Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Gale Hawkins]

We need to fire up the generator over the long weekend. Tried to fire up the 1992 gen set in the old MH Saturday but fire coming from plug wires.

 

[cowpie1]

The box for my Yamaha was made to order. The outfit that made it custom makes boxes for just about any portable generator., most standard portable generator models they already have all the specs they need to make the box. Others, they have a custom spec page where you can lay out dimensions and such. I don't have an hour meter on my Yamaha. Thought about it, but I just keep a log with a running tally in the truck whenever I run the generator. The same journal I use for the generator is the same one I use to write down fueling for the truck that I later put into my spreadsheets, so it is not at risk of getting misplaced or lost.

The outfit that did my generator box.... Auxiliary Fuel Tank, Marine Fuel Tank, Custom Fuel TankHome Page

Here is their gallery page showing different boxes and how they are mounted. I sent them the same pics I posted here and they stuck them on that page. They seem to have a slow server, so be patient on photos showing.

Photo Gallery

 

[3930dave]

Howdy,
OK, we had a cold snap for a little while, then we just passed a hot snap. The snow is expected, so it was time....
OK, drained out gasoline from all generators, filled the truck up. Went and got fresh 100% gasoline, added stabil, filled all generators. Ran each generator for approx. 30 minutes with load. (2 x 1500 oil filled heaters)

Generators all ran fine, fresh gasoline, oil was changed during spring with now being only about 2 hours usage.

PTO generator was checked, pto shaft was greased, ready to go.

Well, your neighbours should thank you !

Based on the Anti-Murphy Law, with all that prep work done, your local grid won't go down all Winter :thumbsup: .

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

We need to fire up the generator over the long weekend. Tried to fire up the 1992 gen set in the old MH Saturday but fire coming from plug wires.

Meaning the wires are arcing to ground ? Was that the MH gen you changed plugs in, or a different one Gale ?

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

The box for my Yamaha was made to order. The outfit that made it custom makes boxes for just about any portable generator., most standard portable generator models they already have all the specs they need to make the box. Others, they have a custom spec page where you can lay out dimensions and such. I don't have an hour meter on my Yamaha. Thought about it, but I just keep a log with a running tally in the truck whenever I run the generator. The same journal I use for the generator is the same one I use to write down fueling for the truck that I later put into my spreadsheets, so it is not at risk of getting misplaced or lost.

The outfit that did my generator box.... Auxiliary Fuel Tank, Marine Fuel Tank, Custom Fuel TankHome Page

Here is their gallery page showing different boxes and how they are mounted. I sent them the same pics I posted here and they stuck them on that page. They seem to have a slow server, so be patient on photos showing.

Photo Gallery

Thanks for the link, I'm sure others here will appreciate it too.

Sounds like you are the only operator of your truck, so your gen hours will be easy to track. I think Briggs sells their vibration sensing hour meter (3600rpm divides nicely to get 60) separately, but a "problem" with Japanese designed motors is there may not be enough vibration to sense !

Photos seemed to load OK tonight.

Rgds, D.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Meaning the wires are arcing to ground ? Was that the MH gen you changed plugs in, or a different one Gale ?

Rgds, D.

I should have typed NO spark was coming from the spark plug end of the wire. I put a screw driver into the metal clip and held the steel part while grounding the same hand on the generator. We put new plugs in this Kohler 5000 Confidant generator the last time we ran it about a year ago and it was starting fine.

Hopefully it is a faulty switch/relay keeping the coil grounded. It is not on a sliding tray and weights about 275 pounds and I do not want to have to pull it but may have to just to get the skin off if I can not get it to firing. It is to be about 60 Sat/Sun so I will get the son to help me look at it again. May have to put on the chain on forks and pull it out but I hope not.

The 454 engine is running super great. Before I started it up I cleaned the breather box and do out a dirt dauber nest and blew out the air filter that needs to be replaced sooner than later. While I was messing with the generator it 454 ran for about two hours with the dash air on high and with the dog house off so that heat keep the AC working hard. The wind was just right so the engine heat was coming out under the genset keeping me warm. I did shift from R-N-D and back about a dozen times after the ATF got up to about 120F to help the transmission seals, etc. but we need to get it out for a run to work some oil in the tires out to the surface.

I really want to get the genset running. Even if we do not use it I want it working. At least it is ready to drive by just turning the key which is important since it is parked next to the house.

 

[3930dave]

I should have typed NO spark was coming from the spark plug end of the wire. I put a screw driver into the metal clip and held the steel part while grounding the same hand on the generator. We put new plugs in this Kohler 5000 Confidant generator the last time we ran it about a year ago and it was starting fine.

Hopefully it is a faulty switch/relay keeping the coil grounded. It is not on a sliding tray and weights about 275 pounds and I do not want to have to pull it but may have to just to get the skin off if I can not get it to firing. It is to be about 60 Sat/Sun so I will get the son to help me look at it again. May have to put on the chain on forks and pull it out but I hope not.

The 454 engine is running super great. Before I started it up I cleaned the breather box and do out a dirt dauber nest and blew out the air filter that needs to be replaced sooner than later. While I was messing with the generator it 454 ran for about two hours with the dash air on high and with the dog house off so that heat keep the AC working hard. The wind was just right so the engine heat was coming out under the genset keeping me warm. I did shift from R-N-D and back about a dozen times after the ATF got up to about 120F to help the transmission seals, etc. but we need to get it out for a run to work some oil in the tires out to the surface.

I really want to get the genset running. Even if we do not use it I want it working. At least it is ready to drive by just turning the key which is important since it is parked next to the house.

I remember you changing the plugs in that gen; it sounded like it was purring along just fine back then. There's been a few of those "Glad I found this out, before I really needed it" examples in this thread.

Here's hoping it is an easy fix, and that you don't have to pull the whole thing out.

Eng and Trans on the MH will like that heat run, but yeah, most tires don't like sitting for long stretches. In that area, I'm thankful for non-pneumatic tires on my portable gens.

Good luck Gale, and let us know how that turns out...

Rgds, D.

 

[George2615]

I run my generator / welder at least once a month. Most times I run it for a small welding job just to keep it ready to go. I don't put a lot of hours on it but change the oil and filter annually.

 

[3930dave]

I run my generator / welder at least once a month. Most times I run it for a small welding job just to keep it ready to go. I don't put a lot of hours on it but change the oil and filter annually.

Once a month is a nice interval. This thread has helped me get closer to the every 3 months target I had, so I'm making progress !

A lot of equipment manufacturers won't spec oil intervals past one year, so that's a safe #.

Rgds, D.

 

[George2615]

Once a month is a nice interval. This thread has helped me get closer to the every 3 months target I had, so I'm making progress !

A lot of equipment manufacturers won't spec oil intervals past one year, so that's a safe #.

Rgds, D.

If mine was just a generator I'd probably do 3 mo. intervals.