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Topic: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine (Read 3337 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine

Reply #50
Its occurred on a few GVs. You should be able to splice - its not under pressure. If you splice and the problem doesn't go away though...
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine

Reply #51
Kent, That's what I did.  I used a stud that fit tightly in the hose ends, taped it over and pulled hose thru bulkhead. Took a while to work it thru and I was working in the dirt yard of a relative in E CO. I had cut hose to remove it from the barbed fitting on tank so when I replaced it I used a clamp to secure it.  I used standard fuel hose for it, expensive hose used by FT was not available.
Gary B

Re: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine

Reply #52
Morris, nice job. Welcome to the world of contortionism. That's a technical therm in the motorhome world.

I was wondering if you might have noticed if the hoses near the tank itself were cracked. I had presumed that since they were in a protected compartment they may not deteriorate as quickly. If that were the case maybe the old lines could be cut a couple of feet away from the tank and spliced into the new lines. If so, one wouldn't have to strain to reach the connectors on top of the tank precluding the need to join the contortion team. What do you think? 

Hi Kent,

First of all, I HOPE you are getting along well and are much closer to normal....whatever normal is.....

Now, to answer your questions.  I didn't really check the old supply hose where it connected to the fitting on the tank.  After I got the old supply hose out of the coach, I cut off the end of the hose with the barbed fitting in it and we put the hose in the trash so it would go out that day.  So I cannot say for sure for the supply hose.  BUT I did see a few cracks in the old return hose where it slid over the barbed fitting to connect to the fitting on the tank.  In fact, a couple of weeks ago, I put some tape around the return hose to cover those cracks and a couple of days later the tape was falling off.

So I would guess the old supply line wasn't in very good condition at the tank end either.  The only differences I see in the portion of the hoses in fuel compartment vs. the rest of the hose is the hose outside (forward) of the fuel compartment and the raceway can be exposed to water and dirt from the road as well as possibly some more heat right at the generator engine.  But the places where I did find cracks in the supply line were behind where the hose comes out of the generator compartment and were where it was bent to go through a clamp.

Since I did see some cracks in the surface of the old return hose where it slid over the barbed fitting to connect to the tank fitting, and considering the condition of the old supply hose in a few other locations, I don't think I would want to leave a section of either old hose in place. I think it would be just a matter of time before the old section would have to be replaced anyway and I look at it that I wouldn't be doing it any younger than I am now.....

Plus the supply hose on our coach went right into the bundle of hoses and cables that are routed over the tank.  So access to the supply hose is still not very good there either.

If we could have removed the propane tank easily, I think it would have made the job much easier on our coach. But there was no way my wife and I could remove/reinstall the propane tank.

I used a hydraulic hose with a working pressure rating of 2610 psi, a nitrile tube and 1 high tensile steel wire braid at a cost of $1.47 per foot plus sales tax. I had to cut it with a hacksaw, but if you have a steel wheel cutting blade for a cutting tool of some sort, it should cut very easily.  Inserting the flare fitting in the hose was quite a job...but it can be done to connect with the supply fitting on the tank.  Since I knew what size flare fitting was required to connect to the return fitting on the tank, I had the supplier install a crimp-on fitting ($5.29 plus sales tax) on one end of the return hose so that simplified that portion of the job a lot.

I also purchased 2 each 3/8 ID 90 degree brass elbows with barbs on both ends so I did not have to bend either hose around the generator to connect to the bulkhead connector just upstream of the lift pump.

I am guessing materials cost around $90.00-$100.00 for the entire project.

I am very glad this project is done.
Morris and Janice
1997 U270 36'

Re: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine

Reply #53
Thanks for your concern and for the recap. It sounds like that fix will last for many years now.

Be careful, you know once you get everything fixed and updated on your coach you will have to sell it and get a new one. I think it is a cosmic law or something.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine

Reply #54
Thanks for your concern and for the recap. It sounds like that fix will last for many years now.

Be careful, you know once you get everything fixed and updated on your coach you will have to sell it and get a new one. I think it is a cosmic law or something.

I hope it is the last time I have to worry about replacing these hoses. 

Lol!!!  I don't think I am too worried about getting everything done....with nothing more to do.....
Morris and Janice
1997 U270 36'

Re: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine

Reply #55
Kent, when the generator on my 96/270 would not run for more than 20 seconds, I replaced the fuel hoses inside the generator compartment using barbed "joiners" and clamps two years ago.  Has worked reliably since then.  I dislike having "strangers" work on my coach and there was no way that even half of me could get to the fuel tank connections....
Carolyn and Lewis (Andy1) Anderson
1996 U270 36'

Re: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine

Reply #56
Thanks for the confirmation. I think I will try the easy way first if I should start having problems. I know I shouldn't say this but so far, so good. Our generator is running fine right now.

Relax Steve!!!
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

 

Re: Power Tech 8KW generator w/ Isuzu 3LB1 diesel engine

Reply #57
RE "Why have I not heard of anyone replacing the hose(s) to the main engine?"
Several years ago we replaced all fuel hoses including tank to Racor filter & injector pump return to tank as well as tank to generator & return back to tank. We did not pull a new hose when we removed the old hose. Old hose came out so we could make a new length and it was easy pull the new hose from tank to gen.
With hoses off, we put a ball valve on input to Racor to help prevent the long fuel line from tank to Racor from draining out when we change Racor fuel filter.