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Topic: Generator Service (Read 11 times) previous topic - next topic
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Generator Service
Yahoo Message Number: 142972
I'm about to service my generator which has about 415 hours. Oil change, spark plug, air filter. But the Onan manual says that at 450 hours it should have a valve adjustment and that the cylinder head should be removed and cleaned of carbon deposits or replaced at 450 hours. And that those should be done at an Onan service center. I'm wondering if those steps are really necessary. The generator runs fine.

I'm used to air cooled auto and motorcycle engines needing the valves adjusted at more like every 50 - 100 hours (3-5K miles) and find it odd that an engine that has gone over 400 hours without an adjustment would need one then since it seems that any problems from lack of adjustment would have already occurred. And I've never heard of a need to remove heads just to clean them.

So I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this. Is this overkill on Onan's part, is it a DIY project, have you had an Onan service center do this, what was done, cost, etc.? And any knowledge of the importance of this on small engines in general.

Thanks.

Terry

2003 26.5' RB
Gardnerville, NV
Terry
2003 26.5'RB
Gardnerville, NV
Re: Generator Service
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142976
The Onan is more like a lawn mower engine.  They have been making them forever and they are very simple.  Carbon can build up on the piston and cylinder head.  This carbon then glows red hot when running and can burn a hole in the piston.
 Sometimes you can tell if there is build-up when your generator won't shut down right away and wants to keep running.
 If one is handy with such mechanics, removal of the cylinder head and cleaning off the deposits is not very hard.  You must use a new head gasket and follow torquing procedures on reassembly.
 Running high quality gas with detergents or adding cleaning fluid to the tank once in a while will help the truck engine and your generator too.
 
Re: Generator Service
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 142984
If it were mine, I'd check and adjust the valve clearance.  As far as the carbon goes I'd not pull the cylinder head on an engine which is running normally and well.  Especially on an engine which is not consuming excess oil.