buffdownunder:
I like to experiment. 12/2, 28/2, 6/1, etc. - what are the fuel consumption values, vibration, heat, and other factors - I'd like to perform trials with various versions of the "large" components (engine and driven load) and switching them easily seems like a reasonable thing to me. Also, I don't know what my KWh loading will be throughout time (talking years here) - I probably will become more or less efficient as time goes on, so putting in a larger or smaller engine with the same starting/cooling/control rig is a desirable goal to me, and I'd like to pay for this work (hours and $) only once when I can do it all at the same time. I don't expect that other people have quite the same goals, so what I'm doing and how I'm doing it are not optimal for more simple or inexpensive configurations that would be typical.
adhall:
I had seriously considered flexplate attachment to the genset pulley, and even mocked it up. However, there were two problems with it: the first was that I could not switch out to a hydraulic or water pump quickly, and the other problem is... er... I forget what the other problem was. I know there were two reasons I didn't do it that way, though you are correct it probably is a more simple method of attachment. I'm not sure if it was a tactical or strategic issue. I believe the flexplate was larger than the flywheel/pulley, so that part presented no problem and would have worked. I think that there were a few minor issues with mounting, but they were not overwhelming (not enough room on my ST-10 input shaft to take a second SK-style bushing, therefore requring direct mounting of flex plate to the pulley, which would require journaling of the pulley, which was too big a job for any lathe I have access to, but that is a fairly minor issue that could be solved with a few $ and a better machine shop.) Hmm... I'll look again this weekend when I'm back working on the project and see if I remember what it was that made me choose to use the other flywheel and a different belt - I don't think it was as simple as the journaling issue, but maybe...
Now, that being said, I've yet to really try out this whole rig in earnest and see where it breaks down. If the starter assembly just doesn't cut it after some abuse, I probably will go to a setup where the flexplate is attached to the generator pulley.
Lastly: GM starters are available in clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation, so instead of moving the generator around it's easier to just get a starter with the right rotation. Apparently some marine engines spin the other direction from normal engines, so the CCW stuff is typically found at marine supply shops. I found my starter at SEA Manufacturing in Florida (
http://stores.ebay.com/SEA-MANUFACTURING-CO +1-386-668-1425) and they were quite cooperative and helpful.
JT