PowerTech Generator repair

Topic: PowerTech Generator repair (Read 2710 times) previous topic - next topic

PowerTech Generator repair

October 26, 2015, 04:02:07 pm

Well, my PowerTech generator seems to have bit the dust. Engine runs but does not produce any electricity. According to Jeff at PowerTech, I need a new generator end and regulator. That willl be a few coachbucks I am sure.

Anyway, I m looking for recommendations for someone to do the work. I have checked the PT website and contacted a couple via email. waiting on a response.

Question for the group. Is there someone near the northwest corner of Arkansas that you can recommend? SW Missouri, NE Oklahoma.

Thanks for any advise.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #1 – October 26, 2015, 04:08:30 pm

Look for a used one at some rv salvage and save. DAN

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #2 – October 26, 2015, 06:40:03 pm

Howdy stevec22, Maybe these guys? Colaw RV Used Parts - We Have Your Part...
They have a ton of stuff.
Good Luck, Dave A

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #3 – October 26, 2015, 10:41:32 pm

How did they determine the generator end itsself had failed and not just the regulator?

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #4 – October 26, 2015, 10:50:12 pm

Quote from: car54 – October 26, 2015, 10:41:32 pm

How did they determine the generator end itsself had failed and not just the regulator?

Zero volts at main breaker. Jeff at PowerTech said there should be at least 4 volts

I found a guy on the dealer list in NW Arkansas, I will be stopping by his place with the coach tomorrow morning

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #5 – October 27, 2015, 08:02:02 am

Did the at least check for continuity in the main windings?

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #6 – October 27, 2015, 09:21:09 am

Call Ron Hawkins at Innovative Coach in Wichita, he had a near new PT at one time that was a takeout from another coach.
Gary B

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #7 – October 27, 2015, 09:31:29 am

With a ZERO Volt reading, I would like to know the quality of the meter as ZERO is nearly impossible even on a dead rotor or stator, should read something even .02 vac not ZERO. At main breaker your still reading the fan circuit draw/load ?

"Zero volts at main breaker. Jeff at PowerTech said there should be at least 4 volts"

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #8 – October 27, 2015, 10:52:13 am

Quote from: Dave M – October 27, 2015, 09:31:29 am

With a ZERO Volt reading, I would like to know the quality of the meter as ZERO is nearly impossible even on a dead rotor or stator, should read something even .02 vac not ZERO. At main breaker your still reading the fan circuit draw/load ?

"Zero volts at main breaker. Jeff at PowerTech said there should be at least 4 volts"

You are correct. The actual voltage was reading 156 milli volts. So not quite zero, but pretty close.

I was using a Fluke meter.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #9 – October 27, 2015, 10:55:52 am

Quote from: Gary Bouland – October 27, 2015, 09:21:09 am

Call Ron Hawkins at Innovative Coach in Wichita, he had a near new PT at one time that was a takeout from another coach.
Gary B

Thank you.

The coach is at the shop this morning. I will see what the generator tech says needs to be done after actually testing the stator and rotor . If replacing is the best option, then I will contact Innovative Coach.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #10 – October 27, 2015, 04:05:43 pm

If the Kubota is in grand condition under 8,000 hours, I would purchase a Marathon Pancake 12 kW end and smile.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #11 – October 27, 2015, 05:05:19 pm

Quote from: Dave M – October 27, 2015, 04:05:43 pm

If the Kubota is in grand condition under 8,000 hours, I would purchase a Marathon Pancake 12 kW end and smile.

It has the Isuzu engine. I will need to verify actual hours. The engine does start and run well

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #12 – October 27, 2015, 05:13:33 pm

Oh geez, if the Isuzu, I would look for the Kubota powered unit, sorry.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #13 – October 27, 2015, 06:06:16 pm

Quote from: Dave M – October 27, 2015, 05:13:33 pm

Oh geez, if the Isuzu, I would look for the Kubota powered unit, sorry.

Since I'm always tying to learn, I just have to ask, "Why?"

