Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Industrial Toys]

A friend just bought a lister/stamford 5K or so genset that came out of a coastguard light house for backup only. It had a forty gallon (engine) oil reservoir. He claims, it is designed never to have the oil changed over the life of the unit.

Probably just a diode gone in the gen-end, but they took the thing out with a helicopter. Probably put in some computerized JUNK!

 

[3930dave]

A friend just bought a lister/stamford 5K or so genset that came out of a coastguard light house for backup only. It had a forty gallon (engine) oil reservoir. He claims, it is designed never to have the oil changed over the life of the unit.

Sounds about right, that's a swimming pool of oil for that size of gen.

Big sumps make a difference, just like on medium-duty + trucks. That is one thing I like on many (even gasoline) euro cars - big sumps are often used.

Can't recall if I've posted this here already (blame it on a long day ) , this is another good example of a small engine + big sump.

I know someone who was around when a major AC company was doing similar prototypes - efficiency numbers were impressive on Natgas.

View attachment Marathon.pdf

Rgds, D.

 

[nikdfish]

Date: Dec 13 2016

Generator: Champion 7K dual fuel

Activity: Ran 2 1.5KW milk house heaters (one each leg) 15 min + ran 15A battery charger to top off solar panel deep cycle battery for 1 hour.

Fueling notes: Used propane w/10' extension hose from bottle. No frost noted on bottle or regulator.

Maintenance notes: Started w/battery, oil OK, total hours=32, verified fuel bowl empty.

Nick

 

[3930dave]

Date: Dec 13 2016

Generator: Champion 7K dual fuel

Activity: Ran 2 1.5KW milk house heaters (one each leg) 15 min + ran 15A battery charger to top off solar panel deep cycle battery for 1 hour.

Fueling notes: Used propane w/10' extension hose from bottle. No frost noted on bottle or regulator.

Maintenance notes: Started w/battery, oil OK, total hours=32, verified fuel bowl empty.

Nick

For me, about the only drawback to propane is very low temp operation..... though not much of an issue down your way Nick. Burns clean, and stores well; gotta like it. Still haven't seen your dual fuel Champion model up here yet....

Rgds, D.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Saturday while temps were 73F I got some gas for the generator and put another battery on it before the temps dropped 54 degrees. Thankfully we did not need it but when it was raining at 33F I was glad I had sweated getting it fueled and tested and ready for the rest of the winter hopefully. I kept a fan hooked to the generator to help move out the exhaust in an old open garage. Not much of a load test but I know it is making AC.

This fall I moved all four of our daily drivers to AGM batteries from O'Reilly's. The one on my Ford 500 car was a premium Ford battery that was only two years old per the date sticker but was not testing well on the X-Ray impedance test CCA wise so I replaced it and moved it to the 18 HP Coleman backup generator where I should be fine for a long time hopefully.

 

[k0ua]

For some folks today, if there isn't An App for That, then it won't get done....

Not for the first time this month, I'm thinking of Forrest Gump.....

Rgds, D.

Actually there is an app for that.


Oil Change Reminder - Android Apps on Google Play

 

[3930dave]

Saturday while temps were 73F I got some gas for the generator and put another battery on it before the temps dropped 54 degrees. Thankfully we did not need it but when it was raining at 33F I was glad I had sweated getting it fueled and tested and ready for the rest of the winter hopefully. I kept a fan hooked to the generator to help move out the exhaust in an old open garage. Not much of a load test but I know it is making AC.

This fall I moved all four of our daily drivers to AGM batteries from O'Reilly's. The one on my Ford 500 car was a premium Ford battery that was only two years old per the date sticker but was not testing well on the X-Ray impedance test CCA wise so I replaced it and moved it to the 18 HP Coleman backup generator where I should be fine for a long time hopefully.

There is usually another role a semi-retired auto battery can fill well..... When one battery was declining on my 7.3, I changed them both and used the healthier one on a UPS.

I'm OK with running my gens every once in a while....... keeping them limbered up often seems enough to keep Murphy away, and the grid up ! :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Actually there is an app for that.


Oil Change Reminder - Android Apps on Google Play

Might have been something else going on with my machine, but that link pulled up a strange looking page for me.... :confused3:

No matter...... Digital nagmails, phone app, notes on papyrus, something carved into a garage wall or bench... whatever works for an individual in terms of getting service done, it's all good....

This thread helps jog my memory about small-engine service, and I've really enjoyed learning about other people's systems, how they work on things, and what problems they've encountered.

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

with the exception of a snow blower, I can't think of any piece of equipment of mine that sits so long without use, and thankfully I no longer need a snow blower.
The permanent whole house gen runs every two weeks, but my small one depends upon my memory. Which leaves something to be desired.

I think it's interesting that in the manuals of several 1986 vintage engines there are instructions No Gasahol, a term I haven't heard in a long time.

 

[3930dave]

with the exception of a snow blower, I can't think of any piece of equipment of mine that sits so long without use, and thankfully I no longer need a snow blower.
The permanent whole house gen runs every two weeks, but my small one depends upon my memory. Which leaves something to be desired.

I think it's interesting that in the manuals of several 1986 vintage engines there are instructions No Gasahol, a term I haven't heard in a long time.

Many Lines (rubber) and seals back then weren't compatible with alcohol at all. Time progressed, and the material compatibility issues mostly were addressed, but the sludge/moisture/storage issues that many of us have encountered remain.

You're right daugen - that is the big conflict with portable gens..... we depend on them a lot When Things Go Bad, but most see infrequent runs.....

Rgds, D.