebuild carb kit and rebuilt the carb. Fired up the engine and it still did not want to run smoothly. It was running a little rich. I pulled the carb and rechecked the float setting to made sure it was not hanging up. When I went to put the fuel bowl back on the rubber o’ring that fits on the fuel bowl had swollen up about an inch too big and could not put the bowl back on. I just love the gas we have now and what it does to rubber parts. I ordered a rebuilt carb from JimK and put it on. Fired up the Onan and it ran so rich there was this large black cloud coming out of my shop in no time. Called Jim and he sent me another one (no hassle to get him to replace it). Thanks JimK! The next carb didn’t cause any smoking, but the engine still sounded like it had a slight miss and adjusting the carb did not make a difference.
>
> My wife and I decided to take a trip to Oregon. The day we left it hit 110 degrees in Red Bluff and on our way north we needed to use our roof a/c. Well the further north we got the worse the Onan run. My wife got a lot of exercise that day. Every time the Onan would start running rough and slowing down the roof a/c would kit off. Then she would have to go turn it back on. We made it to Gene Fisher’s place in Oregon, but by then the Onan was really running rough. Gene took me to every parts house around there to try and buy a set of points and condenser for the Onan, but of course no where could they be found. I tried filing the points and set the timing. Still ran rough. So we decided to try some other things. Gene was nice of enough to drive me over to Jerry Wheeler’s place and Jerry loaned me a Harley coil. (Thanks again Jerry for letting me borrow the coil). Unfortunately that did not help. Gene had a new electric fuel pump so we thought what the heck lets try that too. Still no luck. The more we ran the Onan the worse it got.
>
> My wife and I ended up taking two days to get back home only diving in the mornings because it was too hot in the coach with only one roof a/c to try driving in the afternoons.
>
> When I got back home I installed a new set of points and condenser. WOW!!! The Onan ran like new. Just as smooth as could be at idle or under load. I had read in the Onan manual that the points should be checked after 100 hours. Mine has 430 hours and were probably the original set. Lessen learned.
>
> Moral of the story – Do a standard tune-up (points, condenser & plugs) and set the timing, before you spend hours fiddling around wasting time doing unnecessary stuff.
>
> Also, If your Onan carb main fuel adjusting screw o’ring has never been changed there is a good chance it is leaking especially if you tried adjusting it. As soon as you start turning it it may start crumbling a part and therefore start leaking. Thanks Emery, I learned from an earlier post of yours to check the o’ring.
>
> Now that it runs great I am feeling really daring. I going to install an electronic ignition in the Onan in a couple of weeks.
>
> Gary Bovee
> 1978 Royale by Coachmen
> Red Bluff, CA
> Idiot's Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
> Wireless Air Systems, Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
> Headlight & Turn Signal Reminder Alarms
> http://www.gmcidiotsguide.com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Saga [message #181446 is a reply to message #181428] |
Thu, 23 August 2012 13:02 |
mjbourgon
Messages: 259
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -1
|
Senior Member |
|
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Jim sounds like a good idea. I would like the points, condenser and
what ever other parts i need for tune up. Already changed the plugs.
My Onan is 6 KW
thanks
Marcel in Santa Teresa
On 8/23/2012 10:40, Jim Kanomata wrote:
> The ONAN has a very weak ignition system , so a point that is slightly used
> can cause grief.
> We supply the newer adjustable point and it does take some other parts to
> make it work.
> They discontinued the Kit, so we end up combining the new and used parts to
> make the kit.
>
> On Thu, Aug 23, 2012 at 8:40 AM, Gary Bovee <gcbgold@digitalpath.net> wrote:
>
>> GMCers,
>>
>> My Onan had not been running well for about the last year. I normally
>> don’t use it much and kept putting off trying to figure out what was wrong
>> with it. Well that came back to bite me.
>>
>> I had installed new plugs a while back so I knew that was not the problem.
