Jump to content

Generator blown enroute to Oshkosh :(

druidjaidan
 Share

Recommended Posts

druidjaidan Collaborator

druidjaidan

Posted
Posted

We where over central WY (Worland) on our way to KOSH.  Started losing electronics then the low voltage light came on.

 

Seems we lost our generator.  Called a bunch of nearby places, nobody has it in stock that we've managed to get ahold of.  We're way far away from our home base, anyone got any tips?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hector Veteran

Hector

Posted
Posted

Crap, I have one I took out of my C in perfect working condition (I put in the alternator conversion). I would let you have it for free but I'm at Oshkosh right now. I could probably get my wife to ship it overnight but Sunday would be the earliest you'll get it. PM me if you have not found a solution.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hector Veteran

Hector

Posted
Posted
We where over central WY (Worland) on our way to KOSH.  Started losing electronics then the low voltage light came on.

 

Seems we lost our generator.  Called a bunch of nearby places, nobody has it in stock that we've managed to get ahold of.  We're way far away from our home base, anyone got any tips?

Sent you a PM with my cell number. You got a couple of choices. Text me a shipping address and I'll get my wife to ship you the generator fastest possible way. Looks like you have another option to have a generator waiting for you here at Oshkosh too. That would mean flying the rest of the way here without radios but a portable might be enough to get here since you basically need to listen only.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites
druidjaidan Collaborator

druidjaidan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

We're currently thinking that we charge up tonight.  Camp here and then pull all the breakers/turn off the master and takeoff.  When we get in the vicinity we'll turn on a radio and leave everything else off.

Then hopefully find a roving A&P at Oshkosh and meet up with bdpetersen

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

Check for the simple things liked frayed wire or loose connection.

the wires are pretty short.  Generator, voltage regulator, battery.:)

consider...  (Kmart Walmart may have these things available)

- having a volt meter to keep an eye on how much you have left.

- run your Transponder to keep everyone informed of your presence.

- use a 12V jumpstart battery device to supply some extra amps.

- be familiar with the Nordo procedure in the event you end up Nordo...

 

May the Mooney gods be with you...

Best regards,

-a-

 

May everyone have a safe flight in...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DonMuncy Grand Master

DonMuncy

Posted
Posted

Interesting thought. I wonder how much this would help. On a good sunny day with the solar charger on the glare shied, in direct sunlight, do you think it might run a radio or perhaps transponder.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
N601RX Grand Master

N601RX

Posted
Posted

If you still have the generator and have not upgraded to an alternator it's unlikely the generator is the problem. They don't have diodes like alternators, but will occasionally need new brushes. It's likely that you have a broken wire, bad regulator or bad breaker. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
yvesg Mentor

yvesg

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, kerry said:

I've had generators go bad.  In the past I've taken them to a local electric motor repair shop.  Very reasonable to OH.  $45. verses Aircraft Spruce OH unit costing $360

The same generator is used on farm tractors. This is why electrical shops know about them. Might be hard to get it fixed on a Sunday though.

Yves

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted
13 hours ago, druidjaidan said:

We where over central WY (Worland) on our way to KOSH.  Started losing electronics then the low voltage light came on.

 

Seems we lost our generator.  Called a bunch of nearby places, nobody has it in stock that we've managed to get ahold of.  We're way far away from our home base, anyone got any tips?

Try flashing the field.  This is free and sometimes fixes a generator that won't charge.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites
neilpilot Mentor

neilpilot

Posted
Posted

So long as you don't exceed the amp rating of the fuse behind the cigar lighter jack, you can also use a cable to back feed power from a car boost starter pack.  This will easily power a single nav/com for hours.  I used this once to get back from Dallas to Memphis in my 64E, and then carried it for months while I worked thru a intermittant issue with my alternator.  So long as you have manual gear.  Example; google this for the Walmart version; but any auto parts store should sell one:

Stanley 'FatMax'  700-Amp Peak Jump Starter

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
druidjaidan Collaborator

druidjaidan

Posted
  • Author
Posted

We made it safe and sound to OSH.   When we left Wyoming we tried powering some things and where able to run 1 radio,  the intercom and basic engine instruments.   Eventually we got a draining light again and powered off the radio.   Then after a while we got a draining light again and had to cut to just master with basically every breaker pulled except the warning horns.   

 

Turned on the radio 45 from RIPON and picked the ATIS.  Back off until just before RIPON.  Then all the way in.   Parked way off in VAC.

Pretty confident we where getting some charge.   So I would bet against a loose wire.   But I'll have an A&P look at it and meet up with BDPeterson once we're settled. 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guitarmaster Veteran

Guitarmaster

Posted
Posted
We made it safe and sound to OSH.   When we left Wyoming we tried powering some things and where able to run 1 radio,  the intercom and basic engine instruments.   Eventually we got a draining light again and powered off the radio.   Then after a while we got a draining light again and had to cut to just master with basically every breaker pulled except the warning horns.   

 

Turned on the radio 45 from RIPON and picked the ATIS.  Back off until just before RIPON.  Then all the way in.   Parked way off in VAC.

Pretty confident we where getting some charge.   So I would bet against a loose wire.   But I'll have an A&P look at it and meet up with BDPeterson once we're settled. 

Glad you made it OK. Nice to meet you today!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Badmoonraising Enthusiast

Badmoonraising

Posted
Posted

I am interested to know what the problem was in the end? Was it brushes or voltage reg? I ask because I have a 64E that i just bought a few months ago. It stopped charging and I have converted to a regulator system. Maybe I shouldn't have decided to do that so quickly? It may have been something simple. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hector Veteran

Hector

Posted
Posted
We where over central WY (Worland) on our way to KOSH.  Started losing electronics then the low voltage light came on.

 

Seems we lost our generator.  Called a bunch of nearby places, nobody has it in stock that we've managed to get ahold of.  We're way far away from our home base, anyone got any tips?

John,

I know you were still dealing with this issue in Oshkosh. Just curious how this got resolved. Did you replace the generator or was it something else?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
druidjaidan Collaborator

druidjaidan

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
10 hours ago, Hector said:

John,

I know you were still dealing with this issue in Oshkosh. Just curious how this got resolved. Did you replace the generator or was it something else?

I mentioned to you when we spoke that I suspected that he didn't understand the differences between a generator and an alternator, and I was right.   The mechanic bumbled the diagnostic he had me do over the phone so unfortunately it wasn't just the voltage regulator.  So then he starts showing me how the lower cowl comes off and I was more than a bit uncomfortable with doing that much disassembly, in a time crunch, unsupervised, for the first time, over grass, in the baking sun.   So I paid him to do it... Sadly now I'm sitting in the hotel waiting for him to actually do it and hoping he's better at turning wrenches than he is at electronics. 

Edited by druidjaidan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.