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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: jelfert on June 13, 2022, 11:48:06 am

Title: Generator service
Post by: jelfert on June 13, 2022, 11:48:06 am
Took my 97 U320 on to get the generator bearing replaced as recommended by several on here. It has 1400 hours. It's a brushless 10k powertech. He calls and tells me the windings are fragile and will need epoxy. He's afraid to pull the diode pack because it will fall apart. Powertech said no parts for this generator.. he waiting to talk to a guy named Jeff.  Basically  can't do anything. Also curious, went over to plug in rv to  20 amp service to run the battery chargers. None of the 120v outlets work or the 120v light over the dinette. Is this because he has the powerhead of the gen apart? House  charger does work and meter shows 120v .All breakers are on. Never had this issue before.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Pamela & Mike on June 13, 2022, 12:18:10 pm
1. He calls and tells me the windings are fragile and will need epoxy.
2. He's afraid to pull the diode pack because it will fall apart.
3. Also curious, went over to plug in rv to  20 amp service to run the battery chargers. None of the 120v outlets work or the 120v light over the dinette. Is this because he has the powerhead of the gen apart?


1 Unless he meggered the power head windings most likely a bill of sale. All power heads wiring are fragile at that age. If it is just the end of the leads you can just coat them with Glyptal and be done with it.
2. Unless that unit has been badly overheated he needs to man up and do the job rather than selling you a new power head.
3. No

If I wasn't stuck here at home base taking care of elderly parents I would swing by your place and give you a hand with this DIY on my way to New Iberia as I need to make a trip down that way for supplies.

Mike

Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: bbeane on June 13, 2022, 12:20:54 pm
Try resetting the GFI outlet The bathroom.

Yep no more generator heads  for PT10 generators per the parts department this morning. I'm having a no voltage output issue with mine. Loose connection in the power head, bad exciter assy. Or voltage regulator. Initial test says bad head.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Pamela & Mike on June 13, 2022, 12:40:57 pm
Yep no more generator heads  for PT10 generators per the parts department this morning.

Bruce,

Marathon generators and possibly others will have a replacement.  The big thing is to make sure that you order the proper bell housing to fit the power unit that you have as an Isuzu is different than a Kubota.

Mike
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: bbeane on June 13, 2022, 01:35:16 pm
Thanks much me sent them a email
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: jelfert on June 13, 2022, 01:42:25 pm
Mike,

It doesn't need a new powerhead. It runs fine. He just doesn't want to break parts removing them that can't be replaced nor do I want him to do that. I'll just run until failure if that's the case. He has several other generators he's rebuilding that have been waiting on parts for weeks.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Jason on June 14, 2022, 12:00:14 am
Keep us posted on what replacement head you get
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: dans96u295ft on June 14, 2022, 12:03:31 pm
1400 hours is low. I have been told these are an easy 10,000 hour generator. must be the age is getting yours or lack of Maintenace. Hope they get you going
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: bbeane on June 14, 2022, 12:05:50 pm
1400 hours is low. I have been told these are an easy 10,000 hour generator. must be the age is getting yours or lack of Maintenace. Hope they get you going
I think age is the issue not much you can do maintenance wise on the generator end other than blow the dust out now and then. Time will eventually get everything even Foretravels
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Jason on June 14, 2022, 12:41:47 pm
1400 hours is low. I have been told these are an easy 10,000 hour generator. must be the age is getting yours or lack of Maintenace. Hope they get you going

I was wondering what the life on these were, I have 5770 hours on mine. I have no concerns with the Kubota engine, (nor would I if I had the Isuzu), but am unsure about the gennie side.

If there is a Marathon part # for these, I'd be interested in knowing it.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: John44 on June 14, 2022, 12:44:08 pm
1400 hours the bearing is getting dry.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on June 14, 2022, 07:59:40 pm
Put everything back together and don't worry about it.
Yeah the end of that generator has some pretty fragile stuff on it. It gets hot in there in that damages it. As long as there's no issue with the bearing. Don't worry about it. Just leave it alone. When I pulled mine and I can't remember how many hours I had on the generator. I'm going to say 1600... The new bearing was definitely smoother than the old bearing. But I could have went years without having to mess with it. My motor mounts and breaker or a different stories and had to be replaced. Sometimes the old adage if it ain't broke, don't fix it applies.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: jelfert on June 15, 2022, 12:02:40 am
That's what I'm doing. Quote for the 4 rubber mounts from power tech was $480!!!!!

I'll make my own or find some thing compatible.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: FourTravelers on June 15, 2022, 12:16:24 am
That's what I'm doing. Quote for the 4 rubber mounts from power tech was $480!!!!!

I'll make my own or find some thing compatible.

Here is where I purchased mine a few weeks ago. They are the original  Lord 283P-155

Give Cindy a call

Cindy Deboard
Office Manager
Astro-Tex Company
2512 Summit Ave Ste 311
Plano, Tx 75074
972-424-8707
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Bob & Sue on June 15, 2022, 01:55:57 am
I was wondering what the life on these were, I have 5770 hours on mine. I have no concerns with the Kubota engine, (nor would I if I had the Isuzu), but am unsure about the gennie side.

If there is a Marathon part # for these, I'd be interested in knowing it.


