Generator slide tray question

[davidkerryedwards]

Today while removing the doghouse to insulate, I decided to air up the
coach and slide out the generator. I have not done this before. I
don't know what the original locking mechanism was, but on mine two
holes have been cut through the outer rails which support the
generator and nuts welded to the inner rail that slides. A half inch
bolt then inserts on either side, screws into place and holds the
generator in place.
While it was airing up, I removed the bolts. The air topped off while
I was doing something else and when I went back to the generator it
was out about 2 inches. It might have come out all the way of its own
accord, but the left hand latching nut caught on the lip of the outer
rail, stopping it from coming out any further. (I'll have to do a
little grinding to stop the nut from catching)
I couldn't get any movement either by using the switch to the left of
the step, or the key in the generator panel door.
Can anyone enlighten me as to what is going on? I assume it should
not have moved until a switch was activated, but it looks as though it
has a tendency to come out as soon as the coach is aired up. The
bolts must have been holding it in place.
I know I have problems with the step switch, right next to the
generator switch so perhaps the problems are related. The step
started operating correctly for a while on my trip to Texas this week,
but then went back to its old malfunctioning self.
Will the generator slide back in once the air pressure drops, or will
I have to diagnose and rectify the problem in order to get it to slide
back in the 2 inches?
How fast does the generator come out? The coach is in storage with a
fifth wheel in the next parking space. The though crossed my mind
that if I had not been paying attention and standing next to the
generator, it could have pinned me between the generator and the
adjacent trailer. when it came out of it's own accord.

Kerry
82 FC35
Denver

[Mike Hohnstein]

Gotta watch them birds, they will kill you. I bought a coach from a widow woman
in Seattle, bird rolled on the old boy, he had the rear axle off the ground with
the levelers. Didn't block the front tires, his body become the wheel chock.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: davidkerryedwards
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 12:18 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Generator slide tray question


Today while removing the doghouse to insulate, I decided to air up the
coach and slide out the generator. I have not done this before. I
don't know what the original locking mechanism was, but on mine two
holes have been cut through the outer rails which support the
generator and nuts welded to the inner rail that slides. A half inch
bolt then inserts on either side, screws into place and holds the
generator in place.
While it was airing up, I removed the bolts. The air topped off while
I was doing something else and when I went back to the generator it
was out about 2 inches. It might have come out all the way of its own
accord, but the left hand latching nut caught on the lip of the outer
rail, stopping it from coming out any further. (I'll have to do a
little grinding to stop the nut from catching)
I couldn't get any movement either by using the switch to the left of
the step, or the key in the generator panel door.
Can anyone enlighten me as to what is going on? I assume it should
not have moved until a switch was activated, but it looks as though it
has a tendency to come out as soon as the coach is aired up. The
bolts must have been holding it in place.
I know I have problems with the step switch, right next to the
generator switch so perhaps the problems are related. The step
started operating correctly for a while on my trip to Texas this week,
but then went back to its old malfunctioning self.
Will the generator slide back in once the air pressure drops, or will
I have to diagnose and rectify the problem in order to get it to slide
back in the 2 inches?
How fast does the generator come out? The coach is in storage with a
fifth wheel in the next parking space. The though crossed my mind
that if I had not been paying attention and standing next to the
generator, it could have pinned me between the generator and the
adjacent trailer. when it came out of it's own accord.

Kerry
82 FC35
Denver







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[Gary Miller]

Kerry,

Sounds like you have a few issues there. The locking method you
describe is certainly not original, and by the description it sounds
like someone went to a lot more trouble getting it set up that way
than it would have been to fix whatever problem they had with it
correctly. This unfortunately is common in our older birds since
the systems are often difficult for most maintenance facilities to
understand.

You should have a handle under the tray that when moved causes a
metal bar on each side of the tray to move either into, or out of
the slide on each side of the tray. Perhaps the welded nuts you
describe have been welded into these holes. I would speculate that
someone sheared off the previous mechanism and this was their 'fix'.

When the handle is moved, the mechanism would also activate a
switch. This switch would cause illumination of the red 'gen door'
light on your dashboard, and activate the gen slide switch in the
stepwell, which normally remains de-powered with the tray locked.

The fact that your tray is in a constant state of wanting to come
out leads me to believe the shuttle valve on the air ram is in the
out position and either has the wiring cut to it or is powered in
that position only. You'll have to trouble shoot it yourself. The
speed of in/out is adjustable and is controlled by this shuttle
valve also so it's impossible to speculate at what setting it is at
for your coach.

My tray is different than yours but perhaps someone with a 35' can
get a photo of what you need to build to get back to normal.

