gizzyman47
Addicted Member
What an interesting thread! Man, is there nothing you can't do! You are the jack of all trades!
-
Feeling lucky? Check out the AK 24th Anniversary Giveaway thread and join in the fun!
Vintage 1973 GMC Canyon Lands Motorhome
- Thread starter Omegaman
- Start date
My work project has consumed me for months now. It is nearing completion addressing the last bugs and getting the application through certification and user acceptance testing.
It is now the cooler days and I can proceed to work on the GMC
What an awesome experience having an Onan 6k generator basically on-the-bench for me to figure out how it works.
After checking all the components and getting the exhaust parts I needed, the generator started within 10 seconds
but it only output 3 volts AC
Someone suggested checking the bridge rectifier.
Turns out it was NOT wired correctly so I fixed that
still no AC mains
Someone suggested "FLASHING THE COIL" which entails applying a battery charge to the coils, magnetizing them, for 5 seconds in a known polarity and then attaching the polarized coil to the rectifier +/-
It worked, We got power!
It runs great on the points. I'll have power even after an EMP event
So then I proceeded to install the BOVEE Electronic Ignition module that came in a box of parts with the Onan
What you do is line up 25 degrees before top dead center with a little window
A magnet has to be mounted on the flywheel vane to trigger the ignition.
The magnet HAS to approach the sensor with its SOUTH pole
I used a piece of a super magnet from a hard disk drive
I attached the magnet using the same super-strength adhesive that they use on modern deep-sea submersibles
Then mount the sensor and adjust until it triggers on the leading edge of the transition
It worked and now I have super smooth idle and excellent start, plus I can always change back to points with one wire
Finally, I painted the generator shrouds with the last of my Onan green Industrial paint
It is now the cooler days and I can proceed to work on the GMC
What an awesome experience having an Onan 6k generator basically on-the-bench for me to figure out how it works.
After checking all the components and getting the exhaust parts I needed, the generator started within 10 seconds
but it only output 3 volts AC
Someone suggested checking the bridge rectifier.
Turns out it was NOT wired correctly so I fixed that
still no AC mains
Someone suggested "FLASHING THE COIL" which entails applying a battery charge to the coils, magnetizing them, for 5 seconds in a known polarity and then attaching the polarized coil to the rectifier +/-
It worked, We got power!
It runs great on the points. I'll have power even after an EMP event
So then I proceeded to install the BOVEE Electronic Ignition module that came in a box of parts with the Onan
What you do is line up 25 degrees before top dead center with a little window
A magnet has to be mounted on the flywheel vane to trigger the ignition.
The magnet HAS to approach the sensor with its SOUTH pole
I used a piece of a super magnet from a hard disk drive
I attached the magnet using the same super-strength adhesive that they use on modern deep-sea submersibles
Then mount the sensor and adjust until it triggers on the leading edge of the transition
It worked and now I have super smooth idle and excellent start, plus I can always change back to points with one wire
Finally, I painted the generator shrouds with the last of my Onan green Industrial paint
Last edited:
Two wires + and - to the coil and ground the case. It toggles the ground to the coil. The device also has a ground wire from the case to the coil mounting bolt
This is a special setup for the Onan, the mount bracket is specific to the Onan for GMC folk
I was concerned about dwell or magnet strength, but naw, it works great. The sensor works great from a distance due to the power of the magnet
The original installer carefully marked where the magnet should go and filed a perfect groove into the vane and mounted the magnet with epoxy per the instructions. BUT they filed the groove on the WRONG side of the line. So it wouldn't work. I installed a second magnet that was in line.
This is a special setup for the Onan, the mount bracket is specific to the Onan for GMC folk
I was concerned about dwell or magnet strength, but naw, it works great. The sensor works great from a distance due to the power of the magnet
The original installer carefully marked where the magnet should go and filed a perfect groove into the vane and mounted the magnet with epoxy per the instructions. BUT they filed the groove on the WRONG side of the line. So it wouldn't work. I installed a second magnet that was in line.
Last edited:
Entrance way 2024:
The GMC Motorhome has a pseudo-aircraft type curved door.
