Trace 2012 SB anyone?

Tedsoldbus · February 19, 2021, 12:14:57 PM

Got my steering fixed thanks to an un named bus board member in Indiana (thanks Bob) and my Trani is fine. Spent 2 hours with a pretty good tech today trying to troubleshoot my Trace 2012 SB. It stopped charging the house batteries. Might be when I forgot to turn it off and started the engine, then started the generator to exercise it, and then slammed it with 50 amp from the house when I threw the 50 amp breaker. It still comes on and off and still inverts shore power to the bus, but bat charge function is morte. Did all the "reset" things in the manual with tech guy. I probably killed it. Anyone got one sitting in the garage? OR, what do you recommend as a replacement. Afraid of compatibility issues when I put something else in this 40 year old bus.

Ted

muldoonman · February 19, 2021, 02:13:26 PM

Get you a Magnum. Where you located have a ME2512 2500W, 12V Inverter/Charger sitting in a box after I changed out to a Pure Sine Model. I'm located in Texas 78639. Try it out.

buswarrior · February 19, 2021, 02:56:02 PM

Trace was a good brand, and repairable, if you want to keep it.

The authorized and competent repair shops will be listed by other busnuts momentarily.

Magnum is the spiritual sibling to Trace, bunch of engineers jumped ship and made magnum.

Fwiw, i would purchase a magnum to replace my stalwart Trace 4024, if i couldn't find another.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Tedsoldbus · February 19, 2021, 03:26:20 PM

Thanks guys. Will talk to a few recommended pinball wizzards on this 2012 SB on Monday/Tuesday. If there is not a magic restart sequence I have not tried, reluctant to try to find another Trace. Why put old back in it when paying labor to put anything in. I will take it to a pro to change out with Magnum or whatever they recommend. My Prevost is 1980 and a little concerned about compatibly when they fire up the brand new "Binford 9000" on old wires and sausage sized fuses I bet they don't make anymore. Just another little challenge to solve. Old enough now, it is nice that I don't anxt over it like I used to when my Allegro bus slide would not go in.. Running the bus still charges the house bats, and they charge when I run the generator. Which means....I can still run down the road! Thanks again guys.
Ted

chessie4905 · February 19, 2021, 04:35:32 PM

So, what fixed the steering?

Tedsoldbus · February 20, 2021, 04:58:06 AM

Loosen the nut on the side of the gear box and tighten the bolt in the middle of that nut 3 turns. tighten nut. Took out 8 inches of slop and I have to re learn driving it now. What a relief. What a great forum that a kind person talked me through it.

luvrbus · February 20, 2021, 05:02:38 AM

Quote from: Tedsoldbus on February 20, 2021, 04:58:06 AM
Loosen the nut on the side of the gear box and tighten the bolt in the middle of that nut 3 turns. tighten nut. Took out 8 inches of slop and I have to re learn driving it now. What a relief. What a great forum that a kind person talked me through it.

You got lucky the bus has Ross power steering.now buy a low cost smart charger mount it to come on when hooked up to power and don't worry about the Trace till stops inverting then replace it

chessie4905 · February 20, 2021, 05:36:57 AM

If it was really worn in the center of the sector shaft, it'll be tight off center, unless someone was fooling with it that it came loose or from lockout backing off. Or bad bearing on sector shaft. Did you check the oil or grease level in the box while you were at it?

luvrbus · February 20, 2021, 05:45:41 AM

Quote from: chessie4905 on February 20, 2021, 05:36:57 AM
If it was really worn in the center of the sector shaft, it'll be tight off center, unless someone was fooling with it that it came loose or from lockout backing off. Or bad bearing on sector shaft. Did you check the oil or grease level in the box while you were at it?

That steering box doesn't take grease the constant flow of fluid lubes it all he adjusted was the backlash

chessie4905 · February 20, 2021, 07:33:54 AM

Adjuster must have backed off.

RichardEntrekin · February 21, 2021, 06:15:43 PM

Just want to make sure I understand something you said.

The engine charges the house batteries. Got that.
The generator charges the house batteries, through the AC output from the generator or the generator alternator?
Shore power does not charge the batteries through the inverter.

If the generator is charging the batteries via AC power to the inverter, then the inverter may not be your problem