Generator won't start

[Huck]

While on vacation in Florida the Onan propane generator in my '07 LTV 210B wouldn't start. When we got home I took it to Camping World and the pancake valve was replaced, under warrenty. The repairman told me that propane generators would not start in cold weather. It's in the 20's here in Michigan and it won't start. Can anyone tell me the expected temperature operating range for propane powered generators.

ps The repairman also told me propane generators were naturally hard to start and took considerable cranking time (30 sec or more). Instructions for the generator I believe say not to crank for extended periods (beyond 10 sec).

Huck
'07 LTV 210B

[BaywoodBill]

Well, I haven't found our generator hard to start. As long as the propane isn't way back in the tank, it starts right up. In the case when the propane isn't right up there I crank about 5 seconds, stop, and then when I crank the second time, it starts.

Can't offer an opinion on the cold weather, though I did start our generator when it was 30F. It wasn't difficult.

[Huck]

Thanks for the response Baywood Bill - I finally got mine started and ran it for 2 hrs under 1/2 load. Since then it starts but not as quickly as it sounds your's does.

I don't understand your comment about the propane "way back in the tank". Do you mean there is air in the line? I was told to light the stove which would purge the lines of air. I did but didn't notice it did any good. Today, temp 60 degrees, it took probably 15 - 30 seconds of cranking to start.

[BaywoodBill]

Thanks for the response Baywood Bill - I finally got mine started and ran it for 2 hrs under 1/2 load. Since then it starts but not as quickly as it sounds your's does.

I don't understand your comment about the propane "way back in the tank". Do you mean there is air in the line? I was told to light the stove which would purge the lines of air. I did but didn't notice it did any good. Today, temp 60 degrees, it took probably 15 - 30 seconds of cranking to start.


I guess I meant "air in the line". I don't know how it happens, or what happens, but if nothing propane hasn't been run for a while, then I always have to light stove first and while I'm trying to light the stove nothing but air comes out for a while before a flame takes hold.