There is only one single door for egress. In the back bedroom, there is a sticker that states to PULL CORD TO ESCAPE (4'x3' pane of glass).
Pulling this cord breaks the seal around the window allowing the rear window to fall out facilitating escape
I have never heard of anyone TESTING this function
Door keeper-open-er hook:
The GMC-Parts-R-Us folks sells this hook and catch
This official gizmo mounts tangentially to the lines of the coach
So I found this other "classier" horizontally mounted version. You know, for a lower drag coefficient
1/3rd the price, I had to buy two so I would have the matching door catch.
Now that the door will stay open....
Screen Door:
There are only a few options for a Screen door on the GMC Motorhome
The most popular seems to be the Ragusa aluminum cast screen door
looks easy, right.
The GMC Motorhome has a pseudo-aircraft type curved door.
There is only one single door for egress. In the back bedroom, there is a sticker that states to PULL CORD TO ESCAPE (4'x3' pane of glass).
Pulling this cord breaks the seal around the window allowing the rear window to fall out facilitating escape
I have never heard of anyone TESTING this function
Door keeper-open-er hook:
The GMC-Parts-R-Us folks sells this hook and catch
This official gizmo mounts tangentially to the lines of the coach
So I found this other "classier" horizontally mounted version. You know, for a lower drag coefficient
1/3rd the price, I had to buy two so I would have the matching door catch.
Now that the door will stay open....
Screen Door:
There are only a few options for a Screen door on the GMC Motorhome
The most popular seems to be the Ragusa aluminum cast screen door
looks easy, right.
Last edited:
Good deal. I remember doing a somewhat-similar thing on a VW forever ago. It had a round donut thing that went into the distributor over the points lobes, and the pickup mounted in the holes where the breaker points sat. One wire to each side of the coil, done. I had the points and the tools to install them in the glovebox the entire time I had the car just in case it ever failed. They were still there when it went away.
Also interesting that you had to polarize the mains AC side to get it to function. I remember having to do that on a car generator in order to get it to work.
Has it been load checked to verify it actually makes power and not just voltage?
Also interesting that you had to polarize the mains AC side to get it to function. I remember having to do that on a car generator in order to get it to work.
Has it been load checked to verify it actually makes power and not just voltage?
It was awesome that I knew what a bridge rectifier was and how to test it. Thanks AudioKarma
I could see that the + was swapped with one ~ so I knew something was not right.
Maybe that caused the polarity loss?
The custom GMC Onan E-Ign today sells for $175 and I got it free with the gen
Flashing the coil, definitely not in the official instructions but someone knew what to do on the GMC web site
A load test is next. I purchased a RV power box with 50/30/20 outlets and breakers.
I'm ready to get it off the pallets and onto its own mount.
Last edited:
Ragusa Screen Door:
Most important is that the door open and close with the screen door same as before screen door install
No spring-load
No flex
No binding
Cast aluminum hinge mounts cleverly uses the existing door hinges
The hinge might have cleared the door jam on a new coach, but you can see where I had to make room, tastefully
Bottom
The inside screen door hinge
Screen door closed
Note the customized "fitting" of the hinge
Screen door open
If you look carefully you can see where me and Mr. Angle-Grinder had to "accommodate" the hinge
It has to be done due to the mid-drift bulge of the Chassis and coach sag
Some in the GMC Motorhome community are reluctant to mount the screen door because it requires commitment
Most important is that the door open and close with the screen door same as before screen door install
No spring-load
No flex
No binding
Cast aluminum hinge mounts cleverly uses the existing door hinges
The hinge might have cleared the door jam on a new coach, but you can see where I had to make room, tastefully
Bottom
The inside screen door hinge
Screen door closed
Note the customized "fitting" of the hinge
Screen door open
If you look carefully you can see where me and Mr. Angle-Grinder had to "accommodate" the hinge
It has to be done due to the mid-drift bulge of the Chassis and coach sag
Some in the GMC Motorhome community are reluctant to mount the screen door because it requires commitment
Last edited:
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
I had to do the same to a brand new Coleman Advantage 7 kw portable genset that my father purchased in 1991.
