Your last generator Maintenance Run

   / Your last generator Maintenance Run
  • Thread Starter
#6,531  
I agree!
Prior to Y2K I bought a Generac XL4000 because it was the first small engine that I saw with an oil filter. It was quite problematic because it kept leaking oil from the oil seal between the generator. Require splitting the unit to replace seal.
New seal also leaked so another teardown😡
Put engineering hat on and found that oil pressure was causing leakage due to oil drain hole being too small causing back pressure.
Enlarged hole & problem solved.
Nice generator but thru testing I found it had more hp than electrical generating capacity.
At the rated load of 4000 watts voltage was approx 100 volts @ 60 hz.
Max load less than 3500 watts before voltage dropped below 110 volts.
This was no fluke because I tested 3 identical generators.
In my opinion any generator should be tested for proper voltage, hertz & capacity before being used.
Advertised ratings are just a sales pitch unless proven!!
I still have one because it is reliable with no leaks & I know its limits.
90cummins
First out of the gate.... any of us who have done development work, have memories of lack-of-sleep due to teething issues....

I don't think (not that my memory is faultless :cool: ) you've recounted that tale before.... after hearing of the various builds you've done, I'm not surprised to hear that you corrected the One Thing that the factory goofed on. (y) Always a shame, when everything else in a machine is Good, and there is that One Thing....

Obviously surge-rating matters, but I'm always irritated when that # is a MUCH larger text-size than the sustained rating on the small gens.

Rgds, D.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run
  • Thread Starter
#6,532  
I'm no sociologist, but I've been on this earth watching people for 50 years, and can usually see a tidal change coming at least as well as anyone else. But this whole "subscription mania" thing even has me wondering.

If the Boomers thru GenX remained the dominant force in the market, I'd say a backlash were coming, that people are going to get fed up with companies pushing subscription over ownership. But then we have these damn Millenials and younger, and I don't think they have the same attachment to owning their stuff, as we do or did. I'm not so sure they "know any better", as they've now grown up in a subscription state.

Can we blame Netflix? Blockbuster? :D
PM sent.

Rgds, D.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run
  • Thread Starter
#6,533  
Not sure about the width of your generator daugen, but something came to mind as I was killing time in Costco today....

They had Deck boxes on an end-cap, $199 CAD. A smallish gen would fit inside - OK, it's plastic (though seemingly HD for that world), and you may have to modify/hinge an end-wall to roll it in, but it might be a relatively easy way to put 4 walls and a lid around a gen.

Rgds, D.
 
Last edited:
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #6,534  
Not sure about the width of you generator daugen, but something came to mind as I was killing time in Costco today....

They had Deck boxes on an end-cap, $199 CAD. A smallish gen would fit inside - OK, it's plastic (though seemingly HD for that world), and you may have to modify/hinge an end-wall to roll it in, but it might be a relatively easy way to put 4 walls and a lid around a gen.

Rgds, D.
How about you put the lid on the ground, roll the generator on it an then put the tub over it. Set a weight on it if needed
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run
  • Thread Starter
#6,535  
Getting tire-work done @ Costco today (FYI good tire warranty.... was talking with the counter-guy, they just had a lady in with an AWD with one damaged tire. They couldn't match the exact model (NLA), so she got 4 new tires for something lke $130 CAD based on the pro-rated treadwear), I snapped this pic.

I get that an engine optimized solely for one of the other fuels might close that gap, but still, a much lower wattage, esp. on NG...

Rgds, D.
 

Attachments

  • Why_Gazoline_Feb17_24_IMG_20240217_131209111.jpg
    Why_Gazoline_Feb17_24_IMG_20240217_131209111.jpg
    1.6 MB · Views: 134
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run
  • Thread Starter
#6,536  
How about you put the lid on the ground, roll the generator on it an then put the tub over it. Set a weight on it if needed
non-linear thinker.... like it (y)

TBN generator crew... not just a bunch of pretty faces !

Rdgs, D.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #6,537  
Getting tire-work done @ Costco today (FYI good tire warranty.... was talking with the counter-guy, they just had a lady in with an AWD with one damaged tire. They couldn't match the exact model (NLA), so she got 4 new tires for something lke $130 CAD based on the pro-rated treadwear), I snapped this pic.

I get that an engine optimized solely for one of the other fuels might close that gap, but still, a much lower wattage, esp. on NG...

Rgds, D.
2000 watts more output on gasoline or 36% more usable power than propane.
that's a lot...
I'll still take propane anywhere you can't easily get E0
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #6,538  
hmmmm
that begs the question, if the same engine and generator are used and one fuel
produces more than a third less power, does that lower power rating help the engine last longer?
perhaps that's another benefit of propane, sort of derates your equipment.
Also means you have to get a bigger engine, perhaps a twin now instead of a single?
So gasoline runs "hotter", brings more energy to the party.

If I could easily get E0 like I used to be able to in NC, I wouldn't mind burning gasoline.
about the same 4 dollar a gallon price
pretty sure that's a bargain for Dave and some others.
Too bad they can't run on cheap wine, would be cheaper...probably smell better.

I wonder, if you muck up the carb on a trifuel gen using gasoline, can you switch to propane and have
it work fine? Wondering if one clogged all clogged.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run
  • Thread Starter
#6,539  
hmmmm
that begs the question, if the same engine and generator are used and one fuel
produces more than a third less power, does that lower power rating help the engine last longer?
perhaps that's another benefit of propane, sort of derates your equipment.
Also means you have to get a bigger engine, perhaps a twin now instead of a single?
So gasoline runs "hotter", brings more energy to the party.

If I could easily get E0 like I used to be able to in NC, I wouldn't mind burning gasoline.
about the same 4 dollar a gallon price
pretty sure that's a bargain for Dave and some others.
Too bad they can't run on cheap wine, would be cheaper...probably smell better.

I wonder, if you muck up the carb on a trifuel gen using gasoline, can you switch to propane and have
it work fine? Wondering if one clogged all clogged.

All else equal, higher specific output shortens the lifespan.... no free lunch.

I like the stability of propane and natgas, but you definitely have to consider the de-rate, in your load plan.

I don't know anything yet, about how vapour fuel gets injected/controlled into portable gens - obvious safe bet is never run on gasoline..... as much as I hate to type that......

Rgds, D.
 
   / Your last generator Maintenance Run #6,540  
My sons fil lives in NY and they have numerous short outages & light flickering. He has comerical
Freezers & has lost compressors at 3k each.
Aside from a large battery backup is there a solution that could shut them down when voltage drops and restart them within a set time frame providing power quality is restored??

90cummins
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2016 Ver-Mac S/A Towable Trailer Message Board (A49461)
2016 Ver-Mac S/A...
2018 Toro Grounds Master 7200 72in Zero Turn Commercial Mower (A50324)
2018 Toro Grounds...
2016 John Deere TS Gator Utility Cart (A48082)
2016 John Deere TS...
2018 PETERBILT 579 TANDEM AXLE SLEEPER (A51222)
2018 PETERBILT 579...
2000 INTERNATIONAL 4700 (INOPERABLE) (A50854)
2000 INTERNATIONAL...
Ford Super Duty 8ft. Truck Bed (A49346)
Ford Super Duty...
 
Top