Onan Diesel Gen Shut down with a Code 61

jff

Member
Mar 29, 2008
510
Atlanta
Boat Info
2017 Crest Pontoon
Engines
Yamaha
My generator suddenly stopped running for no apparent reasoin, when I try to restart it I get a Code 61. The Onan manual says:

EXTERNAL SHUTDOWN—CODE NO. 61
(The generator set was shut down by a fire suppression system or other external control)
Corrective Action:
Make all necessary repairs to the generator set and connected equipment and reset

the external control which shut down the generator set.

I'm not even sure where to start or what to check. Any ideas?

Regards,
Jason


 
This may be one place where electronic controls gives us too much information.

You most likely have a fault in one of your safety shut down circuits. I don't have an Onan or access to an Onan wiring diagram, but marine generators usually have shut down switches for low water flow, high water temperture, low oil pressure, low oil level, and water in the fuel . All will most likely be in series with the fuel supply solenoid, so when there is a fault in one of the switches/sensors, it opens and shuts down fuel flow and the generator shuts off. I would begin by finding the sensors and checking each one.
 
Nothing on the Smartcraft, impeller is 3 weeks old. I turned off all power to the boat, AC & the electrical solenoids, then turned it all back on, tried the start the generator and it worked fine. Ran it for 30 minutes, no problem. I have a feeling though, just knowing how these things work, that it probably won't be a one time event. Hopefully it's not one of those gremlins though, will be tough to troubleshoot if we can't reproduce it. Anyway, thanks for the ideas guy.

Sincerely,
Jason
 
I had the same alarm code sporadically for months. As Frank said it can be a number of issues. Mine was fuel related. At first, changing out the on engine filter seemed to reslove the problem for awhile but it always came back. The real problem was eventually traced to a collapsed fuel line between the generator and the Racor. So far so good.
 
Nothing on the Smartcraft, impeller is 3 weeks old. I turned off all power to the boat, AC & the electrical solenoids, then turned it all back on, tried the start the generator and it worked fine. Ran it for 30 minutes, no problem. I have a feeling though, just knowing how these things work, that it probably won't be a one time event. Hopefully it's not one of those gremlins though, will be tough to troubleshoot if we can't reproduce it. Anyway, thanks for the ideas guy.

Sincerely,
Jason
I had that 61 code and was told it related to the fire suppression system. Switched fire system to manual override and re started genny. Then switched back to automatic mode and problem never re occurred.
 
I've been fighting an intermittent "22" error code on my Onan 9MDKAV for the last two seasons. The generator will run fine for 10,15,20 hours over a period of a couple weeks' use, then start and run fine, but shut off after 10-15 minutes. I've chased fuel filtration (not the problem) and now air ingestion (I doubt this is the problem, but it is a recommended troubleshooting step by Onan)
I've replaced the lift pump, A-1 controller board, and governor. Once I eliminiate air ingestion, I am back to the drawing board.
 
Sum Escape, I'm curious how you switch fire supression to manual override? I need to look that up in my manual apparently, I didn't even realize that was possible.

Regards,
Jason
 
Sum Escape, I'm curious how you switch fire supression to manual override? I need to look that up in my manual apparently, I didn't even realize that was possible.

Regards,
Jason

My fire suppression manual override switch is on the dash (it's listed as the fire indicator and override switch in my owners manual drawing of the dash). If you check the CWD's in our owners manual you'll see where it connects in your fire suppression and generator circuit.
 
Sum Escape, I'm curious how you switch fire supression to manual override? I need to look that up in my manual apparently, I didn't even realize that was possible.

Regards,
Jason
Jason,

It is the "Fireboy" toggle switch under my dash on my boat. Good luck.
 
The switch has two positions. Auto and Manual. Some people think that if they switch to Manual it sets the Halon System off but what it means is that when in Auto, if the Halon system kicks in, it shuts down the Engines and Generator immediately to prevent them from taking in the Halon and causing damage to the engines. In Manual, if the Halon system is activated, the engines do not shut down. Everyone should leave it in the Auto position. The manual position would be required if the fire system went off, the air is cleared and you want to restart the engines after an Auto shut down. To manually set off the fire system, find the manual cable at the helm, pull the pin and pull the handle.
 
