Cannibalized while waiting for EUC!

[papabear]

Wow...is this site great or what!!
We call ourselves a family...and we are of course...but then some fellers meet because of a common interest and realize....hey...we really ARE FAMILY!!

 

[pmramsey]

My first EUC took forever. The one in question took but 13-days.

XMission...You got the really great GL photo of those trucks. Ours have been flawless. We have put about 2500 miles on each in the last year. The fuel tank sleeve was a bit grodee but all cleaned up nicely. We tidied up the few bits of surface rust, shot a fresh coat CARC to it, and threw on a bow and tan tarp set fresh out of the crate on the one with 7480 miles. My 40-year old son will hardly let me drive it when I am in GA.

 

[pmramsey]

Al

regarding your MEP-003...Set it on the ground or connect your ground rod before starting and flip the generator output breakers to off before starting...failing to do so eats voltage regulators on the things.

When not in use, pull out the DC breaker fuse on the panel so as not to drain the batteries when not in use.

Check the proper functioning of the mechanical fuel pump. If it fails, the electric fuel pumps at the filters continue pumping fuel only much of it is blowing into the crankcase via the bad mechanical pump. There will be little indication prior to the unit freezing in place. Uncapping the oil spout can be exciting in this circumstance as the pressurized case will experience an immediate organism as the filter cap is loosened throwing fuel and oil an absolutely amazing distance. Please do not force me to explain how I know these things.

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

--------------------------------------

I don't normally consider going back quite that far, to establish a bloodline, but I accept your contribution in the spirit of its intent!

San Angelo... - don't happen to know Jim Murphy, your location, do you?

Al

Al / Sir:
Thank YOU for the level of integrity that you have brought to our expectations of the good folks at GL.

As for "Jim Murphy", no, I don't yet know him. However, since I work for a funeral home (I prearrange funerals) and attend MANY services, I'm sure that I have either already or someday will cross his path. (Hopefully while we are both still "vertical".)

I found TWO James' in the local phone book, but the addresses didn't jog my memory either.

Should I contact him as a mutual acquaintance on your behalf?

Best regards,
John

 

[papercu]

Gone. They were traced to a couple of guys out of Florida that came to inspect the trucks.

You might have been told that but no POV are allowed in the Warner Robins DRMO yard for inspections and you couldn't hide batteries under your jacket and walk out. Wayne

 

[paulfarber]

What about places (like Mechanicsburg) that FORBID cameras (your cell phone camera also)?

All you have is the GL photos, so better keep a copy.

 

[alcarp]

Wow...is this site great or what!!
We call ourselves a family...and we are of course...but then some fellers meet because of a common interest and realize....hey...we really ARE FAMILY!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

papabear -

Well, we haven't yet determined a DNA connection, but xmission seems like a nice guy, and we share the same family name, so that's a pretty good start, in my book - besides, I'm really short on blood cousins!

Al

 

[alcarp]

Al

regarding your MEP-003...Set it on the ground or connect your ground rod before starting and flip the generator output breakers to off before starting...failing to do so eats voltage regulators on the things.

When not in use, pull out the DC breaker fuse on the panel so as not to drain the batteries when not in use.

Check the proper functioning of the mechanical fuel pump. If it fails, the electric fuel pumps at the filters continue pumping fuel only much of it is blowing into the crankcase via the bad mechanical pump. There will be little indication prior to the unit freezing in place. Uncapping the oil spout can be exciting in this circumstance as the pressurized case will experience an immediate organism as the filter cap is loosened throwing fuel and oil an absolutely amazing distance. Please do not force me to explain how I know these things.

------------------------------------------------------------------

AHA! Looks like you and I may have gone to the same school - hard knocks and dumbs--t experience!

I really value your suggestions - enough that I'm trying to figure out how to entice you to journey the couple of hours down the road from Warrenton, to Cobbs Creek, when I'm ready to try to get these new toys online!

Any ideas on a source for replacement oil filter caps?

Al

 

[5ton4ever]

First thing, Welcome Home! My uncle was a FAC in 67-68. If enough people complained about the theft at gl, they would probably do something about it just to shut us up! At Sharpe army depot in Ca. you can't even go to look at anything without an escort. And if the drmo people see any one out there with out an escort they will be escorted off the base and not allowed back in. At least it seems they are trying. It will not stop everything but it seems to be helping. I have picked up 3 deuces and a 1009 and some pumps with no theft problems. Maybe I just got lucky. Of course I had the token forklift damage.

 

[alcarp]

First thing, Welcome Home! My uncle was a FAC in 67-68. If enough people complained about the theft at gl, they would probably do something about it just to shut us up! At Sharpe army depot in Ca. you can't even go to look at anything without an escort. And if the drmo people see any one out there with out an escort they will be escorted off the base and not allowed back in. At least it seems they are trying. It will not stop everything but it seems to be helping. I have picked up 3 deuces and a 1009 and some pumps with no theft problems. Maybe I just got lucky. Of course I had the token forklift damage.

-------------------------------------------------------

That certainly looks like the right policy, to me, and I think if we all pushed for it, it wouldn't take long to see it become GL policy, at least at all state-side locations! (hard to believe that CA is leading the way with such a GOOD and sensible approach!)

I'd like to hear what some of the "old heads" think of it, though - I might be missing something!

I worked a lot with FACs, in both SVN and Laos (oops!), and always had a lot of respect for them and the job they did. By the time your uncle was directing traffic, however, I had already been in jail for a while, so obviously missed the privilege of working with him!

