# RV Generator Repair and Overhaul in Chino > OCRV Center rebuilds worn and failed RV generators in our Yorba Linda shop, from top-end head and valve work to full teardown with new rings, bearings, and seals on Onan and Cummins sets. We diagnose whether a unit is worth overhauling or better replaced before any teardown begins. There is a point where a generator stops needing maintenance and starts needing a rebuild. Low compression, oil burning, a knocking bottom end, or a scored cylinder are not service items, they are overhaul work. We tear the unit down on the bench, measure the actual wear, and rebuild the engine and generator end to spec instead of throwing parts at a symptom. All work is in-shop only at our Yorba Linda facility. ## When an overhaul is the right call We start every overhaul candidate with a compression and leak-down test so the decision rests on numbers, not a guess. A set that smokes, fails to hold compression, or has a spun bearing is a teardown job. A set that surges or will not start from a fuel or control fault is a repair, not an overhaul, and we will tell you which one you actually have before quoting a rebuild. - Compression and leak-down testing before teardown - Oil-burning, low-power, and hard-knock diagnosis - Scored cylinder and worn ring identification - Honest rebuild-versus-replace recommendation ## What a full overhaul includes A complete overhaul means the engine comes apart on the bench. We hone or bore the cylinder, fit new rings, bearings, and seals, service or replace the valves and seats in the head, and reassemble to factory torque and clearance. On the generator end we inspect the rotor, stator, slip rings, and brushes, and address bearing and winding faults. The set is then run on a load bank to confirm it holds voltage and frequency before it leaves. - Cylinder hone or bore with new rings and bearings - New gaskets, seals, and valve service in the head - Rotor, stator, brush, and slip ring inspection - Carburetor or injector rebuild as part of the package - Load-bank test to verify rated output after assembly ## Onan, Cummins, and what we will not pretend to fix We overhaul the gas, diesel, and LP sets common to motorhomes, fifth wheels, vans, and commercial and municipal fleet vehicles, with a focus on Onan and Cummins. Some failures, a cracked block or a burned stator on an obsolete unit, cost more to rebuild than to replace. When that is the case we say so and quote a replacement install instead, because a rebuild that costs more than a new set is not a repair we will sell you. ## Frequently asked questions ### How do you know if my generator needs an overhaul or just a repair? We run a compression and leak-down test first. Low compression, oil burning, or a knocking bottom end points to an overhaul, while surging or a no-start from fuel or controls is a repair. We tell you which one you have before quoting any teardown. ### Is it worth overhauling an old RV generator? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. A sound block with worn rings and bearings is a good rebuild candidate. A cracked block or a burned-out stator on an obsolete unit usually costs more to rebuild than to replace, and we will recommend a replacement install when that is the honest math. ### Do you test the generator after rebuilding it? Yes. Every overhauled set is run on a load bank in the shop to confirm it holds rated voltage and frequency and carries a real electrical load before we hand it back. --- Source: https://oc-rv.com/services/generator-overhaul/ OCRV Center, 23281 La Palma Ave, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Phone (949) 799-3387. In shop only; insurance billed direct.