MEP 831 FAQ for owners or potential buyers

[two.fiveM35]

In the first post, it says the motor holds a little over a GALLON of oil, but the TM's say it holds 1.2 QUARTS. For those of you that have changed oil, which is it? Thanks

 

[DieselAddict]

Quarts. Not gallons.

 

[dav5]

Well another tale of woe. My original controller was dialed in so it idled at 176VAC and was at 196VAC [A-B] when load was applied. It worked fine for awhile until it started surging. So I installed a new $341 controller and fired up the generator. It ran at no load with the target spacing at 5/16" but over 2-3 minutes the space widened to 1 3/4". A-B was 209VAC and was totally unresponsive to adjustment with the speed screw. F-G was 28VDC, J-H was 26.9 VDC, D-E was 0. I applied load and the engine sound changed but the readings were the same except D-E was 4.8VDC.
I decided to switch the new controller to my 831A that works perfectly. I got the same result. It only ran at high speed and could not be controlled with the speed screw. My question is am I jinxed and got a bad new controller or am I missing something simple here. Thanks Ted

 

[Dwnorton1]

Symptoms sound like new controller is bad. I was hoping yours new one would work flawlessly as I was about to order one myself as the one that was out of adjustment on speed pot failed. No output to electronic governor. J&H outputs range should be in the 4-11vdc area. I have a bad controller that is outputting the same as your new one. Engine runs at full speed. What did GAC say about it?

 

[Hammond Charlie]

Guys... you all have been great. The control instructions received are on target. These are nifty units.

Put them under 3000wat load for better than a half hour.... no problem!


Here's the current problem...

Purchased 3 units, two are running well, the third appears to have a surging issue, someone tore into it to solve the problem, but that for later.

I installed 2 12v motorcycle bats, with a 24v solar panel with digital voltage read out regulator. When operating one unit, reading the digital voltage, I see the voltage fluctuate 1 or 2 v as a result of the 831a charging the bat. The second unit when operating does not register a change in voltage. Opened the (battery) voltage regulator, apparently there is a bubble (heat affected) in a 5w 10012 resistor.

I swapped out battery regulators with the other unit not working... that's when I found the heat affected resistor with a bubble. Sitting here typing, I should have opened both regulators up, but I didn't. That will be done another day.

Here's the questions:
Solution 1: I've been looking for the gen set voltage input to the voltage regulator... if this is only a battery regulator, almost any 24v battery regulator may work, but I was looking for the regulator voltage input in the TM. Appears to be 24 +/- volts... if someone out there could confirm voltage and the idea almost any 24v regulator might work.

Solution 2: Solder in a replacement resistor for the 5w 10012 resistor. Here's my lack of knowledge... from a net search it appears a replacement resistor may now be ceramic/cement...... would that matter? Also a lot of the resistors found are the small ones, which most likely won't handle 5 w.

Solution 3: just buy a couple of regulators found on ebay.

What do you folks who have more experience on this think?

Thanks.
Any other things I'm missing?

 

[dav5]

Symptoms sound like new controller is bad. I was hoping yours new one would work flawlessly as I was about to order one myself as the one that was out of adjustment on speed pot failed. No output to electronic governor. J&H outputs range is in the 4-11vdc area. I have a bad controller that is outputting the same as your new one. Engine runs at full speed. What did GAC say about it?

I wasn't able to get in touch with GAC today. I will try again tomorrow and let you know.

 

[dav5]

Symptoms sound like new controller is bad. I was hoping yours new one would work flawlessly as I was about to order one myself as the one that was out of adjustment on speed pot failed. No output to electronic governor. J&H outputs range is in the 4-11vdc area. I have a bad controller that is outputting the same as your new one. Engine runs at full speed. What did GAC say about it?

Hi Delbert, I called GAC. I was transferred to Dave and he says it sounds like it is defective. He had me send them an email requesting an RMA authorization [return authorization]. I don't think there will be a problem it looks like the warranty is for 2 years. Very nice people!

 

[Dwnorton1]

Thanks for update. I do like the sound of the warranty. I suspect the issue with these governor, other than electronic failures, is due to people "adjusting" the pots. I noticed that the screw-slots are pretty torn up on the unit that I just had flake out. You can just place screwdriver in slot and effect the settings(without turning screw). This would indicate to me that the threads which are most likely plastic, are stripped out or the pot is just otherwise broken.

 

[dav5]

Yah I agree. Both of the controllers I had problems with were pretty chewed up too. The speed screw on all of the controllers I have, even the good ones, don't seem to have a stop on either end of the adjusting range. I worry about turning it too far either way but I assume if it was working properly and the speed responded as it should that wouldn't be a problem.

 

[DieselAddict]

You shouldn't damage the multi-turn pots by turning them too far. The adjuster will just slip off the threads at the end. They have a little spring clip to keep it pushed up against the treads so it will catch when you turn it back the other way.

The real issue is knowing when that has happens so you stop turning it. You could be out there all day and wonder why you've not hit the stop yet.

 

[Guyfang]

Indeed, I seem to remember the pots being called "endless adjustment pots" about 30 years ago. I always assumed that was the case.

 

[donkeyrancher]

Ted, I have several parts generators. I can provide just about any part needed--fuel cap is $20.

 

[dav5]

Thanks buddy I will keep that in mind I appreciate the offer. Dwnorton1 was generous enough to supply me with one.

 

[Guyfang]

Hey, I talked with someone in a PM, who has a problem with his 831. He thinks K8 is not working. Has anyone tried to take a A8 apart and look at the darn thing?

 

[dav5]

Symptoms sound like new controller is bad. I was hoping yours new one would work flawlessly as I was about to order one myself as the one that was out of adjustment on speed pot failed. No output to electronic governor. J&H outputs range should be in the 4-11vdc area. I have a bad controller that is outputting the same as your new one. Engine runs at full speed. What did GAC say about it?

Just an update. I received a replacement speed controller from GAC with a note that said they couldn't find anything wrong with the original but as a courtesy they were sending a replacement. I installed it and 2 minutes later it was set to specs and running like a champ. It was so nice to have a cotroller that responded just like the TM said it should when I adjusted it!!! My take on this experience is that the people at GAC are very nice and more than willing to accomodate. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one. I spent hours trying to adjust the speed, gain, stability, boost and magnet with the old controller. With the new controller I just followed the set up and adjustment instructions that Guyfang posted and I was done.

 

[Dwnorton1]

Hey, I talked with someone in a PM, who has a problem with his 831. He thinks K8 is not working. Has anyone tried to take a A8 apart and look at the darn thing?

First thing I think of when someone has issue with this K8 relay. is the relay installed in K15 starter lockout a 120vac coil? Nearly every unit has a K14 24vdc and K15 120vac relays in swapped location Here are pics of A8 burnt internals.




Here are pics of second gen I bought from auction with relays in swapped location.

 

[Guyfang]

The main reason this happens is because if you look in the parts manual, the picture shows not two different relays, but just one type! People look in the book, order parts and stick them in. The second reason is because the darn things look alike. And the problem is through the whole TQG fleet.

 

[rockandsoul]

Diesel Addict,

Do you know if you can buy the bottom clear plastic portion of this fuel filter assembly by itself?

I've got three of the MEP-831A that i'm beginning to work into shape and they are all missing that piece and the filter.

 

[dav5]

I bought a new assembly and just used the bowl. It was a while ago but it seems to me the filter that came with it had a filter that was coarser than OEM so I bought separate filter canisters. They weren't that expensive. Search Parker Racor 12T on Ebay.

 

[dav5]

The parker racor replacement bowls are also on ebay but I'm not sure if they fit.