Hi fellas..I have just finished with the rookie mistake of all rookie mistakes and had to pull my generator to service it. (make a story short, neglected to remove old oil filter rubber gasket which attatched itself to the housing and put on a new oil filter with a new gasket...caused leak.. shorted out starter...i'm an idiot..)anyway, with the generator out,i am able to solve old generator issues like: When my generator is running while the coach is driving, it will shut off when I turn left. Is this common for everyone or is the straw which draws fuel from the tank too short? I climbed under the unit and can see a 90 degree fitting where the fuel line for the generator attatches to the top of the tank. That unit has threads and almost looks like it is welded to the tank itself. I may need to provide pics but does anyone have an answer to this prob off the top of their head? I am guessing when I turn, it creates an air void in the line and the generator dies as the result?..

It is possible that fuel could slosh away from the suck tube in a turn, but that would be less apparent with a full tank. Does it do that with a full tank?

It could also be a crabby float in the carburetor, or a float level set too low. I have only experienced that on vehicles under hard cornering, but it could possibly happen with your genset.

BTW, you probably need new fuel lines. I prefer some sort of constant-tension clamp, like Corbin. I have seen Oetiker clamps get loose as hose shrunk over the years.

Ya know Bill it will still stall even with a full tank, just not quite as much. I will check the carb float, and your probably right on the fuel lines which are an easy fix now that the gen is out. thanks for the recommendation.

quote:

it will still stall even with a full tank, just not quite as much

That is curious.

Does it shut off right when the G forces start, or is it a little later?

You don't say what genset you have, but many have a degasser solenoid. Check the wiring to it or disable it and go cornering. A degasser can do an instant shut off, while fuel starvation is a little more gradual.

I am thinking it might not be fuel, though. If the fuel supply were interrupted by either the fuel level dropping below the suck tube or the float valve blocking the fuel inlet, you would most likely see typical lean symptoms, such as popping, surging, etc. You could pinch off the inlet hose and the engine would run normally, then speed up, pop or surge before dying. Perhaps you should do that to familiarize yourself with your particular genset's fuel starvation indications.

Now, then, let's consider ignition or oil level problems:

Put in a little more oil and see what happens.

Something could be cutting off your ignition. On my Kohler, I run a jumper lead from the hot terminal of the start solenoid to the plus terminal of the coil. This eliminates low oil sensor, overheat, frammis/veeblefitzer relays, etc.

There is also the possibility that a wire could be touching ground under the forces generated by a turn.

Cleaning and reseating any relays in your control box is always a good idea, too.

Another approach would be to run a wire from the plus terminal of the coil to a light where you or an observer could see it and drive around a corner. It could even be right outside the genset compartment where it would be visible from inside. Do not attempt to watch it in the mirror while driving and talking on the phone.

Keep track of the number of left turns you make so you can unwind the Karma wheel when this is all over.

You make a good point about the standard fuel starvation symptoms...there is none at all. But I bet the oil level could have something to do with it. This would be a simple fix and I will try that right away. Btw I have a 7000 watt Kohler. I had to replace the starter and that comes in today at 2:00 p.m. I am using the opportunity to replace my D.c. scene lights with some new updated Whelan Gradient Scene lights. I willl post some pics.

Ok..Generator is all better now. I did replace the fuel line while I had her all apart and thoughroly cleaned the generator and surrounding areas due to the mess I created and put in new plugs and filters. I will now attempt to fix the turning stall issue.

Ya know I filled up the tank before I decided to start this diagnosis, and then I changed the oil...of course the damn thing wont stall now even if I roll it over on its back. Mabey it is a fuel problem after all. I will be takin her to a Michigan State tailgate with family this weekend and I bet anyone here a dollar that it stalls while I am busy entertaining.

Would serve you right, you 'Spartan'!!
Jim- Class of '60 Ann Arbor

Oops, looks like I wont be getting a ton of advise from Jim for a while..,

Of course, you remember that all the good looking women went to Michigan State and the rest went to Michigan. My bride stayed away from both.!!
Jim

you bet! Before I was married I would call it the promised land for foxy chicks but now that I am married, I am scorned for looking at anything but my wife once I cross the East Lansing Border. I have done a lot of work in Ann Arbor this year though and ...mabey I am just getting older, but the girls there look pretty darn good to me...It is getting harder for me to keep my men working steadily over there.

I hate to bring the thread back to generators, but I learned something this weekend about propane generator engines. IF the plug gap is wider than specified, the generator may backfire through the carburator, and in the case of my Generac V Twin, it makes all kinds of noise and only got better after it warmed up. I reduced the plug gap to .25 thousands and it now starts and runs like a champ! So, if your propane generator is missing, poping through the airfilter and running rough, check the spark plug gaps!

now, any married man knows that there are no women can compare to the beauty of his spouce.....if he wants to maintain a smooth cranium and good hearing. It only took me a couple years to figure this out.

Couldn't agree more Doug..and as a wise man once told me.."a happy wife,..a happy life" a jealous wife would not pan out too well for me I am thinkin

Well I ran the tank down to a third and cornered both ways as hard as I ever will and the gen did not even sputter. It did not even shut down when I drove all of my hunting buddies to the bar and was entertaining. Mabey the oil was bad...or something...but as long as it is not broke I will not fix it....untill it breaks.

If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.