Peanut lives on!

[bkahler]

Finished installing the hydroboost and master cylinder this afternoon. Still need to fabricate a replacement pressure pipe from the hydroboost to the power steering gearbox.



Next I got the power steering pump reservoir cleaned up and painted. Tomorrow I should be able to attach the new pump to the reservoir.



After that I mounted the new parallel flow condenser to the radiator and took measurements for support brackets to mount the engine oil cooler and new electric cooling fan. The new condenser is 35% larger than the original condenser and parallel flow condensers are 33% more efficient than the original style condenser of the same size so the hope is the conversion to R134a will blow nice and cold



And today I found another new mystery on Peanut. Just to the right of the fridge vent panel there is a key lock. Looking inside the fridge compartment there are two wires on the back side that run down through the floor. I didn't follow the wires any farther than that but will do so when I get a chance. I'm rather curious to know what the switch is for! Who knows, maybe it's a self destruct mechanism.....

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

...

And today I found another new mystery on Peanut. Just to the right of the fridge vent panel there is a key lock. Looking inside the fridge compartment there are two wires on the back side that run down through the floor. I didn't follow the wires any farther than that but will do so when I get a chance. I'm rather curious to know what the switch is for! Who knows, maybe it's a self destruct mechanism.....
Attachment 262915

Security system? When I restored the Class C last year, I found something similar at the door and an entire alarm, disabling system tied into the wiring harness under the dash ready to get your stranded.

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Finished installing the hydroboost and master cylinder this afternoon. Still need to fabricate a replacement pressure pipe from the hydroboost to the power steering gearbox.

Attachment 262914Attachment 262913





Next I got the power steering pump reservoir cleaned up and painted. Tomorrow I should be able to attach the new pump to the reservoir.

Attachment 262912





After that I mounted the new parallel flow condenser to the radiator and took measurements for support brackets to mount the engine oil cooler and new electric cooling fan. The new condenser is 35% larger than the original condenser and parallel flow condensers are 33% more efficient than the original style condenser of the same size so the hope is the conversion to R134a will blow nice and cold

Attachment 262911





And today I found another new mystery on Peanut. Just to the right of the fridge vent panel there is a key lock. Looking inside the fridge compartment there are two wires on the back side that run down through the floor. I didn't follow the wires any farther than that but will do so when I get a chance. I'm rather curious to know what the switch is for! Who knows, maybe it's a self destruct mechanism.....

Attachment 262915

Well the insurance is paid up if we find more problems with Peanut!

Seriously, I am parked 2 units down from Balrgn at the moment so will pop and ask!

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

And today I found another new mystery on Peanut. Just to the right of the fridge vent panel there is a key lock. Looking inside the fridge compartment there are two wires on the back side that run down through the floor. I didn't follow the wires any farther than that but will do so when I get a chance. I'm rather curious to know what the switch is for! Who knows, maybe it's a self destruct mechanism.....

I caught Andre as we were leaving the campground this morning. He doesn't remember it being there when he had Peanut but he threw up a couple of suggestions. First was a manual start/overide for the generator; second was maybe an isolator for the batteries when running on shore-power. Any clues based on the gauge of wire?

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

I caught Andre as we were leaving the campground this morning. He doesn't remember it being there when he had Peanut but he threw up a couple of suggestions. First was a manual start/overide for the generator; second was maybe an isolator for the batteries when running on shore-power. Any clues based on the gauge of wire?

Here's a picture of Peanut sometime in 2008, you can see the keyed switch just below the rub rail and pull handle. This picture predates Tiffany's ownership so who installed it?!


I'll probably try and trace the wires down sometime this afternoon. It's been some what of a rough weekend as I haven't felt all that great the whole time. But tracing the wires shouldn't be all that difficult


Just finished rebuilding the power steering pump. It's ready to go. Next step is to replace the water pump and the wp bypass hose. Once the water pump is installed I can start installing everything else that's inside the engine compartment.



I will also be replacing two out of the three rubber fuel lines at the fuel pump. Apparently the shop that worked on it in Florida for Martin only replaced one of those lines. Seems to me if you're replacing one old rubber line you should replace them all while you're there

[bkahler]

I traced the wires as far as I could for the moment and found that they pass through the floor of the fridge compartment, run along the frame past the generator compartment where one of the wires had a forked crimp connector on it just hanging there and the other wire ran up into the compartment where the DC power converter is located. I'll dig into it more later this week.

Here's a picture of the electrical compartment. At some point the old Univolt was replaced with what looks like an Intellipower unit. That's a definite plus!



This little PO mod surprised me a little as I've never seen someone tap into a power cable like this before! Not really the recommended way of doing it

[Danec020]

Originally Posted by bkahler

This little PO mod surprised me a little as I've never seen someone tap into a power cable like this before! Not really the recommended way of doing it

LMAO... It is amazingly scary what some people do. This is the type of stuff that makes me hesitant to buy someone else's project. You never know what is lurking in the deepest holes that could cause some major problems.

Good thing nothing is connected as that looks to be a small gauge crimp. I doubt the wire they were using would have been rated for the power going through it. Even if it was, just seems like a very bad way to do things...

[bkahler]

I took a few minutes this evening and replaced fuel filter two of the three rubber fuel lines at the fuel pump. The service shop that Martin used in Florida for whatever reason left off one of the hose clamps on the suction line going to the fuel filter



I also replaced the fan clutch with a new AC Delco unit. The old fan clutch was definitely leaking at the shaft seal. It was probably still working and might have lasted for a while but better to replace it now while the access is easy

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by bkahler

I took a few minutes this evening and replaced fuel filter two of the three rubber fuel lines at the fuel pump. The service shop that Martin used in Florida for whatever reason left off one of the hose clamps on the suction line going to the fuel filter

That same mechanic gets jobs all over the country, amazing...

