Last fall, I winterized Pumpkin as usual. As winter set in, I would check on Pumpkin about once a month and during that check, I would start the generator and let it run for 30 minutes or so under a medium load. This is recommended by Onan to help keep corrosion off the windings.
Last April, I decided it was time to de-winterize (drain and flush the antifreeze from the freshwater system) and prepare for hitting the road again. In the process, I tried to start the generator again, but it wouldn't start. Funny, because it started without fail throughout the winter months. I had just had it worked on (to the tune of nearly $900 last year), so I was a little surprised and a bit miffed. I've had a lot of trouble with the propane regulator in the past and have had several changed beginning about a year after we bought Pumpkin in 2013. So, I suspected the same problem even though the symptoms were a little different than before. The generator would start then immediately shut down. The error code (3-6) wasn't very helpful, but still implied a propane problem (it is a propane-fueled generator). I managed to change the filter I had added a couple of years ago, but other than that, it's getting too difficult for me to crawl around under the RV. So, when the filter did not help, I took it to an RV shop in Forsyth that I'm familiar with and trust. I had him change the filter. In the process, he said he detected liquid propane coming from the vapor outlet, which is a no-no. A propane tank is filled to only 80% full to leave a space above the liquid for LP vapor to collect as a gas. It is this gas that is supposed to go to the regulator, not liquid. He recommended I take it to a propane supplier/repair shop, which I did. They reported liquid propane coming from the vapor outlet, too. The tank was bad. There is a pipe or tube that sticks up into the vapor area of the tank with the other end connected to the vapor outlet or main outlet valve where the regulator connects. Apparently, this tube or a weld is fractured or has a pinhole in it, allowing liquid propane to get into the vapor outlet tube and work its way into the regulator. This is not a good thing. It will damage the regulator diaphragm and cause malfunction of the regulator, either pressure too low or, possibly, pressure too high, so we couldn't use the gas system at all. Not even the cooktop. Dang! I checked online to find out replacement cost, but could not find one that would fit. So, I checked directly with Winnebago. Yay! They have them in stock. Boo! They want $1359.00 for one!
I tried RV salvage yards and other possible sources, but no luck. I finally resigned myself to paying Winnebago's price. Then it occurred to me to check with the manufacturer directly instead of Winnebago. I contacted Manchester Tank for a replacement quote. First, they wanted the specific cat# off a plate welded on the tank. So, I managed to crawl under again with my cell phone and got a couple of photos.
The Manchester Customer Service was interested in the rust, as well, so I gave them a couple more photos of the valve area.
I asked the Customer Service agent for a quote on a new tank and was told they do not sell retail. I would have to get a dealer to order one, and immediately, I pictured that $1359.00 Winnebago price. I decided to beg a little and asked if Manchester would consider helping with the cost of replacement. The Customer Service agent said she would present it to their Quality Control Dept. for determination. It would take a few days, so I had to wait. In the meantime, summer is ticking on by. It was June 6 and it appeared we weren't going camping any time soon.
Days passed and finally, I got a response from Manchester on June 17. They agreed to replace the tank at no cost! They weren't even going to charge shipping! But, they would not ship directly to me as that would, apparently, put them at some liability risk since I was not a certified servicer. I gave them my servicer's name and address. The agent responded back that they would make a production run of that cat# on July 19. That chews even further into our summer travel plans, but I wasn't going to look this gift horse in the mouth. Looks like it's Labor Day or later for us.
In the meantime, we're waiting for a call from the RV servicer to tell us when he receives the new tank. Once he has it, it should not take more than a day or two to be up and running again.
But, after all this, I still don't know if the generator will run.
