generator woes
 

My generator is taking a dive. One leg is giving 160v to ground while the other leg is giving 80v. The strange thing is both are 115v to neutral. Unless someone has a fantastic easy fix that my electricians can't figure out, I need extra eyes to look for a generator for my truck. Gasoline, or diesel. 5k to 10k.

Thanks

fastavenger has a couple in classifieds. i talked to him about them. i decided i wasn't ready for one yet. need to spent money for outer walls and roof first.

7 kw
 

hay doc i got one for u it is a 7 kw onan runs great has ben in are toter and just took it out let me know if it helps

Its gas right? I would like to go diesel this time if I could, but I will keep you in mind.

thanks

Nobody has any ideas on what is going on with the current generator?

I found an Onan Emerald for $475.00 at the local RV shop that I buy some parts from. I don't know how many hours are on it. Any ideas on how to evaluate it or if anyone has experience with this model.

Doc,
What brand and size is your generator? A friend has a 5500 watt Generac that threw a rod on the engine. The generator is OK. I am sure he would sell it dirt cheap. Could your's be rebuilt? Although, that sounds like a reasonable price on the Onan if it checks out OK. Michael

Micheal, the current generator is a cheap chinese unit. I guess you get what you pay for. :-) I got a buddy that has rebuilt everything from mini bikes to big Detroit diesels, but he is on the road and won't be around till after I need to be gone.

The biggest problem with mine is I still don't know what is wrong with it.

I don't know much about them but I am pretty sure it should not have any voltage going to ground. Surely someone on here can point you in the right direction. Michael

I talked to a retailer today that sell the Chinese made units and he said that they were only meant to be worth about 3000 hours. That explains a lot.

found and purchased an Onan 6.5 KW for $350.00. Before I install it, I'm going to rebuild the carb, and de-carb the heads. any other suggestions before I stuff it under the truck?

Doc,
What did you finally settle on and how has it worked for you? After 3 years you should have some idea if it was the right choice. I haven't bought one yet but am looking at both gas and diesel in the 5500 to 8000 watt range. I'm putting stainless tool boxes under the length of the box and am limited to a generator of less than 24 inches high and wide. Length isn't an issue. Used stuff is non existent in our area. I'm looking at both Magnums and Generacs, either of which will fit and have good reviews.
One reason for the larger than needed size would be to help run our house in the event of a power outage.
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Les 2002 International 4300, DT466 300hp, Eaton-Fuller 6 speed, 26 ft box

I bought a diesel from Martin Diesel ... after the Onan took a dive. The diesel is a little louder than the gas, but it uses the same fuel tank and is less dangerous than gas. Most of all it has a warranty! I like it

doc what size did you buy? where is martin diesel? can i ask what you paid for it?

Martin Diesel Generators

They are in defiance Ohio.

Welcome To Truck Mate Generators

They make these as well.

I'll have to check on the price. I've slept since then.

Doc,
Our plan changed during our trip to Ohio to pick up our International. After several days work on that truck, we got a call from the local dealer who found perhaps the ideal truck for us and we traded for it. We now have a 99 Freightliner with a 3126 Cat, 330 hp, 6 speed Allison, and a 24 ft Renegade custom box. The truck was formerly used as a mobile radiology unit and has full hot and cold water, bath and kitchen. To tie the truck into this thread, the generator is a 20,000 watt Kubota diesel which can do double duty by being large enough to power our entire house including pool and AC in the event of a power outage. On our trip back home to Florida from Ohio the truck
cruised effortlessly at 70 and averaged 13 mpg for the trip.
Les

Does that dealer have a second truck like that?

nice find ...

The dealer has been looking for such a truck for me for quite some time and finding another would be tough. Somewhat similar would be a tool sales truck. There was a nice one on e-Bay about a month ago that had been a NAPA display truck for auto shows etc.
It didn't sell there and might still be available. It's located in Houston.
Les

does that dealer have one that comes with a free driver? JK

You recently made a post where you mentioned your truck averaging 13mpg. Has that figure held up over time? What's the gear ratio?

Reason I ask is I just picked up a 2001 Freightliner Expediter with a Cat engine of some sort and gear ratio still unknown as well. The seller said to expect 8mpg, which a huge difference in variable costs vs. what you stated. Anyway, if you don't mind, let me know please.

Cheers,

John
407-302-3361

If that was me, it was a typo. I can get 12mpg on flat ground hwy. On this last trip we checked it again. We figured it with hwy, city, hills, traffic, and the generator sucking on the same tank nonstop. With all that we still got 10mpg. I was amazed. We did over 1500 miles on 2 tanks of fuel.

John and also Doc,
The 13 mpg didn't hold, it's now more like 14 but we haven't been away from this general area and we are very, very flat. Our home is at the highest point in Sarasota County and that's only 27 feet. My truck is geared for the highway and has a 3.55 axle
ratio. At 70 mph we are only at around 1400 rpm. Most have a higher ratio as they are more likely to be hauling a heavier load. Our truck was never designed for hauling
freight. Ours is also just enough older that we don't have all the emissions add ons which you do and those also really cut into your mileage. None of the new trucks are as fuel efficient as the older ones. My son has two nearly Identical International 9900is
with the same engine and the older of the two gets 2 mpg better than the newer one.
It's all because of the crazy formula which the EPA devised to calculate emissions.
It's based upon the percentage of emission and not the total which was actually putting less total carbon than the new formula which they have mandated.
Les

Thanks! I'll create my own starter post. Sorry for hijacking this one but knew it was quite old and hoped folks wouldn't mind since it was on-topic(ish).