Powertech Generator --engine not running right.

[Pete Masterson]

I'm aware of that park. Unfortunately, It's first come first served
so we're not really interested in taking a chance on it. We're
reserved at Chief Hosa on Genesee Drive ... it's very close to my
wife's parents place on Genesee ridge.

When we were here in April, we stayed across the street from Dakota
Ridge (I forget the name of the place right now.) It's all concrete
and the spaces are _really_ tight. But, it was cheap.

Our stay in Golden is to visit/help my wife's elderly parents -- so
cheap is good (amenities not that important). I'd stay in the cheap
place again, but at this time of year I expect it to be more filled
--- and it was a bear to wrestle my beast into (and out of) the
assigned space as it was in April. I'd hate to have to do it with RVs
on either side...

I've been in Golden many times as my wife's parents moved here some
25 years ago and I've seen the Coors plant (nice tour) -- we've
walked along the bike path and through downtown Golden a number of
times -- really a very nice town.

Thanks.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Denver Colorado enroute Golden...



On Jun 5, 2007, at 9:03 PM, davidkerryedwards wrote:

> Glad it's fixed. It's a little late to be telling you this now,
> but the town of Golden has a nice
> RV park along Clear Creek just west of you. It's not listed in any
> guidebook that I've seen
> but it's in town, right on the creek at the Whitewater Park
> adjacent to a very nice recreation
> center/park with a bike path that runs right along the creek. Just
> a short walk to Coors
> and it's tour.
>
> Kerry
> 82 Fc 35
> Denver
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> wrote:
>>
>> Kerry,
>>
>> Thanks ... I just put on a new filter, and the genny is back to
>> normal. Voltage is up to 127 on my multimeter -- the exhaust is
>> slightly black -- and _that_ I attribute to the altitude. I must have
>> encountered more dust along the way than I thought.
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[Pete Masterson]

Good point. I'd planned to change the oil and fuel filter when I get
back to home base in a couple of weeks. I'll not put it off.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Denver Colorado



On Jun 5, 2007, at 9:19 PM, Gregory OConnor wrote:

> Pete, the electric fan that cools the radiator creates major dust.
> Good filters choak up fast. when you run a diesel rich for a period
> of time, it is always a good idea to change the oil.

[one_dusty_hoot]

I bet the Frenchman's flamingo was pink too.
Sounds like sage advice.
Janes in SC


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gregory OConnor"
wrote:
>
> A frenchman with a flamingo posted that the crank case breather on
> the powertecs vent too close to the airfilter and the paper element
> gets a oily residu which gums up with dust quickly. I plan to take
> Randys advice, heed the warning of Petes discovery and vent the
> crankcase tube out of the airtight compartment.
> GregoryO'Connor
> 94ptRomolandCa
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gregory OConnor"
> wrote:
> >
> > Pete, the electric fan that cools the radiator creates major
dust.
> > Good filters choak up fast. when you run a diesel rich for a
period
> > of time, it is always a good idea to change the oil.
> >
> > GregoryO'Connor
> > 94ptRomolandCa
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Kerry,
> > >
> > > Thanks ... I just put on a new filter, and the genny is back
to
> > > normal. Voltage is up to 127 on my multimeter -- the exhaust
is
> > > slightly black -- and _that_ I attribute to the altitude. I
must
> > have
> > > encountered more dust along the way than I thought.
> > >
> > > Pete Masterson
> > > aeonix1@
> > > '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
> > > Sitting in a Camping World parking lot for the night in Denver
> > Colorado.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Jun 5, 2007, at 8:35 PM, davidkerryedwards wrote:
> > >
> > > > That parking lot is pretty clean. You might try running it
for
> > a
> > > > minute with the filter
> > > > removed and see if you get enough air flow to solve the
problem.
> > > >
> > > > Kerry
> > > > 82 FC 35
> > > > Denver
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> > > > wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> I considered the altitude. I had a bit of black smoke when I
> was
> > > >> through here last year when I bought the coach ... but this
> is a
> > > >> _lot_ more black smoke. I was getting some while in Texas --
> some
> > > >> 3000 ft lower elevation.
> > > >>
> > > >> I'll swap the air filter (I have a spare on board) and see
if
> > that
> > > >> helps.
> > > >>
> > > >> Pete Masterson
> > > >> aeonix1@
> > > >> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
> > > >> Sitting in the Camping World parking lot in Denver waiting
for
> > an AC
> > > >> service in the morning...
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> On Jun 5, 2007, at 6:32 PM, davidkerryedwards wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >>> Black exhaust is overfueling. This could equal
underairing.
> > I'd
> > > >>> check the air filter again to
> > > >>> see if it is clean. The other factor to consider is the
> > > >>> elevation. Denver air is thin enough
> > > >>> that unless the engine has an altitude compensator of some
> kind,
> > > >>> you may be running rich
> > > >>> simply due to the elevation.
> > > >>> Diesels Only on West Alameda is a good shop if it turns out
> you
> > > >>> need mechanical service.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Kerry
> > > >>> 82 FC 35
> > > >>> Denver
> > > >>>
> > > >>> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> > > >>> wrote:
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Yesterday and again today, the Powertech 15kw generator
> started
> > > >>>> acting up. The problem seems to be the Kubota diesel
engine.
> > The
> > > >>>> exhaust is black and sooty and the engine isn't putting
out
> > full
> > > >>>> power (noted that the voltage had dropped down to 100 vac
> from
> > the
> > > >>>> usual 120 vac)
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> I changed the air filter last summer -- solving a sooty
> exhaust
> > > >>>> problem (without any loss of power) at that time, but this
> > seems
> > > >>>> more
> > > >>>> serious. A couple of weeks ago, I started the generator, I
> > thought
> > > >>>> perhaps, prematurely without allowing the glow plugs to
run
> > long
> > > >>>> enough as the engine was clearly stumbling and not running
> on
> > all
> > > >>>> cylinders.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Looking at the engine, it appears that on injector has
been
> > > >>>> replaced
> > > >>>> (from the look of the paint, etc.) so the engine may have
had
> > > >>>> problems in the past.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> I'll call Powertech tomorrow, but I'd appreciate any
> thoughts
> > > >>>> anyone
> > > >>>> may care to offer.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Pete Masterson
> > > >>>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> > > >>>> aeonix1@
> > > >>>> On the road at Denver Colorado
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>

