50DN - Oil leak

[Barn Owl]

My 50DN is seeping oil at the threaded stud that connects the large battery cable. Is it a difficult fix? How do you do it? At this point are there any quick and dirty fixes?

[Just Dallas]

Laryn...

Not that I know of... but I detest the 50DN. It's overkill for our use, is prone to many problems, not the least of which can ruin your engine, and is a bugger to get to seal at the best of times.
Unless you are trying to cool 47 passengers, why would you need it? Charging a battery quickly is not a good idea, it leads to early battery failure from overheating.

My personal choice is a 105A Leece-Neville or a 135A Delco run from an accessory drive. $150 for a rebuilt. You'll pay that much for a seal replacement on the 50DN.

As Clifford says:

Good Luck!

[luvrbus]

Lot of parts on that stud you may get lucky and need only the top o-ring but I doubt it lol what happens to me when you remove the nut the insulators fall to pieces then I have to remove back and replace all the insulators o-rings and washers let it seep

good luck

[artvonne]

  While I agree the 50DN might be overkill for many, the charging issue isnt, because the regulator will only give the batteries what they desire. I think the argument could be made in reverse, that two down 8D's combined with high coach loads could really tax a small output alternator.

 In the pro column, IIRC a well built 50DN was said to be capable of many many years and 100's of thousands of miles of service?

  Of course, mine is belt drive so its impossible for it to wreck much besides itself.

[Just Dallas]

How many regulators do you know of that regulate exactly as they are meant to? How many miles have you dealt with 50Dn's? I've dealt with them for years. I've also dealt with the problems they cause and bus conversion owners replacing batteries every year or two, and engines that are trashed because of them. I'm not saying that it happens often, but is a definite possibility.
A bigger penis is not always better.
If you like it... use it.

But, please remember... the drive coupling can and WILL fail. When it does, it wil take out the rest of your engine.

  While I agree the 50DN might be overkill for many, the charging issue isnt, because the regulator will only give the batteries what they desire. I think the argument could be made in reverse, that two down 8D's combined with high coach loads could really tax a small output alternator.

  In the pro column, IIRC a well built 50DN was said to be capable of many many years and 100's of thousands of miles of service?

[bevans6]

The alternator drive coupling on my engine, also in a MCI MC-5C, is exactly the same steel coupling setup as the compressor drive uses.  Steel plate bolted to the cam gear, steel multi-spline coupling engaging the steel drive setup for the pulley.  Not sure if it is an upgrade from original or not, but it's as stout as stout can be.  The power steering pump does use the fiber coupling disc.

Brian

[TomC]

I know Sean uses the 50DN @ 270 amps @ 24vdc.  At its' 28.2vdc charging rate that works out to be 7614 watts of power available for running two electric A/C's going down the road if you have two 4,000 watt inverters stacked (which he does).

But-many are like me that just run the generator when A/C is needed. 

With the price of new alternators, why buy rebuilt?  I know many big truck dealers use alternator sales to draw in customers.  If I remember right, the Delco 28SI 160amp alternator @ 12vdc was going for less then $200.00.  So buying and mounting two (not terribly difficult) will give you the same output as the 50DN for less than $400.00 (or about half the cost of rebuilding the 50DN).  I exchanged my 50DN for a rebuilt (about $1,000.00 with new digital voltage regulator) a few years ago and there were upgrades my old 50DN did not have.  Like an additional external oil line going to the outer bearing.  Big advantage of running the smaller alternators (besides weight [the 50DN weighs 100lbs]) is they can be bought just about anywhere if you need them.  Good Luck, TomC

[JohnEd]

What is a 50DN worth used?  That might be the money for the changeover to the smaller alts.  Just a thought.

John

[Red Rider]

I had the same problem on my 4106. The parts book showed all the parts and the order to install them. I called luke at US Coach with the part numbers. In three days I had the parts. It took about 30 min to finish the repairs. hope this helps