>> I had recently checked the fuel filter and the screen in the fuel bowl to
>> make sure they were clean and they both were. I tried adjusting the carb
>> main fuel adjustment screw and the rubber o’ring on the adjusting screw
>> fell apart. I got a rebuild carb kit and rebuilt the carb. Fired up the
>> engine and it still did not want to run smoothly. It was running a little
>> rich. I pulled the carb and rechecked the float setting to made sure it
>> was not hanging up. When I went to put the fuel bowl back on the rubber
>> o’ring that fits on the fuel bowl had swollen up about an inch too big and
>> could not put the bowl back on. I just love the gas we have now and what
>> it does to rubber parts. I ordered a rebuilt carb from JimK and put it on.
>> Fired up the Onan and it ran so rich there was this large black cloud
>> coming out of my shop in no time. Called Jim and he sent me another one
>> (no hassle to get him to replace it). Thanks JimK! The next carb didn’t
>> cause any smoking, but the engine still sounded like it had a slight miss
>> and adjusting the carb did not make a difference.
>>
>> My wife and I decided to take a trip to Oregon. The day we left it hit
>> 110 degrees in Red Bluff and on our way north we needed to use our roof
>> a/c. Well the further north we got the worse the Onan run. My wife got a
>> lot of exercise that day. Every time the Onan would start running rough
>> and slowing down the roof a/c would kit off. Then she would have to go
>> turn it back on. We made it to Gene Fisher’s place in Oregon, but by then
>> the Onan was really running rough. Gene took me to every parts house
>> around there to try and buy a set of points and condenser for the Onan, but
>> of course no where could they be found. I tried filing the points and set
>> the timing. Still ran rough. So we decided to try some other things.
>> Gene was nice of enough to drive me over to Jerry Wheeler’s place and
>> Jerry loaned me a Harley coil. (Thanks again Jerry for letting me borrow
>> the coil). Unfortunately that did not help. Gene had a new electric fuel
>> pump so we thought what the heck lets try that too. Still no luck. The
>> more we ran the Onan the worse it got.
>>
>> My wife and I ended up taking two days to get back home only diving in the
>> mornings because it was too hot in the coach with only one roof a/c to try
>> driving in the afternoons.
>>
>> When I got back home I installed a new set of points and condenser.
>> WOW!!! The Onan ran like new. Just as smooth as could be at idle or
>> under load. I had read in the Onan manual that the points should be
>> checked after 100 hours. Mine has 430 hours and were probably the original
>> set. Lessen learned.
>>
>> Moral of the story – Do a standard tune-up (points, condenser & plugs) and
>> set the timing, before you spend hours fiddling around wasting time doing
>> unnecessary stuff.
>>
>> Also, If your Onan carb main fuel adjusting screw o’ring has never been
>> changed there is a good chance it is leaking especially if you tried
>> adjusting it. As soon as you start turning it it may start crumbling a
>> part and therefore start leaking. Thanks Emery, I learned from an earlier
>> post of yours to check the o’ring.
>>
>> Now that it runs great I am feeling really daring. I going to install an
>> electronic ignition in the Onan in a couple of weeks.
>>
>> Gary Bovee
>> 1978 Royale by Coachmen
>> Red Bluff, CA
>> Idiot's Internet Guide to Finding 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome Information
>> Wireless Air Systems, Alternator & A/C Belt Tensioner Adjustors
>> Headlight & Turn Signal Reminder Alarms
>> http://www.gmcidiotsguide.com
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>>
>
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Onan Saga [message #181485 is a reply to message #181428] |
Thu, 23 August 2012 19:50 |
 |
mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
|
Senior Member |
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| jimk wrote on Thu, 23 August 2012 09:40 |
The ONAN has a very weak ignition system , so a point that is slightly used can cause grief.
We supply the newer adjustable point and it does take some other parts to make it work. They discontinued the Kit, so we end up combining the new and used parts to make the kit.
|
If these "newer adjustable" Onan points can be adjusted without the contortions needed to adjust the early(?) ones*, they could be a good idea. Especially if you happen to be a "prepper." (I understand that electronic ignitions have more problems with EMP than points systems.) If nothing else provide an already installed and adjusted back-up. (I think both Gary and Rob would have found it handy.)
Is there a price on these "new" Onan points kits?
----
*With my early(?) points, on all of my Onans (even the '78), the only place to stand so you can see what you are doing when adjusting the points is directly behind the generator head. Right where the coach is unless you remove the Onan completely from the coach! After spending hours messing with these points, I would not buy and install a set of these early points at any price!
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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