Trying to get Sunseeker Generator to kick over

[Sunseeker70]

Good afternoon. I will preface by saying we let our RV sit for over 6 months without doing anything to it. My wife had a medical problem and it was the last thing on my mind to go out every month and run the systems. I got her back home and been getting her back in shape again but I am stuck at the generator.
The initial problem is it will start but then immediately cut off. I ordered the tune up kit, changed out the plug, air filter, oil and Fuel Filter. Instead of hooking the fuel line back up, I took a small gas container put a gallon of 93 octane in it and 2 ounces of Sea Foam and ran a hose from the container to the Fuel Filter. My problem now appears to be 2 fold. Possible Flooding and not enough juice to kick it over. I've had the batteries on 30Amp Shore Power for a few days but it seems like when I try several attempts to kick the generator over, I get the clicking sound like you do in a car when the battery is dead. So I wait about an hour and then I try again. This last time it sounded like it wanted to try and stay started kind of like a backfire but then it shutoff and the issue with the battery comes into play.
Is there a way to bypass the Cabin batteries to try and get the generator to start or am I forced to just keep trying until hopefully the 93 octane and Sea Foam clean everything up in the bowl? I don't want to remove the carberauter if I don't have to so I am doing everything to try and get it to start without doing that. Should I try the old school shoot some Starter Fluid in from the Air Filter area?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[kenandterry]

You posted this entire problem with your generator not starting in the Forester and Sunseeker forum, but I’m not sure what chassis yours is built on.

I know with my Ford E450, there’s a booster connect switch on the base of the driver’s seat, easily seen from outside, before you climb in. That is essentially like a set of booster cables between the chassis and house batteries. Press and hold this switch, to bridge all the batteries together.

Do you have this switch? What year and make is your chassis? Ford? Chevrolet? Mercedes? What voltage reading do you get from your house batteries at rest? Maybe your house batteries were drained/damaged while the RV was sitting for 6 months. (You need a digital meter)

 

[Sunseeker16]

I'd bet your batteries are shot.

 

[Sunseeker70]

Good evening. My apologies. Been a minute since I posted in these forums. It's a 2017 Forest River Sunseeker on an E450 Chasis. I checked for the switch and unfortunately I do not see the switch you are referring to. It would have been nice to have. I think what I am seeing is bad gas in the carb. I went and messed with it some more when I looked for that switch and in the past hour I am starting to get essentially water coming out of the tail pipe. At one point she started and surged real bad for about 30 seconds but then died and I couldn't get it to stay started after that. Going to let it sit tonight and then try again tomorrow.
Thank you again.

 

[Sunseeker16]

The switch on my 2016 Sunseeker is either on the drivers side seat base or the bottom left side of the dash. Can't remember exactly.

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

I think what I am seeing is bad gas in the carb. .

If that generator hasn't been used in 6 months it's probably got a clogged carb. It's fairly common with today's gas. Usually the manufacturer's recommend them being 'exercised' once a month.

 

[tomkatb]

Check batteries. Wait more than an hour after unplugging the shore power.

Wet cell batteries should be checked with a known good handheld meter. Try your daily driver to check it. Voltage should be about. 12.6 volts.

Having started many old cars that set forever we used starting fluid. Sprayed in the carb a second. You can get it to start and run on the fluid. Be careful. The fluid should be carefully used. Do not get crazy with it.

Sometimes you can get the engine to limp along long enough to clear the crud. Sometimes not.

But, what you describe is a common issue. Often a replacement carb is the answer. Snowblowers, lawnmowers, tillers etc, see this often at this age. Running the generator often is a good idea.

 

[Aussieguy]

make sure your battery is fully charged at least overnight or longer on 30amp shorepower and make sure batteries are getting a charge voltage... use a meter
If you got a battery disconnect it must be turned ON... so that converter is connected to battery.

Disconnect shorepower... turn on a interior light if it works battery is connected
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ensure battery terminals are clean and tight ... including negative to frame connection
check water level too (if applicable)
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if the batteries are easy to get at
use a good thick jumper cable to connect a car/truck to the house/generator battery

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I like starting fluid... spray some in the air intake take airfilter out for this.


if it won't stay running after fluid has got it to run a few seconds.
carburetor may need a good cleaning

If you not comfortable cleaning it... take carburetor to a small engine / mower repair place
or get a mobile tech

 

[Sunseeker70]

Thank you everyone for the replies. Actually taking a break from breathing in the gas fumes lol. I keep working it, sprayed some starter fluid in it this morning. Every once in a while she gives me hope by running for a few seconds and then shutting off. I did have liquid coming out of the tail pipe which smelled more like water than it did gas so she is trying to get rid of the crud. I think I will just keep working it until she finally gets clean gas running through it and then I have a 2hr trip up to Jacksonville next Thursday so I will run it all the way up there to completely clean it out.
I appreciate all the help. The irony doesn't escape me that I can break down a multi-million dollar jet engine, reassemble it and run it but the thought of pulling the carb scares the bejesus out of me lol.

