Re commissioning a diesel generator

[Chispas]

Ive been asked to price some construction work for a friend at their holiday property. It has solar but also a Aurora AGi6500SDE, a 400 cc single cylinder diesel, which would mean not having to bring my own on to site. The problem is that it's been sitting for almost 10 years without a start. Its a very low hours unit, the owner said it had been barely run in 7 then the battery went flat. Another battery was fitted & it cranked but didn't start. It's hard-wired to the AIO on the solar PV system.
So, I thought I would suggest that its looked at with a view to getting it running. My I plan is to change the oil & clean the filter, new fuel filter, get rid of the old diesel, turn it over with a bar, stick a battery on & give it a go.
Anything im missing here ?

 

[BentleyJ]

After that length of time the injector should be replaced and the fuel system should be flushed completely before installing the new filter and reconnecting to the new injector.

 

[bolhuijo]

One of my time killers is to watch almost any "will it start" video on YT. I have learned so much about old diesel engines from that, which is funny because I will never work on one in real life.

 

[Chispas]

After that length of time the injector should be replaced and the fuel system should be flushed completely before installing the new filter and reconnecting to the new injector.

What’s the reasoning behind replacing the injector? Seals hardened?
Flushing? Maybe rinse the tank & fuel pipes with petrol or kerosene?

 

[455dan]

What’s the reasoning behind replacing the injector? Seals hardened?
Flushing? Maybe rinse the tank & fuel pipes with petrol or kerosene?

bought a few diesels that sat longer than that and were high hour machines. Replace the filters, engine oil, diesel fuel, and bleed the system right through the injector.

If any water got down the intake or exhaust you could have valves that are not seating/sealing well- killing the cranking cylinder pressure and since diesels are heat engines they need good cylinder pressure usually 350-500 psi, faster cranking speed will also help. They should of Hand turned the crank first to make sure piston rings are not stuck to the cylinder wall, don't want to and hope they didn't break a ring. That said I would bet on the injection system just needing a reprime. Got to have good fuel flow to the pump and then spray at the injector when cranking.

ps. check to see if the injection pump has a mechanical hand primer. Generally a round disc that unscrews vertically from the injection pump and is spring loaded, if it does pump it up and then screw it back down. Also some pumps have an oil reservoir, vs. pressurized engine oil, if so make sure the sump has oil to the check plug. Hope this helps.

 

[skyking1]

OP, your intitial post covered the basics. It will likely run and then you can look it over for any egregious oil leaks or fuel leaks.
Best thing you can do for this engine is to run it. You may save it.

 

[Backyard]

Might be worth pulling the glow plugs if it has any, or injectors if it doesn't and squatting some motor oil into the cylinders to help lubricate it since it will likely be very dry having sat for so long. Will also help with compression to get it started. Don't use ether to get it going if it's having trouble. WD-40, silicone spray or even a small squirt of gasoline is much preferred over ether for a diesel engine

 

[skyking1]

It's one of those single cylinder cubes like this, 3600 RPM. They need a fresh battery to turn over and the cables cleaned up, etc.

 

[seneysolar]

Ive been asked to price some construction work for a friend at their holiday property. It has solar but also a Aurora AGi6500SDE, a 400 cc single cylinder diesel, which would mean not having to bring my own on to site. The problem is that it's been sitting for almost 10 years without a start. Its a very low hours unit, the owner said it had been barely run in 7 then the battery went flat. Another battery was fitted & it cranked but didn't start. It's hard-wired to the AIO on the solar PV system.
So, I thought I would suggest that its looked at with a view to getting it running. My I plan is to change the oil & clean the filter, new fuel filter, get rid of the old diesel, turn it over with a bar, stick a battery on & give it a go.
Anything im missing here ?

If changing the fuel filter, dont install it dry. I fill mine with transmission fluid for the first start. The injection system will thank you.
If the diesel is dark, get rid of every drop. It should be clear/green/red. Black is death! (Microbial growth that will plug up everything)

Your first tank of diesel could include a hevy mix of 2 cycle oil. 50:1 is good.

 

[Backyard]

It's one of those single cylinder cubes like this, 3600 RPM. They need a fresh battery to turn over and the cables cleaned up, etc.

Those single cylinder diesels can be hard to start when cold. You might want to pull the air filter and feed it hot air from a hair dryer or heat gun when cranking it over

I'd still squirt a little oil into the cylinder before turning it over.

Crack the fuel line a little on the injector to purge any air and get any old diesel out

 

[doing it different]

That generator kinda looks like it has the yanmar or Chinese knock off engine. Change oil. Those basically have a screen for an oil filter. And
They have a decompression on the top of the valve cover. Might be hard to get to in the silent pac . But those engines will always start. If it was put away running... I have a Chinese knockoff one but have worked on Myanmar's as well. And they are amazing and simple engines. Just keep the oil changes regular. 15w40 conventional oil.

 

[dopeassjackson]

If it was mine I wouldnt change anything until you get it running. Just check fuel condition and prime the fuel system assuming it has engine oil. Changing liquids and parts that arnt bad wont make it start or produce power. All it takes is a rodent getting into some obsolete electrical part and the whole unit is scrap.

