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Damage from 20 lbs of rubber

June 16, 2019, 01:44:51 pm

Even at 30 mph, the base from a traffic cone/barrel can do significant damage!

In a construction zone on I90 just east of Coeur d'Alene the vehicle in front of me drove over the detached base of a traffic barrel; the rubber base (which I believe fell off the back of a construction vehicle in front of it) went airborne and didn't quite make it back to earth before it hit the front DS just below the headlights.  It arose again to graze the front of the toad.

It was a half mile before there was room to pull over and check the damage which, parked on the side of the highway, looked superficial.

Unfortunately, even though rubbing compound and elbow grease dealt with the marks on the toad, the coach paint is cracked and the next day I found coolant dripping from the generator bay.  After many hours of blind photos and awkward reaching behind the generator, it looks like a rubber line has been cut by the metal shroud covering the belts.  One of the brackets is broken (the rubber base hit with quite a bang, but the bracket may have been broken before).

Long story to get to the question; what is the best way to get at the rear of the  PowerTech 10 generator?  From the FF searches I've done about the only way is to come up from underneath with the generator forward and the rubber 'blankets' removed.

I take the coach into RnR RV Center in Liberty Lake on Tuesday and would like to give them some guidance on how to approach the repair.

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Re: Damage from 20 lbs of rubber

Reply #1 – June 16, 2019, 02:38:29 pm

You can remove the generator shield underneath the generator.  There are 4 bolts.  Then you can remove the generator slide bolts and slide the generator out.  You may need a c-clamp to lock the generator slide from moving while working.  From underneath you can go behind the generator.  There is plenty of room.  Hope this helps.

John M.

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Re: Damage from 20 lbs of rubber

Reply #2 – June 16, 2019, 03:07:13 pm

That crack has been there for a while. It looks like from the rust mark on the tab that there has been movement, possibly from an old rubber engine mount. Most of the black rubber marks should buff out.

Pierce

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Re: Damage from 20 lbs of rubber

Reply #3 – June 16, 2019, 03:18:00 pm

Thanks John and Pierce.
Grant

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Re: Damage from 20 lbs of rubber

Reply #4 – June 16, 2019, 03:20:27 pm

I believe you need to disconnect the exhaust line from engine before you slide the generator out.

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Re: Damage from 20 lbs of rubber

Reply #5 – June 16, 2019, 03:59:50 pm

My generator will slide out without disconnecting the exhaust.

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Re: Damage from 20 lbs of rubber

Reply #6 – June 16, 2019, 04:11:04 pm

Sorry about your incident.  I hit a semi tire thread with my car that had a standing loop in it (lying across the lane).  Multi-lane road, cars on each side, and semi truck behind.  Pickup ahead of me, who also ran over it, so I didn't see it in time to stop, but I was able to slow down.  I might have been able to stop, but I wasn't sure about the semi behind me.  Insurance paid to fix the damage, but they did charge me with having an accident.  Apparently that is the law in Texas, hit something in the road, unless an animal, and you have had an accident.  They said my rates would go up, if I have another claim. USAA  Just wanted to grip a little.

My generator will slide out without disconnecting the exhaust, but it must be disconnected to remove the generator.

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