Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Lt403 on March 05, 2021, 01:49:33 pm

Title: Removing generator fan housing
Post by: Lt403 on March 05, 2021, 01:49:33 pm
Good afternoon everyone
I am currently trying to remove the fan housing so that I can replace the motor which is still giving me trouble after installing a new capacitor.

I started to remove or loosen the eight bolts surrounding the squirrel cage but those have a nut on the inside which are turning. Pic 1

I then removed the six nuts on the sides of the radiator that holds the squirrel cage is mounted to but it will not budge. Pic 2

Any suggestions are appreciated
Thanks Frank

Title: Re: Removing generator fan housing
Post by: craneman on March 05, 2021, 02:01:40 pm
You have to remove the six bolts top and bottom and the whole assembly comes off. The radiator is sandwiched and will be loose but will stay put enough for reassembly. The nuts are in the fenderwell and the top ones need 2 people or very long arms.
Title: Re: Removing generator fan housing
Post by: Lt403 on March 05, 2021, 02:51:20 pm
Thanks craneman I have a feeling I'm gonna have to drain the radiator fluid is that correct
Title: Re: Removing generator fan housing
Post by: turbojack on March 05, 2021, 03:49:00 pm
Thanks craneman I have a feeling I'm gonna have to drain the radiator fluid is that correct
When I did mine on the 1997 U295 I did not have to drain the radiator.
Title: Re: Removing generator fan housing
Post by: craneman on March 05, 2021, 04:22:50 pm
Thanks craneman I have a feeling I'm gonna have to drain the radiator fluid is that correct
I didn't have to drain it the hoses will hold it while you change the fan motor.
Title: Re: Removing generator fan housing
Post by: Chris m lang on March 05, 2021, 05:31:05 pm
Frank, 2 things
1. I didn't have to drain radiator as was posted above
2. after I got it out with a friends help I tool 2 flat bars and drilled holes in them to align with the bolt holes on top and bottom of radiator.  Then I put the bolts through the holes in the flat bar and welded the head to the flat bar, then re-mounted the fan.  By doing this I can take the fan in and out without having to call back-up.
Just my 2 cents worth
Chris
Title: Re: Removing generator fan housing and motor
Post by: Lt403 on May 14, 2021, 07:12:27 pm
Sorry for such a late reply/follow up

Thanks to everyone that posted when I needed help and those who I actually spoke with over the phone for the first time ,more than once, and have yet to meet in person, THANKS MIKE RASH.

I was able to remove the 6 bolts but had to drain the radiator fluid in order to remove the fan motor housing.
Once out the first thing I did was to clean the shaft of the old motor so it would slide out from the fan easily.
I used sandpaper to remove all the debris that was on the shaft until it was nice and clean.
The bolts were removed that hold the motor to the fan housing and the bolt that secures the fan to the shaft was loosened.
The motor slipped out with out any issues.
I then removed the motor bracket from the old fan and installed it on the new motor.

After that I focused my attention to the compartment in which all this gear came out of.
I vacuumed and cleaned the compartment before painting it with flat black rust oleum.
The fan housing itself did not need painting but the metal cover that goes over the fan motor did.

After letting the paint dry and on the next day I began to install the motor back into the fan housing and fan. Everything went back together without issue.

Next was filling the cooling system.
After filling radiator fluid ,I  ran the gen which stopped on its own after a few minutes. I still had air in the system . Filled with more coolant. I removed  both hoses from the famous yellow handles and put them into the coolant reservoir which I had emptied. Then I pressurized the tank via the overflow port Until only fluid was coming out of the two hoses that I had disconnected and quickly reattached them.

I ran the generator again for an hour with no issues.
Title: Re: Removing generator fan housing
Post by: Lt403 on May 14, 2021, 07:24:17 pm
See post above. One more pic

Finished product.

My new capacitor did not fit in the electrical box so I left it out and easily accessible as others have done on the forum
Title: Re: Removing generator fan housing
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on May 14, 2021, 10:39:31 pm
Nice job.