Mep-016b

[Manstein]

Howdy boys,

I just acquired a MEP-016b with a brand new dead battery so I'm in "no start" mode. Until I can secure a new battery, can I crank it with the pull start? Making a few attemps it seems that not having the electric fuel pumps running will be a problem. Any suggestions/ideas appreciated.

 

[ichudov]

Howdy boys,

I just acquired a MEP-016b with a brand new dead battery so I'm in "no start" mode. Until I can secure a new battery, can I crank it with the pull start? Making a few attemps it seems that not having the electric fuel pumps running will be a problem. Any suggestions/ideas appreciated.

Great way to ruin a shoulder in my opinion.

The opinion was based on messing with a VERY similar generator.

The ruined shoulder will be worth approximately 10 batteries.

i

 

[Isaac-1]

The Onan powered MEP-016B does not have a pull start, unless it was a MEP-016B that was retrofitted to being a MEP-016E with a Yanmar engine and someone did not replace the data plate. However it will start on a pair of cheap $20 12 volt lawn tractor batteries wired in series to get 24 volts, they just will not fit right on the battery tray. I have a MEP-701a which is a MEP-016B in an ASK housing which creates placement problems with using other than the expensive correct 24V battery, but did successfully use a pair of the above mentioned cheap batteries for initial testing. (I think I paid $16 each for my at O'Reily auto parts when they were on sale). You will of course also need a short bridge cable to reach between the two batteries, and may have to get creative with the post conenctions.

Ike

 

[Manstein]

Thanks Isaac-1

It does have a pull start and the data plate says it a onan. Does the presence of the pull start definately mean its a Yanmar engine?

 

[Isaac-1]

I have never seen an Onan diesel with a pull start.

Here is a link to photos of the Onan Q106D
http://www.kenneke.com/onanengineimagesmall.JPG

 

[Manstein]

Here is a pic of the ID plate and genset. I don't have a good close up of the engine. Did the Yanmar engines have a pull start?

 

[Isaac-1]

Yes, the Yanmar's do have pull starts (they are also somewhat lighter, around 40 or 50 pounds, which is reflected on the MEP-016E retrofit data plate) , on a related note as far as I know the tech manuals for the MEP-016E Yanmar retrofits have not been released to the public, however I recall someone on here posted the MEP-016B to MEP-016E conversion instructions a while back, the process is not trivial. There are a lot of modifications that must be made to the fuel lines, exhaust, wiring, etc. I think the instructions were around 30 pages long.


Ike

p.s. here is a photo of the civilian version of the Yanmar L-100 (the military version is 24V instead of 12V)

http://static.lsengineers.co.uk/med...b33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/y/a/yanmar-l100.jpg


Here is the MEP-016E data plate


http://www.steelsoldiers.com/attach...2312d1284926886-who-has-mep-016e-26475873.jpg

 

[Manstein]

I was able to start it last night by wiring a couple of car batteries in series. As soon as I hooked the jumper cables up you could hear the fuel pump clicking and it cranked and ran for about 4-5 min then kicked the DC Circuit breaker on the gauge panel. When pushing it in to reset it, it would kick again. Hooked it back up this morning and it's still kicking immediately. Any ideas? Am I wrong for thinking it's just about got to be the fuel pump is causing it?

 

[Isaac-1]

The fuel pump would be a reasonable thing to check, mine uses a mechanical fuel pump for the engine, and an electric one for the external transfer tank, it sounds like yours uses electric pumps for both. If they are the same as my electric pump they have a removable base and a strainer inside that may be clogged.

Ike

 

[Manstein]

I switched the two pumps. they are the same, both electric. I did not pull off the bottom but did notice that it was removeable. However, prior to the switch, I had the throttle actuator throwing itself wide open when you moved the switch to run on the panel. Now, it does nothing. I checked the connections, all seem to be good but still have no action there. Also, the breaker is not popping anylonger but I don't hear any noise from either pump. Can you hear them clicking when they are working?

 

[b2948kevin]

Hi Manstein, did you ever get these functioning properly? I am having issues with my Onan powered set.

 

[kmapatriot]

Any idea on where to get the replacement 24V battery?

 

[Manstein]

I threw a tarp over it and need to pittle with it. No I haven't. I'm thinking about 2 twelve volt car batteries wired in series.

 

[andybritt2002]

old post but for the batteries if you have a Batteries PLUS store near you they can order it. Or you can just hookup 2 lawn tractor batteries from walmart together. they even have the bridge cable for sale for like $2

 

[derf]

There is a compression release lever on top of the Yanmar. Pull the rope slowly until you reach a compression stroke, filp the lever down, and give the rope a good hard long pull. That's how I start mine.