Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Blaszer]

I had another on the shelf that had given me trouble years ago and yet another that for the moment works. It just occured to me though that the issue is NOT enough current. It's twice this week, I have experienced that. I was trying to put .5 ma DC through a module with a relay that had a 12 amp rating and had very unpredictable results.

But yes. Little circuit board relay operates FORD style relay, that operates starter solenoid attached to starter motor, that switches starter motor.

Funny... Our gen runs every Sunday at 10am for 30 minutes. One morning I came out and realized it wasn't running. Had my heavy diesel mechanic friend come over and he spent a little while going through and he determined the FORD relay that acts just like you are describing had gone bad... drain BOTH batteries dead and ended up costing like $350 for two new batteries and that relay...

 

[Industrial Toys]

Those relays are ten bucks out of China on E-Bay. Might buy a couple, but will probably switch to a HD wiping contact Relay when I finally get around to putting on a Dynagen controller. In hindsight, those FORD style relays have cause me much trouble and head scratching..

 

[ultrarunner]

I found years ago a continuous duty Ford Styled solenoid solved my issues... I used it o join two 12volt batteries for more winch time.

 

[3930dave]

IT - as you alluded to, if those are new (opposed to used) Ford-style solenoids, perhaps low current is a factor :scratchchin:......

Cole Hersee is often a step above generic PRC product, and if you poke around here, may have some relevant specs:

Cole Hersee Products on Littelfuse.com - Littelfuse

Any decent automotive jobber should be able to order by the Cole H #, if not on the shelf.

Better luck coming.....

Rgds, D.

 

[not2old]

I assume the ford style relay is the same as in my 1990 f250. A few years back, I went through 4 or 5 of these in six months. I never did figure out exactly what the problem was but all were replaced under warranty and the problem finally went away.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I could use some education about the lubrication of Small Diesel Engines.

It came to light that Onan had a 5 psi oil pressure switch that would prevent the motor from starting until it saw oil pressure. It wasn't working and would prevent the engine from starting, so I bypassed it momentarily on starting, not realizing what they were attempting to do. If I install a new controller, I had no intention of doing anything like that.

How do the cylinders get lubricated anyway?

 

[3930dave]

Other than a few MC (bikes), I haven't been doing tear-downs on small engines (so far, relatively low-hours, and reasonable maintenance have kept my utility ones running fine), so your question IT deserves a better answer, but my simplistic view is:

No oil filter - may be just splash lubricated. Simplest ones may not have a pump, while basic pumps may rely on the sump to catch crud. Trying to remember the details of the centrifugal crud-catcher on an olde XL175,,,, but as that's going back to my high-school days, the image is fuzzy......

Oil filter - will need to be pressurized, so an oil pump is being driven by the crank. Oil-jets for piston cooling on the big stuff, or anything with relatively high specific-output.

My :2cents: , not worth more

Rgds, D.

 

[ultrarunner]

Hey... I still have my High School CB175 and brother had a CL175

 

[3930dave]

Hey... I still have my High School CB175 and brother had a CL175

A HS buddy of mine dropped by on his XL175, and we were shooting the breeze in my Mom's driveway. He hopped back on his bike, went to kick it over, and the pedal fell to the driveway. Starter shaft sheared off clean with the case...... bump starting it got old, so I helped him split the cases, and we got er' done.

Yep, those little old bikes have gotten real popular lately..... some of it is nostalgia, some of it is they are still as much fun as a box of puppies...

Rgds, D.

 

[Fi-Q]

I still have my 1981 XL185 in the barn. That thing was my teenage year freedom 25 years ago.... it was runnung when I parked it there 15 years ago.... haven’t touch it since, except every now and then I slowly crank it a few time. It is not seized.

Now that my kids are getting older, they keep asking me to get it out and they want to ride with me.... So I guess sooner than later I will try to get the old girl going... oh and I have 3 more XL 185 ( 1x 1981 and 2x 1987) for parts, they were beaten up no runner that I got dirt cheap back then for parts.