Need generator advice.

Is it possible to install a fuel line shut off valve on the generator fuel line?  Where would be a good spot?
Generator fails to start.  Runs fine with alternate fuel source so fuel is not getting to the generator.  I think I have a faulty fuel line.  Have any of you had this problem?  Any suggestions?  Do I need to drop the tank and replace the fuel line?
Unit is a 2552 new in 2015.
Thanks for any advice.
2travel

You could have a bad electric fuel pump or blocked filter. With the tank at least 25% full disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor and hold the prime switch on to check for fuel pressure.

We have a 2013. This forum saved us a bunch of money with the fuel pump info. Onan had bad fuel pumps, knew it, and didn't recall them. The advice to us was to go outside, open the bin door, remove the generator cover, stick your head close, try to start the genny and listen for the pump on the genny. We had no pump noise. John handled the button pushing inside while I listened but I think you can start from the genny from itself if you are solo).

We took her to a an Onan repair shop for truckers and told them we had a bad pump. They agreed and t was a free warranty repair. I suspect many repair shops would have gone straight to carburetor replacement.

When you "prime" the generator for starting, you should hear the fuel pump.  Remember it is not starting to prime until after the light comes on, so you want to HOLD IN the prime button for about 5 to 10 seconds "AFTER" the light turns on.  To prime, press in and hold the opposite portion of the start switch, either the start switch inside your PC, or the one on the generator itself.

If your generator fuel pump is working but may be weak, try opening and then closing the main fuel tank gas cap to relieve potential negative pressure inside the main fuel tank.  Negative pressure requires a strong good operating generator fuel pump.

As stated by others, make sure your main fuel tank has enough gas in it.  The one time our generator ran out out gas, our E350 gas gauge showed the generator cut-off was closer to 1/3, not 1/4.  Maybe we were parked on a slope when it happened just that one time for us.

Main Points
Make sure you have more than 1/3 tank of fuel
Run generator once a month for 10-15 minutes.
Use A/C for a load.

If fuel pump is going and won't start the carburetor could be dirty
Remove, take to small engine=-lawnmower-motorcycle shop and tell them to clean in ultrasonic bath.

Runs fine with alternate fuel source so fuel is not getting to the generator.......,I gather your other fuel source is going through the carb of the generator so that would rule out a problematic carb.?  Could you elaborate on how you use the alternate fuel source?  I suspect as Ron D said, you need to prime as in his explanation.  When i was initially shopping for an rv,  many salesperson didn't have a clue about the priming solution when the generator failed to start
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I read all the time on different RV forums how the Onan generator requires so much TLC, specifically for a healthy carburetor.  People add Seafoam and other products, run their generator every other week to a month, etc. etc.  They talk about the fuel leaving a film, varnish, residue, etc. etc. gumming up or otherwise contaminating the carburetor.

I don't get it.  Fuel is so refined along with fuel detergents and other additives these days for the high tech requirements for today's engines.  A primitive carburetor benefits immensely from it.

Our PC and Onan is 11 years old.  During off-season storage, I never run the Ford engine or the generator.  We put away our PC in the fall and pull it out in late spring or early summer and run everything then.  This year I pulled it out for the first time just a few weeks ago and everything starts up and runs perfectly fine as always.

I do understand that "garage kept" helps a lot, but do you really need to run the generator so frequently?

One thing I see value in is driving your outdoor-stored PC around frequently to keep the brake rotors in reasonably decent condition, and also to keep the rodents from moving into your engine compartment.  Resting the tires on different spots on them does not hurt either.

With respect to gasoline, a good friend in the petroleum business told me to always only purchase gas from a branded (major) station.  Never going with an off-brand just to save a few cents on a gallon.  Off-brand gas is the exception to the rule about both quality and advanced additives in gasoline.   

With respect to gasoline, a good friend in the petroleum business told me to always only purchase gas from a branded (major) station.  Never going with an off-brand just to save a few cents on a gallon.  Off-brand gas is the exception to the rule about both quality and advanced additives in gasoline.

I follow a different rule....

Buy the lowest priced gas as long as the gas station has lots of business.  Fresh off-brand gas at a lower-priced gas station is better than old higher-priced brand-name gas.

Also, if you know your area gas stations well, one with new under-ground tanks will be better than one with old under-ground tanks.  The days of steel tanks is over.  I think the EPA has changed them to fiberglass.  But there could be a few old under-ground steel tanks still in-use.  Avoid them if you know the station has been around for a very long time and the tanks were not replaced.  The problem with old steel tanks is the rust particles in the gas.

Good advice from Ron, although I will continue to avoid non-branded gas.  Several years ago one such station ran into some difficulty when problems were reported by those using the gas.  An investigation found the gas contained ~30% ethanol.  Which was not illegal, as the state only checks for octane.  The high ethanol percentage was used to raise the octane in a low-level gas in order to meet the octane requirements.  Very bad news for drivers unless their engine was designed to run the E85 blend.

Very interesting Cropduster.

I do run 87 octane in all our vehicles except at high altitude, then switch to 85 octane which is the "adjusted regular" fuel in those parts.  So maybe I dodge that concern.

Just curious here if 2travel ever resolved his generator problem.....?

Hi all, thanks for your input.  Still working on problem. Update is runs great out of a gallon gas can.  Vacuum draws no gas from main tank.  Blowing in gas line does not bubble in tank or pressurize gas line due to check valve operation so thought is line has a crack above tank.  May need to have local Ford truck dealer drop tank and replace gas line to generator. I talked to Phoenix today, spoke with General Manager Dave Ponsler, he was terrific, I felt like I was talking with Kermit.  Dave may be coming to the Club meeting in Deluth in September. I will post further developments and progress or lack of.  I almost never use the generator so I am wondering why spend any time or money on it.
I wondered about just switching to solar but have been told solar would not generate enough power to start my standard air conditioner.
2travel

solar would not generate enough power to start my standard air conditioner.

An A/C unit can be run from batteries, solar panels and an inverter but it takes a lot more batteries, panels and a bigger inverter than you are likely to fit onto a coach the size of a Phoenix Cruiser.  While possible, it just is not practical.  So I would think having an operable generator is a requirement, particularly since you already have it on board. 

Did Dave give you any suggestions?  Since the generator operates fine from a gas can I assume that means the issue is in the gas line or gas tank?

Dave said Ford has the gas tank mounted on the frame with two straps and four bolts and the tank is mounted before Phoenix receives it so if it is to be dropped, best to have ford do it.  Stay tuned, I talk to the ford truck dealer today, August 1st, 2018.
2travel