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

A tip....
After you get it running install a shut off valve in the line before the generator.
When you go to store it, use the shut off valve to cut off gas to the generator and run the generator til it's out of gas.
Just remember to open the line when you get it out of storage.

 

[Sunseeker16]

Good evening. My apologies. Been a minute since I posted in these forums. It's a 2017 Forest River Sunseeker on an E450 Chasis. I checked for the switch and unfortunately I do not see the switch you are referring to. It would have been nice to have. I think what I am seeing is bad gas in the carb. I went and messed with it some more when I looked for that switch and in the past hour I am starting to get essentially water coming out of the tail pipe. At one point she started and surged real bad for about 30 seconds but then died and I couldn't get it to stay started after that. Going to let it sit tonight and then try again tomorrow.
Thank you again.

For what it's worth. The auxiliary battery switch on my 2016 Sunseeker is on the side of the drivers side seat base.

 

[kenandterry]

For what it's worth. The auxiliary battery switch on my 2016 Sunseeker is on the side of the drivers side seat base.

I don’t need to photograph mine…..it’s installed in the exact same location with the exact same switch.

BTW Sunseeker70…..any updates on your battery issues?

 

[Sunseeker16]

I don’t need to photograph mine…..it’s installed in the exact same location with the exact same switch.

BTW Sunseeker70…..any updates on your battery issues?

I get but I didn't see where the OP found his. I was at the storage unit today so I thought I'd try to be helpful and send a Pic.

 

[kenandterry]

I get but I didn't see where the OP found his. I was at the storage unit today so I thought I'd try to be helpful and send a Pic.

From an earlier post #4, the OP said he could not locate a switch on his Sunseeker. Haven’t heard any new update about that, or his battery problems.

 

[Sunseeker70]

I don’t need to photograph mine…..it’s installed in the exact same location with the exact same switch.

BTW Sunseeker70…..any updates on your battery issues?

I've been leaving the Battery Cutoff switch in Off. For some weird reason now when I turn it on the radio starts playing even when I turn it off. That's another challenge for another day lol. Eventually going to purchase 2 new batteries, we bought our Sunseeker during Covid and who knows how old the batteries are prior to that so better just to replace them.
Tomorrow I'm pulling the carb and going to soak it. Looked for that switch and for some reason my RV does not have it. Would have been nice.

 

[Sunseeker70]

A tip....
After you get it running install a shut off valve in the line before the generator.
When you go to store it, use the shut off valve to cut off gas to the generator and run the generator til it's out of gas.
Just remember to open the line when you get it out of storage.

I like that. Going to research that tonight.

Thank you.

 

[kenandterry]

I've been leaving the Battery Cutoff switch in Off. For some weird reason now when I turn it on the radio starts playing even when I turn it off. That's another challenge for another day lol. Eventually going to purchase 2 new batteries, we bought our Sunseeker during Covid and who knows how old the batteries are prior to that so better just to replace them.
Tomorrow I'm pulling the carb and going to soak it. Looked for that switch and for some reason my RV does not have it. Would have been nice.

If your house batteries (like mine) are located under your entrance into the home, you might be lucky enough to upgrade to AGM batteries that don’t need the ongoing attention of monitoring the fluid level of FLA batteries.

 

[SQROOT]

Gen will not start

My sunseeker did the same thing so I replaced the carburetor and that was the problem. So I now run the gen about every two weeks to keep it from clogging up.

 

[Sunseeker70]

If your house batteries (like mine) are located under your entrance into the home, you might be lucky enough to upgrade to AGM batteries that don’t need the ongoing attention of monitoring the fluid level of FLA batteries.

I appreciate the tip. Amazon ironically is running a Black Friday Deal so with the 3yr Warranty I will pay $359 and they will be here Tuesday before my Thanksgiving trip.

 

[tomkatb]

In small engines the issue is often in the bowl. The jet’s are gummed up.

In those the carbs are $20-30. Cheap. Easy to change. Never touched one like yours. But, I quite trying to clean them.