Generator is cutting out ??

Topic: Generator is cutting out ?? (Read 1792 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #25 – January 06, 2014, 08:05:47 pm

Carl,

There is an Elk Lodge with a campground )Lodge 274) Cold Spring KY - they say dry rv parking only - 859 441-1273 according to all stays - ALso, most Camping Worlds have the ability to get you electric - Indianapolis is nearest one to you unfortunately....

or try to stop at Wally World or FLyingJ/Pilot and beg for an outlet for an extension cord and 15-20 amps.

WalMart in Alexandria KY has ask to park - maybe call manager on duty 859 635-8800 and see if they could let you plug in an outlet in garage and snake cord under door - or maybe they have an outlet somewhere outside

Dont see any campgrounds open that far north on all stays

good luck, I would start looking hard for that plug, and asking for a favor from walmart, etc.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #26 – January 06, 2014, 08:11:04 pm

Carl,
Just now saw this. There is very little camping in the immediate area that's open. In an emergency, I can call the township folks and get permission for you to park on the street in front of my house which is 30 miles from Walton, KY due northeast on I-275. Call me: cell No. 513-484-9846...

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #27 – January 06, 2014, 08:15:03 pm

BTW...All northern Indiana counties (north of Indianapolis) are under a state of emergency. No travel allowed. Ohio is okay. I-75 seems to be okay.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #28 – January 06, 2014, 08:23:01 pm

John - we found a place to plug in for the night. To get the most out of the electricty what position do we want the boost switch in to juice all of the batteries? Thanks for all your help we really appreciate it & are looking forward to pulling over!

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #29 – January 06, 2014, 08:30:59 pm

Plugging in will charge your house batteries which need it the most.
Turn the boost switch on overnight to make sure your chassis batteries are topped off for cranking in the morning. And leave it on for cranking to help spin the engine faster. And then while driving, leave it on so your house batteries stay up.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #30 – January 06, 2014, 09:20:18 pm

Reminder with these cold temperatures you will want to have the engine block heater on all night.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #31 – January 06, 2014, 09:47:41 pm

charger on, boost on, that ties all the batteries together, house and chassis, and will charge overnight. Dont forget to put on your block heater when you stop, switch normally under bed. I have seem 70 amps going into batteries, you may trip the breaker at first if house and chassis are very dead. if so, leave boost off for a couple of hours while the house batteries gain charge, then put the boost switch "on" to tie in the chassis batteries and charge all overnight.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #32 – January 06, 2014, 10:01:32 pm

Ive had 4 posts now that have not made it. My 4g bars are full. Very frustrating...sorry.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #33 – January 06, 2014, 11:08:30 pm

Leave the big engine running and do not be concerned. The only issue you may have is dealing with the EPA (a few nights won't hurt anything).
Since the radiator draws air, open a box and tape up 2/3's of the radiator front. You could leave the box in place and not have any issues when you take off BTW.
Since you had an issue with the fuel filter needing replacing, it won't hurt to replace it again. As for the water separator, pull it apart and shake out the water and reinstall.
It was not too clear if the only time the Generator was shutting down was when you started driving?? I find the temps are not that cold (yet), sos it's likely not related to it being too cold. Add a gallon of HEAT to the fuel if you continue to be concerned (Type 1 diesel if you can find any helps).
When a fuel system jells up, you typically chug to a stop until things are thawed out and you are going nowhere till then! pc

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #34 – January 06, 2014, 11:37:05 pm

Carl,
You may want to reconsider driving north tomorrow. Forecast is for dangerous wind with wind chills of down to -40F and drifting snow in Lower Michigan and Northern Ohio/Indiana. Your neck of the woods has significant snow on the ground.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #35 – January 06, 2014, 11:43:52 pm

Wow, so much great info. I hadnt realized that we moved into page 2 and with everything else going on I've already shut off the engine. We are plugged into 50amp with the boost switch on. All of our windows are iced over inside...thick. was traveling for hours and the dash defrost was barely warm...more like barely cool. We were scraping glass with credit cards but didnt really work. Water was froze when pulled in but now is running. Oh...btw, at 11pm we realized we were...correction. ..we're on top of a railroad track.

I dont know how to do what Tim mentioned with the generator and would like to know sometime in the a.m. if possible.
Thank each & everyone of you who have offered help, information & ideas. We'll see how tomorrow starts & I'll keep you posted.many many thanks

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #36 – January 07, 2014, 12:15:51 am

If you are on 50 amps, leave boost and engine heat on, turn up your heater, and rest easy. Newer coaches have inslated windows, but frost no big deal. sleep well.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #37 – January 07, 2014, 12:16:40 am

engine heat on overnight!!!!! usually under bed

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #38 – January 07, 2014, 06:31:34 am

Carl you may have cured you initial problem with fuel filters, but now sounds like air in the fuel system crack the bleed screw while cranking make sure the fuel shut off solenoid is pulled all the way in when you get fuel close the screw, I have also had to crack a fuel line at an injector or 2 while cranking to get the air out. It's hard to get these little engines started once they are dead cold. Glow plugs (if equipped) may be bad if that is the case it will not start. If you have fuel at the injectors and the glow plugs are bad you may have to disconnect the wire to them and start on eather, if you do that please make sure you disconnect the power to the glow plugs otherwize engine damage may result.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #39 – January 07, 2014, 08:27:32 am

Carl,

I have an RV pad with full hook-ups near Cincinnati in Sunman, IN that you could use for free if you need to hang out for a while until temps rise. Call at five 0 eight, four 5 four six 4 five four.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #40 – January 07, 2014, 08:54:14 am

Thanks for the offer Brett. Tim, the 50 amp has been connected and the boost switch has been on all night with enngine block heater on as well. Bruce I sure appreciate your mechanical input but fear that it may be way over my head. Yes I do have glow plugs and when I put the separator/filter on and opened the drain plug fluid ran out like crazy. Other than being harder to blow through the old inline filter I dont believe I have a gel problem. Ive not gotten up yet or had coffee so dont have a report for this morning.

