MAYCO's 1982 310 TD

[tevake]

Good catch and on the road repair, Mike.

It's hard to imagine the alt over charging, mine has a hard time even keeping up with demand at night.
And night driving is my means of getting across the desert between Az and the coast.

Cheers Richard

[mayco]

Thanks Richard. Man, thank god for the internet eh? Grounds can do the strangest things and affect devices in ways I'd never think of.

[mayco]

We made it to just outside of Denver yesterday afternoon. Everything was smooth sailing with the rig but EXTREMELY windy. Last minute decision to stop one more night just outside of Denver to rest up, shower, and chill out for a day before we head into town to be with my daughter and new grandson....once again, it was a last minute decision......So here is another good story for you guys;

Once we get into my daughters neighborhood we will be hosted by a fellow Airstreamer near my daughters home. We've never met before but my daughter made the initial contact and Steve (Airstreamer) has so kindly offered up his driveway to us for a few days before our reservation starts and at some state and local parks. Incredibly nice!!!! We had originally planned on arriving at his house yesterday morning but like I said, last minute decision to stop one more night on the road. Come to find out, we talked this morning, that a huge old cottonwood tree next to his drive where we would have been parked, FELL AND LANDED SQUARE ON THE SPOT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PARKED!!!!!!!!!! If not for our last minute decision to stop one more night on the road, our beloved 310 would have been CRUSHED!!!!!! We have been blessed SO many times on the road that I can't even count them. Thank you God, Budha, Ala, Airstream Gods, WHOEVER YOUR HIGHER POWER MIGHT BE!
Feeling incredibly blessed this morning! Big fat WOW!

Mike n Lynn

[mayco]

So we overnighted at a KOA along I70 east of Denver about 25 miles..first time at a KOA, thats an experience all in its own. Did see this fifth wheel with a fold down deck/patio thats kind of interesting...

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

We made it to just outside of Denver yesterday afternoon. Everything was smooth sailing with the rig but EXTREMELY windy. Last minute decision to stop one more night just outside of Denver to rest up, shower, and chill out for a day before we head into town to be with my daughter and new grandson....once again, it was a last minute decision......So here is another good story for you guys;

Once we get into my daughters neighborhood we will be hosted by a fellow Airstreamer near my daughters home. We've never met before but my daughter made the initial contact and Steve (Airstreamer) has so kindly offered up his driveway to us for a few days before our reservation starts and at some state and local parks. Incredibly nice!!!! We had originally planned on arriving at his house yesterday morning but like I said, last minute decision to stop one more night on the road. Come to find out, we talked this morning, that a huge old cottonwood tree next to his drive where we would have been parked, FELL AND LANDED SQUARE ON THE SPOT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PARKED!!!!!!!!!! If not for our last minute decision to stop one more night on the road, our beloved 310 would have been CRUSHED!!!!!! We have been blessed SO many times on the road that I can't even count them. Thank you God, Budha, Ala, Airstream Gods, WHOEVER YOUR HIGHER POWER MIGHT BE!
Feeling incredibly blessed this morning! Big fat WOW!

Mike n Lynn

I'm assuming you immediately went out and bought a lottery ticket.....!!!

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by mayco

. that a huge old cottonwood tree next to his drive where we would have been parked, FELL AND LANDED SQUARE ON THE SPOT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PARKED!!!!!!!!!! If not for our last minute decision to stop one more night on the road, our beloved 310 would have been CRUSHED!!!!!!...
Mike n Lynn

Don't know Mike, with your luck recently, the tree probably would have fallen just in a way to do a complete front axle adjustment for free.

[mayco]

Originally Posted by peterh-airstreamer

don't know mike, with your luck recently, the tree probably would have fallen just in a way to do a complete front axle adjustment for free.

hahahahahahahahahaha!

[mayco]

Enjoying our time in Denver and finally getting to hang out with THIS BIG GUY!



and of course my lovely daughter



Ok, enough.....had to sneak a few pics in of my first grandchild

Have a great day fellas!

(Our host here in Denver has been the absolute most gracious, kind, and accommodating person you could imagine. We've commandeered his driveway for days now. Something to be said for fellow Airstream owners for sure. Got to tour his 2016 20' flying cloud the other day...WOW! Beautiful little rig, for the life of me I couldn't find the motor though)

[Isuzusweet]

Any guesses folks on who got the kid a dime bag and a Marley T-shirt?

Beautiful family Mike; you must be a proud Papa.

Cheers
Tony

[mayco]

"one love mon"

[mayco]

Been on the road now for a couple weeks, having an incredible trip so far! Left Denver a couple days ago and are now camped on the banks of the St Vrain river in Lyons Colorado. Wish you could hear the water!


Our son gets married this coming sat. Great trip!!!!!!!!!

[mayco]

I guess they weren't kidding about the snakes!!!!!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

Attachment 287891

I guess they weren't kidding about the snakes!!!!!

Keep in mind snakes like to slither up into dark places......

[mayco]

Heyyyyyyy fellas!
We are still out on the road in Colorado having fun. Sons wedding went well and dear lord I'm glad its over with.....PITA!!!!! I know, I shouldn't say that. But I need some advice, I'm out of ideas.

