What do these 2 screws do on an Onan 4.0 MicroQuiet RV Generator , please ?

[ilbe...@gmail.com]

These 2 screws are located on the rightside of the Generator , and move against a stationary metal arm . The arms are attached with springs and a movable coiled heavy gauge wire . They have an impact on the speed of the Generator , but, is there some other important function to them ? Any idea where they should be as far as position goes ? Please elaborate. And...if you know of some online material that explains this, id LOVE to have it ...but i cant find any online. Thanks, David.

[ilbe...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, November 29, 2012 7:57:16 PM UTC-6, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:

> On Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:13:41 -0800 (PST), ilbe...@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>
> >These 2 screws are located on the rightside of the Generator , and move against a stationary metal arm . The arms are attached with springs and a movable coiled heavy gauge wire . They have an impact on the speed of the Generator , but, is there some other important function to them ? Any idea where they should be as far as position goes ? Please elaborate. And...if you know of some online material that explains this, id LOVE to have it ...but i cant find any online. Thanks, David.
>
>
>

> They are the governor springs. Don't mess with them. Their purpose is to maintain 60 hz speed of the
>
> generator.
>
>
>
> The surging you are experiencing, is symptomatic of a gucked up main jet, causing the gen to run
>
> lean.
>
>
>
> If the bowl on your carb is removable, check it so see if the bowl is full of yuck.
>
>
>
> But before you do that, go to WalMart and get a couple cans of carb spray, and give it a good dose,
>
> including a good spray into the air intake until the gen stalls. Then leave it for a half hour, to
>
> allow the spray to do it's job.
>
>
>
> And it goes without saying: don't have any 110 Volt appliances running while you are doing this.
>
>
>
> And the aforementioned Seafoam is also a good idea. It seems to have earned a rather favourable
>
> reputation.

Stan, Thanks so much for the info. Sadly, i tried adjusting both of these governor screws a few turns in hopes it would make the Gen. run smoother. It did, but then a few seconds later, it stopped the Gen. from running. Now what ? Do i need a hertz meter in order to adjust it back to 60 hz again ? I dont have one but i have an accurate digital volt meter. Please dont tell me i need to take it in to an Onan Dealer cause the only one around here has a proven bad reputation of ripping people off . If i can get it to stay running again, ill spray the intake and put some seafoam into the fuel line hose right at the carb. And no...the carb is not removable from what i can see. David.

[ilbe...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, December 1, 2012 11:21:36 PM UTC-6, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:

> >On Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:36:20 -0800 (PST), ilbe...@gmail.com wrote:
>
> >Stan, Thanks so much for the info. Sadly, i tried adjusting both of these governor screws a few turns in hopes it would make the Gen. run smoother. It did, but then a few seconds later, it stopped the Gen. from running. Now what ? Do i need a hertz meter in order to adjust it back to 60 hz again ? I dont have one but i have an accurate digital volt meter. Please dont tell me i need to take it in to an Onan Dealer cause the only one around here has a proven bad reputation of ripping people off . If i can get it to stay running again, ill spray the intake and put some seafoam into the fuel line hose right at the carb. And no...the carb is not removable from what i can see. David.
>
>
>

> As I recall, one adjustment addresses sag/droop, ie how the generator recovers from sudden load or
>
> shedding of load. The other, of course is the frequency adjustment.
>
>
>
> 1. You could always do it the hard way, with an electric clock with a second hand, and determine if
>
> it is running fast or slow for each revolution of the second hand.
>
>
>
> 2. Some digital volt meters have a HZ measuring function.
>
>
>
> 3 The simplest way, is with a Kill-A-Watt meter. They run about $20 or so:
>
>
>
> http://www.p3international.com/products/special/p4400/p4400-ce.html

Now it will start but dies about 2 seconds later. Boy...i messed it up. Im going to try replacing the spark plug which is very dark in appearance . If i can get it running and stay running, i now have a HZ Meter but i dont know which screw is for Frequency. I may have to bite the bullet and have this Onan Dealer get it running properly again. Thanks.

[llbe...@hotmail.com]

On Dec 1, 9:21 pm, stan.bi...@hotmail.com wrote:

> >On Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:36:20 -0800 (PST), ilbeba...@gmail.com wrote:
> >Stan, Thanks so much for the info.  Sadly, i tried adjusting both of these governor screws a few turns in hopes it would make the Gen. run smoother. It did, but then a few seconds later, it stopped the Gen. from running.  Now what ?   Do i need a hertz meter in order to adjust it back to 60 hz again ?  I dont have one but i have an accurate digital volt meter.  Please dont tell me i need to take it in to an Onan Dealer cause the only one around here has a proven bad reputation of ripping people off .   If i can get it to stay running again, ill spray the intake and put some seafoam into the fuel line hose right at the carb.  And no...the carb is not removable from what i can see.   David.
>

> As I recall, one adjustment addresses sag/droop, ie how the generator recovers from sudden load or
> shedding of load. The other, of course is the frequency adjustment.
>
> 1. You could always do it the hard way, with an electric clock with a second hand, and determine if
> it is running fast or slow for each revolution of the second hand.
>
> 2. Some digital volt meters have a HZ measuring function.
>
> 3 The simplest way, is with a Kill-A-Watt meter. They run about $20 or so:
>
> http://www.p3international.com/products/special/p4400/p4400-ce.html

I guess im really screwed now

[nothermark]

On Sun, 02 Dec 2012 15:56:04 -0500, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:

