The best generators for EMP

[DPC]

I'm down the wabbit hole now.
Like working on the buttons that you first discovered with that girl friend..
The dirty one that let you put your hands up her skirt...

Well for me this old Onan is like a love letter to my beginnings, when this stuff was common and I fell in love with electrical equipment. ( not all just the cool stuff ).
This was stuff that required nothing of you to run but boy was it ever sweet running when you knew what you were doing.
I play around with the gov sensitivity and I have it on the verge of hunting now,.
I'm surprised to have the voltage bouncing between 130 and 118 volts no load to full load.
I'm very close to that sweet spot on the edge of stability and responsiveness, a place you can only go with a ball bearing governor ( blow me Honda this baby has actual true class A1 governance I just need to tune for it )
I need to dial the rpm back a little…

I’m looking a the plug and after some tinkering I have the heat where I want it ( an indication of timing based on points being set a little advanced of factory spec )

I texted my Dad in Florida
We discussed the amount of timing the ground strap indicated.
He comment on the cut back ground strap and said he does not recall doing that but it looked like his handy work.
I wish I had more to talk about with him than this stuff...
Sad comment on the modern age...

HA HA HA dad that was me filing that plug not you anyways....
Just a few hours ago...
But I’m really trying to get this thing dialed in tight before I get the propane in kit on it
I’m thinking about cutting .060 off the head and trying to boost the compression to about 7:1 like an AJ205 bit them I lose that multi fuel capability I talked about at the beginning of the thread.
Maybe I can buy another head on Ebay...

I wish the rest of life was a simple at working on something from 1955, as it was in 1985.... when I last puttered with this thing ( I’m better at this now, more interested in the fine tuning than the last time I had my hand up this old girls skirt…. )

Vacation is over
I go back to my job in the morning after being off for a month
Just one word to describe my feelings about it
Bugger….

No such thing as mechanic in a bottle
But the bore in this engine has indicated some blow by
This actually works….
For damaged scuffed bores, not worn rings, not much else
I follow direction for the oil but I mix some in the fuel for a few hard pulls to coat the top of the bore with rings loaded hard
Yes this product does what they claim, you can read it on a compression test and we have gone from 85 PSI to 95 almost within factory spec.

But it’s not very good in modern engines
Just stuff without oil filters
And while it’s working it’s hard on bearings so I suggest short oil change after use….

 

[DPC]

I cleaned up that air filter gas mixer and jumped from template to real plate for the suport bracket.

The ball of vinyl and cambric is something I made from scraps, a surge suppressor and small filter cap I want to try and see if I can clean up the power out this old generator to something my inverter will tolerate.

 

[DPC]

I'm struggling with generator end.
The bearing is firmly holding its place and I am going to need to make or borrow a puller to gently relieve the snag
Once off I can give all the parts a good clean ( with some dish soap and water to remove as much dust and oil as possible before I repaint it with glyptal ).

A common feature of Onan generators is the index notch on the tail bearing.
Look very carefully at this photo you can see the notch.

Onan did this because they did not want to the outer race to move and wear the end bell.
Most other electrical equipment manufactures did not care or [perhaps wanted it to move.
I don't know when they started doing this but I'm guessing its a feature with all these small sets as far back as the 50s

I am under the impression for max bearing live its better they move and slowly turn in the housing, then you get more even wear in the out race.
Its not important however this machine has low hours and never will have high hours.
Once free from the housing I am going to go in there with a knife and pop that dust shield off and clean the bearing and repack with fresh grease.
I have some poly-urea ( spelling ? ) electric motor grease from SKF I am migrating to for electric motor bearing.
But in this case I am thinking of sticking with a general purpose Moly #2 grease.
The Moly in solid form tends to stick to the races better as the oil bleeds off with time.
I don;t ever expect to go back in there after I am done and pin my hopes on the moly still being there after I an gone lol

Pulled fuel tank off,
Going to sand blast it and and solder over the joints in a final attempt to stop a fuel leak before I scrap it out and go to a fuel pump and quick connects.
The tank bracket has a crack in it, will need a weld if I use it....


Bought some paint at Cambodian tyre to try and colour match the old Onan emerald green.
Its not a very good match...

