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Old 09-03-2024, 06:25 AM   #1
1 Rivet Member
 
1974 24' Argosy 24
Argyle Shore , Prince Edward Island
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 5
24 Argosy - Remove Onan Generator

Hello all,

My wife and I have taken over @lwgallant 's Argosy project. It is a 1974 Argosy 24. It has the 4000W Onan generator which slides out on rails from the back.

The generator is seized. I am not sure how long ago this happened, but it appears to be long ago enough that someone disconnected it from the 120V circuit before we got it.

I would like to remove it from the back of the motorhome. Does anyone have any experience with that procedure? How far should the generator pull out of the back of the unit?

Attached are some photos.

Thanks for any help folks can provide.

- Chris
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Old 10-03-2024, 08:26 PM   #2
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Seabrook , South Carolina
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I am also a newbie and want to remove the generator from my 300. However my access is on the side. Hopefully you will receive some guidance, and I will follow your lead. Good luck!
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Old 10-04-2024, 05:36 AM   #3
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1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,564
Quote:
Originally Posted by happicow View Post
Hello all,

My wife and I have taken over @lwgallant 's Argosy project. It is a 1974 Argosy 24. It has the 4000W Onan generator which slides out on rails from the back.

The generator is seized. I am not sure how long ago this happened, but it appears to be long ago enough that someone disconnected it from the 120V circuit before we got it.

I would like to remove it from the back of the motorhome. Does anyone have any experience with that procedure? How far should the generator pull out of the back of the unit?

Attached are some photos.

Thanks for any help folks can provide.

- Chris
The early units did not have a transfer switch rather the coach 120v circuit terminates in a 120v receptacle. When running on generator that plugs into the receptacle. When running on shore power the generator is unplugged, and the shore power cable connects to the same receptacle.

In my experience all the early generators are a pig to remove. Not just the weight but also access; access is only provided for maintenance not removal. Most folks do modification (for example make the mounting plate 'unboltable') to allow future access.

These buses were not built with the intention to change parts (inside or out).
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Old 10-04-2024, 07:12 AM   #4
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1974 24' Argosy 24
Argyle Shore , Prince Edward Island
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 5
Hi folks,

I did manage to remove the generator.

I purchased a hitch mounted crane from Princess Auto and was able to lift the generator out and onto a wheelbarrow. You can probably use a standard engine hoist as well. I have a gravel driveway so the crane was better for me.

Step 0. Disconnect the cab and house batteries from the Argosy. Please do not skip this step or Step 6 might be a bit sparky.

Step 1. Pull the Onan all the way out. My slides were a bit stiff so I had to work it in and out several times before it pulled all the way out.

Step 2. The top of the Onan has a threaded hole which accepts a 3/8-16 threaded eyebolt. I also found this at Princess Auto for a few dollars. This will support the load of the generator. Thread that in at least 1/2 an inch.

Step 3. Lift up on the generator with the crane until you can see it's weight is supported.

Step 4. Remove the back panel by removing the six bolts that attach to the rails. Depending on how yours might be modified, you may need to remove the muffler as well to accomplish this.

Step 5. Disconnect the engine mounts from the rails. There are six bolts if I recall holding that together. At this point the engine should be loose enough to move away from the Agosy.

Step 6. Reach inside the hold that held the generator and remove the fuel line, the battery terminals, 120V A/C wire and the control wires. I found it was easier to do some of this by gaining access to the inside of the generator box and disconnecting things on that side as well. Be sure to properly insulate the red battery terminal before you reconnect your batteries.

Step 7. Grab a beer.
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Old 10-04-2024, 07:17 AM   #5
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1974 24' Argosy 24
Argyle Shore , Prince Edward Island
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by martin300662 View Post
The early units did not have a transfer switch rather the coach 120v circuit terminates in a 120v receptacle. When running on generator that plugs into the receptacle. When running on shore power the generator is unplugged, and the shore power cable connects to the same receptacle.
You are correct. When I finally got digging into it I found the receptacle you speak of. Very simple.
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Old 10-04-2024, 07:20 AM   #6
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1974 24' Argosy 24
Argyle Shore , Prince Edward Island
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sharpesaw View Post
I am also a newbie and want to remove the generator from my 300. However my access is on the side. Hopefully you will receive some guidance, and I will follow your lead. Good luck!
I am not sure about the side mounted ones. But some of the procedure would be the same. Are the side mounted ones on slides? Or do they need to be lowered from below, maybe on a car jack.