>>On Saturday, December 1, 2012 11:21:36 PM UTC-6, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:
>>> >On Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:36:20 -0800 (PST), ilbe...@gmail.com wrote:
>>>
>>> >Stan, Thanks so much for the info. Sadly, i tried adjusting both of these governor screws a few turns in hopes it would make the Gen. run smoother. It did, but then a few seconds later, it stopped the Gen. from running. Now what ? Do i need a hertz meter in order to adjust it back to 60 hz again ? I dont have one but i have an accurate digital volt meter. Please dont tell me i need to take it in to an Onan Dealer cause the only one around here has a proven bad reputation of ripping people off . If i can get it to stay running again, ill spray the intake and put some seafoam into the fuel line hose right at the carb. And no...the carb is not removable from what i can see. David.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> As I recall, one adjustment addresses sag/droop, ie how the generator recovers from sudden load or
>>>
>>> shedding of load. The other, of course is the frequency adjustment.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 1. You could always do it the hard way, with an electric clock with a second hand, and determine if
>>>
>>> it is running fast or slow for each revolution of the second hand.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 2. Some digital volt meters have a HZ measuring function.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 3 The simplest way, is with a Kill-A-Watt meter. They run about $20 or so:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.p3international.com/products/special/p4400/p4400-ce.html
>

>>On Sun, 2 Dec 2012 06:56:28 -0800 (PST), ilbe...@gmail.com wrote:
>>Now it will start but dies about 2 seconds later. Boy...i messed it up. Im going to try replacing the spark plug which is very dark in appearance . If i can get it running and stay running, i now have a HZ Meter but i dont know which screw is for Frequency. I may have to bite the bullet and have this Onan Dealer get it running properly again. Thanks.
>

>No. You haven't messed up. That fact that the generator won't stay running has nothing whatsoever to
>do with adjusting the output frequency.
>
>Does it stay running while the "start" button is pressed? And then quit when released? which
>indicates a circuit board problem, and inability of the supply power to keep the unit running.
>Failure of the diode ring bridge rectifier is fairly common. To quit after 2 seconds, sounds like an
>electrical circuit board problem, or the generator brushes and slip ring problem.
>
>But your current problem sounds like a different complication, unrelated to the initial surging
>problem.
>
>I similar probem with my 1999 generator last winter, but it would run for 20 minutes before giving
>up. After sitting sitting a few hours in a parking lot beside my ailing friend in 90+ weather, I
>finally conceded defeat and took to the Orlando Cummins dealer. Although I am a licenced auto
>mechanic, this one had me beat: 2000 km away from home, working in a parking lot with limited tools.
>
>Even the dealer couldn't figure out the problem until everything else had been replaced!
>
>-fuel filter
>-spark plugs
>-carburetor
>
>And it still wouldn't run for more than 20 minutes!!
>
>FINALLY!!: it turned out to be an $108 intermittent fuel pump. After replacing that, it's been
>working great ever since.
>
>My rig was in the repair shop for the entire day! In their favour, they were rather generous when it
>came to making up the invoice: $650 for the day, which included a new $350 carburetor. :-(
>
>On the positive side: the generator now works really great! :-)

Will this manual help any? I do not know what model is in question
but I do not expect there are a lot of big changes:

http://www.cumminsonan.com/www/pdf/manuals/981-0503.pdf

It has pictures. Also sounds like the unit might have a fuel filter
that can be gunked up as well as the carb and shows how to get the
float bowl off the carb. ;-)

[ilbe...@gmail.com]

Thanks Fellas for the info you gave. Ok...heres an UPDATE :

I replaced the spark plug with identical. The old plug only had 40 hours of run time on it but looked very dark on the inner end of it. I couldnt find any material that tells you what to gap the new plug at, so, i measured the old plugs gap and it was .033 " ... so thats what i went with on the new Plug. After installing it, i started the generator and it surged for a bit but stayed running. I then turned each governor screw a couple turns and it started running pretty smooth with no stalls. It sounded healthy . I hooked up my new HZ meter with Duty Cycle indicator combo., and for a split second it registed 62 HZ then went crazy bouncing between 220 to 255 ! So i switched leads on the meter but it didnt change the meter readout...just wild fluctuation . I put it on 'Duty Cycle' readout and got 52% . I have no idea what that value IS SUPPOSED to be ..but at least the Generator is up n running and putting out a voltage of between 118-120 volts fluctuates . Today , im going to run it with a couple of electric baseboard heaters in operation for a couple hours . But, i think ive got it almost right on the money. I may buy another HZ meter to see what it reads out as id like to get it set at 60 Hz . But anyway, im pretty pleased that i can use the Generator again . I did squirt SeaFoam Cleaner into the intake till it stalled then let it sit for 20 min. before restarting and i put SeaFoam into the fuel line to about a 3" distance ..... so maybe all of that helped too. David.

[ilbe...@gmail.com]

P.S. I just found out the plug gap should be .025" so ill be changing that immediately from .033 " . And thanks much for the technical data sheet submitted...ive got it under my Favorites .

[nothermark]

FWIW - you probably know it already - but in case you do not - the
manual is a PDF - if you open it you can save it. If it was a web
page they can often be saved with "save page as" - either way you have
it if you do not have internet. I dumped it as a reference if I need
it. The file is not big but is sure can be handy. ;-)

[ilbe...@gmail.com]

On Monday, December 3, 2012 6:14:38 PM UTC-6, stan....@hotmail.com wrote:
> BTW David,
>
>
>
> Have you ever thought of picking up the rec.outdoors.rv-travel newsgroup? 100X the number of RVers
>
> on linek and a 100X the help when you hit a snag.
>
>
>
> rec.outdoors.rv-travel

Thanks, will give it a try.

[wendel...@gmail.com]