I own a mep802a and only start it 1x a year. Still has fuel from 3/2020 in it and ran just fine 2 months ago. Mechanically I ejected diesels arnt like owning a carb.

 

[Chispas]

If it was mine I wouldnt change anything until you get it running. Just check fuel condition and prime the fuel system assuming it has engine oil. Changing liquids and parts that arnt bad wont make it start or produce power. All it takes is a rodent getting into some obsolete electrical part and the whole unit is scrap.

I own a mep802a and only start it 1x a year. Still has fuel from 3/2020 in it and ran just fine 2 months ago. Mechanically I ejected diesels arnt like owning a carb.

SOP to change the old oil on any engine that's been standing for 10 years. No, doing this won't make it start but could cause damage.

 

[Chispas]

Those single cylinder diesels can be hard to start when cold. You might want to pull the air filter and feed it hot air from a hair dryer or heat gun when cranking it over

That's a great tip, but it was 24c here today & its got glo plugs. As a kid, I remember the (really) cold starting procedure for the Ford Transit my dad had from work. I would stand in front of the steering wheel, I was too small to reach anything seated. Dad would take off the air filter & hold a rag soaked in gasoline on a wire coat hanger, at arm's length. He would light the rag & shout turn it over & I would crank & pump the accelerator pedal. Sometimes, it started

 

[Chispas]

If changing the fuel filter, dont install it dry. I fill mine with transmission fluid for the first start. The injection system will thank you.
If the diesel is dark, get rid of every drop. It should be clear/green/red. Black is death! (Microbial growth that will plug up everything)

Your first tank of diesel could include a hevy mix of 2 cycle oil. 50:1 is good.

Good info, thanks for that. The fuel companies round here always wait until the first heavy frost before dosing the Diesel with anti waxing additive so I tend to add some 50:1 mix to the fleet when it gets cold. Modern low sulphur diesel isn't kind to old injector pumps, & some on Landcruiser forums swear by adding a bit of mix now & then.

 

[Chispas]

It's one of those single cylinder cubes like this, 3600 RPM. They need a fresh battery to turn over and the cables cleaned up, etc.

Yep, that's the one, a very nice piece of kit.It would be a shame to see it abandoned.

 

[Chispas]

Might be hard to get to in the silent pac

Yeah, I think that's why the non start issue wasn't investigated further. I f you have a week's holiday in your Spanish property, I imagine that last thing you want to do is spend time on your knees trying to get a back up generator started.

 

[Chispas]

ps. check to see if the injection pump has a mechanical hand primer. Generally a round disc that unscrews vertically from the injection pump and is spring loaded, if it does pump it up and then screw it back down. Also some pumps have an oil reservoir, vs. pressurized engine oil, if so make sure the sump has oil to the check plug. Hope this helps.

No, there is no hand primer, just bleed screws on the fuel filter. I dont have any experience with single cylinder diesels but with gravity fed fuel from the tank above & electric start I htink it should be ok ? and yeah, every bit helps, thanks.

 

[Chispas]

Might be worth pulling the glow plugs if it has any, or injectors if it doesn't and squatting some motor oil into the cylinders to help lubricate it since it will likely be very dry having sat for so long. Will also help with compression to get it started. Don't use ether to get it going if it's having trouble. WD-40, silicone spray or even a small squirt of gasoline is much preferred over ether for a diesel engine

Yes that's the bit I didn't think about ! In the good ole days we used 3 in 1 oil, basically WD40 without the aerosol. The old easy start, ether, has turned many a decent engine into a junkie because of easily fixable starting problems.

 

[Chispas]

Thanks for all the replies, every day on this forum is a school day ! Im going over there on Friday & ill find out what they want to do with it. Im hoping they will want to get it up & running, even if it's with view to selling. As a backup for a solar battery bank of that size, it's, complete overkill, which makes me think if cold stacking is the problem?

 

[skyking1]

Doubtful. Flat battery and then left sit until something dried out or the fuel got bad. a little air in the wrong spot and nobody handy with a wrench, etc. Hoping it's that simple for you.
Here is a picture of a little air in the wrong spot. Filters were plugged due to lack of changing or sumping, bad on me, so I got to surf the counterweight and run that plunger pump to get it going.

 

[Chispas]

Doubtful. Flat battery and then left sit until something dried out or the fuel got bad. a little air in the wrong spot and nobody handy with a wrench, etc. Hoping it's that simple for you.

Yep, I hope it’s simple. Dried out seals & sucking air is possible. Yeah doubtful if cold stacking is the cause with so few hours.

 

[dopeassjackson]

SOP to change the old oil on any engine that's been standing for 10 years. No, doing this won't make it start but could cause damage.

If the oil dosnt have water in it how would not having fresh oil damage anything? If it does have water in it the engine isnt long for this world.

 

[Chispas]

If the oil dosnt have water in it how would not having fresh oil damage anything? If it does have water in it the engine isnt long for this world.

My understanding is that oil breaks down over time in the engine. It’s no big deal to change the oil.

 

[Backyard]

My understanding is that oil breaks down over time in the engine. It’s no big deal to change the oil.

That's correct. But your previous post may have a typo in it and it sounds like you are refuting it and saying it will cause damage if you change the oil.

Possibly you ment to say "not" instead of "no,"