ArdWrknTrk Posted June 7, 2020 Share Posted June 7, 2020 Scooby Doo vibe, that’s funny! Have to carry extra levelers for the rake! I can see the bigger bathroom. As Gary mentioned, I’ve had several truck campers, and the ones with bathrooms were small. Had a 19 foot conventional trailer that seemed big! I like this size for reasons Cory mentioned and if I got a bigger motorhome then I’d want a toad, and I don’t have a vehicle now that I would tow. I should probably save the money and get motel rooms. But this covid nonsense has me thinking differently. Just the tiny livestock are enough to keep me out of hotels. I'd rather be dead than battling those critters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted June 14, 2020 Author Share Posted June 14, 2020 Just the tiny livestock are enough to keep me out of hotels. I'd rather be dead than battling those critters. So I spent all day Saturday working on my little Onan generator and changed out the rotor bearing in the end of the stator housing. It was actually quite a bit of work, and then did the typical tune-up stuff after that. Turns out my new fuel filter was not correct, so I had to reinstall the old one. Not a big deal..it was still flowing fairly well, but wanted it changed for peace of mind. So the little generator now runs like a champ with it's new upgraded circuit board, and an almost full tune-up (everything except the fuel filter, as mentioned). New plugs, oil and air filters, all grounds cleaned, etc. So I stick it back in the RV and get it all wired and plumbed up, and bam...it doesn't work...lol. So... The thing actually runs great off a gas jug and a couple ft of 5/16" fuel line. Starts instantly at the panel or remotely, and will just purr along all day if you leave it. Voltage inside is a pretty solid 120v +/- .5v, so that's all good. Hook it up to the fuel line on the RV and will only run briefly and then sputter a few times and stall, clearly starving for fuel. Using a vacuum pump I pulled maybe a cup or half a cup of fuel from the RV fuel line, and that was it. Pulled up to 20" vacuum, and not fuel. So I then ripped all 20 ft of fuel line out of the RV, and stuck a short 3 ft piece on the tank top fitting. If I blow through I can hear bubbles in the tank...it's not overly easy to blow through, but I can blow through it. If I try to suck on it, it feels completely blocked. Zero fuel. I think this is the sending unit/pick up that is in it...two lines for the engine, and one (black fitting) for the generator. Now I do know that this thing had a new fuel pump installed within the past year or so...maybe two. The fuel pump is IN this sending unit/pick up isn't it? Could they have changed out just the pump or would they had to have swap out the whole unit? The reason I ask is, I wonder if one of those white flex lines is kinked inside the tank? Either that or there's some kind of screen/filter/foot valve in there that is stuck... So frustrating. Anybody familiar with these pick up units that could shed some light on the topic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted June 14, 2020 Author Share Posted June 14, 2020 So I spent all day Saturday working on my little Onan generator and changed out the rotor bearing in the end of the stator housing. It was actually quite a bit of work, and then did the typical tune-up stuff after that. Turns out my new fuel filter was not correct, so I had to reinstall the old one. Not a big deal..it was still flowing fairly well, but wanted it changed for peace of mind. So the little generator now runs like a champ with it's new upgraded circuit board, and an almost full tune-up (everything except the fuel filter, as mentioned). New plugs, oil and air filters, all grounds cleaned, etc. So I stick it back in the RV and get it all wired and plumbed up, and bam...it doesn't work...lol. So... The thing actually runs great off a gas jug and a couple ft of 5/16" fuel line. Starts instantly at the panel or remotely, and will just purr along all day if you leave it. Voltage inside is a pretty solid 120v +/- .5v, so that's all good. Hook it up to the fuel line on the RV and will only run briefly and then sputter a few times and stall, clearly starving for fuel. Using a vacuum pump I pulled maybe a cup or half a cup of fuel from the RV fuel line, and that was it. Pulled up to 20" vacuum, and not fuel. So I then ripped all 20 ft of fuel line out of the RV, and stuck a short 3 ft piece on the tank top fitting. If I blow through I can hear bubbles in the tank...it's not overly easy to blow through, but I can blow through it. If I try to suck on it, it feels completely blocked. Zero fuel. I think this is the sending unit/pick up that is in it...two lines for the engine, and one (black fitting) for the generator. Now I do know that this thing had a new fuel pump installed within the past year or so...maybe two. The fuel pump is IN this sending unit/pick up isn't it? Could they have changed out just the pump or would they had to have swap out the whole unit? The reason I ask is, I wonder if one of those white flex lines is kinked inside the tank? Either that or there's some kind of screen/filter/foot valve in there that is stuck... So frustrating. Anybody familiar with these pick up units that could shed some light on the topic? Oh, and can somebody tell me what tool is needed to release those fuel line fittings on the sending unit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted June 14, 2020 Share Posted June 14, 2020 Oh, and can somebody tell me what tool is needed to release those fuel line fittings on the sending unit? Must be nice to have a little lift truck in your garage! 😉 Man, I can't tell you how easy that looks compared to in the bilge of a boat! That gender should be good for another 25 years. Those are just the cuff (or garter) type connections. You can get a double ended metal scissor type tool, or a color coded complete set of plastic release tools. The double ended one should be 5/16 & 3/8" If the unit was recently replaced it shouldn't be too bad to get the lock ring out. I've got a beryllium copper drift, but any non-sparking tool is better than a screwdriver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 Must be nice to have a little lift truck in your garage! 