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Messages - solarguy

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 16
1
Listeroid Engines / Re: coolant water pump ideas?
« on: July 17, 2006, 06:41:34 PM »
Dear Firebrick,

I didn't see a price for the cute little gear pump.  Any idea what they charge?

Strictly curiosity, as I am building a little piston pump for oil filtration (belt driven).

Finest regards,

troy

2
General Discussion / Re: Something we never talk about - how to work.
« on: July 08, 2006, 05:01:23 PM »
The flip side of this coin is the danger of the DARK SIDE.  By that I mean the temptation to do the quick and dirty fix, the unplanned project.

Beware going to the dark side Luke!

An illustration:

I recently broke my metal cutting band saw.  I was so happy I could do a dance. 

The reason I was happy is that 20 years ago, I needed a band saw.  I had the money to buy a cheapo low-end chinese unit, but I could have limped along without a saw until I saved up enough for a better (more expensive unit).  I gave in to the dark side and bought the cheap unit because it seemed fast and easy at the time.  It even worked after a fashion.

But it never really wanted to cut straight, the motor crapped out a couple years later, etc etc etc.  I cursed that thing a hundred times.  But I was unwilling to junk it and buy a good one if it still worked, mostly to teach myself a lesson about doing it the right way the first time.

I can't tell you how many times I have resorted to the quick and dirty fix, only to have it dog me for years afterward. 

So if I have any choice, I try really really hard to do it the right way, the planned way, the permanent way.

I'm sure you all have a bodge story that came back to haunt you.

Finest regards,

troy

3
Listeroid Engines / Re: Mounting an engine-----
« on: July 07, 2006, 06:25:17 PM »
Dear Halfnuts,

Funny you should post that link today.  I just bought that exact mixer on wednesday.  Me and the 12 year old boy put it together last night.  He loves it.  Of course, when I have him shoveling sand, gravel and portland cement, he may form a somewhat different opinion.

I would just mention that they put the handle right under the motor where it's utterly useless.  30 minutes and a welder fixed that right up.

Dear Guy,

Do I get half credit if I run the chinese electric mixer with juice from an Indian Listeroid???

I also have a diesel tractor on order, and really want the 9 cu. ft. cement mixer that mounts on the 3 pt. hitch and is driven by the pto.  That's to pour the slab and whatnot for the new shop.

Finest regards to all,

troy

4
Listeroid Engines / Re: Epa Revisited.
« on: July 06, 2006, 10:49:06 PM »

"They should be kicked in the groin until they bleed out their ears.  I absolutely loathe our government."

I was feeling morose the other day because the EPA has the system so FUBAR'd that it may set us back a decade on meaningful improvements in the avg fuel economy of passenger cars due to lack of diesels, etc, etc, etc.

Then some friends at a 4th of July party were telling us about the time they spent a year in Honduras.  The exciting part was where the cops stole their car and the contents.  Reliable neighbors saw the whole thing.

They went down to the department to see what they could do.  Bingo, there's the luggage behind the desk.  Oops!  "Sorry ma'am, that's being held as evidence against the two career criminals who stole your car.  It may take 6-12 months before we can return that."

Yeah sure!

The next day, he SAW one of the cops wearing HIS shirt.

They eventually recovered the car and some of the stuff.

Anyway, it's not so bad here in the US after all.

Finest regards,

troy

5
Listeroid Engines / Re: Head Gaskets Weeping
« on: July 06, 2006, 10:30:04 PM »
I have been unable to try the Sodium Silicate "stop-leak" fix as I have just purchased 7 acres and a "new" house.

It needs everything and I'm doing it myself.  My poor Lister feels abandoned.

I fear it will be 3-6 months before I get the new place livable enough to do up the two Listers properly.

Ultimately, this will be a good thing, as I have no close neighbors and plenty of room for a new shop, a new engine room, etc etc etc.

Will keep you all posted as things progress.

Finest regards,


troy

6
Lister Based Generators / Re: Engine/Generator Mounting
« on: June 28, 2006, 05:29:28 PM »
Mine is "A" and had no problems.  That included three teardowns while I got it sorted out.

Open flywheels and crankshafts are bad enough.  Then expose yourself to the belt on the flywheel, just asking for it.

Good luck, have fun and keep us posted!

troy

7
Listeroid Engines / Re: "Intercooler"
« on: June 27, 2006, 09:31:20 PM »
Even worse, I took a spare windshield washer nozzle and mounted it in a discrete place in the grill, aimed up and to the right so I could spray people on the sidewalk.  Not just any people, but my buddies and/or class enemies standing around on the sidewalk in front of the youth center on friday and saturday night. That was what you did on the weekend, drive up and down the main drag in our town of 1,100.

