RV Repair: onan generator in 1987 chieftain, automatic transfer switch, amp service

Question
We purchased a 1987 chieftain 33 ft about 3 years ago. At the time the owner went quickly over the generator start up and said that as far as he knew it worked fine but he never used it due to parking in RV parks all the time. The generator only has about 200 hours of use on it. We have had some surging which I read is probably due to varnishing but when we can get it to run smoothly we aren't getting any power in the coach. Also we hooked up a external generator to the coach and it blew out the power panel which we replaced. I've read about the switch but can't locate it anywhere. We park our RV on a piece of property in the mountains all summer and winter it in town. Any help would be great. Thank you

Answer
Brenda, Most times in these older coaches they had a plug near where the main shore plug comes from that you will have to plug the shore cord into. The newer ones have an automatic transfer switch in them but I doubt that the one you have does. They are easy to see as they will have both the shore power as well as the generator power wires going into it. If you don't see this check for a receptacle that the shore cord can plug in to and then plug the cord in to it. That should get you power to the coach. I have never seen one without at least one or the other and never through a switch. Usually a switch is used for 2 airs or the washer option when they have only 30 amp service. Thanks, Bill