Then there's the story that Oregon Motorcoach told me....  A prison preacher came in and wanted his generator replaced. It still ran ok but he was getting nervous.  The Power Tech 10 had around 40,000 hours on it.  Hard to believe since I divided miles by hours on ours and came up with around 45 mph.  That puts his generator 1,600,000 miles.  Wow.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Pamela & Mike on June 15, 2022, 07:09:31 am
That's what I'm doing. Quote for the 4 rubber mounts from power tech was $480!!!!!

I'll make my own or find some thing compatible.

On your '97 coach you may need Lord J-20922-23 rather than the one listed above in reply 13 so double check. You may also need new washers. Cindy can fix you up and is great to work with.

Mike
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Texhub on June 15, 2022, 08:02:21 am
We did the bearing change out at my home. I have his old bearing and mounts. (Yes I horde). Bearing rolls just fine, slight feeling of tingle. On the mounts! One was totally separated internally. Thats why I say use a 4ft pipe to push down on to lift generator. That should show movement if internal broken. Or just replace using the information posted in other post. Do not pay Crazy Power tech price. Bob did find some connections in box unsatisfactory, easy fix. I say touch each wire. Look, feel.
Remember the 10k voltage regulator is not plug and play. Read and understand how to configure it. The 8k is plug and play.  Finally, I havent looked. But bet you can find generator power head in world wide market. Have to know shaft, bolt pattern, application. Power wanted. The world uses small generators.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Texhub on June 15, 2022, 08:15:12 am
Quick Share (https://linksharing.samsungcloud.com/tN7st43hLDc0)

The address for low cost high quality 8k and 10k generator mounts.

Picture of old motor mounts. Notice the mount that has no inner core.

The bearing.

Remember put a bolt in end of generator shaft before you use a puller!!

This was Journey roam explore "Bob's " generator replacement.

I used my Kubota with forks to easily lift up generator if needed. Can replace mounts by using 4ft length of pipe. Helper to push down as old and new are swapped out.
We did not remove generator from tray to remove bearing.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Journey, Roam, Explore on June 15, 2022, 11:14:24 am
Here is where I purchased mine a few weeks ago. They are the original  Lord 283P-155

Give Cindy a call

Cindy Deboard
Office Manager
Astro-Tex Company
2512 Summit Ave Ste 311
Plano, Tx 75074
972-424-8707


Yes Cindy was great to work with,  but the first set I ordered was not the correct ones. Had to reorder. paid $40 each plus ship and tax $252.58 part # mt-j20922-23
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: John44 on June 15, 2022, 11:26:42 am
When I redid mine I used the old mounts to mount the radiator,much less vibration.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Jason on June 15, 2022, 11:50:09 am
How does she know what mounts you need? Do you give the model # or do you need to remove one mount and send a pic of that to her?
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: craneman on June 15, 2022, 11:53:32 am
How does she know what mounts you need? Do you give the model # or do you need to remove one mount and send a pic of that to her?

The part number is in reply #18 give her that info.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Jason on June 15, 2022, 12:00:14 pm
The part number is in reply #18 give her that info.

Not necessarily, post 12 references another number. Additionally, I don't know the exact model the OP has, it may differ from mine.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: craneman on June 15, 2022, 12:06:02 pm
reply #13 and #18 same number. That is the only number that has come up for the non enclosed Power tech generator to my knowledge. Maybe Mike would know more.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: John44 on June 15, 2022, 12:31:56 pm
Found a chart on line years ago,different but similar numbers meant different rubber consistantcy,firm or firmer etc.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Jason on June 15, 2022, 12:52:55 pm
reply #13 and #18 same number. That is the only number that has come up for the non enclosed Power tech generator to my knowledge. Maybe Mike would know more.

18 has two part #s.

Mine is enclosed, which brings me back to my original question, what does she need to determine the mounts?  Update- I have a call in to her and will report back what she says.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: craneman on June 15, 2022, 01:33:29 pm
#18 is a cross reference from that source. Yes you need to know if  hers is enclosed. It was a year change when that happened.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Pamela & Mike on June 15, 2022, 02:59:09 pm
Jason,

Yours will be different than the ones that are used in the '97 coaches.  With yours being a newer coach with the Power Tech quiet box there will need to be some research done as to the proper mount you need. If you could get a pic. of the mounts you have and post them we could do some looking through Astro-Tex catalog and find a replacement.

Mike
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: TGordon on June 15, 2022, 05:01:38 pm
reply #13 and #18 same number. That is the only number that has come up for the non enclosed Power tech generator to my knowledge. Maybe Mike would know more.
Look the mount and see the manufacture's name and part number.
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: Texhub on June 17, 2022, 04:49:55 pm
This might intrest some as a backup. Does have 50 amp. Is gas.  Information is just passing thru. I have no attachment to companies or knowledge if this is a great deal.

Pulsar 12,000W Dual Fuel Portable Generator with Electric Start (https://slickdeals.net/share/android_app/fp/728413)

Mark
Title: Re: Generator service
Post by: jelfert on June 18, 2022, 12:30:44 pm
Had the generator put back together with some minor repair on some loose winding. I'll just run this thing until it fails then replace the powerhead . If I have the coach that long.