It wouldn`t output until I polarized the alternator with a 6v lantern battery, per the owner manual`s instructions.
I now own the Coleman as I inherited it from my father`s estate and I chose to retain it even though I have a whole house capable auto 25kw LP fueled genset since spring 1999, for that just incase there is a failure.. Backup to the standby backup!
The electric crank Coleman still functions quite well and gets cranked and run for 20 minutes with (2) 500 watt halogen work light as a test load once a yr.
Surprised it wasn't polarized from the factory but at least they gave instructions on how to make it go. Cheaper than dealing with warranty returns.
If the bridge was hooked up wrong that may have de-polarized it. It needs steady DC to work. That fixed field spins inside of the coils around the outside to produce AC. Vary the voltage to the stator and you vary the output AC voltage. With the bridge hooked up wrong it wouldn't have gotten that.
The screen door fits nice and snug. The rubber has to be trimmed to eliminate the excess
I marked it with a pencil in the recess of the jam
Seemed reasonable to cut a $700 door seal
No turning back now
My wife can now open and close the door now with ease. (The standard to go by)
I used a sanding block to smooth the edges out, worked great
I marked it with a pencil in the recess of the jam
Seemed reasonable to cut a $700 door seal
No turning back now
My wife can now open and close the door now with ease. (The standard to go by)
I used a sanding block to smooth the edges out, worked great
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
Don`t rightly know why it wasn`t polarized from the factory, just know my father in his low eighties age and my partially paralyzed body didn`t relish lifting the heavy 2 cylinder 7 kw Coleman up back into his pickup truck to take to a service center to see why it was not outputting proper AC voltage, so to the owner`s manual trouble shooting section I went while he retrieved a 6 volt lantern battery from his 60ties era lantern flash light, and all was good afterwards following the simple procedure, which I had never had to do before in my life, or since.
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
I noticed on the coaches side door hinge from your earlier screen door fitting picture, had a broken near the bottom of the rectangle/oval shaped rubber looking body flange type seal.
Just thought to advise you Omegaman, if not noticed, thinking about water intrusion into the body`s hinge opening causing possible undesirable future corrosion issues inside, it the leaking water doesn`t drain out behind the body panel to the ground !
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
Thanks, BTW, I`ve truly enjoyed reading and following your very thoroughly detailed and amazing rework/restoration journey of this 1973 classic GM motor coach from post #1 on.
From observing your ongoing very impressive attention to correctness, & detail, I should have known you would have noticed the hinge`s body opening flange gasket partially failed condition, but felt I would be amiss, if I failed to at least bring it to your attention, nevertheless.
Keep up your stellar quality work, Sir.
Take care, Billy Ferris
Me too !!!! 
I have been following this thread from post #1 with great interest as well. I haven't commented yet because I didn't want to fill Omegaman's thread with a bunch of non helpful comments. But, now that I have broken my silence, I gotta say that I am MOST impressed with the work Omegaman has done in rescuing this motorhome
I have been following this thread from post #1 with great interest as well. I haven't commented yet because I didn't want to fill Omegaman's thread with a bunch of non helpful comments. But, now that I have broken my silence, I gotta say that I am MOST impressed with the work Omegaman has done in rescuing this motorhome
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
Yes, his (Omegaman`s) hyper detailed mind set`s endeavor with this project has been most impressive !Me too !!!!
I have been following this thread from post #1 with great interest as well. I haven't commented yet because I didn't want to fill Omegaman's thread with a bunch of non helpful comments. But, now that I have broken my silence, I gotta say that I am MOST impressed with the work Omegaman has done in rescuing this motorhome
Thanks guys. Its one of the remaining things in life that I still get a kick out of
I figured it out
It can all be explained simply as obsessive compulsion driven by naive vague idealistic expectations coupled with the self-perpetuating illusion that there is a better life waiting for me, out there. My tools are my best friend
Its a common trait
I figured it out
It can all be explained simply as obsessive compulsion driven by naive vague idealistic expectations coupled with the self-perpetuating illusion that there is a better life waiting for me, out there. My tools are my best friend
Its a common trait
Last edited:
