Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I'm the proud owner of a 1981 35'. Lots of little problems that I will
be getting to. Here's #1: In trying to start the 12.5 generator one
day, and it had been starting and running fine, the starter would not
disengage from the rocker switch at either location and also the same
from the toggle in the gen compartment. And it was not getting power to
start. So I accessed both rocker switches to see if any loose
connections, etc. As I was lifting the rocker out of the dash, ther was
a little arching, shorting out the switch on the dash backing. I had
the 12v master switch off and thought that power must be coming from
the gen battery. Disconnected it. Now the problem: when I turn the 12v
master back on and turn the ignition key to the on position, the gen
starter starts cranking!! I don't have any schematics for the gen
wiring, I'm stumped. Any help? Thanks, Jim in Montana

Jim, where in Montana are you located?

Ernie Ekberg
83 PT40
Livingston, Montana



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Jim I had this same problem recently and found that the real problem was
that the throttle advance solenoid was stuck. The shaft running through the
solenoid was so stiff that the throttle was not advancing essentially the engine
was trying to start without fuel. I lubed the shaft running through the
solenoid with a couple of drops of oil on each end, worked the throttle back
and
forth a few times. No more problem since. incidentally this same problem will
keep the engine from shutting down when commanded.

Your arcing and sparking problem might be coincidental to your real problem.

Steve Anderson
79 FC 35
Poulsbo Wa




In a message dated 11/19/2006 6:42:56 AM Pacific Standard Time,
cortezfenn@... writes:




I'm the proud owner of a 1981 35'. Lots of little problems that I will
be getting to. Here's #1: In trying to start the 12.5 generator one
day, and it had been starting and running fine, the starter would not
disengage from the rocker switch at either location and also the same
from the toggle in the gen compartment. And it was not getting power to
start. So I accessed both rocker switches to see if any loose
connections, etc. As I was lifting the rocker out of the dash, ther was
a little arching, shorting out the switch on the dash backing. I had
the 12v master switch off and thought that power must be coming from
the gen battery. Disconnected it. Now the problem: when I turn the 12v
master back on and turn the ignition key to the on position, the gen
starter starts cranking!! I don't have any schematics for the gen
wiring, I'm stumped. Any help? Thanks, Jim in Montana








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Likely some wiring insulation burned off in the
arching you described, and two wires are now touching
such that power from the ignition switch is now also
being sent to the gen starter circuits. I'd begin by
carefully examining the bundle running to/from the
starter switch.

John Suter


--- cortezfenn wrote:

> I'm the proud owner of a 1981 35'. Lots of little
> problems that I will
> be getting to. Here's #1: In trying to start the
> 12.5 generator one
> day, and it had been starting and running fine, the
> starter would not
> disengage from the rocker switch at either location
> and also the same
> from the toggle in the gen compartment. And it was
> not getting power to
> start. So I accessed both rocker switches to see if
> any loose
> connections, etc. As I was lifting the rocker out of
> the dash, ther was
> a little arching, shorting out the switch on the
> dash backing. I had
> the 12v master switch off and thought that power
> must be coming from
> the gen battery. Disconnected it. Now the problem:
> when I turn the 12v
> master back on and turn the ignition key to the on
> position, the gen
> starter starts cranking!! I don't have any
> schematics for the gen
> wiring, I'm stumped. Any help? Thanks, Jim in
> Montana
>
>
>
>




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Jim, Welcome to the group as a new BB owner, tough to
enjoy something with a problems at hand isn't it? Well
such is life, but the good will outweigh the bad, promise.

When you saw the arcing at the dash removing the switch,
normal. There is a connection at the switches from the
generator battery at all times and what you saw was an
arc that a relay at the genset temporarily had voltage.

I confirmed that the generator starter would crank on
mine with the MASTER OFF, you are good here. Wasn't sure
on this myself. Now as to whether it will fire and remain
running, didn't check.

These rocker switches CAN stick in a position and remain
there, had it happen to me. Go to EVERY station rock the
switches ending up in the center.

I don't se how or know how the ignition switch could turn
the genset starter on, they are not related, maybe you got
a couple wires touching dinking with the rocker switch.

