Help

Bob Bender · 10-07-2014, 08:21 AM

Onan gen starts and then shuts down. If you hold start button it runs for about a minute. Its a model 4kyfa26100k 4000 wattmicroquiet 4000.

Steve Calabro · 10-07-2014, 08:26 AM

Check the oil. Probably low oil shutdown switch.

Bob Bender · 10-07-2014, 08:45 AM

Steve its full

Dan Fletcher · 10-07-2014, 08:50 AM

Put out an SOS for SG racer Matt Sherman. Great guy, generator guru, and part time stand up comedian. I'm sure someone here has his number.

NHRA3106 · 10-07-2014, 08:58 AM

Had this very issue with the same generator on my motorhome several years back. I called the Onan/Cummins service center in Louisville, KY, and the tech was able to tell me exactly what it was, and mailed me the part. It ended up being a small electrical board that cost me roughly 100.00, and simply screwed back in, and plugged in...issue fixed. Here is there number, and I know there are several other locations, 502 491-4263...hope this helps!

Bill Baer · 10-07-2014, 09:01 AM

Bob
The service manual is available on line @ http://www.cumminsonan.com/www/pdf/m.../981-0530C.pdf
The parts manual is available @ http://www.trekdocs.com/Onan%204000%...%20first43.pdf
I have had this problem twice with my onan. KY . first time it was the control assembly this time it's a short in the rotor.
If you not a DIY type and want some one else to repair it or need parts perhaps you could contact Rich Biebel on this form.
Rich informed me that these little generators are tough on brushes too and the motor will not run if the generator is not producing 120 volts.
Be forewarned that onan parts are not cheap $$$$$.
If you want to trouble shoot it yourself download the manual and start reading.
To get the rotor out you'll need to turn a 1/2" X 7-7/8 long rod stock down to .450 dia. But you can chech it with an ohm meter first . section10 of the manual will help you in trouble shooting it as well.
Hope this helps.

Rich Biebel · 10-07-2014, 12:29 PM

Dan and Bill are correct...

Matt is a comedian but also a pretty dern good S/G racer...LOL..... and we have worked together for over 20 years for RJ Control Inc...

Bill is also correct.....brushes are the first thing to check on a 4KY
It is not hard for me but I do them all the time.

An ohmmeter across 2 pins that connect the brushes to the controls is the first test to do. A good reading should be around 20-25 ohms and it should not change when you slowly turn it by hand at the blower wheel..

The brushes are under the blower wheel and take a lot of work to get to.

Just did one yesterday for a racer and his unit is good to go again and coming back out to Maple Grove tomorrow night..

4KY's don't have an oil pump so they have no low oil pressure switch.
They rely on splash oil.
The older ones do have an oil level switch and they sometimes cause shut downs but usually only after the unit runs for a long time.
They did away with that switch......If you run low on oil your engine will break a rod......aluminum rod, no bearing...

Cummins owns Onan.....Onan was never shy about their parts prices and prices have risen considerably since Cummins took over.

Matt and I both will be at the Dutch....
Truthfully.....I hate working on generators at the track when I am trying to race......I hide....LOL
Matt likes it and was all over the place last weekend diagnosing issues for everyone from NHRA on down the line.
Making major repairs at the track is usually pretty difficult....

Bob Bender · 10-07-2014, 02:17 PM

Input a new pump on 2 yes I got from Matt at Cecil. I put in a new batt. It went dead. Changed the fuel filter. Now its not pulling fuel through the filter. Ran great last night.

Bob Bender · 10-07-2014, 02:29 PM

32 code

Rich Biebel · 10-07-2014, 03:24 PM

How many hours on it ?

Code 32 points to something that is usually not whats wrong with it from my experience..

Push the start/stop switch to the stop side....that is also Prime when the engine is off. FuelPump should run. Pull line off where it attaches to carb and with switch on stop/prime.....pump fuel into a small bottle. Verifys pump is working and you have fuel in the carb.

