Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: ohsonew on September 03, 2018, 09:39:30 am

Title: Generator question
Post by: ohsonew on September 03, 2018, 09:39:30 am
Trying to chase down why the generator wont quite start and kept hearing something running. Tracked it down to the fuel pump for the generator was continuously running. Tried the start switch and it will spit and sputter but not run. The pump quit running for about 2 minutes then started up again. Why would the pump run on it's own? Sensor for fuel pressure??

Since it is running, I am of the belief that I probably have a fuel line crack, not a faulty fuel pump. Any comments on what to look for on the pump issue?

Thanks in advance,
Larry
Title: Re: Generator question
Post by: craneman on September 03, 2018, 10:09:28 am
How much fuel do you have? Generator pick-up is around a 1/4 tank
Title: Re: Generator question
Post by: wolfe10 on September 03, 2018, 11:07:35 am
Sounds like a stuck relay or water in a connection.
Title: Re: Generator question
Post by: John44 on September 03, 2018, 12:40:31 pm
Loosen the downstream side of the pump while it's running and see if fuel comes out.
Title: Re: Generator question
Post by: ohsonew on September 03, 2018, 02:56:38 pm
Craneman, that was my original suspicion. I was down to 3/8 tank according to the gauge. Filled it up on Saturday morning expecting 125+ gallons. Managed to squeeze in 68.4. The gauge is off by quite a bit, but at least in my favor.

Brett, If a stuck relay, any idea where it would be located? I unplugged the pump so as not to drain the batteries.

John 44, I will try that hopefully next weekend, time permitting. I have already had to take Lola back to storage till next Saturday when she gets to take a 75 mile drive to become a guest house for my Sister in law from Texas. :thumbsup:

Larry
Title: Re: Generator question
Post by: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart on September 03, 2018, 03:49:14 pm
Trying to chase down why the generator wont quite start and kept hearing something running. Tracked it down to the fuel pump for the generator was continuously running. Tried the start switch and it will spit and sputter but not run. The pump quit running for about 2 minutes then started up again. Why would the pump run on it's own? Sensor for fuel pressure??
Since it is running, I am of the belief that I probably have a fuel line crack, not a faulty fuel pump. Any comments on what to look for on the pump issue?
Thanks in advance,
Larry
Larry,

Surefire way to isolate the problem. Pull the supply hose off the electric pump, put a gallon of diesel in a container and place it close to the generator on the ground, run a 3 foot or so line from the diesel container to the intake of the electric pump. Use the glow position on the switch to operate the electric pump and to fill the generator fuel system with a fitting cracked to let the air out if you don't have a bleed valve. Start the generator and after it runs smoothly, turn on both ACs for several minutes to make sure you have found the problem. If it has, you are all set. The electric pump runs all the time the generator runs. If it keeps clicking but the generator stops, it's usually a fuel supply problem. I put a pressure gauge on the fuel filter discharge side so I can quickly tell if the injection pump is getting proper pressure.

Good time to also replace the spin-on fuel filter and eliminate it as a possible culprit.

Pierce
Title: Re: Generator question
Post by: ohsonew on September 03, 2018, 03:53:35 pm
Thanks Pierce. I have a diesel container which will do the trick quite nicely. Wont be able to get there till next weekend at best. That darn work thing keeps getting in the way of everything, :headwall:

Larry