|
Post by yachtsmanwilly on Feb 21, 2014 18:20:41 GMT -5
We took the armature off the flywheel and did a little cleaning. We put it in the lathe and indicated the commutator rings. They're a little eccentric and they have spots and other "things" so we took a couple of passes with the lathe. .008" later they're true and clean. After that we polished them, working down to #600 grit paper. So here's where I need the experts, Yachtsmanbill? Is #600 grit fine enough? They feel smooth, but how is it going to feel to the brushes? Personally, Ill say 600 and finer is good. On the small diameter rings you really should pre-seat the brushes tho... Take some 600 NON EMORY paper and wrap the shaft, install the brushes and springs and roll the unit until the brushes pretty much match the rings. ws
|
|
|
Post by Avenger on Feb 21, 2014 18:33:30 GMT -5
Good advice Bill, thanks. I'll do that.
Especially since I think I'm going to spring for new brushes since these rings were in nasty shape.
|
|
|
Post by Avenger on Nov 9, 2016 20:12:56 GMT -5
Oh No You Di'n't!Oh Yes I Did! I took in another stray: img src="http://i66.tinypic.com/72aa7r.jpg" style="max-width:100%;" This one is a 5Kw Kohler that took a dose of water from the exhaust side. The engine will definitely need to come apart, so I'm holding this one as a spare in case the Oh Man! doesn't recover from it's dunking. I should seek professional help.
|
|
|
Post by yachtsmanwilly on Nov 10, 2016 6:29:21 GMT -5
Baptism by FIRE?? Is that a Kubota 3 banger in there? Put a heat lamp under the generator end and R&R the engine. I know a GREAT fuel injection shop out on L.I. you can send the pump to!
Ppats scooter had the points corroded down to nubs after leaving the battery in it for 10 years, but it ran. Had the local scooter shop diagnose it (I don't do lawn mowers or weed wackers!) and he gave me the points cam to clean up. I used a #1800 India Stone and after a few swipes it looked like new. Even the mechanic was surprised. We shall see... ws
|
|
|
Post by krush on Nov 10, 2016 7:08:18 GMT -5
Hey, its cheaper than stray women!
|
|
|
Post by Avenger on Nov 10, 2016 8:26:28 GMT -5
Points? What are points? If I ever meet Bob Seeger I'm going to ask him the same question.
I'm surprised that there isn't an electronic upgrade for that.
No stray women here. I've already got enough women to kill any man. However I am sure that generators take up less space when you factor in the peripherals.
The prime mover on this one is a Yanmar. The guy who donated it said it got seawater in the exhaust from over cranking. It's been sitting with MMO in the cylinders for many months, but still won't turn.
The good news is that it has low time and wasn't under water like the Oh Man! or dripped on like the 4.4 Westy. So there's probably a lot less work involved in the peripherals. The other nice thing it's got a 4 wire back end so it can make 220V which I prefer for home power. The bad news is that Kohler's support blows. I found the spec sheet on their website, but you can only find it with a Google search. Their own search can't find it on their own site. Pretty sad.
My guess is that we will end up tearing the engine apart and having the block bored and honed for oversize pistons. However, there is the remote possibility that the corrosion damage in the cylinders is not that bad.
But here's the thing. I've sworn myself to not touch it until the other three generators have been finished. It's not going to get any worse sitting there with oil in the cylinders so it shall sit there until it works it's way near the top of the list. And this time I really mean it!
|
|
|
Post by krush on Nov 10, 2016 11:19:39 GMT -5
is it really worth all that effort to rebuild? Pull the head and a 2x4 and big sledge hammer. Beat it free, then run piston to bottom and hone it some. It'll clean it out the rest of the way when it's running LOL. I did that on a 454 on my go-fast boat that had water sit in it from blown manifold.
|
|
|
Post by Avenger on Nov 10, 2016 11:26:47 GMT -5
Maybe. It depends on how it looks when we open it up. It's probably only one cylinder and if I can get away with a dingle-ball hone and a set of rings I will. It's not like it's going to see 20K hours. OTOH, salt water and an aluminum slug in an iron bore tends to make things very fizzy.
|
|
|
Post by Avenger on Jan 14, 2020 18:05:53 GMT -5
It's only been a few years, but I'm quite excited (or ashamed may be a better word) to announce that the home generator project has gotten it's wheels out of the mud and has started eeking out some progress again. We removed the flywheel and housing and capped and corked everything so it could take a spin in the washing machine. Once degreased and schmutz-proofed we'll clean off the loose paint and rust and get the basic engine primed and painted so we can start putting it back together. There's still a road ahead, but any progress is progress. Now if I can just get the other oar of the rest of my life in the water I'll be in good shape.
|
|
|
Post by Avenger on Jan 22, 2020 8:51:12 GMT -5
Got the field coils together. I was putting off assembling them because it makes the housing really heavy and until the engine is cleaned up and ready to assemble I'm going to have to move it around the shop. OTOH, it does tidy up some of the clutter. Still have to wait until I get it around the armature to position the cores. Also need to flash it and check N-S polarity before I put it together. Got a lot more parts to clean up before I get to reassembly. One other bit of stupidity I've committed was to purchase another Westerbeke 3 cylinder engine that matches my WMD 7.7. It had no back end, but there's a bunch of parts that I can use. So the adapter ring that was compromised... ...can be replaced with one that's not rotten. Unfortunately it also means I now have mounting brackets that I could have used instead of fabbing up new ones. However the new ones are customized for a couple of add-ons that a marine generator wouldn't have, like the muffler and exhaust stack for an indoor application. Another bit of fabricating is going to have to be a mounting system. I have casters for it and would like it to be as self contained as possible, with vibration isolation, fuel tank, starting battery and radiator all contained on one compact and mobile chassis. Still pondering an elegant solution to all of that.
|
|