Generator repair or replace

[Madmike]

I have an Onan 6.5ky Emerald 3. I had it running and now it does not. I am going to take it in them to tell me what is wrong with it. My questions is. If is cost more than 1k to fix it should i replace it? I have seen a gas version with a honda engine for 1k at sams. I would have to some how convert the power, I feel I can get this done for cheap. I need power on the road as it is so hot here. I don't want to spend a ton of money on one i know has 950 hours. Does any one have advise?

[bevans6]

950 hours doesn't seem like a lot for an Onan.  i think that one is air-cooled, is it not?  My thinking would be this - starting from scratch, no money in the pot, would I rather have a Honda something or other (you don't get much good honda in a generator for $1,000) or would I rather spend $1,000 on a used Onan with a rebuilt whatever-is-wrong?  It may well be just a bad sensor, but it could be terminal on either the  engine or the alternator.  Then again, you have to decide how thrilled you are with the Onan.  I've been beside some that I thought were total junk - loud and obnoxious, move my bus to get away from it.  Others you sat beside and had a cup of tea.  Only you know that part of it.

Brian

[HighTechRedneck]

$1,000 for a new 6.5KW Honda powered generator sounds a little too good to be true.  Might want to double check the specs before making any committments.  At the risk of restarting an old debate, is it one that is made for permanent mounting in enclosed space?

I don't know how many hours use the Onan Emerald series was made to last, but 950 hours sounds pretty youthful to me for one made to be a permanent RV generator.  A quick look around Google finds people saying it should last over 10,000 hours if properly maintained.

[Lin]

Although I am prone to start making radical replacement/repair plans before I get a real diagnosis, it is seldom productive.  Find what is wrong first and what it will take to fix it.  It might be something very simple.  Does it have an internal breaker or reset button?  I was once already researching getting a new compressor when I found the old one's reset button, and wala.

[luvrbus]

If the engine is not running it won't cost much you will  be a lot better off with the Onan that is a good generator, the Honda at Sam's  is a contractors model for a 1000 bucks.Honda does not make a 6.5 for RV use and the 4000 and 6000 they make for rv use are in the 3000 to 4000 dollar price range.
Is the Onan gasoline or propane if it is propane make sure you have a liquid supply and not a vapor.  

good luck  

[Lin]

Anyway, at this point I am not sure what is wrong with it.  I had thought it was not producing electricity, but do you mean that it won't start or won't crank?

[Madmike]

She will spin but not stay running. I will take it in Monday an let you guys know what is wrong with it. I can see there is a mouse nest in the middle. I hate Mice.

[James77MCI8]

Sounds like it is not producing power. That will inhibit the run circuit. Could be a relay or the Voltage regulator. Either one is a cheap fix. Could be the low oil sensor. Did you check the oil level? I would not trade it for the cheap Honda.

[Barn Owl]

There have been more than I can count post on why not to use a contractor generator vs. one for an RV. Fix the Onan or find one on Craigslist using Craiglook or Searchtempest.

[TomC]

If you have to spend $3,000 to repair the 6.5 Emerald, I would.  It runs at 1800 rpm, and I had a commercial Emerald 6.5 that had a bit over 12,000 hours on it when it finally froze up (and that only because of a bad oil pump sensor).  Good Luck, TomC

[Madmike]

When I first got it she ran. Then I took all of a sudden i could not get ot to turn over any more. This is a liquid propane model. I have heard many things about Onan's and i would love to have it work. It is the one thing that keeps us from using it. It is too hot here to travel in it with out the A/c Running. I will take her in tonight and get to the bottom of it one way or another.

[BG6]

You're way ahead of yourself.  All you know is that there's a problem.  It could be as simple as a leaky gasket or loose connection.

Is there a low-oil-pressure override switch (normally used in starting)?  If so, try holding it after you start and see if that makes a difference.

[James77MCI8]

Holding it in after it starts negates the low oil pressure, high temp(if so equipped), and voltage regulator/exciter circuit.

[gus]

Mice love to chew ignition cables and any wire insulation.

I've had countless wires chewed completely off by mice since I live in the boonies, I have mouse traps everywhere!

It could be something as simple as the primary ignition wire to the coil. or the coil wire to the distributor.

[robertglines1]

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