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #14 – October 27, 2015, 07:07:21 pm

Just my personnel experience & opinion, have had less than good luck with one years ago, always had good luck with the Perkins, Yanmar and Kubota small 3 & 4 cylinder diesels, many thousands of hours trouble free.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #15 – October 27, 2015, 10:33:14 pm

Please spend the time to check and double check EVERY wire, connection, terminal, etc. Check for shorts, continuity, and any other checks you can think to try. I say this because I had the SAME PROBLEM. No voltage at the main breaker on one leg. The problem was not a $5,000 generator end. It was a broken wire from the generator to the breaker. Cost to fix about $0.50!!!! The wire was broken right at the terminal end and underneath the rubber shrink insulation. You could have never found it by eye or feel. Only a multi-meter showing an open wire found it.

Nick

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #16 – October 27, 2015, 11:25:09 pm

Quote from: Nick Cagle – October 27, 2015, 10:33:14 pm

Please spend the time to check and double check EVERY wire, connection, terminal, etc. Check for shorts, continuity, and any other checks you can think to try. I say this because I had the SAME PROBLEM. No voltage at the main breaker on one leg. The problem was not a $5,000 generator end. It was a broken wire from the generator to the breaker. Cost to fix about $0.50!!!! The wire was broken right at the terminal end and underneath the rubber shrink insulation. You could have never found it by eye or feel. Only a multi-meter showing an open wire found it.

Nick

The tech that is looking at it is going to do his own diagnostics. He was a little disbeliving that the actual genset was "broke". He asked if there was any "burnt" smells. There were not. I am comfortable that he will find the problem before throwing parts at it or just ordering a new "generator end.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #17 – October 27, 2015, 11:30:17 pm

Could the gen. have gotten wet any way,if so figure out a way to dry all moisture from gen section,pull it out and let the sun
hit it all day.The manual says to run the gen. every 30 days under load.This is for the gen section as well as the engine.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #18 – October 27, 2015, 11:43:44 pm

I am pretty sure a marathon pancake would fit the isuzu as well.. it uses a standard SAE bell housing. no need to special order the gen head from powertech, it can probably be sourced a lot cheaper elsewhere.

Mine is the four cylinder kubota 10kw which appears to be a marathon pancake oe

You can use this chart and order whatever you need to fit your engine. What is SAE? | Power Technology Southeast Inc

and page 21 for aftermarket prices. http://www.marathonelectric.com/generators/docs/manuals/GPN006.pdf

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #19 – October 28, 2015, 02:57:22 am

Steve,
If it turns out to be a stator I have one out of a 10kw PT. that may help.
JD

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #20 – October 30, 2015, 03:04:36 pm

I heard back from the guy working on my generator. Nick had the correct answer. He found a broken wire somewhere, although his cell connection sucked and I didn't hear exactly where the break was.

The good news is he will be able to repair the break and replace the regulator. Will be costing me less than a coach buck, rather than the 4-6 that it might have.

Lesson to be learned ..... Don't always accept the over the phone diagnosis from the factory.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #21 – October 30, 2015, 05:02:31 pm

Glad a proper diagnosis worked! Any gen heads that have failed have always done so in a spectacular way. Smoke, sparks, charring and soot everywhere.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #22 – October 30, 2015, 05:48:41 pm

Man, that's good news all the way around, Steve! Have you figured out how you are going to invest all those bucks you just saved? Congrats! Dodged another one...

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #23 – October 30, 2015, 08:02:00 pm

Quote from: Old Knucklehead – October 30, 2015, 05:48:41 pm

Man, that's good news all the way around, Steve! Have you figured out how you are going to invest all those bucks you just saved? Congrats! Dodged another one...

Yep, I am going to pay the sales tax and get it tagged. LOL

I will not be spending anything more than essentials until I have had the coach for a while and have a much bigger maintenance fund built up. After reading Bigdog's post and knowing what these can cost, I need more coachbucks set aside.

Re: PowerTech Generator repair

Reply #24 – October 30, 2015, 09:46:11 pm

Just for reference, the cost to replace my generator end and regulator using PT supplied parts at PT authorized shop three years ago was $3,680. No sparks, no smoke, no burnt smell. Steve, you dodged a bullet!

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