Al

 

[73m819]

Wow...is this site great or what!!
We call ourselves a family...and we are of course...but then some fellers meet because of a common interest and realize....hey...we really ARE FAMILY!!

PB and WM, NO matter what thay say , still makes you wonder if there might be a FAMILY connection, just the thought

 

[pmramsey]

Al, I have a leased farm operation not far from you along the Potomac river near Montross. My best bud from the 4th grade owns the great bar-be-que and entertainment joint just off main street in Kilmarnock.

I am in the area once a month or so. In fact, I just returned from a pickup in the Norfolk Drmo. I came up US 17 near you about 1530 today.

Phil Ramsey

 

[alcarp]

Al, I have a leased farm operation not far from you along the Potomac river near Montross. My best bud from the 4th grade owns the great bar-be-que and entertainment joint just off main street in Kilmarnock.

I am in the area once a month or so. In fact, I just returned from a pickup in the Norfolk Drmo. I came up US 17 near you about 1530 today.

Phil Ramsey

--------------------------------------

Phil -

SMALL WORLD!! I know the BBQ place, and love the food there!

Could have easily met you in Gloucester or Saluda, today - both within 25 min. of me - maybe next time! I just won a lot at Norfolk, today, so will be headed down there, myself, within a few days.

Let's switch to email, if OK with you, as I have more than a few questions for you. a4e@wildblue.net

Al

 

[storeman]

Al, Phil,
I believe Phil is the fellow with the "Farm Use" trailer I met at Mechanicsburg who was picking up a towbar he won. This was on the scouting trip I made to Meade and Mechanicsburg when I first previewed your Gensets. Very nice gentleman who has farming interests across the area from Charlottesville to Montross. He showed me a potential governor issue on the MEP-003a involving an easily overlooked small ball.

Is that you Phil?
Jerry

 

[alcarp]

Al, Phil,
I believe Phil is the fellow with the "Farm Use" trailer I met at Mechanicsburg who was picking up a towbar he won. This was on the scouting trip I made to Meade and Mechanicsburg when I first previewed your Gensets. Very nice gentleman who has farming interests across the area from Charlottesville to Montross. He showed me a potential governor issue on the MEP-003a involving an easily overlooked small ball.

Is that you Phil?
Jerry

-----------------------------------------------------

Jerry & Phil -

This is getting interesting - weird, but interesting, at least to us! The big lesson in all this, as I see it, is the great value in this site since, in my case, it has brought together folks with similar interests, and widely different levels of experience, to assist each other. In the process, new friends, and perhaps even relatives are made or discovered! So far, I'm the big beneficiary, here, in this thread, but what goes around, comes around, so perhaps I can do my part to help someone else out, in the future.

My buddy, Jerry (storeman), put me on to SS in the first place, and has been extremely helpful throughout my experience with GL. Several other SS have offered advice, assistance in finding parts, etc., and now, nearby and experienced Phil (pmramsey) has offered to come by and get me going, once I have everything ready to run!

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY, OR WHAT?!!!

Thanks, Steel Soldiers!

Al

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

...


IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY, OR WHAT?!!!

Thanks, Steel Soldiers!

Al

- IT'S THE BEST - ​

 

[pmramsey]

Jerry, Al

I am one and the same guy. I remember speaking with you several montyhs back at M'Burg

Phil

 

[storeman]

Phil,

I thought so. Al and I live about 5 miles apart. I'll be back in the area in April from FL. Hope to see you some time. I won a 5kw and a 10kw, picked them up in late December, and hopefully will be able to get them running soon after return.
Jerry

 

[alcarp]

Just on the off-chance that ANYONE is still following this thread (after such a long period of inactivity), I will make perhaps one last post, to wrap things up! Sickness, travel, and other considerations have interfered with the maint. of the thread, and for my fault in that I apologize.

I was able to find missing items for my gensets, with help from other SSs and, fortunately, they were all relatively inexpensive. I particularly, however, want to acknowledge the repeated, unselfish assistance (including site visit) of SS pmramsey, without whose help I might very well have done MORE damage to my units, and might never have gotten them running right! As it was, no major problems surfaced, and each genset came up beautifully, when properly prepared! The only problems encountered were excessive and continued exhaust smoking from one unit, and a slight control box grounding problem on the other.
My "new best friend", pmramsey, guided me through the necessary steps to resolve each of those problems, and I now have two low-time, beautifully-running 10 kw gensets which should last me the rest of my life! (yeah, sure - I'm 73, but so what?)

I am indebted to Phil Ramsey, and to the several OTHER SS who were so helpful in getting me going, and I hope that I may someday be able to do as much for someone else in need of help.

As for the cannibalization of equipment at GL sites, which was the original foundation for this thread, it appears to continue to be a pervasive problem, which I hope to attack through another thread, as soon as I can find the time to do so. Thanks, again, Steel Soldiers!!

 

[USAFSS-ColdWarrior]

Al,
SS thread subscriptions "never die", they resurface randomly and I sometimes have to go back and refresh my memory as to what we were following and where we left off.

Hope your sickness and other distractions are all "on the mend". Wishing you well.

Thanks for the genset update. I'm watching Gensets and hope to be fooling with one or two soon. I've got no personal experience with them, so I will also be calling upon the infamous SS tutors for mentorship. Thanks for giving public credit to your "teacher".

Cannabalization is a CRIME. Thanks for stepping up to the plate and taking a swing at the problem.

With great respect and appreciation, Sir,
John