I do have a belt or 2 to tighten before I get started with the generator. Im REALLY hoping that it starts up after having a fully charged battery. That generator has been the one thing thats never failed and has run for hours & hours in 4 years. Im hoping the air is just gone otherwise we may just get on the road. We probably have a 7 hour drive at 60 mph to get home.

I do know though that every window we have is iced over, and to add to the list I believe ive got strep throat or some other painful chest burning. Home is sounding good.

Well, going for coffee now, then belts and then window scraping and the generator.

Will keep you posted.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #41 – January 07, 2014, 09:47:02 am

Did any one mention the inline filter. Most over looked item which causes the gen to run rough and shut down. DAN

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #42 – January 07, 2014, 09:56:26 am

Yes Dan the inline filter in the gen compartment was replaced first.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #43 – January 07, 2014, 10:05:38 am

Well I thought I'd turn the gen engine over before going out to get tools for tightening the belts......it barely had juice to crank and made no effort to fire. Not what I was hoping for. Crud!

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #44 – January 07, 2014, 10:40:04 am

Ok, so I've tightened the engine alternator belts and was excited to start this thing and hit the road. As mentioned I have not enough juice in the batteries to crank the gen so it will fire and NOW me engine isnt firing and the batteries are weakening. Not a good way to start the day.
Ideas?

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #45 – January 07, 2014, 10:41:18 am

A bit late here, but if you are ever in a situation again where it is necessary to idle the big engine for along period of time it is better if the engine is a a "high" idle, not the low 500-700RPM range.

Roland

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #46 – January 07, 2014, 10:57:28 am

Thanks Roland I'll keep that in mind. Much appreciated. Had I known that a 50 amp service would not help my malfunctioning system...I'd have never shut it off.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #47 – January 07, 2014, 12:20:52 pm

I've been on the phone with Carl and his main problem is he can't get his CAT 3208 to start. He did try to use the ether button and notice it helped but still no start. He later discovered this morning that the engine block heater was unplugged from the outlet but the good news is it does work and is starting to heat the block. The engine also cranks very slowly. Three weeks ago he serviced the batteries and cleaned the terminals. I suggested to him to verify the terminals are still tight.

While his is waiting for the block heater to do its thing can anyone think of anything else to check or do?

Also, can someone verify that the CAT 3208 does not have glow plugs?
(I told him no from my memory and usually ether and glow plugs don't go together)

His generator will not start either and it too cranks very slowly and is a secondary problem as he doesn't really need it to get home.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #48 – January 07, 2014, 01:31:07 pm

Really sounds like bad batteries or connections if charging overnight won't start either generator or engine.

As far as Cat 3208, he can call the Caterpillar RV Hotline with his engine serial number to see if he has glow plugs (doubtful), intake manifold heater, etc. 877 777-3126.

Re: Generator is cutting out ??

Reply #49 – January 07, 2014, 02:35:26 pm

Well its been a couple hours now since the block heater was actually plugged in and turned on. It seems that the plugging in is an important part of the equation. Im going to buy or make a switch plate cover that will not allow the block heater to be turned on by accident. Then I will never have it unplugged again....not that I did unplug it to start with.

We installed a new start battery no more than 3 years ago but the alternator hasnt worked since we've owned it, so one was installed last month. I've thought it wasnt working but more so believe that it does. As I recall the 2 house batteries have no purshase dates on them...I believe its time to install a couple new ones. I want to install a new digital volt gage for each set of batteries as I have no confidence in the needle gage on the dash. All this will wait until Spring when things warm up.

I have had the block heater on for 2 solid hours now and it still has not started. It seems to turn over easier but hasnt started......it sounds like it wants to but then the cranking weakens and I let it set a while.

I did check battery connections and oddly a couple were not as tight as could have been. New ends will be installed in the Spring.

With the cold leaks this engine has plus all the running we've done, I poured 2 gallons of ELC mixed with distilled water into the radiator, added 1 qt of oil, tightened battery ends and am really ready to just go home.

My wife is now dealing with a headache and my 14 & 16 year old boys are all being patient.

I'm doing my best to remain optimistic & hopeful and keep a good attitude. I told my boys that I've learned a little patience and good attitude as well as reaching out for help, being thankful and having faith. Things could be worse and I know it but its time to get on the road. I was hoping to drive all day with no drain on the system with all the lights that will be on plus the dash blower and maybe overhead fans. However, it's now 2:30 and only a couple daytime hours remain.

I have to get home...the fun is gone & we are wearing down.

What else can I do to assure good connections or

I feel helpless and just need this thing to start.

We've got about 7 or 8 hours with optimal everything to get home and things are not optimal.

Im not even hopeful or concerned about the generator starting although it would be amazing. I just need the engine to start.

Should it really take this long for the block heater to warm this thing up?

I told my boys what a blessing the people are on this forum and how much you all give to help each other and make a difference.

Thank you very much

Any other ideas?

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