Generator Clacking

OldBlackWater wrote:
I'm coming up on my fourth summer dealing with this issue on the Storm's generator. It's not pleasant driving all day in 95+ degree temps with only dash A/C and sweaty, grumpy kids riding along. Fleetwood has been great working with me and my dealer, but it's still frustrating. They've tried one thing at a time, and one of the problems is that I can't really test it until I can hit the road when temps reach the 90s. So far, we've tried the following:

1. Rerouted the exhaust toward the rear of the coach, near the motorhome's tail pipe.

2. Added sheet metal to shield heat from the V10 engine.

3. Added a vent to the compartment door with sheet metal and a rubber seal that forces the air intake to bring in outside air.

4. Earlier this year they relocated the fuel pump closer to the gas tank, mainly to get it away from the hot compartment. We'll see soon if that helps.

Have other Storm owners had this problem fully resolved? If so, what ended up working for you?

Nope, it never ended up working for me. If you could get rid of that carburetor altogether, and use fuel injection, I think that would solve the problem. This is a vapor lock problem so you've got only two solutions, 1) raise the boiling point of the fuel or 2) cool the fuel.

To raise the boiling point, make sure you've filled your tank with summer blend fuel only. Don't let your gas sit in the tank for more than 100 days as, i've heard, this will encourage separation of the fuel and alcohol. Fuel stabilizer could help.

To cool the fuel, I really like the idea of relocating the fuel pump closer to the tank. You can, and should also insulate your fuel lines. You can find fuel line wraps online or at the auto parts store. Can you put a Bakelite spacer between your carburetor and the manifold? That would help keep temps down. Finally, check the placement of the fuel filter. If it's anywhere near the engine, add some tubing and re-route it away from the manifold.