 

[DPC]

There is that notch

 

[DPC]

Armature cleaned up nicely
I’m going to let it dry in the sun

My next move will be wash the poles

Let them dry too
That bearing feels good but it’s very dry
I don’t recognize who made it

I’m not interested in popping off a dust shield today

I’ll wait a few days

 

[DPC]

The wife is watching the Broncos and Seahawks
So I will do the unthinkable and take her new hair drier outside

I just want to warm this until my hand is uncomfortable on armature and that’s good enough

Special thanks to Mr Karl Keikhaufer for over designing something to the point where it’s useful for something else

 

[DPC]

Cleaned up quite well





Still waiting fir the cleaning solvent to flash off


Cracks welded

Tank sand blasted, I’m going to try and sweat some solder into where ever the leak is next

Going to make a new exhaust from a big block Honda muffler to quiet this thing

 

[DPC]

It’s a little alarming how much oil is soaked into that pole coil
It’s greasy and a bit sticky to the touch

That’s not good
I’ll clean it one more time tomorrow

I’m using CRC Contact cleaner
It’s mostly hexane and a bit of iso alcohol
Generally this has never given me any trouble
But I think gasoline has leaked onto this coil over years
That may have damaged the insulation

I’m going test after a few days dry
I’d like to see better than 10 meg ohms at 100 volts
This is a 36 volt exciter….
Worse case it I get better than 500k I can live with that
May a good soak with some xylene thinned glyptal will help

It’s a simple pole shoe coil I could make that if I had to but I don’t want to!
This thing is old like real old
The insulation system used is very old past it’s best before on account of all the organic materials
Wood wedges cotton tape unknown type of varnish.
This material is low temperature and susceptible to damage from humidity moister really anything that might rot wood and paper when you think of it

We shall see I guess….

 

[DPC]

That’s looking a lot less oily today after a full can of contact cleaner
Few….
This is expensive
But I’ll clean it one more time and see if o can get the rest of that oil out get it before the varnish get a re coat.

 

[DPC]

Washed again

We shall see if it clean enough this time

Exhaust upgrade complete
I’m going to use this big block Honda muffler to try and hush things

Hours later most if the solvent had flashed off
But the humidity is sky high and I think it’s drying more slowly
My laundry room is well ventilated
With an exhaust fan
So I’m not worried about the hexane vapour


This is looking significantly cleaner now

Let’s see what morning brings

Morning brings a much drier cleaner looking unit

 

[DPC]

Musical interlude
I smell something stinky with Leonid....

 

[DPC]

The grease in this thing had to feel and consistency of a crusty booger
And it’s an unusual design for a seal old as Jesus
Compared to a modern 2RS bearing
But I had to be done this felt rough and dry

I poured a bit of oil to soften it up
I’ll clean and repack
I’ll try and get that cover straight and put it back in
But I am not optimistic
I’ll will remove the rubber seal and this will now be a 2Z bearing

Someday I will need to pull and replace it
But not today

 

[seneysolar]

Been watching this thread. What are your thoughts on some of the military surplus gens?
I have a 28V dc genset that i keep around for my battery bank, its a 3k unit but built very cool. Ducted fan cooling 4 cylinder. I keep Avgas in it and start it occasionally. Runs perfect.

 

[DPC]

That is an interesting thing you have there
The engine was designed at a time when it was thought that universal parts were the solution to result and renewal problem
I believe it’s a continental design made under contract by several firms in the USA

It has a reputation for noise and high fuel consumption
But it was designed to be easy to keep running under the worst conditions

 

[seneysolar]

That is an interesting thing you have there
The engine was designed at a time when it was thought that universal parts were the solution to result and renewal problem
I believe it’s a continental design made under contract by several firms in the USA

It has a reputation for noise and high fuel consumption
But it was designed to be easy to keep running under the worst conditions

The ignition is shielded. I imagine for radio noise. But I have not opened anything else up.

The data plate says Chrysler Outboard Corp. Yes, I assume a generic design that was put out to contract back in the day.

My favorite part is it being DC you can throttle it down for battery charging, obviously less output but less noise too. I use a 24V lead acid bank at camp. It just sounds like someone left their VW beetle running

 

[DPC]

I’m not real happy
The bearing is over greased and stiff

I’m m hoping the excess cooks out threw that gap where the seal was

Such is life

 

[DPC]

The ignition is shielded. I imagine for radio noise. But I have not opened anything else up.

