I've been thinking about this a lot......
Is there any way you can attach and centrifugal switch from a 1 phase induction motor to the DC generator or alterntor?
This could be used to cut out the starter motor or drivi a solenoid that holds back the fuel rack from full travel at start up.
I can't read minds Bob, but I am a peripheral vissionary.....
Doug
The idea of a centrifugal switch is good. I shud explain that my starts are not going to be automated or remoted and I will be there in person to set the rack to a low position for a gentle start and only once up to speed adjust it to handle the load. The governor on the JD is unlike the one on the JP-1 Petter which puts the fuel rack in beyond wide open throttle as part of the start cycle. In my testing of the JD so far and on the audio file I shared of a start the rack was only partially opened for startup. That is partly why it takes so long to get up to speed. Full rack would undoubtedly be quicker but I wouldn`t want to do that to my lower rod bearing.
I spent another long day yesterday welding more steel to the frame as part of the genset mounting shelf. Both DC and AC heads are now perched in the operating position and I have begun looking at V-belt shieve options to get everything at the right speed. As we are talking only about 2-1/4 HP and smoothed too by the big flywheel where the belt runs I am confident that a single B belt will suffice. I plan large pulleys too, which will allow reduced belt tension and larger radius around the smallest pulley, the 7-1/2 incher for the 1800 RPM alternator head. I do not like the idea of using a V-belt when money could buy a serpentine flat belt option, but I don`t have that luxury at the moment. I can always upgrade later and pick up a bit of efficiency. This whole thing is very much an experiment so anything that saves the purchase of expensive hardware and materials at these early stages could be wise choices. My present choice of pulley sizes requires that I have a 13-1/2 inch shieve in stock for the driven pulley on the flywheel shaft. Must get to the shop today and see if I have such an aminal.
Looks like the frame, engine, large flywheel and two gen heads now put the weight of this beast at a guestimated 1000 pounds. That will go up as the cooling system and muffler are added and paint.