The ebay generator restoration thread

[guindilias]

dhutch said:

Ah right, fair enough. Makes sense.

We have an old coach alternator on the narrowboat (24vdc) which has a field coil, alternator lamp, and it own 'ignition switch' as the engine doesn't have one. However you never have turn on said switch as it always self-excites itself. Which is sort of the complete opposite of what is happening here.

Daniel

It's connected up to the battery though? It's basically being flashed every time it runs. The problem with gennies is that they don't have a battery connected up, so if they lose the coil sometimes.

[dhutch]

guindilias said:

It's connected up to the battery though? It's basically being flashed every time it runs. The problem with gennies is that they don't have a battery connected up, so if they lose the coil sometimes.

A modern self exciting alternator is, yes. But on old fashioned one with and external regaulator and alternator lamp is not, when the ignition sw is off.

I'm going off point, but yes, completely get you that there can be a boot strapping problem with an generator. Presumably more expensive ones can include a permanent magnet.

Daniel

[The Mad Monk]

Where's the OP gone?

Hasn't posted since June.

[guindilias]

dhutch said:

A modern self exciting alternator is, yes. But on old fashioned one with and external regaulator and alternator lamp is not, when the ignition sw is off.

I'm going off point, but yes, completely get you that there can be a boot strapping problem with an generator. Presumably more expensive ones can include a permanent magnet.

Daniel

Yep, you can get all sorts of cool generator alternator type stuff. I have an ancient Kohler one which has a little DC generator driven by a belt off the main shaft to excite the alternator. Some have a set of DC windings on the same shaft to make it easier, some have permanent magnets which are nice from a "won't get smoked" point of view but more expensive to buy.
I have an ancient "Dynamotor" that my grandad used to use to power his radio in the shed because he was too tight to buy batteries - it's a 12v DC motor with a little AC generator on the same shaft and an old 2-pin socket. I think it puts out
90w or something.

[tr7v8]

guindilias said:

dhutch said:

A modern self exciting alternator is, yes. But on old fashioned one with and external regaulator and alternator lamp is not, when the ignition sw is off.

I'm going off point, but yes, completely get you that there can be a boot strapping problem with an generator. Presumably more expensive ones can include a permanent magnet.

Daniel

Yep, you can get all sorts of cool generator alternator type stuff. I have an ancient Kohler one which has a little DC generator driven by a belt off the main shaft to excite the alternator. Some have a set of DC windings on the same shaft to make it easier, some have permanent magnets which are nice from a "won't get smoked" point of view but more expensive to buy.
I have an ancient "Dynamotor" that my grandad used to use to power his radio in the shed because he was too tight to buy batteries - it's a 12v DC motor with a little AC generator on the same shaft and an old 2-pin socket. I think it puts out
90w or something.

That last thing is a rotary inverter. Used on aircraft for years before the advent of decent semiconductors for inverters.

[guindilias]

Aye, it's a tiny little thing - open windings and all! Probably gives a nice smooth sine wave output - for my grandad's cheap radio.

Edited by guindilias on Wednesday 11th November 12:45

[dhutch]

tr7v8 said:

That last thing is a rotary inverter. Used on aircraft for years before the advent of decent semiconductors for inverters.

Plenty in old ambulances I believe also, under the passenger seat. They occasionally ended up on narrowboats.

[guindilias]

Hmm. I may have to look for one. I have enough generatory things already, but strcly that isn't a generator. That was sort of my reasoning for buying a PTO generator - I don't own anything with a PTO.
That was about 4 years ago, and the only time I've used it was when the seller was demonstrating it to prove that it worked. Looks nice though, in a sort of generator way. A handsome generator.

[dhutch]

guindilias said:

Hmm. I may have to look for one. .... my reasoning for buying a PTO generator - I don't own anything with a PTO.
...A handsome generator.

I think there are self-help groups for this sort of thing.

We've got a Honda EX1000 we use when working on the boat in remote areas, and I do have a 1971 mini digger and an urge to buy a 10kva vintage genset. But otherwise coping bravely.

