RT Firefly
Enigma
Greetings,
OK gang. Confession time... Recently, I tried starting our Onan generator in anticipation of a cruise. She hadn't been started for quite some time. Hit the pre-warm/glow plugs for a minute or so and...GROOOAN...Hmmm...Tried a few more times and same sad groaning.
I experienced a non-start issue 2 summers ago and a simple shot to the starter motor (SM) with a MFH (Medium F'n Hammer) and she started right up on THAT occasion.
This time, sounded like not enough battery power. Hmmm....Batteries right up. Connections up to the point of the sound shield tight and clean...
Okey-dokey, sound shield off.
The rocket scientists who installed the genny put it on the port side within 4" of the hull so that meant the back was NOT coming off as I couldn't reach the screws at the bottom of the shield. No problem, I wedged a trusty cedar shingle between the valve cover and the shield providing just enough room to get one eye and one arm into the void.
With the telephone assistance of another TF member who shall remain nameless (Ya see Mr. Ski, I told you I wouldn't mention your name) I/we determined a high resistance connection between the solenoid and the SM. I have the burn/blister on my thumb to prove it.
As I mentioned, I couldn't really get a good look at that connection. No problem, SM off.
Bench cleaned all connections and greased them up well with conductive grease and after some contortions, got the SM back in and re-connected. Ta-da!!!! No joy in Mudville tonight
Same groaning no start.
Ok, on suggestion of nameless member, SM back off, and the end cover off. Hmmmm.....looks pretty clean, no burnt smell, commutator nice and clean, lots of brush left. SM back in again. Pre-heat, start and....Ta-da! We now have power on the water....BUT, yes BUT....I didn't really find anything wrong and I didn't do anything other than remove and replace the SM twice.
So, the point of this particular epistle is YOUR confessions of not fixing anything and achieving a successful outcome and thanks again TF (nameless) colleague.
OK gang. Confession time... Recently, I tried starting our Onan generator in anticipation of a cruise. She hadn't been started for quite some time. Hit the pre-warm/glow plugs for a minute or so and...GROOOAN...Hmmm...Tried a few more times and same sad groaning.
I experienced a non-start issue 2 summers ago and a simple shot to the starter motor (SM) with a MFH (Medium F'n Hammer) and she started right up on THAT occasion.
This time, sounded like not enough battery power. Hmmm....Batteries right up. Connections up to the point of the sound shield tight and clean...
Okey-dokey, sound shield off.
The rocket scientists who installed the genny put it on the port side within 4" of the hull so that meant the back was NOT coming off as I couldn't reach the screws at the bottom of the shield. No problem, I wedged a trusty cedar shingle between the valve cover and the shield providing just enough room to get one eye and one arm into the void.
With the telephone assistance of another TF member who shall remain nameless (Ya see Mr. Ski, I told you I wouldn't mention your name) I/we determined a high resistance connection between the solenoid and the SM. I have the burn/blister on my thumb to prove it.
As I mentioned, I couldn't really get a good look at that connection. No problem, SM off.
Bench cleaned all connections and greased them up well with conductive grease and after some contortions, got the SM back in and re-connected. Ta-da!!!! No joy in Mudville tonight
Ok, on suggestion of nameless member, SM back off, and the end cover off. Hmmmm.....looks pretty clean, no burnt smell, commutator nice and clean, lots of brush left. SM back in again. Pre-heat, start and....Ta-da! We now have power on the water....BUT, yes BUT....I didn't really find anything wrong and I didn't do anything other than remove and replace the SM twice.
So, the point of this particular epistle is YOUR confessions of not fixing anything and achieving a successful outcome and thanks again TF (nameless) colleague.
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