Generator woes Update

[Julia Bonser]

We are in Portland, Oregon now at EC Power Systems who were
recommended by Power Tech. They seem to know much more what to do.
The problem is in the electrical box behind the generator, the wires
leading to the voltage regulator overheated and burned some distance
back from the connection that failed. So they are having to get back
to where the wire is sound to do the splice. They had to move the
slide and generator farther out of its bay. It's amazing what can be
done with a fork lift.

We all discussed how difficult the generator is to troubleshoot
because of the difficulty of getting to the rear of the generator.

We are in the coach tonight locked in the yard behind their fence as
they were in the middle of the job at quitting time.


Julie Bonser
1992 WLWB PT 40'
EC Power Systems, Portland, OR


On Jul 27, 2005, at 11:06 AM, George Lowry wrote:

> Julie,
>
> We have been off line until today so couldn't answer sooner. Wrico
> Generators in Eugene, OR uses the Fidelity Alternator and Dick is very
> knowledgeable of the generators. Suggest you try them if you have not
> got service any other place. Voice: (541) 744-4333 Wrico
> International, LLC
> 86337 College View Rd.
> Eugene, OR 97405
>
> http://www.wricointernational.com
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> George
>
>
> Julia Bonser wrote:
>
>
>> We have been at Cummins/Onan in Spokane for 3 1/2 hours and are not
>> better off. They figured out there is no electrical output from the
>> generator (which we already knew). There is no electricity getting
>> to the transfer switch and the technician said he would have to pull
>> the generator to trouble shot what was wrong with the armature and
>> windings. It makes more sense to find a place that is familiar with
>> this generating system and of course by now all the information is
>> at places in the Eastern time zone and it is after working hours.
>>
>> We need to know where in either Portland or Seattle there is a
>> electric generator repair shop. There is nothing in the manual that
>> recommends service centers for the Fidelity Electric Continuous Duty
>> Alternator.
>>
>>
>> Julie Bonser 1992 WLWB PT 40'
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
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>>
>
>
>
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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>

[John Suter]

Hi Julia,

--- Julia Bonser wrote:

> They
> had to move the
> slide and generator farther out of its bay. It's
> amazing what can be
> done with a fork lift.

Just be aware that they may also have had to
"un-weld" some "stops" to slide the generator forward
in the manner you describe. (Hopefully, they did not
just pull the generator forward past the stops with
the forklift.) Regardless, it may be wise to ensure
they re-weld the "stops" as one can't rely on the
plunger arm to hold the generator in the closed
position when the coach makes a sudden stop.

While the owner will remain name-less, I saw a Bird
which made such a "quick" stop and the generator had
to be retrieved from the pavement and re-installed in
the Bird. To double-check might be called "an ounce
of prevention..."

John Suter





____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

[Jack and Liz Pearce]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Julia Bonser
wrote:
>
> We are in Portland, Oregon now at EC Power Systems who were
> recommended by Power Tech. They seem to know much more what to do.
> The problem is in the electrical box behind the generator, the
wires
> leading to the voltage regulator overheated and burned some
distance
> back from the connection that failed. So they are having to get
back
> to where the wire is sound to do the splice. They had to move the
> slide and generator farther out of its bay. It's amazing what can
be
> done with a fork lift.
>
> We all discussed how difficult the generator is to troubleshoot
> because of the difficulty of getting to the rear of the generator.
>
> We are in the coach tonight locked in the yard behind their fence
as
> they were in the middle of the job at quitting time.
>
>
> Julie Bonser
> 1992 WLWB PT 40'
> EC Power Systems, Portland, OR

Howdy, Julie.

