Small engine - Remote Start capable

[3930dave]

Been searching a bit, no luck so far, so decided to ask here....

I'm looking for gas engines, will also consider diesel, propane.

Requirements:

5 to 15 hp range

Electric start (must have)

Pull start (nice to have)

Electric choke OR Fuel Injected



Basically I'm looking for something that I can remote start, without fussing with a manual choke.

I prefer a standalone engine, but will also look at a generator package.

Rgds, D.

 

[Groo]

anything can be converted to remote start, even with a choke. It just requires a solenoid to do it. I've even seen Lister diesels (not small, but in your HP range) set up for remote start on-line.

 

[3930dave]

Hi Groo,

I will be able to stumble my way through the electrical setup to control the starting motor, will only my usual pot of coffee or 2, and a tiny bit of luck.

I'm less familiar with small diesels, but for a gas motor with a manual choke, there is at least 1/3 of the year around here where you sure as h*** ain't gonna to start a cold motor w/o using the choke. (-25C or colder).

I know the Japanese are using fuel injection on gas scooter engines as small as 50cc. Probably the fastest way for me to get my hands on a small fuelly motor is to buy a wrecked scooter (note to self).

Given escalating fuel costs, and California emission regs, I'm thinking it is only a matter of time before we see fuel injected generators (first, Calif. versions) on the market.

Looking at Subaru small engines, I noticed Calif. has a 3 level rating system.

Descriptive Term.........Applicable to Emissions Durability Period

Moderate..................50 hours (engine from 0 to 80 cc)
..............................125 hours (engine greater than 80 cc)
Intermediate.............125 hours (engine from 0 to 80 cc)
..............................250 hours (engine greater than 80 cc)
Extended..................300 hours (engine from 0 to 80 cc)
..............................500 hours (engine greater than 80 cc)

I don't know yet if this is a "self-certify" rating (I wouldn't have an issue accepting Subaru's rating, PRC no-name companies, cough.... not so much.), I'll be looking for this data elsewhere.

Rgds, D.

 

[tommu56]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-gasoline-propane-conversion.html#post2250560

Here is what i put on my onan generator

onan wanted ~$400 for it

tom

 

[3930dave]

Thanks for the link Tom. I like the DIY solution that you came up with !

I've only used propane in a bbq, and torches, so have a bit to learn about small engine apps.

Q) Any comments on propane consumption rates on your conversion ?

Q) Does your Onan have an electric choke ?

I like propane and nat gas for engines, for how clean it burns. I likely won't go propane only, in consideration of emergency use.

From memory, the phase change (liquid to gas) for propane is somewhere around -40C. When Al Gore decides that we will have cold winters again, that could be an issue for me.

Rgds, D.

 

[Groo]

I think putting the works in a small shed would probably take care of your 40 below woes.

Miller sticks some EFI Kohler engines in their portable welders that double as 12kw generators. That would be about double the size of what you are looking for, but is available. I wonder if you could just govern the engine lower (you can get the separately too of course) and connecting it with some step up pulleys to a smaller generator would work for you?

 

[smiley]

Most all older electric start outboards had solenoid activated chokes.

 

[tommu56]

Thanks for the link Tom. I like the DIY solution that you came up with !

I've only used propane in a bbq, and torches, so have a bit to learn about small engine apps.

Q) Any comments on propane consumption rates on your conversion ?

Q) Does your Onan have an electric choke ?

I like propane and nat gas for engines, for how clean it burns. I likely won't go propane only, in consideration of emergency use.

From memory, the phase change (liquid to gas) for propane is somewhere around -40C. When Al Gore decides that we will have cold winters again, that could be an issue for me.

Rgds, D.

Actually my onan is gasoline.
The previous gen was a dayton with a brigs engine with a beam conversion. The beam has to see vacuum to turn on to feed fuel.
I never had to choke the propane unless it was below 32ｺ. I never worried about consumption but when it was cold I did have to have 2 100 lb tanks hooked up and on to get the surface area to make let the liquid vaporize there wasn't enough on one it would frost up.

both ran on the same remote system just wired differently

tom

 

[3930dave]

Thanks guys.

Groo - I will have a look at those Kohlers.