You said "both" rocker switches, you most likely have (3)
Dash, Center, and genset.

Also said, "the starter would not disengage from the
rocker switch at either location and also the same
from the toggle in the gen compartment"

I do not understand this statement, it says to me the
starter is running and you cannot stop it, is that what
you mean?

Bob Janes, '87FC35, Greenville, SC




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "cortezfenn"
wrote:
>
> I'm the proud owner of a 1981 35'. Lots of little problems that I
will
> be getting to. Here's #1: In trying to start the 12.5 generator one
> day, and it had been starting and running fine, the starter would
not
> disengage from the rocker switch at either location and also the
same
> from the toggle in the gen compartment. And it was not getting
power to
> start. So I accessed both rocker switches to see if any loose
> connections, etc. As I was lifting the rocker out of the dash, ther
was
> a little arching, shorting out the switch on the dash backing. I
had
> the 12v master switch off and thought that power must be coming
from
> the gen battery. Disconnected it. Now the problem: when I turn the
12v
> master back on and turn the ignition key to the on position, the
gen
> starter starts cranking!! I don't have any schematics for the gen
> wiring, I'm stumped. Any help? Thanks, Jim in Montana
>

If the generator control box doesn't see a voltage output from the generator
it continues to supply voltage to the starter solenoid. That is why it
continues to try starting the engine until the battery is dead. If you pull the
throttle control rod forward you will find that the engine will start. it will
probably continue to run but you will have the same problem when you try to
shut it down. Lube the solonoid shaft!

Steve



In a message dated 11/19/2006 4:15:20 PM Pacific Standard Time,
cortezfenn@... writes:




Your last question- yes, once I tried starting the gen from any fo the three
switches, it would begin to crank, but no start. Your answer to the lack of
fuel is a likely solution. But I couldn't get the starter to disengage from
any of the switches, like one of them is sticking, but could.nt seem to isol
ate the problem switch. Thanks for the help.


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Your last question- yes, once I tried starting the gen from any fo the three
switches, it would begin to crank, but no start. Your answer to the lack of fuel
is a likely solution. But I couldn't get the starter to disengage from any of
the switches, like one of them is sticking, but could.nt seem to isolate the
problem switch. Thanks for the help.



---------------------------------
Sponsored Link

Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $310,000 Mortgage for $999/mo - Calculate new
house payment

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Maybe your battery is weak? Diesels need to be
spun pretty fast, takes a good, charged battery.

Starter return spring, Bendix? Dragging starter?

Can you use a jumper cable and put 12 V to the starter?

Bob Janes, Greenville, SC



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, jim fenn
wrote:
>
> Your last question- yes, once I tried starting the gen from any fo
the three switches, it would begin to crank, but no start. Your
answer to the lack of fuel is a likely solution. But I couldn't get
the starter to disengage from any of the switches, like one of them
is sticking, but could.nt seem to isolate the problem switch. Thanks
for the help.
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Sponsored Link
>
> Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $310,000 Mortgage for $999/mo -
Calculate new house payment
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Jim,
I do not have an answer for you, but after 23 years working on
electro-mechanical systems at IBM I can tell you this: When things
don't make sense there is most likley more than one problem. Study
the system, check each part, and fix what you find wrong along the
way. This forum is an amazing accumulation of experience and
knowledge. Your problem will be solved.

Gardner
78FC33
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "cortezfenn"
wrote:
>
> I'm the proud owner of a 1981 35'. Lots of little problems that I
will
> be getting to. Here's #1: In trying to start the 12.5 generator
one
> day, and it had been starting and running fine, the starter would
not
> disengage from the rocker switch at either location and also the
same
> from the toggle in the gen compartment. And it was not getting
power to
> start. So I accessed both rocker switches to see if any loose
> connections, etc. As I was lifting the rocker out of the dash,
ther was
> a little arching, shorting out the switch on the dash backing. I
had
> the 12v master switch off and thought that power must be coming
from
> the gen battery. Disconnected it. Now the problem: when I turn the
12v
> master back on and turn the ignition key to the on position, the
gen
> starter starts cranking!! I don't have any schematics for the gen
> wiring, I'm stumped. Any help? Thanks, Jim in Montana
>