I thought I had cleared up this overcharge problem with my voltage regulator but it still persists. I'm getting readings up to 15.6 at the battery with my meter. If I turn on the lights it drops to 13.65 at idle but when RPMs are increased it will rise up to 15v or so at the battery. Here is what Ive done so far

Installed new OEM voltage regulator
Added a ground wire from voltage regulator direct to frame
Super cleaned battery terminals n cables
Super cleaned ground strap from batteries to frame
Tested voltage while running with battery disconnect to coach batteries turned off

Any ideas guys??? If I run with my lights on I think I'm ok as far as not exploding a battery but something obviously is amiss. Read and read on the internet and the only info that keeps popping up is bad grounds, bad voltage regulator, bad battery. My battery is holding a good charge and isn't reading high. Consistantly around 12.6 - 12.8 after it sits.
But I've tested the voltage at the battery while running at 60 mph and without the lights on it's well above 15v. Hasn't pegged out or reached 16v but still way too high.

Any ideas on what you would do next?

Thanks guys, I appreciate any help

Mike

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

Heyyyyyyy fellas!
We are still out on the road in Colorado having fun. Sons wedding went well and dear lord I'm glad its over with.....PITA!!!!! I know, I shouldn't say that. But I need some advice, I'm out of ideas.

I thought I had cleared up this overcharge problem with my voltage regulator but it still persists. I'm getting readings up to 15.6 at the battery with my meter. If I turn on the lights it drops to 13.65 at idle but when RPMs are increased it will rise up to 15v or so at the battery. Here is what Ive done so far

Installed new OEM voltage regulator
Added a ground wire from voltage regulator direct to frame
Super cleaned battery terminals n cables
Super cleaned ground strap from batteries to frame
Tested voltage while running with battery disconnect to coach batteries turned off

Any ideas guys??? If I run with my lights on I think I'm ok as far as not exploding a battery but something obviously is amiss. Read and read on the internet and the only info that keeps popping up is bad grounds, bad voltage regulator, bad battery. My battery is holding a good charge and isn't reading high. Consistantly around 12.6 - 12.8 after it sits.
But I've tested the voltage at the battery while running at 60 mph and without the lights on it's well above 15v. Hasn't pegged out or reached 16v but still way too high.

Any ideas on what you would do next?

Thanks guys, I appreciate any help

Mike

Mike, have you cleaned the connections for the engine to frame ground cable and if it's present the engine to body ground cable? If the engine to ground cable connections are corroded that would provide a voltage differential between the engine and the frame.

The only other idea I can think of is to replace your alternator with one that has a built in regulator, if that's possible for the diesel rigs that is.

Oh yeah, have you tried a different hand held meter to see if you get any different readings?

Brad

[mayco]

Hey Brad,
No I haven't cleaned the engine to frame strap, good idea. Ill look for it today, see if I can find it. I haven't tried a different hand held but I've got a spare with me so I'll try that too.
Good ideas. I wonder where that ground strap is? Ill poke around.

Thanks Brad

[Swillv8]

Sounds like it would be the alternator. If the voltage regulator has been replaced with an oem.... When rpms are up and am overcharge suggests to me that you should take that alternator in for servicing. I took mine in and my biggest culprit was how dirty it was inside my diodes were completely covered in oil and dirt, couldn't function properly so I was getting the opposite as you,with mostly a drained battery. It was 4-5 hrs of shop rate and they changed my bearings etc. If you do go this route go to a seal store get s new high pressure seal for the hydtoboost off the back they are only $6

[mayco]

Thanks for the input. I carry a spare OEM alternator so if it comes to that Ill change it out. Sure hope its not.

[tevake]

Whoa, spare alt, spare starter, etc and plenty of Tools. May need a small shop trailer to tow along soon. 😃👍

Like most here, I struggle with under charging especially at night.
Hope you are able to find the issue soon Mike.

Great being on the road isn't it. I'm in central Calif in the cool of the coast right now.

This has not been a confidence inspiring trip for me, first the starter ordeal.also lost the speedo, blown fuses, had the engine just cut out on me yesterday while driving into strong winds, it started up a short while later. Before I even got greasy. No idea yet what caused it, but running fine again.

We are just coming up on 25 thousand miles since I've had the coach, so hopefully this trip is just keeping me on my toes. For more carefree adventures.

Congrats on getting your sons wedding behind you.
Have fun on your open ended trip Mike And Lynn.

Cheers Richard

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

Thanks for the input. I carry a spare OEM alternator so if it comes to that Ill change it out. Sure hope its not.

It's possible the alternator is causing the problem but typically if the alternator is putting out voltage/current then the issue is the regulator in some form or fashion.

Considering the difficulty of removing/replacing the alternator I would consider that a last resort test.

If I read your previous emails correctly you're not seeing the high voltage readings at the dash volt meter. There are several potential causes for this. The grounding point for the dash instruments is somewhat corroded or the grounding point for the alternator is somewhat corroded. Same goes for the positive connections to the dc volt meter and the alternator. Also on the positive side if the connections for the dc volt meter + are a long distance away from the alternator + connection then there could be a large voltage drop between them. This last one is what I believe is the main reason the Airstream dash volt meters always seem to show a lower voltage than at the battery.

Does your alternator have a grounding lug where you would run a cable from the alternator to a ground point on either the engine or the chassis?

As I rewire my Argosy I'm running ALL grounds back to a central bus bar so they all have the same reference point. Most older vehicles, including Airstream's, just used any convenient chassis screw as a ground point which then relies on every connection to be clean with a tight connection. This to me is a major problem and is difficult to remedy on a vehicle without a massive amount of work. Since I'm rewiring the entire vehicle it was a perfect time to correct this age old problem.


Brad