If you have fuel and it starts but shuts off when you remove your finger from the switch you probably have lost AC output on that unit...and as I said brush condition/connection is the first place to do some testing.

You have to disconnect the battery + from the solenoid and tape it up so you don't do any 12 volt welding....LOL or start a fire.....

You need to remove the plate where the solenoid is mounted.
It's a struggle but that all comes out with the ECU or control underneath it.

It has one weatherpack style connector. Release the lock.....pull the plug out....

Pins #1 and #10 on the connector will be from the brushes.....
The wires are all white....and printed right on them
F- and F+
An ohmmeter with stab probes into the connector at those 2 positions should show you about 20-24 ohms.....and as I said if you reach in and rotate the blower wheel by hand.....that reading should not fade or go high.

If you get good readings your problem may be the controller (PC Board) or something more serious like a stator or even the rotor....

Ohm readings help but don't always tell you whats wrong.
Often they need to be disassembled to visualy find the problem....

An Onan needs a battery connected to it to run......If it is good enough to crank it, it is good enough for it to stay running.

Battery going dead is a separate issue not related to it "won't stay running"
4KY's have no battery charging built in.
A separate charger or converter is necessary to charge your "house" or starting battery.
M-H's generally have a DC converter and they charge the battery as well as run your DC items in the M-H...mostly lights and vent fans...

I have a 4 KY in my trailer. I have a small 6 amp Battery Charger that charges my battery when the generator is running....

10-07-2014, 08:26 AM	#2
Steve Calabro Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 197 Likes: 205 Liked 40 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Help Check the oil. Probably low oil shutdown switch. __________________ Steve Calabro 1199 STK, SS

10-07-2014, 08:45 AM	#3
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,712 Likes: 1,404 Liked 372 Times in 80 Posts	Re: Help Steve its full __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

10-07-2014, 08:50 AM	#4
Dan Fletcher Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Churchville, NY Posts: 483 Likes: 108 Liked 963 Times in 61 Posts	Re: Help Put out an SOS for SG racer Matt Sherman. Great guy, generator guru, and part time stand up comedian. I'm sure someone here has his number. __________________ Dan Fletcher 1781 STK, SS, COMP, SG, SC DAN FLETCHER TRAILER SALES

10-07-2014, 08:58 AM	#5
NHRA3106 Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Midway, KY Posts: 141 Likes: 5 Liked 132 Times in 32 Posts	Re: Help Had this very issue with the same generator on my motorhome several years back. I called the Onan/Cummins service center in Louisville, KY, and the tech was able to tell me exactly what it was, and mailed me the part. It ended up being a small electrical board that cost me roughly 100.00, and simply screwed back in, and plugged in...issue fixed. Here is there number, and I know there are several other locations, 502 491-4263...hope this helps!

10-07-2014, 09:01 AM	#6
Bill Baer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Nothern IL Posts: 596 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Help Bob The service manual is available on line @ http://www.cumminsonan.com/www/pdf/m.../981-0530C.pdf The parts manual is available @ http://www.trekdocs.com/Onan%204000%...%20first43.pdf I have had this problem twice with my onan. KY . first time it was the control assembly this time it's a short in the rotor. If you not a DIY type and want some one else to repair it or need parts perhaps you could contact Rich Biebel on this form. Rich informed me that these little generators are tough on brushes too and the motor will not run if the generator is not producing 120 volts. Be forewarned that onan parts are not cheap $$$$$. If you want to trouble shoot it yourself download the manual and start reading. To get the rotor out you'll need to turn a 1/2" X 7-7/8 long rod stock down to .450 dia. But you can chech it with an ohm meter first . section10 of the manual will help you in trouble shooting it as well. Hope this helps. __________________ Bill Baer 3391 SC, 339B SC, QR Last edited by Bill Baer; 10-07-2014 at 09:24 AM.

