MEP-003

[Earl Beverly]

Hi Guys (if there are any left out there),

I have let a MEP-003 10kw generator sit for three years. Was working perfectly, now it is not producing any current.

Not AC or DC. The only voltage is exact battery voltage.

 

The set has been on blocks, outside, covered in heavy poly canvas (bilboard sign material).

It was dry, with leaves, webs and a couple of dirt dobber mud nests.

 

Any quick comments as to what to check?

Regards,

Earl B.

[Glen Closson]

Hi Earl,

I assume it starts and runs okay?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Military Vehicles List" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to mil-veh+u...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to mil...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mil-veh.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

--
Regards,

Glen

[bob mccully]

It sounds like the contacts in the generator may need cleaned. Both the 24 volt battery charging circuit and the 120-240 circuits will need cleaned. Is the engine running? I think I would try a liberal hosing down with contact cleaner, with the engine shut down of course. I've had mud dobbers get in places I didn't think possible. Oxidation on switch contacts can also  cause problems. Both of my 003's usually need a couple days work each spring. Best of luck, Bob

[Earl Beverly]

 Guys - (thanks for the quick reply),

I pulled the fuel tank, all fuel filters/strainer, the strainers on the bottom of the three fuel pumps and cleaned / replaced.

I purged the fuel line from the filter to the pump.

Next with fuel in the tank, I filled and vented until all full and loosened the four hard lines at the injectors, then cranked until fuel present.

The engine now starts and runs perfectly (Hobb hours read 903 and machine looks of little use).

 

Bob, the can the contacts be washed down without removing the control panel, filter assemblys and taking off the end of the generator.

I had to replace a rectifyer assembly on one 5kw and on another 5kw the end bearing went to trash. I remember both took a full day before I was up and running again.

If I do have to open the generator head, the bearing WILL get some grease.

 

I will not get to return up to my place until the weekend.

Earl B.

 

 

 

 Glen ClossonHi Earl, I assume it starts and runs okay? > > -- > You received this message...
9:45 AM (50 minutes ago)
Hi Earl, I assume it starts and runs okay? > > -- > You received this message...

Glen Closson <glen.c...@gmail.com>
9:45 AM (50 minutes ago)

to mil-veh

Hi Earl,
I assume it starts and runs okay?

 

 

bob mccully
10:09 AM (25 minutes ago)

to mil-veh

[bob mccully]

Earl, I don't know.  I checked the TM and it looks like the generator is pretty well buried underneath the control panel. Both of my units are on a 1 1/2 ton trailer so getting under the unit is not possible. You might check with Green Mountain Generators. I got four glow plugs from them last spring and they seem to have a lot of parts for these units. I'm pretty sure they have a service department. I would ask them. They might be able to give you some idea of what could be causing your problem. Bob

[Earl Beverly]

Hi Bob,

I have 10 or so MEP-002 (5kw) and only the one MEP-003. A lot of the parts are similar.

I had a chance to read some of the depot manual today and it said to first isolate the problem by disconnecting the voltage regulator and adding battery voltage toward the generator (isolating the regulator). If the generator now makes power, it indicated a regulator problem, and vise versa. 

That is an easy check. 

Considering the rear bearing has not seen grease since 1977 or so, and how valuable the generator is to me (more than 10 KW of three phase power), I think I will go ahead and take down the generator head to service the bearing and trouble shoot what is wrong. 

Yes, I saw Green Mountain Generators this morning when searching for a manual. I will call them and ask what they think.

Earl 

[dennis hankey]

Suggest you go to Green Mountain and read the conditions that apply to your case. You may need to flash the system.

[Earl Beverly]

Dennis,

I did read the GMG blog articles about flashing with external power or with a drill.

Also, I pulled up the depot level manual and read that the unit is self flashing by holding the starter engaged for a few seconds after the engine is running at full RPM.

I will try this first this weekend.

 

I have never had grid power on my place. It is available, but so far I have been able to do without it.

Along the way I have learned (and forgot) a lot about fuel, power transmission, generator mechanics, and combustion engines.

 

I ran a couple of MEP-002 5kw gen sets for about 10 years. In that span of time, I had one generator end bearing fail and allow the armature and stator to destroy each other. This was a simple fix as the fault was self explanatory and I had a spare gen set to cannibalize.  

Once the diodes failed of the rotor assembly. This fault was a lot harder for me to locate. Along the way I bought several more MEP-002's for spares as gen sets or parts.

The MPE starters became the Achilles heal of the MEP gen sets. With starters and parts being quite expensive.

 

In a quest for simplicity, I bought a couple of India Lister clone engines and a PMG permanent magnet generator from George at Udder Power. I have been running one of these for about six years, with three complete engine failures (the stuff from India is poor at best) and absolutely zero problems with the PMG. I set the PMG for 110vac only and bridged the breaker box, so I dont have to worry about equalizing loads. If I could get another PMG, I would.

 

For fuel other than store bought, I have run WVO, WMO, salvage diesel, gasoline, hydraulic, and transmission fluid. This has been another circus of errors on my part mostly from water, alge, and trash in the different fuels.

Thanks again Guys for the come backs. I miss the days when this group was up and going as you did not have to log in with any sight, rather simply address an e-mail to MV and there would be a dozen helpful hands and friendly conversation.

Regards,

Earl B.

[dgrev]

Earl

> I miss the days when this group
> was up and going as you did not have to log in with any sight, rather
> simply address an e-mail to MV and there would be a dozen helpful hands
> and friendly conversation.

So do I.

Having to log in and then search through the different threads in
the (several) forums is time consuming and boring.
Thus if I do it at all (rarely) I
only go into the specific areas that interest me the most.

I think the forums were isolationist and did a disservice to
our community. They categorise people and take much longer
to sift through than having emails arrive daily.

Once we were a group of 700 all with a common interest (MVs)
and helped each other out and LEARNT a heck of a lot from
reading emails about vehicles we usually had no interest in
eg. CUCVs, M37s etc in my case.

There are a host of knowledgeable people out there who I never
hear of any more. eg. Muttguru, Favochek(sp), Gavin in Thailand
and so it goes on.

Regards
Doug

[Terry Lane]

I agree-/ wholeheartedly !!!
Terry Lane

Sent from my iPhone

[Michael.a.farrell]

I used to read all the emails. It was a great way of sharing info. MUTTGURU was there for me many times.

Mike Farrell

Sent from Samsung tablet

[Earl Beverly]

Doug,

Exactly on point about sifting through the Steel Soldiers site (not intended as a belittlement - it is a tremdous knowledge base).

This group gives the "Instant Gratification" of a technical reply (if not ten), along with who has the part, what to do, and most important, - what NOT to do, usually complimented with a little sass for seasoning... 

Earl B.