Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Generator Starting  (Read 976 times) previous topic - next topic

Generator Starting

We are at altitude now, 7,600 or so. Anyhow, I fired up the generator this morning and it ran rough, smoked an complained. Forgot about the starting trick. If you have the auto start rather than the manual glow plug pre-heat setup you can avoid the rough running by kind of fooling the system. Just press the start switch and turn it off before the generator starter engages. Do this three or four times and that baby will start and purr.

I learned this one a few years ago. It was early, maybe 5A or so and I was out with the dog. I had inadvertently left the generator on auto mode and had the inverter on. When the microwave or coffee pot or something was turned on the battery voltage dropped below the set point and that generator coughed to life. The entire campground was engulfed in smoke. The tenters about 50 yards away were not pleased. Anyhow, doing the press/release thing avoids this issue.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #1 –
We've had to do the same on one of our trips.  Pretty simple procedure.
John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #2 –

And summer is not over yet. Yellowstone at 17 degrees is really difficult starting no matter how long you glow the plugs. Ether can be used or take a plumbing propane torch and let the flame get a few inches from the air intake while cranking. That usually starts them.

Unless a turbo generator, you will get a little smoke at 8000 feet even when warm. Foul smelling smoke. I've had tent campers bang on our door.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #3 –
My generator won't start when initiated from inside the coach. We have just purchased a 1998 U320. I'm learning little by little.  Is this an electrical problem or am I doing something wrong.

Rick
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #4 –
Rick,

Is it turning over when you hit the start switch and just not starting?  This could be clogged fuel filter, fuel line leak, bad fuel pump.

If it isn't even trying to turn over. You need to check to see if the master switch on the generator control panel is in the on position. Check cable connections on the back of the master control box. Check starter cable.

Which power unit do you have?  Like Isuzu or Kubota, seems like those were the only 2 options in '98
Any small detail  you can add may help us here to troubleshoot.

Welcome to the family.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #5 –
If you have glow plugs you don't want to use ether. Check to see if the glow plugs are working.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #6 –
We have a power tech generator. It has Dyna-Gen Auto Start.  On the generator there is a panel that has a master switch that is on. Then to the left are two toggle switches.  On/off and run/stop
It starts ok outside.  What I mean is that we got two lithium house batteries. It seams there isn't enough juice to start it. Aside from that , the switch inside whether on the dash or in the bedroom doesn't start the generator. What I mean is if you put on Start nothing happens. No sound at all.  Does it matter where the toggle switches are set at on the generator itself?  Also because of the lithium batteries with the stock converter the inverter breaker always has to be off or it will burn out the lithium batteries. Would that have anything to do with this or anything else.

Rick
 
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #7 –
All of Foretravel generators are indirect injection diesels so the injector does not use the area above the piston as the combustion chamber but rather, the injector sprays into a pre-combustion chamber where the glow plug is located. This is why the compression ratio is several points higher than a direct chamber injection. This is also why indirect injection engines are about 5 percent less efficient. Compression ratios often are as high as 22 to 1.

The use of ether is OK on a cold engine and will not harm it. Never on any warm engine.

If one glow plug has failed, the engine will be difficult to start in warm weather and won't start if it is cold.

Good photo of a pre-combustion chamber diesel with a photo: technical theory: Pre Combustion Chambers

How to test your glow plugs: How to Test Glow Plugs (with Pictures) - wikiHow

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #8 –
If I remember correctly, the on / off switch needs to be in the on position. The run / stop switch needs to be in the stop position. This allows the dash switch to be activated. Without going to the barn to look, I'm not sure. I could be wrong....again.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #9 –
Yes, Lynn is correct.  The outside on/off switch must always be in the on position for the inside start switches to work.  The batteries shouldn't be a factor in your generator issue.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #10 –
Using ether with glow plugs is a bad idea, worst than using ether with a hot engine. I have started my generator at -5, it takes about
17 seconds warming the glow plugs before the engine turns over and then it starts on the first revolution. When the temp is over
80 degrees the glow plugs don't come on and the engine does a few revolutions before it fires up.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #11 –
Thanks for the info. It was as simplr as what you said.
It starts fine from inside.

So I had it running for about 1/2 hr and it faulted off with the high temp light on.  It was about 88 degrees outside.

I have been noticing radiator fluid on the ground under right passinger side.

I thought it may be the heater core but maybe it is the coolant from the generator radiator.
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #12 –
Quote
I have been noticing radiator fluid on the ground under right passinger side.

That's usually where you see the condensate from the dash A/C. If you are laying under the front on the pax side and looking up you can see where the A/C condensate exits. It's that open tube among the mess of cables and hoses.
jor
93 225
95 300
97 270
99 320
 

Re: Generator Starting

Reply #13 –
If you have a 12kw power tech it could be the radiator cap or coolant recovery bottle.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins