Onan will not start

[Bobby P.]

I have an Onan Marine QD 4/5 genset.
Boat is a 2017 R31CB

We were using the genset this morning. I went to use it again this afternoon, but it would not start.

The engine primes (click, click, click) and then just when you think it will start, nothing. No noise, no click, nothing. I get a 4 blink code, which is excessive cranking (this is probably because of the elongated amount of priming).

The main engine runs just fine. They both share the same fuel filter, so I don't think it is that. Otherwise, the big engine probably would not start.

Thoughts?
BTW, I can turn the engine over by hand.
I also tried turning on the crossover switch in case voltage was low on that one battery.

Thanks in advance.
Bobby

 

[BB marine]

I'm not real familiar with that generator so I'm just thinking outside the box. Normally the fuel system on a generator has its own fuel filter as a secondary and it is using the Main engine primary filter for its primary . A secondary filter will be a finer filter 2 micron to protect the injector pump and injectors and can get fouled.It is usually located at the generator. If a diesel doesn't start it is often fuel related. Restricted fuel or air leak. I would see if there is a secondary fuel filter and confirm the engine is getting fuel and there is no evidence of fuel leaking causing air to get in the system.

 

[Bobby P.]

Once I dug into the genset, which require bloodying knuckles, removing 3/4 of the sound shield, hanging upside down and sideways, I too off water pump, brackets and oil filter, to find that the hot lead had corroded off the starter. Must have gotten some salt water in there. Anyway, there is not much left of the rusty stud, so I think I will need to hunt down a new starter. I've got a new skill set - removing a starter from an Onan genset.