Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Generator access panel

September 20, 2016, 06:18:58 pm

Pressed the red electric switch to release the front body panel to allow access to generator and it didn't lift as usual.
I can hear the electric click and one side of the panel releases but not the other side .
Anyone delt with this issue , looks pretty tight from the bottom??

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Re: Generator access panel

Reply #1 – September 20, 2016, 08:15:02 pm

Mine does that all the time. Usually a "bump" to the top corner that has not released while pushing the red button at the same time does the trick. If not you can crawl underneath and pull the cables by hand (it helps if you have arms like an Orangutan)  Hope this helps.

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Reply #2 – September 20, 2016, 08:29:33 pm

Tried the bump whilst wife held button, don't think my arms are long enough to reach from bottom, may have to get creative with coat hanger!

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Reply #3 – September 20, 2016, 08:37:04 pm

Try and push the entire side that doesn't release by positioning your hands over the bear claw latches to take the strain off them,
then push the red button.

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Reply #4 – September 20, 2016, 10:08:40 pm

Mine has done it once, bumped both top corners and it released. Then lubed it with white grease.

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Reply #5 – September 20, 2016, 10:24:44 pm

Had this happen on my 2007 and Mike Rodgers at MOT showed me the secret. He said he never found out why, but you need to hit the button a second time and it will open. Like Mike, I have no idea why but it works every time!

Hope this helps,

Don

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Reply #6 – September 20, 2016, 11:20:12 pm

Will try all those options in morning but if any one has a photo of the whole mechanism fitted on back of body panel it would help me visualize what I am  dealing with
Thanks for all your help

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Reply #7 – September 21, 2016, 04:33:07 pm

+1 on what Don said, I hit ours the second time and slap the door and it opens

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Reply #8 – September 21, 2016, 05:07:20 pm

Tried the double switch trick and thumping panel . No joy .
The beast is currently sitting in Hwh workshop to have a new living room slide seal , manifold and any other issues sorted .
So I sit in local motel plotting how to get the generator panel open .
Again any photos would be appreciated before I start snagging cables with a slim Jim

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Reply #9 – September 21, 2016, 07:07:48 pm

Jimmyjor, hope this helps, we have the same year coach

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Reply #10 – September 21, 2016, 08:07:22 pm

Get one of the HWH techs to open it for you.
Maybe grease his palm.

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Reply #11 – September 21, 2016, 08:50:30 pm

Thanks for the photo, does electric latch pull on 4 cables ? Top and bottom, both sides ??
May float the idea at Hwh , but I think they are pushing to get backlog of coaches out by Friday night as they are shut weekend

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Reply #12 – September 24, 2016, 08:21:38 pm

Tried soaking the claw catches with wd40 , tried hooking the cables and pulling but no joy .
Think I can get better access by reaching up behind headlights, but unsure what to grab / lever / pull etc
Any advice appreciate!

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Reply #13 – September 25, 2016, 02:29:38 pm

Sounds like you already tried the awning hook. Ours does this too, but this reminds me to get out there and lube it.

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Reply #14 – September 25, 2016, 02:52:06 pm

Wow! What a difference!
If you look at Richard's photo, the top two cables go to the top latches and they are the ones that hold the panel closed.  To release then you need to push UP on the top cables. Maybe have someone push in on the top of the panel. You should hear a "snap" when they release.
The bottom latches hold it in the full open position.

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Reply #15 – September 25, 2016, 08:43:17 pm

Stopped  in a real dodgy longTerm park , dirt roads and cars on blocks , decided I may as well pull out the tool box and blend in !
 Hex  screw on electric latch had loosened and was not operating cable, also bottom claw had somehow jumped locking fork and was jammed.
Went up behind head lights and removed the 11mm bolts holding the bear claws to the front panel .
Reassembled and all seems to be working, fingers crossed.
Thanks for everyone's help .

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