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Love em or not, here’s my MEP-1040 thread.

Abrant23

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Well, as mentioned in a previous thread where I asked a couple random questions, I’m the proud owner of a Cummins Power Generation MEP-1040. Figured I’d start a new thread to document my journey with this unit for everyone’s viewing pleasure.

The unit was purchased off the ole Gov site where you do that sort of thing. I put in a random pre-bid then forgot about it. Long story short, since it was stabbed with a fork lift and slightly smashed in the front, she went for less than what I was anticipating and I was the “lucky” one who ended up with it.

A quick 5 hour drive down to Albany, Ga and she was in my possession. They were happy to shove it right in the back of my truck and off I went. Nervous at first, but the soothing sound of I-16 under my wheels calmed my nerves a bit.

Got it home and unloaded it. Of course the batteries were toast. A week of slowly trying to bring them back to life was for nothing. Apparently there’s a great 51R famine going on as no one in the tri-county area has one, much less two on the shelf. I’ve ordered two from Napa so hopefully they’ll arrive soon.
While I wait I figured I’d go ahead and replace the fluids and such. I was kinda bored so instead of buying a nipple and elbow to screw into the oil drain I mitered a piece of pipe and welded up my own 90. Pic attached. Refilled her with Deere break in plus oil and flushed the coolant system out and refilled it wirh red HD diesel truck ELC.
While I’m waiting on the new batteries I temporarily hooked up two bigger truck batteries and sat them beside the unit. After making sure all the fluids were topped off, I turned her on and she instantly fired up! I Only ran it for a few minutes as I want to get a load bank set up so I can see what she really does. I did check voltages across all the lugs and it’s producing the correct voltage, so that’s a plus.

Stay tuned for more installments, and feel free to chime in with any suggestions or criticisms!
 

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Abrant23

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Oh, I guess I could also post the work I did on straightening out the panels. Our press brake did a number on em with the assistance of some foam.

Also, I’m in the beginning stages of building a 50 gallon fuel tank inside a 2x2x1/4” wall square aluminum frame for the genny to sit on top of, which will be bolted down to a concrete pad. Pics attached.
 

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Abrant23

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I have eight 1040's which all run great. We've had good luck with all the units we have. Very dependable and when load banked will consistently push more than rated kw.
Do your units run a little “rough” for a minute or so before settling into a pur once they kick into generating mode? I haven’t ran it much but it seems mine does. Didn’t know if that was typical.
 

Mustangsud

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Do your units run a little “rough” for a minute or so before settling into a pur once they kick into generating mode? I haven’t ran it much but it seems mine does. Didn’t know if that was typical.


Do your units run a little “rough” for a minute or so before settling into a pur once they kick into generating mode? I haven’t ran it much but it seems mine does. Didn’t know if that was typical.
I've not noticed that on ours. We make it a practice to let all our gens run 5 min before closing the contactor button
 
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Abrant23

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How did the pickup in GA go? Pretty simple process? I was watching that auction as well, congratulations on the unit!
I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. I called a day in advance and scheduled the pickup. When I arrived they had already moved the unit right up front by the gate. Soon as I pulled in a guy on a forklift came up and all I had to do was show him the release form I printed and brought with me, and he loaded the unit right up. Easy as pie.
 

Abrant23

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The painter at work (who ironically used to paint military vehicles at General Dynamics) sprayed a nice coat of military green on the auxiliary fuel tank for the 1040 today, followed by 3 coats of flat clear. I can’t wait to put it all together and then bolt the gen set on top of it! It came out fantastic.
 

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EmbarkChief

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Looking good! I have a question that I can’t seem to find an answer to online. How wide is the unit with the side doors open? Or how wide is the side door(s) by itself? I’m trying to calculate slab and clearance dimms.
 

Abrant23

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Looking good! I have a question that I can’t seem to find an answer to online. How wide is the unit with the side doors open? Or how wide is the side door(s) by itself? I’m trying to calculate slab and clearance dimms.
I can measure next time I’m at the shop.
 

Abrant23

Active member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
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Location
Charleston, SC
Looking good! I have a question that I can’t seem to find an answer to online. How wide is the unit with the side doors open? Or how wide is the side door(s) by itself? I’m trying to calculate slab and clearance dimms.
The doors add an additional 18” of width to the unit on each side when opened.
 

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sliderhd

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Where you at? I'm close to Vidalia. I have a load bank that loads my MEP-803 to 97%. Personally I like the 1040s. Then again I work on two generators that output 920MWs each.
 

fuzzytoaster

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The painter at work (who ironically used to paint military vehicles at General Dynamics) sprayed a nice coat of military green on the auxiliary fuel tank for the 1040 today, followed by 3 coats of flat clear. I can’t wait to put it all together and then bolt the gen set on top of it! It came out fantastic.
What paint did he use? It looks good.
 
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