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Thoughts on generator engine/power
So our old generator that came with the house runs fine but it doesn't put out power. We tried flashing it and it doesn't work so we brought it into the shop. Turns out the brushes inside are gone so it won't charge. That leaves us with the engine. The shop called and asked if we wanted them to dispose of it or not.
It's a Dayton generator with a Briggs and Stratton engine. It's at least 25 years old. Is it worth taking home or not? Is there a way to get a new generator portion to attach to the engine? Hubby is a little handy but might need some help from friends. Although right now, my 12 year old said "How about for a go-cart???" LOL |
Could use it for a log splitter, power a pump, spare motor. I would pick it up. Old motors are better than today. They can't get you new brushes?
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Any shop that rebuilds starter and distributors should be able to get you a set. Couple bucks.
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I would wonder why the shop doesn't suggest new brushes. I would be suspicious of this, check it out closely.
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Unfortunately they looked everywhere and there is no way to get parts for what we have (according to them).
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He also said the "drive shaft is tapered"?? I have no clue what that means.
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It has to do with the type of pulley that can fit on it. |
Motors for generators have a tapered shaft instead of a straight shaft.
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..................this place has a very nice selection of gensets , diesel , propane\natural gas and gasoline ! Their prices are quite good as well . , fordy |
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Look for a "starter" rebuild shop that has been around for along time . . . . .
With years of experience they can look at it (the brushes) and make some thing fit / work........... Tho be aware that long ago units like that Dayton did not have very good voltage controls.... |
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If you want to run any electronics off of it i would replace. But I would still take it to an outfit that rebuilds starters and alternators for a backup.
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I'll see if I can find anyone around here. I'm not sure how to find them but we'll look for someone to help! I guess we'll pick up the generator tomorrow. Worst case, I'll freecycle it for someone who might be able to use the engine. :) |
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You may still want to keep the old one for the motor, if it runs well since it should be easy to make a 12 volt generator with an old car altenator |
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Tapers pullys are fairly common you can find one no prob
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I dont know where you are from ,but there is no way you should junk a 25 year old generator that just needs a set of brushes. I dont know the specs of your unit (kw, rpm) but a lot of that old stuff beats hands down 99% of the new stuff, in fact I only buy the old alternators.
Pick up your unit, and the parts. Get it home and check it out yourself. If as they say its the brushes, then near the end where the spring presses on the brushes will be a part number engraved into the carbon. This number gives its composition, type and length, if no number is present, they may have been replaced before. Put whats left of the brushes in a envelope, and mail them to Carbon Brush supply in Edmonton with instructons to cut you four new ones, I bet 25-30 dollars (their minimium charge) Include the Rpm of the unit, and if they ride on a armature or slip rings. You can also order whole blocks of carbon to cut any brushes you will ever need from them. You could also go to any welder repair place, ask for a set of brushes for a Millerbobcat 250. Tell them KG serial number range when they go to look up the part number. These brushes should work fine for you. You will have to cut them down to the size of your brush holder.Easy to do with a file and vice, or a bench grinder, but be carefull with the bench grinder as it can eat threw a brush in seconds. I would use a file. If the brushes wore down to the slip rings, or armature( as often happens) The surface will likely be rough, and chewed up. pull the rotor off, and take it to any machine shop, and ask to have the surface trued up. It will take them all of 5 minutes to do. If you have a large drill press you can do this yourself, spinning the armature in the chuck and if you have a steady hand take a file(finest you can find) to true up the slip rings, finish with fine crocus cloth or a com stone. Its stunningly easy to keep old equipment running.Not so the new junk. Forgot to add you can also use the engine as a lathe , spinning the armature for you while you while you true it up with a file, likely have to remove the brush holders so you can get in there. |
Even some 'modern fridges have electronics that are sensitive to "poor voltage regulation"
Of course puters, TV's audio, microwaves, etc. etc. can be affected by poor voltage. So yes it can make a lot of sense to go for a good quality new unit...... But NOT the $199.95 cheapy junk........ That being said, if it is a matter of just brushes I would still get the old unit to be a back up to the new back up. Do not go to the big box-- NAPA -- Auto Zone or the like stores. . . . for brushes . You need to find (yellow pages) a shop that has been in business for 25??? years or so. |
Hubby and I talked and while we were discussing the generator, my 12 year old son said "Can't we use it for a go cart engine?" That got hubby's wheels turning (LOL) and he always wanted a go cart but never could find a good engine. So I think we know what this engine will go for. :D
OK - So now to start looking for what to replace it with. We're going to look over the sites and look locally as well. We don't lose power often - like really rarely nowadays (we were only out for 2 days with Sandy) so I'd like something that can sit well without needing a lot of care. The generator will plug into the house (the house was wired for the generator) and it will run the freezer in the garage, the whole kitchen, the furnace and one circuit in every room, from what I understand. I realized after Sandy that when there is a widespread power outage, gasoline is precious and hard to get but diesel was so easy so I'm thinking diesel. We can easily use any diesel in our sailboat (50 hp. diesel engine with a 38 gallon fuel tank) to keep it fresh. We also COULD get a natural gas one but we'd need to get the gas line plumbed in. So now to do some research! |
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Brushes can be found.
I too would be suspicious of a shop that says it rebuilds gens and can't find brushes. Do they sell gens? If you have a tractor check out pto gens. generatorjoe.net is a good place to shop also. jim |
There are several different tapers used on these generators. You probably have an old big block cast iron Briggs with updraft carburetor. I have not looked at one in a while but the crank shaft is only tapered on the end but the problem will be that the keyway is probably machined only on the taper. So using on a go cart might be difficult since the key way is not on the straight part of the shaft.
Is that a 10 HP 5000 watt generator? I have a 10 hp Homelite here with 10 hp Briggs 60's -70's vintage engine has some issues If you happen to live near western Pa. get in touch I doubt you will be able to use on go cart. I agree with solidwoods that you can get brushes .... a new generator will be brushless. Good luck |
The way you said it ran your kitchen, and other rooms, I thought it greater than a 4kw unit. I had a couple 3600 rpm units like that, couldnt stand the noise, and the fuel consumption is awfull, gave them away. Got little advice for you as, as in the under 10-12kw range I consider most to be junk.
I roll my own with ST heads, and diesels (1800rpm or even way less)for that size. Try and stay away from gas, the fuel now days is so bad, and with E15 coming only going to get worse. |
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Oh - we also have a big outlet in our bedroom that was wired in too because the woman who owned the house before us was in a wheelchair and she needed the power to run the hospital bed and the wheelchair. I guess the machine was too small, huh?? I don't know because the ONLY times we ever lost power long enough to worry about it, my husband was out of town and I was home with little babies and never learned how to run it! LOL So we have never actually tried to run it on the house until Sandy, if you can believe it! 21 years in here and this is the first time in 20 years that we needed it! |
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