Onan generator problems

[oregonjaf]

So, the RV I bought had been sitting for 15 years. I'm sure the generator wasn't started during that time. I took apart the carburetor and cleaned it, and the fuel filter. Changed out some questionable copper (or brass) fuel lines to rubber. My problem....

It takes a bit to get it started and when it does it pulses for a good five minutes. I have to fiddle with the choke. (Which I think is the problem) After that, it seems to run good and strong. It pulls a little with the microwave, but only for a few seconds.

I think I got most of the gunk out of the carb.

Any other advice?

Thanks.

 

[B and C]

The microlite 2800 I have has an automatic choke.  I have never had to fiddle with it (other than spraying it and the linkage liberally with carb cleaner).  Is it sticking or the linkage sticking?  If you are having to manually close the choke to keep it running, one of the jets may still be somewhat clogged.  IIRC there is some air jets in the throat of the carb before the choke that could cause some problems too.  

When I got mine, it had not run in a couple of years.  I removed the entire unit from the van to work on it.  I did not disassemble the unit far enough to take the carb completely off though.  I did remove the float bowl, float, needle/seat and air cleaner.  I used a lot of carb cleaner and high pressure air to clean all the jets and exposed orifices as well as I could.  I had to replace the fuel pump in it too.  It fired right up on the driveway and ran well.  I reinstalled it in the van and it has been running great ever since.  I did not readjust anything.  I change the oil every 50 hours.

 

[MrNoodly]

I always thought Onan was an odd choice for a product name.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onan

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/onanism

 

[Gunny]

I have an older Onan 4K that wouldn't start when I first bought the RV. Took it to Cummins Southern Plains and had the fuel line replaced, ran okay, but like yours sort of stuttered before it warmed up. The mechanic told me to run some Seafoam thru a couple of tanks and see what happened. Starts easier and runs better, not perfect but runs much steadier then after warming up runs fine.