Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: 10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification (Read 589 times) previous topic - next topic

10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification

During the power outages last winter, we ran the U300 generator for days in a row to power the house. Some in the county were without power for 9 days. A hose blew and a couple of other items needed attention so before our trip next week, I decided to make a few changes as seen in the attachments.

The first thing was to remove the radiator and modify the bottom pipe and 90 degree hose. I then used the purple cleaner from WalMart ($11 on sale for 2 gallons) to clean everything.  I didn't have the correct part so went to Reilly's and purchased a longer 1 inch hose I could use after cutting. The shorter hose in the middle of the receipt could have been used but I decided to go with the Gates $21 variety.

The new belt is shown but for U300 owners, the 2 alternator belts are the same as the fan belt on the PowerTech. The tools needed are a 10mm, 11mm and 12mm in sockets as well as combination wrenches. Fan is 10mm, radiator nuts/bolts 11mm and the belt tensioner is 12mm. Note that both 12mm have to be loosened to move the belt adjustment. Arrows in photo show the two 12mm.

The compartment was filthy and I did notice that one injector was seeping a little. But the major item was the crankcase vent than just was an open hose on the compartment floor. So, I bought 3 feet of 1/2" reinforced clear hose and drilled and tapped the intake for it to feed into. The fitting is for 1/2" ID hose and has 3/8" NPT threads. I had a 3/8" NPT tap so ran the tap until there was about 1/2" left on the tap and then screwed the fitting in so the hex bottomed against the PVC for a little more stability. The way PowerTech did the crankcase vent is no longer legal and the buildup of oil deposits on the compartment floor would add to any fire that might occur.

I used a bottle of Prestone cleaner in the cooling system and ran the engine for one hour. Drained, refilled and ran for another 15 minutes. Refilled with my 50/50 mix of Asian type antifreeze and RO water.

If you have a slight seep on any of your injectors, you may try to tighten the nut on the injection pipe. I tried but my seep was in the body of the injector. The pipe nut has to be loosened first 17mm and then the 19mm hex towards the top of the injector can be loosened a little and then tightened. The injector pipe nut cannot be tighten too much or it may be damaged and need replacing.

Pulling the generator in a few months to make the compartment fire restive and changing the exhaust system.

Pierce


Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: 10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification

Reply #1 –
How did you power your house with generator?  Did you pull an extension cord or do you have some special connection at the main panel?
2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: 10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Sven and Kristi –
How did you power your house with generator?  Did you pull an extension cord or do you have some special connection at the main panel?
I've been too lazy to add a 220V leg and plug on the Powertech. I just made a double male (like in the fire truck engineer's compartment) and plugged it into the coach and at the house. I shut off the house main breaker first so I didn't kill anyone on the grid. So, an extension cord to the house, then the double male into a receptacle.

It runs the fridge, TV, computers, AC with no problems for days at a time. We have lived for over 20 years with the corrupt PG&E utility. It took a grand jury to get them to trim trees for winter years ago. Now, they just burn towns like Paradise down.

The thing you have to watch most is the fan belt tension. It's hard to get at and gets overlooked.



Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: 10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification

Reply #3 –
"I've been too lazy to add a 220V leg and plug on the Powertech. I just made a double male (like in the fire truck engineer's compartment) and plugged it into the coach and at the house. I shut off the house main breaker first so I didn't kill anyone on the grid. So, an extension cord to the house, then the double male into a receptacle."  :o
 
I've been reading some replies on the RV2 site.  In my case, I have a 50A receptacle in the RV barn; from what I'm reading, the generator could feed back through that line to main CB bus to power it.  The main breaker would have to cut off the power to the grid but a transfer switch was preferred with electrician doing the job.  Powering a house through a receptacle, I expect would trip the CB on the circuit.  I'm mostly concerned about any fire hazard or damage to the coach's wiring, etc.


2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: 10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Sven and Kristi –
"I've been too lazy to add a 220V leg and plug on the Powertech. I just made a double male (like in the fire truck engineer's compartment) and plugged it into the coach and at the house. I shut off the house main breaker first so I didn't kill anyone on the grid. So, an extension cord to the house, then the double male into a receptacle."  :o
 
I've been reading some replies on the RV2 site.  In my case, I have a 50A receptacle in the RV barn; from what I'm reading, the generator could feed back through that line to main CB bus to power it.  The main breaker would have to cut off the power to the grid but a transfer switch was preferred with electrician doing the job.  Powering a house through a receptacle, I expect would trip the CB on the circuit as soon as you put a demand greater than 15-20A on it.  I'm mostly concerned about any fire hazard or damage to the coach's wiring, etc.
2000 U320 mid entry  #5688
2006 Jeep Liberty


USMCR retired
SDFD retired
FEMA US&R TF8

Re: 10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification

Reply #5 –
The coach has CB to cover any overload and will trip. Check your CBs for 20 amps and make sure a 20 amp receptacle is available. I put a 20 amp receptacle for the block heater so a good place to plug into. You can also do a second or third extension cord into a different house circuit.

To do it right, there should be either a manual or automatic transfer switch so no mistake can be made.

When feeding the house, you have to be careful and check the cords, outlets for temperature. Hey, it's a 10,000 watt generator. Running it at 6000 watts should let it run forever. Our house is all LED, TV are low wattage, gas dryer, etc. So, not that much juice used but AC could use a separate cord from the U300 so not to worry when the washing machine is running.

The bright kitchen fluorescent have been replaced with LEDs and the rest of the lights are now 3 watts each.

We were lucky as we only lost power for three days at a time. Lots of other folks were not and lost everything in their freezers and fridges.

Lots of fires now but the closest is 5 miles away. We bought a 3000 gallon tank last year but have not filled it yet. The U300 is pointed down the driveway just in case.

Pierce


Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: 10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification

Reply #6 –
You might call power tech with your generator serial number. Ask for Jeff Jones. Your generator puts out 2 110v lines but it's not 220v some can be changed over, although they don't recommend it. It will work fine except on 240v things, Jeff can explain to you.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country
 

Re: 10K PowerTech Maintenance & Modification

Reply #7 –
Quote from: bbeane –
You might call power tech with your generator serial number. Ask for Jeff Jones. Your generator puts out 2 110v lines but it's not 220v some can be changed over, although they don't recommend it. It will work fine except on 240v things, Jeff can explain to you.
Thanks, will ring him up when we get back next month.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)