Onan DKD - powerless

[dlefty]

Well I finally got her figured out for now! As it turns out my fault breaker was bad. That was causing low voltage and no starting but not tripping the breaker. So I replaced it once I figured out that was the ultimate problem. The circuit board was not the issue because I had that rebuilt back when the problems started. The generator starts now and runs fine!

I had replaced the coolant sender back in Feb. I never seemed to get that right. The coolant seems to peg the gauge once it reaches 190 with an IR thermo. I know that it isn't the gauge because I swapped with main engine coolant gauge and have the same problem. I unhooked the sender wire & ran a wire from the guage outside the window to the generator sender and it eventually pegged the gauge.


Couple of ?

1. Am I missing something here? Is there another sender somewhere along the wire inside the coach?
2. Could the sender that I replaced be bad?

Thanks in advance....

[Bill Pape]

Dan,

Thanks for the tech tip on the board rebuilder and the fault breaker.

I would guess that the sensor is not matched to the gage,
The original BB gage & sensor will read high about 20/30 degrees.
It will take a little tinkering but, the gage and sensor can be bench tested with a few wires, 12V battery, and a pot of boiling water, add a few resisters until it reads 212 degrees. Teleflex tech support can recommend a sensor to match the gage ##

http://www.teleflexmarine.com/

http://www.downloadingfiles.co.uk/teleflexfiles/gauges/A%20Basic%20Gauge%20Test.pdf

[birds_first]

For the 87-89 FC with the 8KW Onan is Onan the only place to get the starter solenoid #307-2546. What I have found on line the silly thing has gone up over $300. Does Kubota have one that will work or am I screwed with Onan? Does anyone have a Kubota number?

My gen will start if I push the solenoid plunger in and then I have to remove the rod so the generator will stay running. To shut it off I have to choke it down.

[rwoody]

cummins parts are only 125 on ebay

when mine goes that is whats going back

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/94-98...item3f067f7f61

[rwoody]

It has two windings, one is about .4 ohms, the other about 12 or so. When you crank, both windings are energized. The low ohm coil pulls in the solenoid. The higher ohm one is holds it in. When energized/pulled in, a sliding bar allows fuel to flow. When it's off, the holding coil is turned off, the solenoid rod pops out, the bar that switches the fuel moves, the fuel is cut off, and the engine stops.


http://woodward.com/EngineSolenoidShutDownKits.aspx

[giderich]

Originally Posted by birds_first

For the 87-89 FC with the 8KW Onan iss Onan the only place to get the starter solenoid #307-2546. What I have found on line the silly thing has gone up over $300. Does Kubota have one that will work or am I screwed with Onan? Does anyone have a Kubota number?

My gen will start if I push the solenoid plunger in and then I have to remove the rod so the generator will stay running. To shut it off I have to choke it down.

John, I had trouble with the Onan DKD fuel shut off solenoid...check the rod adjustment; with Onan governor mechanism against the stop (wide open) the solenoid plunger rod should to adjusted so the shut off solenoid is in the 'fully open' position. If, solenoid rod is not adjusted to full stroke, the solenoid will overheat and damage will result...I learned this the hard way $$$. Woody's idea for a suitable replacement may be the less expensive way to go.

[fishfarm]

Perhaps one of these could be used:

http://www.murcal.com/Catalog/P610-Solenoid-Family

[rwoody]

there u go!!!!!

[Bill Pape]

Originally Posted by fishfarm

Perhaps one of these could be used:

http://www.murcal.com/Catalog/P610-Solenoid-Family

Bob, Thanks for the web site.

[birds_first]

Thanks guys for all the input.

Duh sometimes I feel really stupid, the ole solenoid works great with a well charged battery. I removed the battery, checked and filled with distilled water, charged it up overnight and wala the generator fired up.