Whew!! We are so glad that your generator's problem has been
diagnosed!! Did the techs give you any reason as to WHY those wires
overheated? How do you avoid having this problem in the future?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Best regards,
Jack and Liz Pearce
Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40
Homesick Texans in SE. FL

[Julia Bonser]

All they could say is there was a loose connection probably caused by
vibration over time. It is possible that a good thump caused by
hitting a road gator could have done it but there is no proving it.
I'm not sure how to avoid the problem in the future as we plan on
continuing to travel in our motorhome. It is not ordinarily a place
that would put on a regular maintenance schedule to tighten up loose
fittings etc.

The technician had to work quite hard physically to wrest out the
generator even with the help of the fork lift and jacks to stabilize
it. Then he had to reach back and down to get inside the box to
manipulate the wires to splice and redo the connections. He also
broke the light panel across the front of the motorhome. It has light
bulbs behind it. We have to phone Bluebird Monday as we all know they
don't answer the phone on Friday for the replacement.

Julie Bonser
1992 WLWB PT 40'
RV Park in Clackamas County, Oregon


On Jul 29, 2005, at 12:34 PM, Jack and Liz Pearce wrote:

>
> Howdy, Julie.
>
> Whew!! We are so glad that your generator's problem has been
> diagnosed!! Did the techs give you any reason as to WHY those wires
> overheated? How do you avoid having this problem in the future?
> Inquiring minds want to know.
>
>

[Julia Bonser]

Thanks for the warning John, I was able to check with the technician
before we left the shop. He says that would have been true for the
older slides but in this case the ram holds the generator slide in
place. This is an electric slide and the generator is not going to
slide anywhere beyond the motorhome easily.


Julie Bonser
1992 WLWB PT 40'
RV Park Clackamas County Oregon


On Jul 29, 2005, at 8:40 AM, John Suter wrote:

> Hi Julia,
>
> --- Julia Bonser wrote:
>
>
>> They
>> had to move the
>> slide and generator farther out of its bay. It's
>> amazing what can be
>> done with a fork lift.
>>
>
> Just be aware that they may also have had to
> "un-weld" some "stops" to slide the generator forward
> in the manner you describe. (Hopefully, they did not
> just pull the generator forward past the stops with
> the forklift.) Regardless, it may be wise to ensure
> they re-weld the "stops" as one can't rely on the
> plunger arm to hold the generator in the closed
> position when the coach makes a sudden stop.
>
> While the owner will remain name-less, I saw a Bird
> which made such a "quick" stop and the generator had
> to be retrieved from the pavement and re-installed in
> the Bird. To double-check might be called "an ounce
> of prevention..."
>
> John Suter
>
>
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________
> Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

[Jack and Liz Pearce]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Julia Bonser
wrote:
> All they could say is there was a loose connection probably caused
by
> vibration over time. It is possible that a good thump caused by
> hitting a road gator could have done it but there is no proving it.

> I'm not sure how to avoid the problem in the future as we plan on
> continuing to travel in our motorhome. It is not ordinarily a place

> that would put on a regular maintenance schedule to tighten up
loose
> fittings etc.>>>

Ah. OK.
>
> The technician had to work quite hard physically to wrest out the
> generator even with the help of the fork lift and jacks to
stabilize
> it. Then he had to reach back and down to get inside the box to
> manipulate the wires to splice and redo the connections. He also
> broke the light panel across the front of the motorhome. It has
light
> bulbs behind it. We have to phone Bluebird Monday as we all know
they
> don't answer the phone on Friday for the replacement.>>

Bummer on the broken light panel. Is the shop paying for the
replacement?

Glad that your genset is now working properly. Very important piece of
equipment that generator.

Best Regards,
Jack and Liz Pearce
Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40
Homesick Texans in SE. FL

[Julia Bonser]

Yes they are paying for the replacement. It really needed replacing
anyway as it was crazed a bit from the leather bra that was on the
front of the bird.

Julie Bonser
1992 WLWB PT 40'
Clackamas County, Oregon across the road from a WalMart and a Home
Depot.


On Jul 30, 2005, at 7:08 AM, Jack and Liz Pearce wrote:

> Bummer on the broken light panel. Is the shop paying for the
> replacement?
>
>