18KW Drash Generator Help

[kazuya4228]

I have a drash trailer generator that will start and run but will cut back off immediately, so when I open the panel I notice that the K-5 relay light is illuminated. The fuel filter is fine. The good drash that I have don’t have that light illuminated. Can anyone give me some guidance? I’ve attached a photo for viewing as well.

 

[Guyfang]

No picture.

Is there a reset button on the K5 relay?

Take the K5 out of the good set and replace the one with the light on. If it works, relay bad. If not, you need to dig deeper.

 

[kazuya4228]

No picture.

Is there a reset button on the K5 relay?

Take the K5 out of the good set and replace the one with the light on. If it works, relay bad. If not, you need to dig deeper.

It still does it with the good relay. Looking through the TM trying to find it.

 

[kazuya4228]

This is the picture of the relay.

 

[Guyfang]

I do not have the TM on that set, (I think) and am guessing that K5 light means plugged up fuel filter? There has to be a sensor on the fuel filter housing to measure the output flow of the filter. Check the wires. Then get into the TM and see if they explain how to test said sensor.

You wrote that the filter if fine. How did you determine that?

Also remember that if something restricts the flow of fuel BEFORE the filter, you will get the same fault as if the filter is dirty.

 

[kazuya4228]

I do not have the TM on that set, (I think) and am guessing that K5 light means plugged up fuel filter? There has to be a sensor on the fuel filter housing to measure the output flow of the filter. Check the wires. Then get into the TM and see if they explain how to test said sensor.

You wrote that the filter if fine. How did you determine that?

Also remember that if something restricts the flow of fuel BEFORE the filter, you will get the same fault as if the filter is dirty.

I took the filter off and placed a new one on and the fault was still there. I will remove the hoses and see what’s going on. If I can’t get fuel, then why would it run in battle short mode. Wouldn’t the engine still cut of due to no fuel? I appreciate your help on this

 

[Guyfang]

I am no expert on DRASH. I avoided working on them when I could.

So, I will try and explain how the system works. The sensor, or better said, Fuel Pressure Switch, is a warning, that the filters are dirty or getting to a condition that is close to being plugged up. The FPS had a spring loaded switch that remains open as long as the output of the filters assembly is above a certain limit. When the output goes down too low, the switch opens up, reverses the contacts in K5 and shuts the engine off.

The reason that the set runs in battle short is because the battle short bypasses certain safety features. The same safety features that are bypassed when you turn on the set. On startup, you have no oil pressure. You have no fuel pressure. You have no AC output, and so on. K5 is one of the safety circuits that gets bypassed, until you let the start switch go. The battle short "jumps" all those safety. You are forcing the set to run in a condition that can possibly harm or cause problems.

So, if switching out the K5, proves that the relay is good. That leaves only the FPS and or restrictions in the fuel system.

One other possibility is:
Have you ever seen the set run right? If not, then comparing the wire diagram to the relay is not a bad idea. Someone before you may have tried to "repair" the set, and wired it up wrong.

 

[kazuya4228]

I am no expert on DRASH. I avoided working on them when I could.

So, I will try and explain how the system works. The sensor, or better said, Fuel Pressure Switch, is a warning, that the filters are dirty or getting to a condition that is close to being plugged up. The FPS had a spring loaded switch that remains open as long as the output of the filters assembly is above a certain limit. When the output goes down too low, the switch opens up, reverses the contacts in K5 and shuts the engine off.

The reason that the set runs in battle short is because the battle short bypasses certain safety features. The same safety features that are bypassed when you turn on the set. On startup, you have no oil pressure. You have no fuel pressure. You have no AC output, and so on. K5 is one of the safety circuits that gets bypassed, until you let the start switch go. The battle short "jumps" all those safety. You are forcing the set to run in a condition that can possibly harm or cause problems.

So, if switching out the K5, proves that the relay is good. That leaves only the FPS and or restrictions in the fuel system.

One other possibility is:
Have you ever seen the set run right? If not, then comparing the wire diagram to the relay is not a bad idea. Someone before you may have tried to "repair" the set, and wired it up wrong.

It was the oil pressure switch

 

[Guyfang]

Thank you for closing the loop. Lots of folks don't do that right now. So whats the cost of a new one?

 

[kazuya4228]

Thank you for closing the loop. Lots of folks don't do that right now. So whats the cost of a new one?

Well right now I have to basically borrow one from another drash unit. Army budget deficit

 

[Guyfang]

Been there, done that!!

 

[Mullaney]

Well right now I have to basically borrow one from another drash unit. Army budget deficit

.
That is just so much BULL. I know we can't have unlimited funds, but fixing simple things shouldn't be that way. Enough said.

 

[Guyfang]

.
That is just so much BULL. I know we can't have unlimited funds, but fixing simple things shouldn't be that way. Enough said.

