Generator Died on Trip. Onan4000 Question/Lifespan??

[San Diego Bike Guy]

Hey Guys

Just got back from my new to me's campers maiden voyage.

Got hot mid day so fired up the generator for some A/C.

Worked great for about 90 minutes, then shut off. Checked fuel, ample fuel.

The controlled inside gives me the 4 flash warning which means "Over Crank"

It turns over, and sounds like it wants to start, but wont. Let it sit all day, and still nothing. Didn't trip a breaker or anything.

Also, when do these things usually die or need a rebuild? Mine has about 775 hours on it, and according to previous owner ran flawless until his last trip with it, and it did the same thing as i described.

He said he had brought it in for service, and they "serviced" it. He is a friend of mine, so i definitely believed it was serviced, but any ideas what i might be looking for/at? I made an attempt at google and didnt find much.

I am BEAT tired from my long trip home and off to bed, just curious if anyone know a trick or anything.

Thanks

[wyo700]

Does it run on propane or gas. Since it was a hot day kinda sounds like vapor lock possibly. If its gas try opening the gas cap and if you hear air sucking in that's what it could be. Leave cap off and try to start. If its propane I'm not sure. Sorry.

[San Diego Bike Guy]

Thanks for reply. Its Gas.

I just fired it up today, was hard to start, but once going it ran perfect.

As for the vapor lock, that was my first thought, and i unscrewed the gas cap while camping and no change.

I'm stumped.

Thanks

[wyo700]

Have you used gas that contains ethanol. If you have buy a bottle of sea foam and put it in your tank. The whole bottle, ethanol is bad news on these gens. It says in the owners manual in three different spots do not use gas that contains ethanol. Ethanol will eat rubber parts and seals. If you can not find gas that is ethanol free put sea foam every time you add fuel.

[Himcules]

when your generator self shut off, what was the error?

did you get the #4 Over Crank error after you tried restarting it a bunch of times or immediately after self shut off?

[San Diego Bike Guy]

Originally Posted by wyo700

Have you used gas that contains ethanol. If you have buy a bottle of sea foam and put it in your tank. The whole bottle, ethanol is bad news on these gens. It says in the owners manual in three different spots do not use gas that contains ethanol. Ethanol will eat rubber parts and seals. If you can not find gas that is ethanol free put sea foam every time you add fuel.

Thanks, i never even paid attention to that. Still used gas from previous owner.

[San Diego Bike Guy]

Originally Posted by Himcules

when your generator self shut off, what was the error?

did you get the #4 Over Crank error after you tried restarting it a bunch of times or immediately after self shut off?

I was out on the track when it shut off. My friends that were in it just said it shut off. About 10 minutes later when i tried to start it, i got the overcrank error.

Fired it up yesterday, and it struggled, but once it was running, it was fine.

[Himcules]

Originally Posted by San Diego Bike Guy

I was out on the track when it shut off. My friends that were in it just said it shut off. About 10 minutes later when i tried to start it, i got the overcrank error.

Fired it up yesterday, and it struggled, but once it was running, it was fine.

ok, then the #4 error was from you trying to restart it when it didn't want to restart.

try to find the error code when it first shuts itself off...

[San Diego Bike Guy]

Originally Posted by Himcules

ok, then the #4 error was from you trying to restart it when it didn't want to restart.

try to find the error code when it first shuts itself off...

Thanks. I tried that, but it doesnt seem hot enough here to die.