😉 Having the use of the shop and tools at my work is a big benefit for me. Since I normally do everything by myself, I'll take whatever mechanical advantage I can get. What I didn't show there was that the hanging brackets for the generator were tweaked inwards a little bit so the generator did not want to easily slide into place. I cut a couple 2x4's to fit between the generator and the vertical part of the forks so I could push the thing and not have it slide on the forks. Worked like a charm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 So I spent all day Saturday working on my little Onan generator and changed out the rotor bearing in the end of the stator housing. It was actually quite a bit of work, and then did the typical tune-up stuff after that. Turns out my new fuel filter was not correct, so I had to reinstall the old one. Not a big deal..it was still flowing fairly well, but wanted it changed for peace of mind. So the little generator now runs like a champ with it's new upgraded circuit board, and an almost full tune-up (everything except the fuel filter, as mentioned). New plugs, oil and air filters, all grounds cleaned, etc. So I stick it back in the RV and get it all wired and plumbed up, and bam...it doesn't work...lol. So... The thing actually runs great off a gas jug and a couple ft of 5/16" fuel line. Starts instantly at the panel or remotely, and will just purr along all day if you leave it. Voltage inside is a pretty solid 120v +/- .5v, so that's all good. Hook it up to the fuel line on the RV and will only run briefly and then sputter a few times and stall, clearly starving for fuel. Using a vacuum pump I pulled maybe a cup or half a cup of fuel from the RV fuel line, and that was it. Pulled up to 20" vacuum, and not fuel. So I then ripped all 20 ft of fuel line out of the RV, and stuck a short 3 ft piece on the tank top fitting. If I blow through I can hear bubbles in the tank...it's not overly easy to blow through, but I can blow through it. If I try to suck on it, it feels completely blocked. Zero fuel. I think this is the sending unit/pick up that is in it...two lines for the engine, and one (black fitting) for the generator. Now I do know that this thing had a new fuel pump installed within the past year or so...maybe two. The fuel pump is IN this sending unit/pick up isn't it? Could they have changed out just the pump or would they had to have swap out the whole unit? The reason I ask is, I wonder if one of those white flex lines is kinked inside the tank? Either that or there's some kind of screen/filter/foot valve in there that is stuck... So frustrating. Anybody familiar with these pick up units that could shed some light on the topic? That does look like a lot of work, but the lift truck must have saved you a bunch of pain. My father and brother have removed and reinstalled Onans several times, and it isn't easy w/o the fork lift. On the fuel sending unit/pump, I think it is possible that they could have change out the pump. But not probable. And even if they did, it works other than for the generator - right? So I think your idea of one of the white hoses being kinked is likely. If you can blow through it, with difficulty, but not suck through it then it sounds like it is kinked and with pressure you are un-kinking it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 That does look like a lot of work, but the lift truck must have saved you a bunch of pain. My father and brother have removed and reinstalled Onans several times, and it isn't easy w/o the fork lift. On the fuel sending unit/pump, I think it is possible that they could have change out the pump. But not probable. And even if they did, it works other than for the generator - right? So I think your idea of one of the white hoses being kinked is likely. If you can blow through it, with difficulty, but not suck through it then it sounds like it is kinked and with pressure you are un-kinking it. Gary, I'm going to try tonight to feed a wire or weed trimmer line back through the metal elbow on the sending unit and see if it's free at all. I have some really small bottle brushes at work I can use if by chance it is plugged up with dirt, debris, or rust, etc. If the plastic tube is kinked or collapsed, I guess I'll then be dropping the tank...not much choice. Bugger. Two steps forward, one step back...lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Gary, I'm going to try tonight to feed a wire or weed trimmer line back through the metal elbow on the sending unit and see if it's free at all. I have some really small bottle brushes at work I can use if by chance it is plugged up with dirt, debris, or rust, etc. If the plastic tube is kinked or collapsed, I guess I'll then be dropping the tank...not much choice. Bugger. Two steps forward, one step back...lol. What about a stint? Push a piece of tubing in that will open up the other tubing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rembrant Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 What about a stint? Push a piece of tubing in that will open up the other tubing? Gary, I just put 40 gallons in that fuel tank yesterday morning, so anything that saves me from having to drop it I will most definitely try...lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 What about a stint? Push a piece of tubing in that will open up the other tubing? Gary, I just put 40 gallons in that fuel tank yesterday morning, so anything that saves me from having to drop it I will most definitely try...lol. The bottle brush would probably hold it open. Yeah, you just put a new floor down in the RV... I'd say cut a hole like the trunk of almost every Chevy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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