Damn You, Generator!

After returning from two terrific weeks of relaxation with Jessica in Florida, I have turned myself to once and for all getting Alana's generator fixed. This thing has been nothing but trouble as long as I've owned Alana; really the only disappointment I have experienced with her, and it is now time to fix it. A replacement starter should be arriving via UPS tomorrow and I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that it will cure the generator's starting problems. Charles, the Norfolk-area Panda representative, was kind enough to give me some troubleshooting hints which I used this morning. There was little voltage drop between the battery and the starter, so I am proceeding on the assumption that the starter is "tired." I'm not sure why a starter should be "tired" after less than 200 total generator hours, but it does look like it has been subjected to a good deal of salt water from a leaking fitting above the starter. I have, I think, repaired the leak and can now only hope that this new starter does the trick. If not, I'll have a spare starter and will just have to call in a pro.

Today I removed the old starter, a job which required the removal of some surrounding cabinetry, repaired the raw water leak, and now have nothing to do but wait for UPS to drop off the new starter tomorrow. I just hope the right part is delivered.