Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 09, 2025 ...

Getting ready to restart

April 11, 2021, 07:54:55 pm

Our coach has been sitting outside at a storage facility since October. All batteries were disconnected at that time. When I was out to check on it last week I took my VOM along and checked the battery voltages. All were between 12.5 and 12.6 v. Is that enough to start either engine? I think I may be able to get the car close enough to jump the Detroit, maybe the generator.

If I get the generator running, will that charge the engine batteries? If I start the Detroit will that charge the house batteries? If the boost switch is ON, will that charge both sets of batteries?

I don't have electricity since the coach is outside, but there is a 15/20A outlet on the front of the building that I have permission to use to charge the battery for a bit. That would mean running the coach power cord along the coach, attaching it to the 50A extension cord, then dropping to the 30A cords and then adapting to the 15/20A. Can be done, but I'd want to stay with it while all of those cords are out.

Once I can get the Detroit running I can make sure that the tires are all aired up. We aren't leaving here until mid-June, but I know that there will be plenty to do before we go and not a lot of time to get it done, so I'd like to start working on things as soon as I can.

I'd like to try moving the coach some just to make sure that I don't have a stuck brake somewhere, too. I'm on a fairly level area, but there is a steep hill to climb to get out of where I am, then it is reasonably level into town. If I build air to normal pressure, release the parking brake, and try to drive ahead, if I have a stuck brake I shouldn't move easily, right? If I can move out normally, can I assume that I don't have a stuck brake?

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Re: Getting ready to restart

Reply #1 – April 11, 2021, 08:04:25 pm

Dave we have a few cold days coming our way, when it warms up u could give it a try, but I would start the Genny and let it charge a while with the boost switch on.

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Re: Getting ready to restart

Reply #2 – April 11, 2021, 08:18:42 pm

I'm hoping that I can go out Saturday and do a little. I'm going to be at school pretty much full-time this week, so the weekend is the first real chance to do anything. I do have a couple of small inside projects to do, so IF I'm not too tired some evening I might go out and get at one of them. The biggest risk is that the recliner might be too inviting and I'm end up taking an after-dinner nap instead of working....

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Re: Getting ready to restart

Reply #3 – April 11, 2021, 09:06:46 pm

If it rolls easily when you release the brakes, you don't have a stuck caliper. You might check rotor temps when you get into town.

Pierce

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Re: Getting ready to restart

Reply #4 – April 12, 2021, 09:03:39 am

kb0zke wrote "If I get the generator running, will that charge the engine batteries? If I start the Detroit will that charge the house batteries? If the boost switch is ON, will that charge both sets of batteries?"

Yes.

1) You can charge the engine batteries with the generator power using the Boost switch

2) The chassis engine will charge the house batteries through the battery isolator.

3) GOTO 1*

*Yes, the boost switch couples the two systems together.

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