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Generators / Roid Report
« on: June 11, 2007, 03:43:27 AM »
My 6/1 - st5 gen set are now getting a good work out powering the construction of our new off grid home. The framers have been hitting it hard running compressors and saws and the Listeroid is powering it well. The only time the engine struggles with the load is while the air compressor is running and someone jams up the blade on the big saw.
Fuel consumption is running about 1.25 gal per 8 hour day. I just did the second oil change and inspected the magnets and found no chunks, but a metallic slime covering them. The valves have loosened up a bit and I closed them back down to .010. I know that is not to spec, but that is where I feel it will run best.
It has been interesting training the Latino laborers how to start, stop and do the daily service on the engine. They never seem to crank fast enough and they want to pull the crank handle off the shaft before moving the compression release. Once I explain that since this is not a gas engine it won't backfire and break their arm, they gain confidence and start it right up.
Tomorrow I am going to test out a wvo filter system I made from parts around the house. I have 100 gal of once used creamy fry oil used once at a salmon fish fry. My plan is this, I have some fine mesh stainless steel screen that I am going to cut a circle out of and glue into a 3" ABS coupling and then glue that coupling to the end of 3' of abs pipe. This will be my primary filter. For my secondary filter I have a cartridge water filter with a 5 micron filter element and a 12v sureflow chemical pump (1.4 gpm 60 psi) to force the oil through the filter.
One of the problems I ran into with this oil is that it is solid, and even after sitting in the sun all day it is only partially melted. I tested some this weekend by mixing 50/50 with diesel and it mixed will. The solids settled right to the bottom of the container. So I am going to premix and allow to settle before filtering.
On a sad note I've been trying to order some spare engine parts from George and even after a follow up call and email no reply for 2 weeks. I'm looking for a bronze idler gear and a stock of spare parts. My timing gear seemed a bit loose and I was going to take it out and inspect it, however I found the nut on the mounting bolt to be barely snug and when tightened the play on the idler went away.
Fuel consumption is running about 1.25 gal per 8 hour day. I just did the second oil change and inspected the magnets and found no chunks, but a metallic slime covering them. The valves have loosened up a bit and I closed them back down to .010. I know that is not to spec, but that is where I feel it will run best.
It has been interesting training the Latino laborers how to start, stop and do the daily service on the engine. They never seem to crank fast enough and they want to pull the crank handle off the shaft before moving the compression release. Once I explain that since this is not a gas engine it won't backfire and break their arm, they gain confidence and start it right up.
Tomorrow I am going to test out a wvo filter system I made from parts around the house. I have 100 gal of once used creamy fry oil used once at a salmon fish fry. My plan is this, I have some fine mesh stainless steel screen that I am going to cut a circle out of and glue into a 3" ABS coupling and then glue that coupling to the end of 3' of abs pipe. This will be my primary filter. For my secondary filter I have a cartridge water filter with a 5 micron filter element and a 12v sureflow chemical pump (1.4 gpm 60 psi) to force the oil through the filter.
One of the problems I ran into with this oil is that it is solid, and even after sitting in the sun all day it is only partially melted. I tested some this weekend by mixing 50/50 with diesel and it mixed will. The solids settled right to the bottom of the container. So I am going to premix and allow to settle before filtering.
On a sad note I've been trying to order some spare engine parts from George and even after a follow up call and email no reply for 2 weeks. I'm looking for a bronze idler gear and a stock of spare parts. My timing gear seemed a bit loose and I was going to take it out and inspect it, however I found the nut on the mounting bolt to be barely snug and when tightened the play on the idler went away.