Tim,

Part of the problem is this gen set is low density. That always causes problems. The Gov can not stock parts in every corner of the world, in hundreds of SSA's, for equipment numbered in the low hundreds, if that. Also, DRASH, and company's that make DRASH look alike's, use off the shelf parts. That adds to the problem.

 

[Mullaney]

Tim,

Part of the problem is this gen set is low density. That always causes problems. The Gov can not stock parts in every corner of the world, in hundreds of SSA's, for equipment numbered in the low hundreds, if that. Also, DRASH, and company's that make DRASH look alike's, use off the shelf parts. That adds to the problem.

.
Well, there is no argument with that and it makes good sense.

Makes it where a enterprising youngster willing to work at it might find his way off-base and "go to the hardware" to pick up replacement parts. Funny how that works. Doing something like that and occasionally trading parts won't get anybody in really hot water either. Thinking outside of the box is what we called it.

 

[Guyfang]

occasionally trading parts won't get anybody in really hot water either. Thinking outside of the box is what we called it.

This is allowed in the Military. There is even a way to record this kind of thing. I would not consider myself an expert on the military supply system, by any means. But here goes. Units, Company level, have what is called a PLL. What is Army PLL?

PLL Definitions. PLL: list of authorized repair parts to be on-hand or on order. support daily maint operations for a prescribed number of days. demand supported, non-demand supported, and initial stocked items.

The PLL is as noted, demand supported. If a unit has so and so many demands for an item in a certain time frame, the unit CAN, if the commander wants to, stock that part in its PLL. That means it requires/needs a part, orders it and gets it, to stock at the Unit level.

Now if a unit can acquire somehow a part outside of the normal supply system, the unit can submit a special requisition, to "capture" that demand. Its is called, a D6Z if I remember right. What it is is a normal requisition, submitted with the D6Z code added to it. It tells the supply system you had the need for that part, you acquired it, and you have solved the problem. No part is ordered/needed.

 

[Poccur]

.
Well, there is no argument with that and it makes good sense.

Makes it where a enterprising youngster willing to work at it might find his way off-base and "go to the hardware" to pick up replacement parts. Funny how that works. Doing something like that and occasionally trading parts won't get anybody in really hot water either. Thinking outside of the box is what we called it.

The DRASH 18kW was used on the TMSS system so it is a Program of Record (POR), meaning the system is fully provisioned and there is an NSN for the oil pressure switch...what base are you on? I can hook you up with the local Field Service Rep

 

[Mullaney]

The DRASH 18kW was used on the TMSS system so it is a Program of Record (POR), meaning the system is fully provisioned and there is an NSN for the oil pressure switch...what base are you on? I can hook you up with the local Field Service Rep

.
Thanks for the offer!
My days of serving Uncle have been completed.
I was commenting and attempting ti help the fella with the problem

 

[Poccur]

.
Thanks for the offer!
My days of serving Uncle have been completed.
I was commenting and attempting ti help the fella with the problem

Understood, I worked for Aunty Elizabeth
Well then I extend the same offer to kazuya4228, tell me which base and I will get you the local guy...
Also if kazuya4228 will post a clear picture of the information from the data plate, I will be happy to help him find the NSN.

 

[Poccur]

Tim,

Part of the problem is this gen set is low density. That always causes problems. The Gov can not stock parts in every corner of the world, in hundreds of SSA's, for equipment numbered in the low hundreds, if that. Also, DRASH, and company's that make DRASH look alike's, use off the shelf parts. That adds to the problem.

I hate to disagree with you sir,as i know you are the MEPs guru but.....
The DRASH systems are currently fielded systems and the numbers are actually very high. Through the TMSS program 4000 were fielded and you can add another 10,000 that were sold through discretionary funding as well.
Those engines are provisioned in FEDLOG/GCSS-Army and the NSNs are out there and live..

 

[Guyfang]

I hate to disagree with you sir,as i know you are the MEPs guru but.....
The DRASH systems are currently fielded systems and the numbers are actually very high. Through the TMSS program 4000 were fielded and you can add another 10,000 that were sold through discretionary funding as well.
Those engines are provisioned in FEDLOG/GCSS-Army and the NSNs are out there and live..

You are more than probably right. I would tell the young man, Kazuya to contact his local CECOM LAR, as that is who he should be dealing with.

I have not had much to do with DRASH type systems since 2010. What I do remember is that up til then, the Drash units were few and far between. Parts only available through local purchase or from DRASH. The TM's were terrible, and very hard to get. When we needed a part, we had to give not only what model DRASH it was, but the serial number of the trailer, because there had been so many different changes of engines and other parts. Did not impress me. Since 2010, there has been much progress made.

Its my understanding that most of what people call DRASH, is in fact built by another company. I drove on the Graf Post today and always look at the Motor Pools, along the way. There are not a bunch of DRASH here. I met the DRASH Man on the ground here in Bamberg, Travis Dunn, back when he was working hard to sell DRASH to the Army. I had seen some in El Paso, a few years before. The ADA world was one of DRASH's biggest customers in the beginning.