Good Luck,

Gary Miller
83 FC 33
Wauwatosa, WI

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> Today while removing the doghouse to insulate, I decided to air up
the
> coach and slide out the generator. I have not done this before. I
> don't know what the original locking mechanism was, but on mine two
> holes have been cut through the outer rails which support the
> generator and nuts welded to the inner rail that slides. A half
inch
> bolt then inserts on either side, screws into place and holds the
> generator in place.
> While it was airing up, I removed the bolts. The air topped off
while
> I was doing something else and when I went back to the generator it
> was out about 2 inches. It might have come out all the way of its
own
> accord, but the left hand latching nut caught on the lip of the
outer
> rail, stopping it from coming out any further. (I'll have to do a
> little grinding to stop the nut from catching)
> I couldn't get any movement either by using the switch to the left
of
> the step, or the key in the generator panel door.
> Can anyone enlighten me as to what is going on? I assume it should
> not have moved until a switch was activated, but it looks as
though it
> has a tendency to come out as soon as the coach is aired up. The
> bolts must have been holding it in place.
> I know I have problems with the step switch, right next to the
> generator switch so perhaps the problems are related. The step
> started operating correctly for a while on my trip to Texas this
week,
> but then went back to its old malfunctioning self.
> Will the generator slide back in once the air pressure drops, or
will
> I have to diagnose and rectify the problem in order to get it to
slide
> back in the 2 inches?
> How fast does the generator come out? The coach is in storage
with a
> fifth wheel in the next parking space. The though crossed my mind
> that if I had not been paying attention and standing next to the
> generator, it could have pinned me between the generator and the
> adjacent trailer. when it came out of it's own accord.
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC35
> Denver
>

[davidkerryedwards]

Thanks. I can see the remnants of the system you describe and
concluded it must have been the original one. There are no slots for
the rods to engage on the old mechanism. I'll have to do some
troubleshooting. The modified lock system is pretty easy since the
bolts are out near the end of the slide track. I'll have to figure
out what has happened with the wiring related to the old system and go
from there. I'm betting whatever is causing lack of power to the step
is also causing lack of power to the generator slide switch.
Am I correct in thinking that the switch or key controls the mechanism
in such a way that you can stop it in a variety of positions on the
way out. In other words, it's not a strictly in/out all the way system?

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gary Miller"
wrote:
>
> Kerry,
>
> Sounds like you have a few issues there. The locking method you
> describe is certainly not original, and by the description it sounds
> like someone went to a lot more trouble getting it set up that way
> than it would have been to fix whatever problem they had with it
> correctly. This unfortunately is common in our older birds since
> the systems are often difficult for most maintenance facilities to
> understand.
>
> You should have a handle under the tray that when moved causes a
> metal bar on each side of the tray to move either into, or out of
> the slide on each side of the tray. Perhaps the welded nuts you
> describe have been welded into these holes. I would speculate that
> someone sheared off the previous mechanism and this was their 'fix'.
>
> When the handle is moved, the mechanism would also activate a
> switch. This switch would cause illumination of the red 'gen door'
> light on your dashboard, and activate the gen slide switch in the
> stepwell, which normally remains de-powered with the tray locked.
>
> The fact that your tray is in a constant state of wanting to come
> out leads me to believe the shuttle valve on the air ram is in the
> out position and either has the wiring cut to it or is powered in
> that position only. You'll have to trouble shoot it yourself. The
> speed of in/out is adjustable and is controlled by this shuttle
> valve also so it's impossible to speculate at what setting it is at
> for your coach.
>
> My tray is different than yours but perhaps someone with a 35' can
> get a photo of what you need to build to get back to normal.
>
> Good Luck,
>
> Gary Miller
> 83 FC 33
> Wauwatosa, WI
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
> wrote:
> >
> > Today while removing the doghouse to insulate, I decided to air up
> the
> > coach and slide out the generator. I have not done this before. I
> > don't know what the original locking mechanism was, but on mine two
> > holes have been cut through the outer rails which support the
> > generator and nuts welded to the inner rail that slides. A half
> inch
> > bolt then inserts on either side, screws into place and holds the
> > generator in place.
> > While it was airing up, I removed the bolts. The air topped off
> while
> > I was doing something else and when I went back to the generator it
> > was out about 2 inches. It might have come out all the way of its
> own
> > accord, but the left hand latching nut caught on the lip of the
> outer
> > rail, stopping it from coming out any further. (I'll have to do a
> > little grinding to stop the nut from catching)
> > I couldn't get any movement either by using the switch to the left
> of
> > the step, or the key in the generator panel door.
> > Can anyone enlighten me as to what is going on? I assume it should
> > not have moved until a switch was activated, but it looks as
> though it
> > has a tendency to come out as soon as the coach is aired up. The
> > bolts must have been holding it in place.
> > I know I have problems with the step switch, right next to the
> > generator switch so perhaps the problems are related. The step
> > started operating correctly for a while on my trip to Texas this
> week,
> > but then went back to its old malfunctioning self.
> > Will the generator slide back in once the air pressure drops, or
> will
> > I have to diagnose and rectify the problem in order to get it to
> slide
> > back in the 2 inches?
> > How fast does the generator come out? The coach is in storage
> with a
> > fifth wheel in the next parking space. The though crossed my mind
> > that if I had not been paying attention and standing next to the
> > generator, it could have pinned me between the generator and the
> > adjacent trailer. when it came out of it's own accord.
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 FC35
> > Denver
> >
>

[Gary Miller]

Correct.