I've got the same problem with a Code '22' on a 48' DB. Have you received any solutions? The Gen can run for 7 hours and then shut down with no variable in the appliances being run or load.
 
Last edited:
I've got the same problem with a Code '22' on a 48' DB. Have you received any solutions? The Gen can run for 7 hours and then shut down with no variable in the appliances being run or load.

Skip was getting a code 22 on his Onan... His final solution that fixed the problem was to replace the fuel line from the racor to the generator. His would run for awhile and then shut down and give a code 22. The problem is when the generator is fuel starved, it doesn't give correct codes as it doesn't know what is really going on. I don't think there is a "I was starved for fuel" code. In his case, air was getting into the lines somehow.

I actually recommended he replace the lines just to see what happens because I had a similar symptom on my boat. I put a petcock in the bottom of the racor for the Onan generator so I could service them easier. The petcock was sealed and didn't leak. The generator would run for awhile and then shut off and give all kinds of weird error codes. I noticed air in the line so would prime it again only to have the same thing happen. By chance, when the generator was running, I put a work light behind the racor and I could see air bubbles coming up from the bottom of the new petcock. Even though the petcock did not leak diesel fuel, there was enough negative pressure on the system with the generator running to suck air into it. My problem was an easy fix in that the petcock had a bolt for the bottom which I didn't have on (I didn't think I needed it and it kinda defeats the purpose of the thing). However, if any of the fuel fittings develop a leak, air can get sucked in even though they don't show diesel fuel leaking out.

On my 480DB, I replaced the return fuel line as the hydraulic fitting was leaking a very very slight amount. There is positive pressure on the return line so the leak is exposed from a small amount of diesel. Mind you that it would be like 1 drop every 12 hours of running so it was a very very small leak... It just shows these fittings can develop minute leaks in them.

DSC_0244-1.jpg
 
I have had similar problem happen twice...but dont wanna hijack this thread. I may post followup question or two on the new 480 thread.
 
Resurrecting and old thread instead of starting new.

Just having code 61 of my 2007 4kw diesel genny when I tried yesterday to start it. It won't cranck and starter is not turning, just it starts to preheat the glow plugs and 2-3 seconds later gives this code.

I even tried the fire extinquisher override but no luck, main engines are starting in both auto and override position.

Where should I start from ?

TIA
 
I connected the swb+ to e-stop to override the gen's connections but no luck.

Any suggestions apart from trying with an other brain/pcb ?
 
I’m bringing this back up. I’m helping my dad work on his 2009 Meridian 441 with a 13.5kW Cummins Onan genny and getting the same 61 code.

Has anyone found out what this code is regarding the suppression system? Have tried in normal and override with no change. Both engines start fine.
 
There is an emergency shutdown circuit for generators and if that circuit is closed (Onan) or opened (Westerbeke) it goes into shut-down mode. Boats with a Fire Boy fire suppression system shuts down the engines, generators, and bilge blowers should the engine room fire suppression system discharge. It is controlled from this module:
es-series-300x195.png

However, if this module is triggered not only will the generator shut down but also the engines and bilge blowers. The helm mounted over-ride switch when put in "manual" will restore operational capability of the boats systems.
Code 61 for Onan is also shown if you have a two switch generator start system and the ignition switch is turned off when the generator is running or, I believe, if you attempt to start the generator with that ignition switch off as that switch also interfaces with the generator's emergency shutdown circuit. Here is a wiring diag. I made up for a project you can use. Hope this helps - Tom
Inverter Plan with engine start module 2.jpg
 
All
I am getting the error code 61 on my Onan generator as well. I put the Fireboy system to Override which fixed my mains not firing, but it has not cleared my Onan error. Is there something else that needs done to clear the error on the Onan so that it will start? It was clearly the Fireboy that shut everything down as my mains did not fire and I received a warning when the blower switch was turned on. Switching from Normal to Override fixed the mains, as I stated, but the error 61 persists.
 

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