My newly purchased 96 U320 has a power tech 10 gen, When you push preheat it just starts the small fuel pump on the front of engine, When you start gen if you don't hold switch on long enough the motor dies, bad thing is it sounds like starter grinds if you hold to long, is this normal?
You should hold the preheat switch for a count of 10. That should allow the fuel pump to press up the system and the glow plugs to prep it to start. When you press the 'gen' button hold it until the engine runs smoothly - about 2-3 seconds.
If this doesn't work, have it serviced (oil change, air/fuel/oil filters changed) and checked out. Could be glow plugs (pretty rare)...
In the cold weather I continue to hold the preheat button for about 5 seconds after the engine starts, but make sure you release the starter switch. The other item that has been discussed here at length is cracked fuel hoses sucking air.
If you are trying to start from the dash do this, Open the front hatch, should be two switches there, flip both to on position. Light should indicate glow plugs warming up and fuel pump should be clicking, be patient, genny should then start. You should not have to hold down start switch.
Also look at indicators on front of main control box, if you get a red light for OVERSPEED or OVERCRANK you are going to have to do some trouble shooting. The Manual with the coach documents should give you a fault tree trouble shoot guide.
( I am assuming you have autoistart )
Good Luck
I ask this question the other day about starting PT-10 generator , if you don't hold start switch on long enough , the motor dies . I called Power Tech yesterday and they said that was normal, control box had to sense oil pressure to stay running. Problem is a fine line between running and starter grind. They said I can up date the control box at a cost of 1,000 to 1,500 hundred bucks. any suggestions ? Art from Templeton Calif Thanks.
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Prevostart, Is this a PT10 with the 3 cylinder Isuzu or the 4 cylinder Kubota ? Does it have autostart ?
Gary It is a 4 cylinder Kubota, Non auto-start.
Prevostart, You have the same PT10 that I have. I think Dave Head has the answer. Hold the preheat in for at least ten seconds, then start, you may have to hold it a second after it fires to keep it running. Probably not doing any harm to starter. Mine acts the same way especially in cold weather. You should make sure also that you have clean fuel filter and air filters. These are also prone to fuel line fouling after many years, If you start to get a shut down after start look to replace the fuel line. You can do a search to see what I and others have done. Next time you meet up with one of us we will be glad to look at it.
Merry Christmas.
In really cold weather/high altitude, I heat the glow plugs for 30 seconds and hold the starter for probably another 7 to 10 seconds. It runs roughly for a few more seconds after that before smoothing out (4 cylinder Kubota). Really smoked while cranking and after starting for a while but this was in the high teens at eight thousand feet in Yellowstone. Even after reaching operating temp, the Kubota had light blue smoke visible at that altitude. I used the generator to keep voltage up while cranking the Detroit. The DD also really smokes under these conditions without using the block heater. I was in a campground so could not run the generator any length of time without incurring the wrath of the neighbors. Pretty easy to check glow plugs before a trip if in doubt. One bad one and it's not going to start in winter. Cheap and easy to keep a spare onboard.
Pierce S.
93' U300/36