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Generator shut-down

After having the steering gear replaced, my generator will not run for more than 10-15 seconds before it shuts down. The blower fan for gen radiator was removed.  I have been reading the posts concerning this problem. The gen will shut down, with no fault codes, and will restart.  It will do this cycle 3 times; but after the third shut down, I get a fault light on dash, along with 'Overcrank'.  I can then cycle on-off switch on control box, and caution lights will go off.  I have tried to run it with alternate fuel source; same deal.  I am suspecting miss-wiring when they reinstalled the blower.  Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the blower and control box?  One other caviat;  I now have a small pool of fuel under right side of gen compartment, but I can not find any obvious fuel leaks.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #1 –
Just Sat. John Kerbs told a story about his generator hunting and surging.  May be a totally different problems.  But what he found when he saw a small amount of fuel, was hose leak.  He that night, in the parking lot, cut and shortened the fuel hose where it was leaking at the fitting, and added a small hose clamp.  Then within a couple of days had the same issues again.  The second time it was a smaller supply hose, cracked at another fitting, and he was able to use twisted bailing wire on the tiny hose .  His coach is the same model and year of yours, 97, 320.

He ended up replacing all the OEM, painted rubber fuel lines on the generator, with new hoses and clamps.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #2 –
Ck the in line fuel filter.  This is the most over looked item and causes the most problems.  Most of the time the gen will start but only run for about 20 seconds.  Dan
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #3 –
Overcrank condition, in my experience, has always been due to a fuel issue (air in lines, too low of fuel level in tank, bad pump, plugged fuel filter,etc.).

Do you have an Isuzu or Kubota generator?



Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #4 –
Are you sure that radiator blower is working ? If not genny will shut down on overheat.
Gary B

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #5 –
Isuzu 10k. Don't think it is a fuel issue.  I tried to run it with alternate fuel source bypassing inline filter. 
Does fan start immediately?  With it only running 10 seconds hard to tell if it is running.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #6 –
I can't say anything about the fan since mine is an engine mounted fan spun by the engine itself (which obviously runs nonstop when the engine is running) rather than the remote mounted fan that I believe you have.
10 seconds isn't long enough for your gen engine to overheat from a cold start so I would personally doubt that the Overcrank light has anything to do with the electric fan and someone else will need to chime in about whether the electric fan runs constantly or only sometimes. 

After the engine shuts down, unscrew the engine mounted fuel filter and see if it is running empty to verify that your pump and fuel supply is keeping up with the engine's fuel needs.  An engine mounted filter that is anything less than full and overflowing when you unscrew it would mean that you aren't getting sufficient fuel to the engine.  Now would be a good time to change the engine mounted fuel filter, especially if you don't know when it was last changed, to completely rule out that it isn't restricting flow.

Is this the original cube type fuel pump?  Mine was completely worn out at 1000 hours. 
Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Yetch –
After having the steering gear replaced, my generator will not run for more than 10-15 seconds before it shuts down. The blower fan for gen radiator was removed.  I have been reading the posts concerning this problem. The gen will shut down, with no fault codes, and will restart.  It will do this cycle 3 times; but after the third shut down, I get a fault light on dash, along with 'Overcrank'.  I can then cycle on-off switch on control box, and caution lights will go off.  I have tried to run it with alternate fuel source; same deal.  I am suspecting miss-wiring when they reinstalled the blower.  Does anyone have a wiring diagram for the blower and control box?  One other caviat;  I now have a small pool of fuel under right side of gen compartment, but I can not find any obvious fuel leaks.
Mike

My #5132 shut down from overheat as the wires inside the control box to the resettable breaker were loose.  Fan did not run.  Sounds different from yours but my 110v fan was fine. 
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #8 –
On mine,  the blower fan is powered by the generator.  When mine acted that way,  it was because the blower was not running because of a broken wire in the generator's rotor winding. Check for a power during the short time it runs.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #9 –
There is not a fuel problem.
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #10 –
When my Genset qruit a few years ago,  it took rewinding the coils to get it to produce electricity.  Each time I left the shop with everything working,  I came back 5 minutes later with a fault light.

They said it was low oil pressure,  but an oil change and new oil pressure switch didn't  help.

They said it was over temp,  but topping off and burping the coolant didn't help.

I looked in the Foretravel wiring diagram and saw a coolant level float switch.  I also had been telling them all along that  it only faulted while rounding a particular corner.  They found and replaced the level sensor,  and it has worked flawlessly ever since.

And this was a Powertech shop that specializes in generators.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Generator shut-down

Reply #11 –
I have found a power tech service guy locally, and he is able to get a manual for the unit.  In the mean time, the genset has started working again; go figure.
In talking with Mike at MOT, he thinks it might be the 110 ac sensing circuit.

Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO