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803a not warming up

NATCAD

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Port Huron Michigan
Good evening,
I have an 803a that is not warming up
With ambient around 21 F, it warms to 145-150 degrees.
There is some wind.

I have covered the air intake facing the wind with a some plywood, 90% coverage.
I have covered the exhaust 80% again with some plywood.
Temp is now up to 165F

Any thoughts?
That temp stays stable with 10% load or 70% load.

I thought it was the thermostat, so I replaced that a few weeks ago. No change in temp.
 

Coug

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first things first, have you used a laser thermometer or anything else to verify the temp gauge is accurate? This will tell you if it's a sensor, gauge, or wiring issue.

Then after that it would be verify the thermostat is functioning properly (put it in a pot with water and a thermometer on a stove and see what temp it actually opens at).
 

NATCAD

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Port Huron Michigan
My apologies,

The gauge reads zero, I need to fix it.

I've been measuring temperature on top rad hose both with IR and I have kurts remote start installed and top rad house and readout in kurts device are same-same. +-

I saved the original thermostat, I'll go boil it.

This generator I ran spring to fall, about 800 hours in 2020, temp gauge was working then, and always sat around 180.

Manual says they should come up to temp with no load right? Is that true in 0-20F environment with strong wind?
 

Denvercaitland

Active member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
My apologies,

The gauge reads zero, I need to fix it.

I've been measuring temperature on top rad hose both with IR and I have kurts remote start installed and top rad house and readout in kurts device are same-same. +-

I saved the original thermostat, I'll go boil it.

This generator I ran spring to fall, about 800 hours in 2020, temp gauge was working then, and always sat around 180.

Manual says they should come up to temp with no load right? Is that true in 0-20F environment with strong wind?
I have been operating in similar climate range for the last month, temperature remains in the 180/190 range , no load to full load.
 

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NATCAD

Active member
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Port Huron Michigan
When you changed the thermostat, did you change the coolant? Did you drain the system completely? Every once in a spell, the hose coils turn to rusty junk. A bit of that could keep the thermostat open.
I did a complete drain, and reused the coolant which had about 500 hours on it. Was in good condition.
 

NATCAD

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Port Huron Michigan
Sounds like a nice feature to have a generator happy - that would run on 24vdc?

To be clear, even in adverse conditions, with no load, my generator, if working properly should come to 180F, correct?

nathan
 

Light in the Dark

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Yes it ties into the system, burns diesel from the day tank. A rather rare option, only issued to Mountain troops best I can tell. Moves the start capability from the -20F of the stock system, down to -50F. But at those temps, fuel gel is a bigger concern.

Your machine should hit 180 or damn close to it as is.
 

Denvercaitland

Active member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
What is this 'heater' switch you have on your main control board?!
As LITD outlined it preheat the coolant.

Basically, I have been able to start the 803 without glowplug preheat.
to ~ -5°F so far. Wired independently from all other functions and bring the block temp to ~ +150°F on startup.
 

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NATCAD

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Port Huron Michigan
Looks like a beauty! I like that the coolant tube to block is size of the block heater outlet.
What are the costs on these items? Looks like a mini espar which are very expensive.
I have my generators outside my sea container which holds 800AH battery.
I wonder if using a dc based coolant heater inline might be an option?
 

Guyfang

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They come up in epay every so often. I have operated gen sets down to -30. without a kit. I will admit it makes it easier, but I always felt that there is little enough room in the box, and adding more wasn't something I would do. But then again, I dont live where you do.
 

NATCAD

Active member
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Location
Port Huron Michigan
AAR followup:
Temperature -25 to -30 Celsius, base temp, plus strong wind (generator outside in wind)
Arctic heater warms unit up to 180F no problem.
Turn arctic heater off, and start generator.
After 10 minutes running generator cooling down to 155 to 165F.
Freq starts to warble.
Drops load
Generator engine dies after some black smoking.

Solutions tried
Polished fuel and added howes anti gel - still cools down and stumbles, drops load and dies.

Added plywood to block off radiator (horizontal surface on top of generator), ran actic heater, put plywood infront of air intake directly in wind, run generator - generator keeps temp - and runs. Coldest temp with 40mph winds started to cool off to 175. Did ok with 100% load and warmed back to 180F.

Last try, defrost setting
Run arctic heater, block horizontal surface on top of generator with plywood, start generator, leave arctic heater running, check one hour later, set has defrosted and coolant temp 220. Even defrosted ice on aluminum hinge for control panel.

If having problems, I would run last way again for an hour or two and then turn heater off.

Questions remaining, is a 190 or 200F thermostat a good option?

Should a 750 watt coolant line heater with cord be considered, that I either charge from house battery, or once generator running, self powered convenience receptacle.
These are about 70$ and gives another option to warm and reduces fuel usage.

Does adding a coolant hose heater add complexity or fragility?

Should I mount the generator inside sea container, or potentially mount an 831a inside container with a nice transfer switch to select power source.
 

Ray70

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West greenwich/RI
Something still doesn't seem right.
I can't believe the engine isn't producing enough BTU's to maintain combustion??
There's gotta be something else wrong.
Once running the coolant temp shouldn't drop too much if the thermostat is working, and the machine should not smoke and shut down just because temp dropped from 180 to 150ish. These machines start fairly easily with no heat down to at least 0C. I can't believe it's shutting off on you only due to cooling down from 180 to under 150F.
Is your temp gage working now, or are those temps still from an IR temp gun?
 
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