The data plate says Chrysler Outboard Corp. Yes, I assume a generic design that was put out to contract back in the day.

My favorite part is it being DC you can throttle it down for battery charging, obviously less output but less noise too. I use a 24V lead acid bank at camp. It just sounds like someone left their VW beetle running

Chrysler marine Chrysler defence both of these were good divisions that the US gov decided Chrysler need to divest itself of in 1979.
Its a pity because the defence div yielded the Abrams tanks
Where do you think the turbine came from?


And the marine div made profitable if not a bit old simple outboards and engines...


This survivor the super bee 820 lives on as a fire pump engine.

 

[ForTheWin]

Wartching out my window
That hose come off brains one of them of they are lucky if it’s just stitches or broken teeth….

Co do kurwa!!!!!

My wife told me I'm only allowed to take pictures of people after the accidents and while the blood is still fresh...
So I deleted my photos...

Can a Pressure Washer Kill You? 6 Dangers You Should Know

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Every year hundreds of millions of americans are instantly killed by cheap plastic pressure washers and even toy water guns that were intentionally built for children. It is a silent American horror.

 

[DPC]

Every year hundreds of millions of americans are instantly killed by cheap plastic pressure washers and even toy water guns that were intentionally built for children. It is a silent American horror.

Don't screw around with leaky hydraulics or pressure washers under load.
Just common sense

 

[Crowz]

Every year hundreds of millions of americans are instantly killed by cheap plastic pressure washers and even toy water guns that were intentionally built for children. It is a silent American horror.

Yeah but a cheap plastic pressure washer can get you 8 million views on youtube and a nice paycheck to boot from it

 

[Skypower]

I’d think that EMP strong enough to damage an old style generator’s diodes would be the least of your problems. At that point it might be depolarizing your neurons. But then you wouldn’t be able to worry

 

[DPC]

I’d think that EMP strong enough to damage an old style generator’s diodes would be the least of your problems. At that point it might be depolarizing your neurons. But then you wouldn’t be able to worry

Well I don't know about Neurons and there are no diodes here.
Things to show you fellows, the inside information on antique Saturated field generators with brush type exciters.
Went off track, a little deeper than I expected.
I find I am starting to sand blast things and paint parts and this is sort of morphing in a mild patina restoration rather than just showing you that you can pull something like this from a shed after several decades and get it going again without much fuss.

 

[DPC]

I keep Avgas in it and start it occasionally. Runs perfect.

View attachment 243789

If you happen to find this product Aspen fuel in your area( try Chainsaw shops )
use this for test runs on your power equipment and then oil them up and store them high and dry.
Aspen fuel is synthetic gasoline made in an Alkylation unit.
it contains nothing that will attack soft rubber seals or hoses, no ethanol to attract water and dries up without leaving varnish.
It can also double as camping fuel because of its purity and lasts for 5 years after opening the bottle.

Use a quality fogging oil for storage between runs or a table spoon of aero oil like a #50.

 

[green mountain boys]

Where do you think the turbine came from?

The turbine engine for the first Abrams tanks were developed by Avco-Lycoming in Stratford, CT. I knew one of the project managers very well. If I remember correctly, that engine was about 1,500hp. I cannot remember if it was that engine or another turbine from another project, but a team was performing a test of a large turbine engine and someone failed to properly install part of the safety equipment. During the test the engine ran away. The engine exploded and pentrated the walls designed to contain engine failures. Large pieces of debris landed in the street and parking lot. Luckily, no one died.

 

[DPC]

M1 Abrams - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"designed by Chrysler Defense (now General Dynamics Land Systems)"

Im going on the assumption that the Chrysler turbine program was influential on the design.
By this time there had been 4 generations ( 5th in testing ) of turbine power units by Chrysler so they would have been well aware of how small a power unit could be made and had engineering people familiar with it.

My personal feeling if your going to bail out a company like that you should not divide their strengths.

I knew a instrument tech myself who worked at Orenda Iroquois engine test equip.
He was there the day one of the prototypes broke lose and wrecked the test cell in 50s

His description ( on a long car ride talking about the arrow program ) was "Bitchen"....
I still laugh when I think of that old guy...