Generator Cabinet Damage - Onan - Montana Owners Club

bsmeaton · 01-27-2008, 05:02 PM

UH-OH!

Onan owners - BEWARE!

Checked my batteries yesterday and noticed the inside of the door was melted. Looked further and the whole door is bowed out like a bubble!!

Turns out there is a pass through in the base of the generator for a forward tailpipe that is open to the bottom. The generator throws enough heat that it started to distort the cabinet door. Wasn't a problem on our last Montna, as the door was vented. Guess I'll have to plug it and maybe line the cabinet door with some type of heat reflective material. I think the door is salvageable.

snfexpress · 01-27-2008, 05:24 PM

Brad - sorry to see this. I know that you can make an improved repair...

Icehouse · 01-27-2008, 06:00 PM

EEE GADS, thanks for sharing. It is too late now but I will have to check to see if I have this exhaust hole in mine. I do not remember one, but then again, I have not checked my door.

ole dude · 01-28-2008, 01:24 AM

I'ma bettin you can fixit good. Darn shame it did it in the first place, don't take nutin for granted.

Redrover98 · 01-28-2008, 08:10 AM

Brad,
I installed an Onan Genset in my '08 Monty and wanted a bit more ventilation. I went to Lowes an got a louvered return air vent with the quick open filter panel. I cut out the opening in the gen compartment door and use one of the heavy blue fiber type filters. The filter is mainly to keep mud and road grime off of the generator. The color even matches the door. If you want a picture let me know.

Dee

bsmeaton · 01-28-2008, 08:24 AM

Dee,

I thought I remembered someone posting that they had put in a vent. If you could PM me or post the pic that would be great.

I was kind of enjoying not having the vent like our old Monty, but if this other fix doesn't take care of the problem, it's getting a vent.

Redrover98 · 01-28-2008, 11:28 AM

Brad,

Here are the photos. You can probably see a little surface rust on the grille after six months in the Florida Keys

http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n...=f35sec6f2.pbw

The last picture shows the fiber filter with the grille open.

bsmeaton · 01-28-2008, 01:45 PM

Thanks Dee,
Love that flooring!

Mudchief · 01-28-2008, 02:10 PM

Brad, this is the fix that Onan puts on all the new generators just for that problem on the new Montana's. As you can see it is nothing more than foil tape. I have ran mine in some really hot weather without any problem.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=208u0r9&s=3

bsmeaton · 01-28-2008, 02:15 PM

Thanks Dennis! I'm going to stop in at Cummins this week to get the fix. For some reason I thought your fix was down below with a deflector?

Mudchief · 01-28-2008, 02:32 PM

Brad, that was a different problem down below. That was when the hot air was being sucked back into the intake because of no deflector shield.

dwstockman · 01-28-2008, 04:10 PM

Brad,
In addition to the opening that you noticed, there is also another vent opening on the back of the generator as well. I was concerned that the tape would eventually peel off and opted to use an expanding foam sealant to fill the holes. I was able to gain access to the holes by removing the tailpipe from the muffler and spraying a little at a time to fill the cavities. Plugging all of the holes dramatically reduced the temp in the gen compartment.

bsmeaton · 01-28-2008, 04:13 PM

Thanks for the info DW! I was afraid somebody might say that. I just had a feeling if there was a hole in the front, there might be one in the back.

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