Smiley - good point about the outboards (esp. appreciated since I've never owned one). Got a buddy at a nearby marina, he might be able to scrounge something for me.

Tom - that is great data on tank size/operation vs. temperature. For Emergency use at home I'm fine with 100lb'ers, for mobile I think I'd have to hit the gym a bit !

Rgds, Dave.

 

[JohninCT]

Here's one

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Diesel-Engine-Electric-Start-Recoil/dp/B002G8XYUW]Amazon.com: 10 Hp Diesel Engine Electric Start Plus Recoil Start: Home Improvement[/ame]

 

[JohninCT]

Here's one

Amazon.com: 10 Hp Diesel Engine Electric Start Plus Recoil Start: Home Improvement

Sorry I realized you wanted REMOTE start

Amazon.com: Champion Power Equipment 46561 4,000 Watt 196cc 4-Stroke Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wireless Remote Electric Start: Patio, Lawn & Garden

 

[Iplayfarmer]

About the outboard motors... Most of them are made to cool the engine with water pulled from the lake. This may be an issue if you are trying to convert it for use on dry land.

 

[3930dave]

Hey, thanks for the links John.

A friend of mine has had good luck with a larger Champion.

The electric control end of things I can usually suss my way through. Tom has a good example of a general purpose remote control, at a tolerable cost - I'd be tempted to take a run at anything electric start with that.

For personal and logistics reasons, I'm not crazy about buying a PRC generator. If I'm going to go offshore, I'd likely consider a Lister clone, for non-portable use.

Before I spend money, what I really need to be comfortable with is the cold start story (-20C and lower).

I saw an Onan briefly on a 10 year old RV recently. I need to have a better look at how they are setup - there was a Summer/Winter control lever on the one I saw.

Farmer - thanks for the headsup to a non-outboard owner ! Mostly what I was thinking of was to salvage a choke solenoid from a dead outboard - there are lots of 12v solenoids around, but I like to recycle when I can (free is always good), and these ones should be an appropriate size and force level for me to use on another air cooled electric start platform.

Rgds, D.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

...
Farmer - thanks for the headsup to a non-outboard owner ! Mostly what I was thinking of was to salvage a choke solenoid from a dead outboard - there are lots of 12v solenoids around, but I like to recycle when I can (free is always good), and these ones should be an appropriate size and force level for me to use on another air cooled electric start platform.

Rgds, D.

Makes sense to me.

 

[flusher]

Been searching a bit, no luck so far, so decided to ask here....

I'm looking for gas engines, will also consider diesel, propane.

Requirements:

5 to 15 hp range

Electric start (must have)

Pull start (nice to have)

Electric choke OR Fuel Injected



Basically I'm looking for something that I can remote start, without fussing with a manual choke.

I prefer a standalone engine, but will also look at a generator package.

Rgds, D.

I bought one of those 14 hp Predator engines from Harbor Freight ($350 on sale).

Predator 420 cc OHV Horizontal Shaft Gas Engine - Certified for California

It has 3 of 4 of your requirements (no automatic choke). It's supposed to be a Honda clone.

Replaced a trashed 14 hp Tecumseh engine on my Bolens 1452 garden tractor with the Predator.

Good luck

 

[3930dave]

Hi Flusher - I hear mostly good things about the Predators. If you are going to rip off somebody's design, it might as well be Honda.

Harbor Freight may be buying in enough volume that they have a bit of say on quality with the PRC factory.

I've noticed the clones at Princess Auto (Canuck Harbour Freight) have a pretty extensive online listing for spare parts. I'd like to think that is a good thing....

If I decide on a Predator, I'll add it to my shopping list for my next drive south.

Testing a new camera, I came across a Wisconsin air cooled motor on a small shunt tractor at a marina near me. It was not a brand I knew, so did some searching....

Wisconsin Motors | Industrial Engines & Parts

The pic I took is the logo on the marinas THD model, a 2 cylinder.

Wisconsin have some neat next generation stuff, but I was pleasantly surprised that they still supply what they call their "Legacy" engines.

A 9hp air cooled motor that has a forged crank, and con rod ! For all the whining I do about product quality I owe it to the universe to find out what these are worth.

Wisconsin Motors | AENL-3 Engine Description & Specs

Rgds, D.