Could be a number of different things. It may just need to be taken off and cleaned.* Have a similar solenoid on my mains, only it's a fuel shutoff. Took it off and cleaned it and*tested it with a 12 volt battery and it*worked fine.* Reinstalled it and had the same problem, wouldn't shut the fuel valve totally.**Turned out to be a poor electrical connection between the remote*kill switch and solenoid which was causing a voltage drop that kept the solenoid from actuating all the way.
If you hit the start switch*on the generator will it actuate all the way?
Before giving up on it and*buying a new one,*I would take it off and clean it up first, get all the paint off of it*and test it off the engine.*
Link to the Generator service manual:
*
http://www.cumminsonan.com/www/pdf/manuals/981-0502.pdf
Larry B
P.S. visit this discussion site.* They explain how this particular solenoid works and possible problems. Be sure and read all the way down.
http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89089
*
-- Edited by Edelweiss on Wednesday 1st of February 2012 01:25:13 AM