The step is not likely related to the slide. Check and clean the
switch in the door frame and look for abandoned wiring from where a
pressure sensing strip used to be along the bottom edge of the coach
body under the door. It was to prevent the step from squashing
stuff but worked poorly, cap off the wires if it's there. You've
got a short somewhere. Could be the dash switch or the stepwell
switch but these switches are protected form the elements.

Be very careful where you place your body and limbs when working on
step stuff.

Good Luck,

Gary Miller
83 FC 33
Wauwatosa, WI

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> Thanks. I can see the remnants of the system you describe and
> concluded it must have been the original one. There are no slots
for
> the rods to engage on the old mechanism. I'll have to do some
> troubleshooting. The modified lock system is pretty easy since the
> bolts are out near the end of the slide track. I'll have to figure
> out what has happened with the wiring related to the old system
and go
> from there. I'm betting whatever is causing lack of power to the
step
> is also causing lack of power to the generator slide switch.
> Am I correct in thinking that the switch or key controls the
mechanism
> in such a way that you can stop it in a variety of positions on the
> way out. In other words, it's not a strictly in/out all the way
system?
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gary Miller"
> wrote:
> >
> > Kerry,
> >
> > Sounds like you have a few issues there. The locking method you
> > describe is certainly not original, and by the description it
sounds
> > like someone went to a lot more trouble getting it set up that
way
> > than it would have been to fix whatever problem they had with it
> > correctly. This unfortunately is common in our older birds
since
> > the systems are often difficult for most maintenance facilities
to
> > understand.
> >
> > You should have a handle under the tray that when moved causes a
> > metal bar on each side of the tray to move either into, or out
of
> > the slide on each side of the tray. Perhaps the welded nuts you
> > describe have been welded into these holes. I would speculate
that
> > someone sheared off the previous mechanism and this was
their 'fix'.
> >
> > When the handle is moved, the mechanism would also activate a
> > switch. This switch would cause illumination of the red 'gen
door'
> > light on your dashboard, and activate the gen slide switch in
the
> > stepwell, which normally remains de-powered with the tray locked.
> >
> > The fact that your tray is in a constant state of wanting to
come
> > out leads me to believe the shuttle valve on the air ram is in
the
> > out position and either has the wiring cut to it or is powered
in
> > that position only. You'll have to trouble shoot it yourself.
The
> > speed of in/out is adjustable and is controlled by this shuttle
> > valve also so it's impossible to speculate at what setting it is
at
> > for your coach.
> >
> > My tray is different than yours but perhaps someone with a 35'
can
> > get a photo of what you need to build to get back to normal.
> >
> > Good Luck,
> >
> > Gary Miller
> > 83 FC 33
> > Wauwatosa, WI
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Today while removing the doghouse to insulate, I decided to
air up
> > the
> > > coach and slide out the generator. I have not done this
before. I
> > > don't know what the original locking mechanism was, but on
mine two
> > > holes have been cut through the outer rails which support the
> > > generator and nuts welded to the inner rail that slides. A
half
> > inch
> > > bolt then inserts on either side, screws into place and holds
the
> > > generator in place.
> > > While it was airing up, I removed the bolts. The air topped
off
> > while
> > > I was doing something else and when I went back to the
generator it
> > > was out about 2 inches. It might have come out all the way of
its
> > own
> > > accord, but the left hand latching nut caught on the lip of
the
> > outer
> > > rail, stopping it from coming out any further. (I'll have to
do a
> > > little grinding to stop the nut from catching)
> > > I couldn't get any movement either by using the switch to the
left
> > of
> > > the step, or the key in the generator panel door.
> > > Can anyone enlighten me as to what is going on? I assume it
should
> > > not have moved until a switch was activated, but it looks as
> > though it
> > > has a tendency to come out as soon as the coach is aired up.
The
> > > bolts must have been holding it in place.
> > > I know I have problems with the step switch, right next to the
> > > generator switch so perhaps the problems are related. The step
> > > started operating correctly for a while on my trip to Texas
this
> > week,
> > > but then went back to its old malfunctioning self.
> > > Will the generator slide back in once the air pressure drops,
or
> > will
> > > I have to diagnose and rectify the problem in order to get it
to
> > slide
> > > back in the 2 inches?
> > > How fast does the generator come out? The coach is in storage
> > with a
> > > fifth wheel in the next parking space. The though crossed my
mind
> > > that if I had not been paying attention and standing next to
the
> > > generator, it could have pinned me between the generator and
the
> > > adjacent trailer. when it came out of it's own accord.
> > >
> > > Kerry
> > > 82 FC35
> > > Denver
> > >
> >
>