Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Chilliwack Murray]

Many generators and tanks are
way down inside buildings. In that case the filler and usually the vent are run to street level for fuelling.

Problems develop when you have several storeys elevation the guy on the street stops filling when the indicator says it’s full but fuel still running through hundred of feet of pipe you often end up with an overfilled tank, or worse, head pressure on a tank not rated for any pressure at all.

 

[ultrarunner]

Over filling is a problem the suppliers are well aware of subject to fines...

Not specifically generator but related... many of the marinas hand the nozzle to the boat owner and walk away... all about spills.

I did have one over fill spill years ago (Minor) and since posted large instructions to fill slowly from 3/4 to max of 7/8 and stop.

 

[downsizingnow48]

This is my Craftsman/Generac "Old Faithful". Near as I can tell it is 30-35 years old. Gets frequent use here in PG&E territory on the north coast. It always starts on the first or second pull if I can remember which way to set the choke. It is only 3500w but has 220v output so will run the well pump. It connects to a manual transfer switch that disconnects from the utility power then can run either the shop or the house. It is very loud under load.

I also got a Honda 2200 for various uses. One purpose is to run at night, just the fridge, electronics and some lamps. It will go for about 7 hours so I am thinking of getting an extended run setup to get through the hours of darkness without a fill. It connects to a generator inlet box on the side of the house, which is connected to duplex outlets on the other side of the wall. I made up a dedicated extension cord from one of my old work cords that I never use anymore. So I can set the generator 50 ft away from the house.

 

[3930dave]

This is my Craftsman/Generac "Old Faithful". Near as I can tell it is 30-35 years old. Gets frequent use here in PG&E territory on the north coast. It always starts on the first or second pull if I can remember which way to set the choke. It is only 3500w but has 220v output so will run the well pump. It connects to a manual transfer switch that disconnects from the utility power then can run either the shop or the house. It is very loud under load.

I also got a Honda 2200 for various uses. One purpose is to run at night, just the fridge, electronics and some lamps. It will go for about 7 hours so I am thinking of getting an extended run setup to get through the hours of darkness without a fill. It connects to a generator inlet box on the side of the house, which is connected to duplex outlets on the other side of the wall. I made up a dedicated extension cord from one of my old work cords that I never use anymore. So I can set the generator 50 ft away from the house.

Nice complement and setup. Interesting to see a 3500 with 220..... less common today.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Filling tanks...... weird that a society awash in "advanced" technology (and supposedly Green) has not solved these basic and widespread hydraulic issues.

Things that make you go Hmmmmmm............

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

Filling tanks...... weird that a society awash in "advanced" technology (and supposedly Green) has not solved these basic and widespread hydraulic issues.

Things that make you go Hmmmmmm............

Rgds, D.

isn't that what automatic nozzles are for? But they sure fill more than 7/8...
used to listen to a whistle

 

[3930dave]

isn't that what automatic nozzles are for? But they sure fill more than 7/8...
used to listen to a whistle

Yep, and they mostly work fine, filling up at 711 et al...... although I've seen one or 2 over the years that needed to be replaced.

My comment was related to ur and CW's points about bulk stationary tanks, esp. in vertically displaced locations. When I look at all the tech implementations in other trivial areas, I often wish the engineering time was spent elsewhere......

Rgds, D.

 

[ultrarunner]

The one and only over flow was through the vent.

The filler neck is longer and convoluted a little to make filling accessible which it is.

Things could change as the Turbo Cummins no longer meets any of the Bay Area Air Quality regulations.

600 hours on a unit in service since 1995 and looks and operates as well today as it did when new.

A friend that has since passed away came out of retirement buying emission deficient generators in Southern CA and shipping them all over the world... expertly maintained with full documentation and low hour units removed from service due to changing air regulations.

 

[3930dave]

No understanding of Embodied Energy in Cali ?

Rgds, D.

 

[90cummins]

A buddy of mine brought his new 6kw generator over for me check out for him.
Its a nice looking unit with a Honda GX390, electric & remote start.
I plugged in my large heater which has 3 settings, 3.5kw, 7kw & 10.5kw.
I have a small heater with 2 settings 1kw & 1.5
I started the generator with a 1.5kw load then added 3.5kws and ran for 20 minutes watching voltage & HZ.
Voltage was 120 but the HZ was 62 with a 5kw load so I backed the speed down to an even 60HZ.
We shut it down & changed the oil.
I showed him the metallic swirls in the oil from the break-in process.
Filled it with 5w40 rotella and ran it for an additional 45 minutes @5kw.
Everything was perfect no-load to full load.
We changed the oil again which was much cleaner and I told him another oil change after 20 hours would be my suggestion then every year.
Next test I need to do is on my 25kw PTO generator which hasn’t been run in a couple years.

90cummins