Be aware, that the skirt is fairly easy to remove with a few screws and bolts which might make accessing the side generator easier.
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Old 10-04-2024, 09:15 AM   #7
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2004 28' International CCD
Lincoln City , Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 48
If you are going to repair the generator, check out Smostak.com. They have a dedicated Onan thread with lots if info and expertise.
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Old 10-04-2024, 09:24 AM   #8
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1974 24' Argosy 24
Argyle Shore , Prince Edward Island
Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Genboy View Post
If you are going to repair the generator, check out Smostak.com. They have a dedicated Onan thread with lots if info and expertise.
Nice. Thanks for that. I think you typoed the web address. It is smokstak.com.

It is not going back my Argosy. But I will fix it someday and probably put it up on Facebook Marketplace or something like that. As far as I can tell the starter is froze up. The engine turns and has compression. Starter/solenoid just clicks and does nothing.
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Old 10-04-2024, 10:25 AM   #9
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1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,564
Quote:
Originally Posted by happicow View Post
Hi folks,

I did manage to remove the generator.

I purchased a hitch mounted crane from Princess Auto and was able to lift the generator out and onto a wheelbarrow. You can probably use a standard engine hoist as well. I have a gravel driveway so the crane was better for me.

Step 0. Disconnect the cab and house batteries from the Argosy. Please do not skip this step or Step 6 might be a bit sparky.

Step 1. Pull the Onan all the way out. My slides were a bit stiff so I had to work it in and out several times before it pulled all the way out.

Step 2. The top of the Onan has a threaded hole which accepts a 3/8-16 threaded eyebolt. I also found this at Princess Auto for a few dollars. This will support the load of the generator. Thread that in at least 1/2 an inch.

Step 3. Lift up on the generator with the crane until you can see it's weight is supported.

Step 4. Remove the back panel by removing the six bolts that attach to the rails. Depending on how yours might be modified, you may need to remove the muffler as well to accomplish this.

Step 5. Disconnect the engine mounts from the rails. There are six bolts if I recall holding that together. At this point the engine should be loose enough to move away from the Agosy.

Step 6. Reach inside the hold that held the generator and remove the fuel line, the battery terminals, 120V A/C wire and the control wires. I found it was easier to do some of this by gaining access to the inside of the generator box and disconnecting things on that side as well. Be sure to properly insulate the red battery terminal before you reconnect your batteries.

Step 7. Grab a beer.
FWIH....

We have 120v AC Climate Rite CR-7000 tiny house AC in place of the Onan. Also replaces the roof top AC (we now have two Fantastic Fans - one suncking in, one blowing out), which can run on our inverter and still leaves room for a suitcase generator for if we parked off-grid. The generator doesnt have a remote exhause, so you need to open the flap (cannot run when driving), but without the roof top AC everything else can run on the inverter anyway and dont need the generator when driving.

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Old 10-04-2024, 10:35 AM   #10
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1975 20' Argosy 20
Chestfield , Kent
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,564
Quote:
Originally Posted by happicow View Post
I am not sure about the side mounted ones. But some of the procedure would be the same. Are the side mounted ones on slides? Or do they need to be lowered from below, maybe on a car jack.

Be aware, that the skirt is fairly easy to remove with a few screws and bolts which might make accessing the side generator easier.
The very early side mounted ones do come out on slides.

However 1974-78 side bounted ones need to be manhandled out - there is no room for a hoist. The floor is also welded in so cannot be dropped. If you look to Peanut's thread you can see what was needed to remove the generator and replace the floor with one that bolts in.

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No idea about the later units but I am plenty of bad memories from the early ones!
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