Onan surging

[Don B]

Our 2001 HD has a Onan 3KVC-83B. We don't use it much, but run it now and then just in case we need it. Recently it has started surging or galloping. It did that once before and cost us an expensive carb replacement, mostly labor removing and replacing the whole unit. Any ideas for a fix?

[mloganusda]

There is an adjustment screw, plastic cover over it, for adjusting the fuel intake for altitude. This makes the gen run lean or rich for the air intake. At high altitude, less air so adjust screw for less gas (running rich). At lower altitude, more air so adjust screw for more gas (running lean). You make have to remove (break) the plastic cover so you can adjust the screw futher in or out to stop the surging.

[Don B]

Thanks for the suggestion Mike. But it didn't make any difference. It still gallops like crazy at most settings, almost like the governor is out of control!

[bigdan]

there should always be a tap on the fuel line to shut the fuel when stopping the gem for a while .....


you must have some gum in the carb again ....



are you mecanic incline ?


If so remove carb . remove cover , look , clean fuel bowl and all visible orifice with blown air ( 30 psi ) reinstall ...start !

[Don B]

I could never figure out why there wasn't a shutoff from the factory.


I was hoping for an easier fix, but that may be what I have to do. Unfortunately the generator has to be lowered to get to the carb and throttle linkage. I'll just have to do it. How about running some Sea Foam directly through the fuel line. Think that would take the gunk out?

[bigdan]

how will you get it to pass in the engine ?

[Chuck711]

Seafoam works well. It needs to run thru fuel system not dumped thru throat.


I suggest removing line at external filter. Then put a small container with seafoam


into line going to genset.


Chuck

[Don B]

This is a great discussion . . .


Does anyone know if this generator really needs that huge fuel filter? A smaller, in line filter would allow room for the shutoff that was suggested by bigdan. It would have to be changed more often, but is there another down side?

[Chuck711]

Small container = Gasoline and seafoam to clarify