Water was fun.  A pint of really cheap perfume mixed in was even more hilarious. That was on my '66 Ford pickup.  That was about as rebelious as I got as  a teenager.

Yeah, kids.

troy

8
Listeroid Engines / Re: Building engines in India
« on: June 27, 2006, 12:34:40 AM »
If you work on the ground, and you need a "third" hand, you've got it.   Just use your foot/feet.  Seen guys do it.

Finest regards,

troy

9
Other Slow Speed Diesels / Re: Detroit 2-71
« on: June 23, 2006, 04:55:59 PM »
The 2-71 is not a bad setup, but there are drawbacks.  Do not underestimate the noise.  Once they get worn out, it is possible for them to suck oil past the rings and run on crankcase oil.  Then your throttle has little or no effect and you can get a runaway.

You should also shop around a bit, as there are lots out there.  Affordable power might be the way to go if they offer some sort of real warranty.  If they don't, try ebay, like here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/20-12-5-KW-DETROIT-2-71-DIESEL-GENERATORS-WHOLESALE_W0QQitemZ7631359616QQihZ017QQcategoryZ106437QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For all I know, this is where they get them.  Maybe you and a couple of buddies could split a shipment.

Anybody know who uses all these suckers originally???

Finest regards,

troy

10
Listeroid Engines / Re: Gen Shed, Engine Mounting Advise Please
« on: June 23, 2006, 04:32:41 PM »
Hey come on Hotater!

Indian engines don't LEAK oil, they perspire.  Don't you know that's part of the semi automatic oil replenishment system!

LOL

ps, there will be oil on the ground.

11
Listeroid Engines / Re: Listeroid's first day at work!
« on: June 23, 2006, 04:29:29 PM »
There are numerous home brew designs on the web that can be assembled at a tiny fraction of the cost of commercial.

Finest regards,

troy

12
Listeroid Engines / Re: Gen Shed, Engine Mounting Advise Please
« on: June 23, 2006, 04:20:36 PM »
I would not trust wood screws to stand up to the vibration in the long term. They will get loose and then something bad will happen.

I want bolts to something.  I would prefer that something to be 4,000 pounds of cement, but I'm not the boss of you.

Keep us posted  how you make out.

troy

13
Quote


That is the truth! There is a shipyard in the US that lost it's license to build submarines due to something like this. The welders were paid production (by the foot) more bead they could sling out in a shift the more they got paid, They caught them tossing files, scrap and other metal bits into hull welds and welding over them to increase their production. Lot of rework ensued and that yard never worked on another submarine. Ingles Shipyard in Pascagula Mississippi.
Quote

Wow, I would think the welders would be savy enough to realize the x-ray and other QC measures would look terrible with all that junk filler.  Even if they just do spot checks here and there, even the gov't will eventually catch on and fire you.

Finest regards,

troy

14
Waste Vegetable Oil / Re: heating the injection line
« on: June 21, 2006, 07:57:05 PM »
I suspect if you calculate the volume of the fuel line vs the rate of fuel consumption, the dwell time could be hours with something as big as PEX.

Keep us posted how you make out.

Finest regards,

troy

15
Straight Vegetable Oil / Re: I finally am generating AC on SVO
« on: June 21, 2006, 07:54:21 PM »
"Intersting ideas.  Do you men happen to have any pictures of your isolation slabs or the barrel muffler?"

Just checked my file, and no, I don't have any pictures showing the slab.  I might grab a shot in the next week or so if I think of it.  No promises as I'm silly busy at the moment.



"SolarGuy, you have your engine in the basement?"

Yup.


"Is that working well for you?"

Qualified yes.  It is noisy.  We are at risk for CO poisining.  Don't do this without 1 or 2 good CO detectors.  The exhaust noise is pretty easy to deal with, but the mechanical noise is still considerable.  It wants its own soundproof room, which I hope to give it in the next house.  I had to fit a crankcase EGR workaround for the smell.  I never have to deal with cold issues, which is nice.  I use mine for cogen, so it was important to minimize piping losses to the great outdoors, and this totally solves that problem.



"Is it legal?"

Probably not.



"Does your wife mind?"

Nope.  She's a saint and tolerates all of my eccentricities amazingly well.

Finest regards,

troy


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