Originally Posted by bkahler

I also replaced the fan clutch with a new AC Delco unit. The old fan clutch was definitely leaking at the shaft seal. It was probably still working and might have lasted for a while but better to replace it now while the access is easy

Must be nice to just walk over to your shop and pull the right part of your shelf...

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

That same mechanic gets jobs all over the country, amazing...

Could be his other brother Darryl....

Must be nice to just walk over to your shop and pull the right part of your shelf...

While I could have used the one I have on the shelf for my Argosy I had actually ordered one previously for Peanut on the assumption that it was either going be bad or would die sooner rather than later

[bkahler]

The fab shop called saying the replacement generator floor was ready to be picked up so I took time this morning to pick it up.



This is what is being replaced.


I don't know how much time I'll have to work on replacing the floor this weekend but I'll peck away at it and we'll see how it goes.

Brad

[bkahler]

Here's another example of why Peanut's generator floor needed t be replaced. I don't think I've ever seen such deep pitting on piece of steel before!


I had the fab shop build the basic floor knowing that I would have to do some cutting and fitting to get the floor to fit properly. Here's the notch I had to cut to clear the back wall of the compartment properly.


I've temporarily lifted the floor into place as a trial fit. It fits like it was made to go there


And here's a couple of pictures showing the hatch cover in place. It looks like I made the notches in the corners a little deep. If need be I can add some filler weld to build it back up. I'm not sure if that's necessary yet.


I still need to cut the fan vent opening in the bottom along with the two holes for the exhaust pipes.

Martin and I have been discussing the possibility of mounting the generator on a sliding tray. After looking closer I'm not convinced that it can be done. I'll take closer more detailed measurements to get a feel for whether it can be done or not.

Brad

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Martin and I have been discussing the possibility of mounting the generator on a sliding tray. After looking closer I'm not convinced that it can be done. I'll take closer more detailed measurements to get a feel for whether it can be done or not.

Brad

Sounds like a complication too far Brad, especially as we have no idea if the generator will work yet.

How did you get the old generator out? I have been looking at the one in the donor and it seems like you need a small engine hoist to lift it off the mounts and drag it out.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Sounds like a complication too far Brad, especially as we have no idea if the generator will work yet.

Assuming measurements don't lie then there is no way to use drawer slides. The opening is 28-1/2" wide and the generator itself is 28-1/2" wide. That leaves no room for slides to fit on the sides of the generator. When I put drawer slides on the Kohler generator in the 310 there was about a 3" gap on each side of the generator which left plenty of room for the slides.

The fact that the new compartment floor is going to be bolted in place will make it relatively easy to drop the generator straight down using a floor jack. Not quite as convenient as slides but better than having a floor welded in place.

How did you get the old generator out? I have been looking at the one in the donor and it seems like you need a small engine hoist to lift it off the mounts and drag it out.

Assuming all the 3 mounting bolts are removed, exhaust disconnected, fuel and electric lines disconnected then sliding it around inside the compartment wasn't all that difficult. I just rotated one end to where it was sticking outside the enclosure and slid it onto a motorcycle lift (thanks!). It had to be lifted over the 1" lip of the floor but again that wasn't to bad either.

I believe the back mounting bolt will be the hardest to deal with. In lieu of having a lift handy you could use wood pallets stacked high enough or anything of similar nature. This picture shows where the rear bolt is located.


Of course it would help a lot if you are a contortionist or have a double jointed elbow!

[martin300662]

This template of the mountings maybe useful at some point Brad

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by martin300662

This template of the mountings maybe useful at some point Brad

Just curious, if you go through all the trouble of making a new bottom, why don't you get a new generator and cut only the holes needed for that new genny. Every time, I replaced a generator, I had to cut completely different holes for air intake and exhaust, not leaving much metal to hold the heavy gen. After all those old Generators are nothing but trouble and according to Onan, Boat anchors at best

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Just curious, if you go through all the trouble of making a new bottom, why don't you get a new generator and cut only the holes needed for that new genny. Every time, I replaced a generator, I had to cut completely different holes for air intake and exhaust, not leaving much metal to hold the heavy gen. After all those old Generators are nothing but trouble and according to Onan, Boat anchors at best

Any suggestions on make/model you would fit Peter?

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

This template of the mountings maybe useful at some point Brad

That's a template for a BFA generator. Peanut's is a BF and the blower opening and exhaust openings are different. I've got detailed dimensions of what the floor pan should be like and will use those if we stick with the original generator.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

Just curious, if you go through all the trouble of making a new bottom, why don't you get a new generator and cut only the holes needed for that new genny. Every time, I replaced a generator, I had to cut completely different holes for air intake and exhaust, not leaving much metal to hold the heavy gen. After all those old Generators are nothing but trouble and according to Onan, Boat anchors at best

I certainly don't mind spending Martin's money!

Although personally I think the old Onan generators are pretty decent units.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Any suggestions on make/model you would fit Peter?

Since they dont make the Honda watercooled anymore, I would get a 4kw Onan. Martin, if you plan on hanging out in the south, the biggest gift you can make yourself (and your DW) is a reliable Generator. Summer is brutal down here.
http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect....000/p6212.html
Not sure if you have enough room

Dimensions:30"L x 19.7"W x 14.4"H
(76.20 x 50.04 x 36.58 cm)