Daniel

[guindilias]

I have a 3 cylinder Lister 10kw that I have absolutely no need for. I almost bought a 23kw one, but it was too large and heavy and I had too many other generators in the way. That was my only reason for not buying it - the fact that I had zero practical reason for owning it didn't put me off.

You have a digger, so why not get a PTO set? You don't have to need it, the digger bit means you must have it. I mean what use is a digger without a big generator?
They stave off power cuts, and having more than one just means you are protecting your neighbours as well. Every generator casts a sort of force field that keeps the mains supply going - the more generators you own, the larger that field grows. I'm bravely protecting half the town from power cuts.

[jet_noise]

guindilias said:

I have a 3 cylinder Lister 10kw that I have absolutely no need for. I almost bought a 23kw one, but it was too large and heavy and I had too many other generators in the way. That was my only reason for not buying it - the fact that I had zero practical reason for owning it didn't put me off.

You have a digger, so why not get a PTO set? You don't have to need it, the digger bit means you must have it. I mean what use is a digger without a big generator?
They stave off power cuts, and having more than one just means you are protecting your neighbours as well. Every generator casts a sort of force field that keeps the mains supply going - the more generators you own, the larger that field grows. I'm bravely protecting half the town from power cuts.

Civic duty discharged

[dhutch]

guindilias said:

You have a digger, so why not get a PTO set?

No PTO on the digger?

guindilias said:

I mean what use is a digger without a big generator?

Just dug the driveway out with it?

Dug the garden over with it last spring, removed a load of self seeded saplings, dead fruit tree, mature Laurel some let get the size of a small house where the hedge should have been.


Daniel

[guindilias]

That's not "use"!
"Use" is buying a 10kw genny, spending half an hour setting it up, then plugging a 60w bulb into it and having a childlike delight when it lights up. Get it bought, man!

[dhutch]

Ha. I'll think about it some more!

[littlebasher]

It's been a bit quiet in here of late, so thought I would jump in with my own genny woes.

Honda Ex1000 generator

Refuses to rev to normally running speed, hits a wall when trying to rev up and only runs at about 1000 RPM.

Governor okay, throttle fully open
Carb cleaned (but float dodgy, so floods), replaced with new carb - same issue. Revs will not increase even if i squirt flammable liquid into carb.
Exhaust not blocked (runs the same without it fitted).
Different spark plug makes no difference, good spark.
Compression reads about 100psi

So I'm at a loss! Can't see any reason why it won't run at full revs.

Can't imagine that there's something limiting RPM via the ignition, unless coil breaking down maybe.

Stumped!

[Heroin chic]

Won't run at full rpm when you override the governor?

[Heroin chic]

Also what carb did you replace the Honda one with, genuine/Chinese, and have you set it up right? Any smoke to indicate overfuelling?

[ruggedscotty]

guindilias said:

I have a 3 cylinder Lister 10kw that I have absolutely no need for. I almost bought a 23kw one, but it was too large and heavy and I had too many other generators in the way. That was my only reason for not buying it - the fact that I had zero practical reason for owning it didn't put me off.

You have a digger, so why not get a PTO set? You don't have to need it, the digger bit means you must have it. I mean what use is a digger without a big generator?
They stave off power cuts, and having more than one just means you are protecting your neighbours as well. Every generator casts a sort of force field that keeps the mains supply going - the more generators you own, the larger that field grows. I'm bravely protecting half the town from power cuts.

we have a few still in active service in the lighthouses..... built to last. used to charge batteries and to give us mains when required.

[Heroin chic]

ruggedscotty said:

we have a few still in active service in the lighthouses..... built to last. used to charge batteries and to give us mains when required.

There are 3 that I know of still on Vodafone masts as standby power - the contract is coming up soon to renew them so I hope to be able to grab one or three at auction afterwards.

[littlebasher]

Heroin chic said:

Also what carb did you replace the Honda one with, genuine/Chinese, and have you set it up right? Any smoke to indicate overfuelling?

Chinese special, all you can find for them these days

But exhibits exactly the same behaviour with both, butterfly fully open but the bd refuses to rev up.

Does behave like fuel starvation, but won't rev up even if you squirt carb cleaner in there! Something stopping it from reaching full RPM.