[M Thomas Eastham]

I'm not familiar with the powertech generator but I do have alot of
experience with Kubota's. Kubota diesels are very high quality,
heavy duty engines and will last 8000 - 12000 hours before an
overhaul if properly maintained.
Change all your filters regularly and don't let your engine run
hot. I have 8 kubota cores in my shop right now that all died at
less than 1000 hours due to operator error, ie, collapsed air filters
dusting engine, no oil, engine cooked.... Yes, that is right, the
kubota can eat an air filter and if this isn't caught it the dust
will ruin the rings.

83' FC35 SB
84' FC33 Shell (parting out)
Houston, TX

Thomas Eastham
713-851-9693
thomase@...





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[David Brady]

Of course the telescoping exhaust pipe is prone to leak and
guess where all those vapors end up. I spoke with Powertech
about a spare fuel pump and they said the old cannister pumps
should be good for a long, long time. (30,000hrs)! They said
there's a thumb wheel up by the injectors, forget what it's for
exactly (to bleed the injectors possible?) that should be left
open a crack. Apparently fuel pump life is greatly shortened if
the thumb wheel is closed.

David Brady
'02 LXi, Smokey
NC

Pete Masterson wrote:
>
> I'm aware of that park. Unfortunately, It's first come first served
> so we're not really interested in taking a chance on it. We're
> reserved at Chief Hosa on Genesee Drive ... it's very close to my
> wife's parents place on Genesee ridge.
>
> When we were here in April, we stayed across the street from Dakota
> Ridge (I forget the name of the place right now.) It's all concrete
> and the spaces are _really_ tight. But, it was cheap.
>
> Our stay in Golden is to visit/help my wife's elderly parents -- so
> cheap is good (amenities not that important). I'd stay in the cheap
> place again, but at this time of year I expect it to be more filled
> --- and it was a bear to wrestle my beast into (and out of) the
> assigned space as it was in April. I'd hate to have to do it with RVs
> on either side...
>
> I've been in Golden many times as my wife's parents moved here some
> 25 years ago and I've seen the Coors plant (nice tour) -- we've
> walked along the bike path and through downtown Golden a number of
> times -- really a very nice town.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@...
> On the road at Denver Colorado enroute Golden...
>
> On Jun 5, 2007, at 9:03 PM, davidkerryedwards wrote:
>
> > Glad it's fixed. It's a little late to be telling you this now,
> > but the town of Golden has a nice
> > RV park along Clear Creek just west of you. It's not listed in any
> > guidebook that I've seen
> > but it's in town, right on the creek at the Whitewater Park
> > adjacent to a very nice recreation
> > center/park with a bike path that runs right along the creek. Just
> > a short walk to Coors
> > and it's tour.
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 Fc 35
> > Denver
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> , Pete Masterson
> > wrote:
> >>
> >> Kerry,
> >>
> >> Thanks ... I just put on a new filter, and the genny is back to
> >> normal. Voltage is up to 127 on my multimeter -- the exhaust is
> >> slightly black -- and _that_ I attribute to the altitude. I must have
> >> encountered more dust along the way than I thought.
> >>
> >> Pete Masterson
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.9/834 - Release Date: 6/5/2007 2:38
PM
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Pete Masterson]

Fuel pump seems to be just fine. The new air filter did the trick--
and I'll be checking for and deal with all the sources of
contamination when I return home in a couple of weeks.

I'll look for that thumb wheel by the injectors and see that it's
open a crack.

Thanks.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Camp Hosa Colorado where it's COLD... 30 degrees last
night. Should be warmer today...



On Jun 7, 2007, at 8:01 PM, David Brady wrote:

> Of course the telescoping exhaust pipe is prone to leak and
> guess where all those vapors end up. I spoke with Powertech
> about a spare fuel pump and they said the old cannister pumps
> should be good for a long, long time. (30,000hrs)! They said
> there's a thumb wheel up by the injectors, forget what it's for
> exactly (to bleed the injectors possible?) that should be left
> open a crack. Apparently fuel pump life is greatly shortened if
> the thumb wheel is closed.
>
> David Brady
> '02 LXi, Smokey
> NC
<snip>