Heated Dip Stick

[ABnormal]

I will be keeping my Newell on the road through the end of November in some fairly cold weather. The 20K generator is tempermental even on a good day. (Doesn't like to start) I have been looking for a heated electric dip stick for the generator to aid in starting. Anyone ever seen such a device. The ones I have found are not long enough. It needs to be 30".

[fulltiming]

You might check out http://www.kimhotstart.com/kimhotstart/enginesearch.aspx Kimhotstart. They sell block heaters for a number of gensets. A block heater will work much better than a dipstick heater which is typically only 90 watts.

[Richard and Rhonda]

When you say tempremental, can you describe more specifically what it is doing?

Mine was difficult to start, and more difficult to start when it was cooler. But it was almost like it was trying to run on one cylinder. I found the solenoid that opens and closes the fuel shutoff on the injectors was very sluggish in cold weather. The engine was not getting any fuel. I pushed the solenoid open by hand and the temperamental beast fired and ran like a dream on the first try.

[ABnormal]

It simply does not start. I might try 5-7 times before it finally starts up. It cranks. Just doesn't start. I have not yet tried with the onset of cooler weather. That is what is bothering me. There is at least one weekend coming up when I will not have electric to plug into.

I have an appointment next week to replace the basement furnace. I am going to try to get the repairman to take a look at the generator as well. I will suggest he concentrate on the solenoid. Thanks for the tip.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Ok, let us know what you find. Posting the cause and cure will help others on the forum in the future.

[fulltiming]

If the genset is turning over at a reasonable speed, it is not getting fuel. Have you changed out your fuel filter lately? If so, did you bleed the air out of the lines. The solenoids would be the other likely candidates.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Oh geez, I'm such an idiot. Thanks Michael for pointing out the obvious.

If you have the manual, it has an excellent section on bleeding the system.

Those dang diesels won't run on air. Go figure.

[ABnormal]

The mystery of the temperamental generator has been solved. Pilot error!

While the Newell was in for a number of different fixes, I mentioned the difficulty starting the generator. The repairman found that we needed to place the panel switch in neutral before turning over the generator. No one had ever explained that. I always switched from shore position to generator position prior to starting. The repairman was doing the same thing. He finally reasoned that it was placing the generator under enough load that it could not crank fast enough. He decided to experiment and tried it in the nuetral position. Starts first time, everytime. He has been driving and repairing them for years and had always done the same thing I was doing.

You can teach old dogs new tricks!

Thanks for the help. guys.

[Richard and Rhonda]

Great post !!!

It may help another owner some day looking for the answer to this very question.

I LOVE fixes that don't cost money!!