DDinCincy
Cincy, OH
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Joined: 05/23/2007
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Onan warranty requires 2 hours/ month at half load.
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spearharper
Northwest
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Joined: 11/13/2007
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Yep! I read my manual for my Onan (first time I have ever read all the manuals for something I bought) and they recommend 2 hours, half load every 30 days.
And yes you can always find something to fritter with ....
Lance & Laura
'96 Four Winds
30' Hurricane
Washington
“I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong”
-Benjamin Franklin
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Dynasty40
Hangtown, Northern California
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Joined: 02/07/2008
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I run mine regularly, turn on the TV to watch the Lakers, and kick back....
Dennis and Debi
Monaco Dynasty Baron 40PFD
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UltraKen
Ohio
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Joined: 06/05/2007
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I plug in an electric heater, turn on the refrig on AC, turn on the radio, turn on all the over-head 110V lights up front and sit in my recliner and read or nap.
The generator purrs away, and it often lulls me to sleep. (not too hard to do).
UltraKen
Ex -1968 Ultra Van
NOW - 1996 Safari Sahara 35' - Cat 300 - Model 3530
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2396883070036776819PnWVFp
Toad: Dodge Grand Caravan on Tow Dolly or 1981 Vespa on utility trailer
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zsr22
Atlanta, GA
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Joined: 11/20/2007
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springer1 wrote:After I spent hundreds of dollars repairing my generator the the tech told me to do the following and for the last ten years there has never been a problem. Every four to six weeks start it up and run it for about twenty to thirty minutes under full load. Sure it takes a little time but heck it's a lot cheaper that the other option. I don't know, with gas prices going up it might be cheaper to just pay for the repair. 
Zack
1998 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 36WGS
Front Row Talladega Infield | ol' Kegerator | Our UGA Tailgate
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ottocontrol
Elburn,IL
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Joined: 05/09/2005
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I never run mine. When it's stored it's stored.Run stabil in the gas and shut her down. 1000 + hours on it and not one problem so far. And it sits from November till mid April. Starts right up every spring.
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ThunderingQuiet
In Your Mind
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Joined: 12/20/2007
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Being our generator is diesel/fuel injection - I don't run the generator while our mh is in storage.
But the longest our mh has ever sat in storage was 3 months.
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7th Cav
Someplace
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Joined: 12/10/2003
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Run the gen once a month and weather permitting take the MH for a one hour run every month. Not that hard to do.
7th Cav
2004 Damon Intruder 350
Workhorse W22
1997 Ford Explorer Toad
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jerseyjim
New Jersey
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Joined: 09/02/2005
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Gotta remember...the "older" ones have a carburator. Tech speaking, they're from the stone age. And yes: when in storage (or even when snowbirding for 2 or 3 months) I start the generator once a month...for 1/2 hour, under "moderate" load. Just like the book says.
Actually what these guys that say "you can always find something to putter with"....what they're REALLY saying is "this is a perfect excuse to get away from the house, the wife, turn on the gen, the furnace, the TV and have peace". At least for a little while.
Seriously...DO start and run the thing once a month under some kind of load (turn on the a/c, a space heater, put a pot of water in the microwave....something....burn a little gas saves a big avoidable repair bill.
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xctraveler
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 10/28/2002
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I do go out to my coach every 30 days when it is in storage, never more than 3 months at a time, and run the generator under load for 30 minutes to a couple of hours. When we are living on board, we dry camp enough to get the necessary run time without working at it.
As I understand it, the purpose for running it under load is not just to run the engine and keep the fuel fresh, but also to heat up the generator portion so moisture does not have a chance to corrode the vital electrical connections. The engine can run just fine, if it doesn't make electricity it isn't working.
I have seen many people spending lots of money for repairs saying that their 5 year old generator shouldn't break down so soon because it only has 50 hours on it. Lack of use will kill it and there is no such thing as overuse so long as you keep up the required maintenance schedule with oil and filter changes.
Paul
Trucking down the road in a 2004 Southwind 36E on Workhorse Chassis with a 2005 Toyota RAV4 AWD stick shift tow'd with US Gear Brake System. Check out my journal
FMCA 352081
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