It appears on my end there is no "topics posted sense last visit" button anymore. Is it my end? Makes it hard to keep up on goings on!
Dave

I have an off grid place with 12 volt solar + diesel generator. I also have a tractor there that has a 6 volt system and I want to keep the battery in a fresh ready for business state. Having the odd voltage around makes it hard to do this. A small solar system will do but finding a small but not to small panel is difficult. My question is would putting a 1.5 watt 12 volt panel cause the battery harm. I have a friend that does this with his and it seems to do fine. A suggestions appreciated!
Dave

http://corvallis.craigslist.org/grd/3434725806.html

I have been putting together a small generator from parts I have acquired. The engine is a Kubota EA500-N.

I built a new frame and installed a Leece Neevel to charge batteries at our off grid ranch.

I thought I had all of the bugs worked out....oil leaks...bad seals but wouldn't you know it all of my test running a getting all just right before I was going to commit it to the wilderness and I have developed what appears to be a leak in the radiator. I am not sure if it is the radiator itself or the seal where it mounts to the engine block. I took it off and it appears someone else has also from the new silicone on the radiator where it mounted to the block. No soldiering has been done on radiator. I know many guys toss the radiator. I will do the same if this one is dead. Before I do that and all of the work involved I am looking for suggestions on how to check this style radiator. The coolant appeared to be coming from the tubes but in reality it was everywhere. It is well built. Any suggestions on how to find a bad tube?

Now if it can't be fixed what is the proper way to make a plate so an external radiator can be added?   

If you want big and heavy here you go....

http://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/grd/2582213442.html

I picked up a EA500-NB Kubota the other day. I have pretty much sorted out the oil puking breather issue and am in the process of replacing a leaky seal on the manual crank start shaft. It is a super good runner and of obvious better quality than the other imports.



So as I am becoming more confident of the engine I am planing on adding a 12 volt alternator to charge batteries at our offgrid ranch. My only requirement for 220 volts is a 1/2hp submersible well pump and occasional my wife's hair dryer. I put a Kill-a-watt on it and it says one side is near 60 Hertz and the other is around 40-45 Hertz. It will operate lights and heaters fine but I don't want to do in my pump! What might be the cause of this? If it will start my pump (the capacitors are topside) and run it I will look into fixing it. My 6/1 oid w/st-5 will run our 3/4hp pump here at the house with no problum so I'm assuming it should handle the 1/2hp no problem.  I want to keep the unit as light as possable and a new ST 5 or ST 7.5 will add much weight and size to the assembly.
Any thought will be appreciated! I have a picture of the faded label but there is nothing really there that is new. I know it is 1800rpm 60Hz 120v 220v here is a pic.



Thanks Dave

I'm not off grid but in the boonies! My choices are Hughes net satellite or Wild blue satellite. Dialup is a pain and I need some improvement. Is there any feed back out there on the 2 satellite choices?