Hooray, we're going to Gene's and having Power Steering installed on our bus

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 05:21:26 AM

Sold the motorcycle and now I have enough money to have Gene Russel install power steering in our Silversides. That's the good news, here's the bad news:

I went to start our Onan generator from outside and the on/off switch just fell apart. I went inside and was able to start the genset with the interior switch, it starts up and runs at about 170 then within a few seconds the gauge jumps to 250. I think it is an erroneous reading but I don't know how to tell. I have checked the water, there's plenty, the fans are working?

? Any body got any clues? We are leaving tomorrow morning. No generator means no air when we are on the road, only when we stop at a park at night.

dave

robertglines1 · June 25, 2011, 05:37:05 AM

Was just going to say go but after second thought: if the switch made that much difference (the gauge reading) there must be much more it controls that we don't realize even though there is a remote switch. Hopefully one of the Onan Guys will chime in. Getting stuck out in this weather would be hard on us old guys. Bob Mechanical Gauge screwed in block to varied reading

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 05:49:24 AM

Thanks Bob, mechanical gauge sounds OK but what about an infared thermometer reading, I suppose I'd have to get out and read both.

It is 900 miles from our house to Gene's and we plan to break the trip up into three days, 300 miles a day, then stop at a KOA because they have nicer amenities. We could probably make that, but you are right it's mighty hot out there.

dave

robertglines1 · June 25, 2011, 05:56:25 AM

You should have a over heat shut down feature. I would assume? that would protect your gen set but not you. Must be coming North. We live about 750 miles NW of Ocola where we Winter. SW Indiana. Once verified you could depend on your shut down to protect your gen set.

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 05:59:33 AM

That's a scarry thought. What if it didn't work? Kaaaabooooom! I'm a big chicken when it comes to that part of the game.

Yes, we live in Naples and are going to a small town just east of Asheville, N.C.

Dave

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 06:00:46 AM

That's a scarry thought. What if it didn't work? Kaaaabooooom! I'm a big chicken when it comes to that part of the game.

Yes, we live in Naples and are going to a small town just east of Asheville, N.C.

Dave

robertglines1 · June 25, 2011, 06:06:48 AM

That is the one thing that always worked on our onan. in fact really worked till we got our air flow worked out. The shut down switch on a water cooled gen set causes a ground and shuts off the engine. If you want to test it block your air intake with cardboard and make sure it works. probably around 210 degrees maybe as high as 220. Gas or diesel? Do you Know Marvin in Ocola? Bob

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 06:21:00 AM

Don't know marvin. I wish someone would chime in with what a reading from the infared thermometer should be around the block.

robertglines1 · June 25, 2011, 06:30:19 AM

Marvin Pack bus guy other board lives just off 75 on 40 at Ocola bus guy might be able to help. Blk reading should match close to your guage reading IE 170. Good luck Bob 352-875-1040 Marvin #

TomC · June 25, 2011, 11:43:00 AM

Sounds to me to be a stuck or nearly stuck thermostat in the engine. Good Luck, TomC

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 02:54:08 PM

Tom, it's too late to get a specialized thermostat now, could I run the gen set with no thermostat temporarily?

Dave

gus · June 25, 2011, 03:30:03 PM

Dave,

Most engines will overheat without a thermostat, you can only know by trying it. The reason is the coolant moves too fast through the system to properly remove the heat from the engine.

If you're installing a Sheppard PS system be sure to use either 15W-40 or 10W-40 motor oil in it, not Dexron. This is straight from Sheppard just about a week ago. Also he said to make sure there are no right angles in the hose connections, that will make the system growl. Mine growls and has Dexron in it!

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 04:05:54 PM

Thanks Gus for the heads up about your power steering. Gene is fabricating a system that is made from Peterbilt parts and grafted onto my existing steering shaft and pitman arm.

dave

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 04:11:21 PM

Now back to the overheating:

I ran the generator for more time and shut it down just before it was going to stall out. So much for a over heating sensor shut down unit.

Then Tom suggested that it might be a stuck thermostat, I took the cover off the thermostat and found that I had removed the center spring section of the thermostat several years ago when I had the same problem. (My wife reminded me of that episode) Turned out then I had a vapor lock and I don't remember how I fixed it

?? (This system is in very tight quarters, no tight bends in the water tubing,)

Any suggestions???

Dave

Dave Siegel · June 25, 2011, 06:39:43 PM

Update:
I took the thermostat housing apart and I found that I had taken the center out of the thermostat several years ago, so a stuck thermostat is not the issue, vapor lock or water pump is about the only two things I can think of, anyone have any other ideas?

dave