Your last generator Maintenance Run

[LouNY]

Another cold weather starting aid is the carefull application of a propane torch to intake manifolds,
and actually directing the flame into an intake while cranking.
Of course you may have to heat the propane first so it will vaporize.

Lou

 

[Industrial Toys]

I was thinking, for my little Yanmar Diesel. Build an insulated box to go over top, with a lightbulb and thermostat. Make sure it never gets much colder than zero, even though I know it starts much colder than that. Keep the thing dust free as a bonus.

 

[3930dave]

Another cold weather starting aid is the carefull application of a propane torch to intake manifolds,
and actually directing the flame into an intake while cranking.
Of course you may have to heat the propane first so it will vaporize.

Lou

IT brought it up recently too..... I like the propane option, but propane doesn't like the -40 daugen cited..... needs pre-heat well before that.

With carb'd cars back when, Quick Start worked when other options didn't.

Skip the Quick Start...... just spend Winter in Texas, Arizona, Florida :laughing:.....

Rgds, D.

 

[dragoneggs]

Boy this thread is 'hot' at the moment. Just happy that we haven't had any power outages since before xmas... now where is that wood? :laughing:

 

[3930dave]

I was thinking, for my little Yanmar Diesel. Build an insulated box to go over top, with a lightbulb and thermostat. Make sure it never gets much colder than zero, even though I know it starts much colder than that. Keep the thing dust free as a bonus.

Wouldn't take much light-bulb heat to make a difference....... added bonus..... that setup also would keep the mice out of the wiring, airbox....... might be worth doing, just for that security.

grs posted some application-specific ones for Generacs; I've seen some of the general purpose silicone pads from Temro, but I didn't realize how high a wattage they can hit.....

Silicone Pad Heaters - Phillips & Temro Industries

Relatively low wattage ones directly on the battery and oil pan/filter would probably be plenty of help, esp. in an insulated enclosure.

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I should make up a propane torch head with a three foot hose and some kind of clip at the end. It is always a two person operation to hold a torch into the intake and the other pulls on the starter.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Rob - you and the regulars know,,,,,, PSA is for wide-web viewers......

^ Don't run generators indoors, or near doorways, open-windows, etc.....

Rgds, D.

Where did I say to run it indoors?? DOH!! I didn't even imply it...

It's in doors to keep it warm so it will start easier! Dang, I'd think anyone and everyone would have known that is why I brought it in!

SR

 

[Industrial Toys]

Come on. It's a win-win. Genny get's nice warm air and heats the domicile with it's exhaust. I ran my 3.7 air cooled Yanmar Diesel in the open door of the garage for ten minutes and man did my clothing stink of diesel!

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Where did I say to run it indoors?? DOH!! I didn't even imply it...

It's in doors to keep it warm so it will start easier! Dang, I'd think anyone and everyone would have known that is why I brought it in!

SR

I think your post was fine and made a good point. I have thought about doing that now that we have a small on and place it where its exhaust can warm up the battery on the big one or anything that needs help starting.

The 3000 Ford does not have cold weather starting features and I have found putting a ceramic heater on low on the injector pump for an hour makes a big difference as heat also rises and warms the intake manifold. The small generator could do that on any cold engine. Thankfully before the warm up started today we never got below 14F and now are going into the 60's for a few days come Sunday before we move back to more normal winter temps. With the new puppies we will just do without the generator for a while. Hey the kids are now 21 and have wheels so I do not have to worry about them depending on me to find a warm place.

 

[goeduck]

As mentioned previously, this generator is bonded neutral, and they did it in a very annoying way. Rather than bonding at one point, EACH RECEPTACLE is bonded! That makes it more difficult to change, but easier overall since I値l never use the 14-50 outlet for anything besides powering my home. So I値l just rewire that outlet to remove the bonded neutral and leave the rest as they are.

I guess I am not understanding the issue with the nuetral and ground being bonded at the generator when the generator is powering a house and the house nuetral is bonded to ground at the house breaker panel. Is the concern that the generator sitting on the ground is creating a second ground path through the frame? I would have a hard time thinking that the ground and nuetral bond inside the generator is going to come loose if that is the concern.