Liberty Generator Fan Blower, Intermittent

[MangoMike]

On the Liberty there is a squirrel cage fan motor behind the radiator for the generator. If this is cycling on and off (as mine was doing in OSH) during generator operation then it's time to take a peek under the bus. There's a really good chance that the baffle is missing. This baffle directs the hot air away from the intake side of the generators radiator, causing the blower motor to overheat and shut down for a limited time.

A new baffle is available from Liberty for a mere $350 Lewbucks.

Mike

[truk4u]

Mango,
My fan cycles on and off as needed and is normal. It's possible that my setup is different, better being a Marathon, but it's designed to cycle based on temperature, kinda of like the radiator fan.

[MangoMike]

Tom,

That made sense to me and I kept on telling Jon that, but I stopped at the Liberty factory while leaving OSH and they confirmed the overheating issue as related to the missing baffle.

I hate it when Jon's always right. Jeez.

Mike

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Actually hit man Frank spelled out exactly what mango's problem was. Mango, send your fax number and I will send a sketch of the baffle. I have Wendi quoting it for me.

[Just Plain Jeff]

Jon was dead wrong.

Hitman Frank was wrong.

I was right.

Buy a new bus.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Tom, I think your post raises a good topic for general discussion if you are willing. We often talk about everybody's leveling systems being different depending on converters, but we actually need our generators much more than we need good leveling systems, yet there is little discussion of them.

Your post about your generator fan cycling makes me wonder what is the correct operating characteristics of our generators?

I'll outline what I think is correct for a Liberty, and perhaps you can share along with others what is correct for your respective converters.

On both my 1987 and 1997 Liberty the generators were located ahead of the driver side drive axle. The radiator and cooling fan was located on the same side in the second bay. Between the two coaches there were differences. On both coaches the radiator cooling fan was powered by 120V output from the generator and was protected by circuit breakers in a box to the LH of the radiator. The 1987 had in addition a 120V water circulating pump located in front of the radiator. It was also powered off the generator and was protected by a circuit breaker. The 1987 generator had a Kubota engine and the 1997 has a Yanmar. The 1987 used house battery power to start, and the 1997 has its own dedcated battery. Both gensets were supported on small airbags inflated off the auxiliarry air circuits.

The generator boxes were ventilated by small fans (I think).

Both had an opening in the floor in front of the radiator for cooling air and hot air from the radiator fan was exhausted from the bottom of the coach just behind the radiator. The hot air passed through a steel baffle that directed the flow of air towards the rear of the coach. In that way the air coming into the radiator was ambient air, and by directing the hot air rearward, the cruise air(s) that were mounted in the center of the coach belly were not drawing in heated generator air into the condensing units.

When Mango talks about his radiator fan motor cycling on and off, what was actually happening because of his missing baffle was his radiator was having heated air drawn across it and the fan motor, and the fan motor was cycling on its internal over temperature safety switch.

I know Tom's generator is located in a forward bay, but I don't know if the always "on" radiator fan such as in our Libertys is typical or if other converters cycle their fans.

[MangoMike]

Liberty owners. Eventually you'll be needing one of these generator fan baffles.

Jon's company (Jamestown now effeciently run by his daughter Wendi) custom made this one for me at a 1/3 of the price wanted by Liberty. Great job and powder coated for max bling effect. Constructed to Jon's anal tolerances and fit tighter than OJ's glove.

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[rfoster]

Mango: Man - I am impressed with the new parts. Please Park your Liberty on dry ground and Leave the air bags pumped up and so I can slide under while in Santa Fe. Mine is showing a little experience, but I would probably be willing to trade even and I would offer to remove it myself sometime after midnight. Stuff goes on sale at my place at that time of day, self serve, no sales tax, no salesman, no paperwork, can't be the price either.

Jons daughter sure did a fine job! Maybe we could get them to expand into LEDs and TVs.

[MangoMike]

Fast Roger,

Always glad to share.

What hot car are you towing to SF?

Mangoman

[rfoster]

Mango: Haven't got a hot car lined up to tow yet. Towed a Tahoe last time we went on a Family outing, but sold it, I have two on hand now so may wind up towing a Tahoe again since I have the tow brackets for it and they are nice driving SUVS. No more dollies for long trips for me. I like the four down towing- makes life simplier when you arrive at a limited space campground. -just less hassle.

Is it about time for a younger Mangonette to aquire a motorized vehicle?
I have been saving a BMW for Jon- just waiting on the check to come in the mail-- But it might have gone to Newell, or Thompson, or Liberty or someplace like that - heck, some airplane guy might have gotten it!