10-07-2014, 08:21 AM	#1
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,712 Likes: 1,404 Liked 372 Times in 80 Posts	Help Onan gen starts and then shuts down. If you hold start button it runs for about a minute. Its a model 4kyfa26100k 4000 wattmicroquiet 4000. __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

10-07-2014, 12:29 PM	#7
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: Help Dan and Bill are correct... Matt is a comedian but also a pretty dern good S/G racer...LOL..... and we have worked together for over 20 years for RJ Control Inc... Bill is also correct.....brushes are the first thing to check on a 4KY It is not hard for me but I do them all the time. An ohmmeter across 2 pins that connect the brushes to the controls is the first test to do. A good reading should be around 20-25 ohms and it should not change when you slowly turn it by hand at the blower wheel.. The brushes are under the blower wheel and take a lot of work to get to. Just did one yesterday for a racer and his unit is good to go again and coming back out to Maple Grove tomorrow night.. 4KY's don't have an oil pump so they have no low oil pressure switch. They rely on splash oil. The older ones do have an oil level switch and they sometimes cause shut downs but usually only after the unit runs for a long time. They did away with that switch......If you run low on oil your engine will break a rod......aluminum rod, no bearing... Cummins owns Onan.....Onan was never shy about their parts prices and prices have risen considerably since Cummins took over. Matt and I both will be at the Dutch.... Truthfully.....I hate working on generators at the track when I am trying to race......I hide....LOL Matt likes it and was all over the place last weekend diagnosing issues for everyone from NHRA on down the line. Making major repairs at the track is usually pretty difficult.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Last edited by Rich Biebel; 10-07-2014 at 12:32 PM.

10-07-2014, 02:17 PM	#8
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,712 Likes: 1,404 Liked 372 Times in 80 Posts	Re: Help Input a new pump on 2 yes I got from Matt at Cecil. I put in a new batt. It went dead. Changed the fuel filter. Now its not pulling fuel through the filter. Ran great last night. __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

10-07-2014, 02:29 PM	#9
Bob Bender VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,712 Likes: 1,404 Liked 372 Times in 80 Posts	Re: Help 32 code __________________ Bob Bender 144 O/SA 2010-2012 National Record Holder

10-07-2014, 03:24 PM	#10
Rich Biebel VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey suburbs Posts: 2,275 Likes: 25 Liked 510 Times in 200 Posts	Re: Help How many hours on it ? Code 32 points to something that is usually not whats wrong with it from my experience.. Push the start/stop switch to the stop side....that is also Prime when the engine is off. FuelPump should run. Pull line off where it attaches to carb and with switch on stop/prime.....pump fuel into a small bottle. Verifys pump is working and you have fuel in the carb. If you have fuel and it starts but shuts off when you remove your finger from the switch you probably have lost AC output on that unit...and as I said brush condition/connection is the first place to do some testing. You have to disconnect the battery + from the solenoid and tape it up so you don't do any 12 volt welding....LOL or start a fire..... You need to remove the plate where the solenoid is mounted. It's a struggle but that all comes out with the ECU or control underneath it. It has one weatherpack style connector. Release the lock.....pull the plug out.... Pins #1 and #10 on the connector will be from the brushes..... The wires are all white....and printed right on them F- and F+ An ohmmeter with stab probes into the connector at those 2 positions should show you about 20-24 ohms.....and as I said if you reach in and rotate the blower wheel by hand.....that reading should not fade or go high. If you get good readings your problem may be the controller (PC Board) or something more serious like a stator or even the rotor.... Ohm readings help but don't always tell you whats wrong. Often they need to be disassembled to visualy find the problem.... An Onan needs a battery connected to it to run......If it is good enough to crank it, it is good enough for it to stay running. Battery going dead is a separate issue not related to it "won't stay running" 4KY's have no battery charging built in. A separate charger or converter is necessary to charge your "house" or starting battery. M-H's generally have a DC converter and they charge the battery as well as run your DC items in the M-H...mostly lights and vent fans... I have a 4 KY in my trailer. I have a small 6 amp Battery Charger that charges my battery when the generator is running.... __________________ Rich Biebel S/C 1479 Last edited by Rich Biebel; 10-07-2014 at 03:34 PM.