Chinook RV

Just realized I don’t have one. A little surprised, as this seems it would be standard issue. I did a search on the site and someone mentioned an inductive hour meter that has a wire that wraps around the spark plug wire. Is this the recommended fix? I’ll never know how many are on mine, but at least I can start keeping track for maintenance.

My 2004 Premier doesn't have one either.

Is this for the genset? The one from Onan is simply a clock that runs on the power from the genset. I think they are like $20 at Amazon.
Maybe it is this one, but not sure.
https://www.amazon.com/Generator-OZ-USA ... B01KAYZ0GE

For reference, this is what my stock one looked like on an Onan 4000:

It was kinda dark because it was a photo that was actually of something else nearby, so I lightened it up but it looks a bit grey now.

Blue~Go wrote: June 16th, 2020, 3:50 pm For reference, this is what my stock one looked like on an Onan 4000:

It was kinda dark because it was a photo that was actually of something else nearby, so I lightened it up but it looks a bit grey now.

generator panel close.jpg

I have that without the meter. One in the cab on the ceiling, one to the right of the fridge on the wall, and the one on the generator itself. No meter on any of them.

Could I just replace the one by the fridge with this, connect using the wiring harness currently in place, and it will start ticking?

https://www.amazon.com/Cummins-Onan-300 ... 713&sr=8-3

FatBuoy wrote: June 17th, 2020, 6:37 am Could I just replace the one by the fridge with this, connect using the wiring harness currently in place, and it will start ticking?

https://www.amazon.com/Cummins-Onan-300 ... 713&sr=8-3

yes, it should be simply "plug and play" if you have the Onan MQ4000 like most of the Chinooks. The wire harness from the genset to the remote panel is standard, so it should have everything you need if you decided to add the hour-meter. Obviously, you need to enlarge the opening, so make sure it is working properly before you do the cut.

FatBuoy wrote: June 16th, 2020, 3:19 pm I did a search on the site and someone mentioned an inductive hour meter that has a wire that wraps around the spark plug wire. Is this the recommended fix?

That might have been me. I use these on my small engines. Cheap, easy, does the job.

https://www.amazon.com/discoGoods-Water ... B01LXRVC1I

Since your hours are currently unknown, I'd change the oil no matter what. And check the spark plug. Both can be telling...

Scott wrote: June 17th, 2020, 8:51 am

FatBuoy wrote: June 16th, 2020, 3:19 pm I did a search on the site and someone mentioned an inductive hour meter that has a wire that wraps around the spark plug wire. Is this the recommended fix?

That might have been me. I use these on my small engines. Cheap, easy, does the job.

https://www.amazon.com/discoGoods-Water ... B01LXRVC1I

Since your hours are currently unknown, I'd change the oil no matter what. And check the spark plug. Both can be telling...

Yep, will do, thanks. Considering the air filter in there looks brand new, the oil in it and the coach motor look like honey, and it came with extra air and fuel filters for the Onan, I should be good. Not to mention the two pages of maintenance spreadsheets dating back to 2003! I just wanted to draw a line in the sand to start tracking hours from here.

Dave, with all the service documents you got with your rig you might find when they serviced the generator. Also, you might just keep you a little small tablet handy and write down when and how long you run your unit. Mine still has less than 100 hours on a 22 year old unit!! I only have mine for emergency use. You may use yours a lot more than I ever will. Every few months I crank it and turn the heat/air on for about 30 minutes just to keep it "tuned up".

So, not exactly plug and play. Looks like there will need to be some splicing done here. Any suggestions to where I can find what goes to what? I guess the wires to the start switch are the same, but what of the meter?