Updated 9 May 2010.Rebuild has progressed. all the wiring now replaced, two 12V batteries connected. 40Watt table lamp connected, switched on and it all worked! Engine ran up to speed, speed switch operated, electrical system changed over and the 40W lamp illuminated fine. Also tested with hair drier but need to give it a decent load to see if voltage regulation is OK. Frequency was about 51.5 Hz so will tweak that too.
Next problem is to provide the ancilliaries; cooling, fuel supply and a decent exhaust so that the neighbours do not get too upset. I think I'll try a propane tank for the exhaust to give it a decent expansion volume.
Original message follows
I am new to this but thought I would share some photos of my 1956 SOM. This is my Startomatic, bought from a certain UK auction site and shipped to Kent from near Aberdeen, so I never saw it in the flesh before deciding to buy it. A bit of a risk but it seems to have paid off.
It’s in relatively good condition and must have been stored inside. There is frost damage down the side of the cylider block but its been filled. It shows no sign of leaking but I will investigate this at some time in the future; for now its not critical.
I decided to strip and clean rather than attempt a run in the original condition (just as well considering the amount of grime in the sump).
As it arrived:- http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/YmOQzev0XU_GmEu2HtIjUQ?feat=directlink
A look inside the top:-
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/jVN3D6ZwAXBF0Sg0J4QhOw?feat=directlinkSad looking control box:- http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/LxYYqZHdmwwu0T6kwFfC0Q?feat=directlink
Name plate:- http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/XbRMgnzIP8ZB6RY_Mw0EAg?feat=directlink
Inside the control box
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/3UrGZsLr2lo6xcgltkIW9g?feat=directlinkInside the generator box:-
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/02ZVj-UKePm53D0GydpvGA?feat=directlinkPost some rebuild work:-
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/lh/photo/xf2-4e8SrZbat3wnwKw3Pg?feat=directlinkAt the time of this last picture the engine now starts (manually) and runs ok (new rings, reground valves, new big end, additional oil filter). There only seem to have been a couple of things wrong with this engine. The first was that the compression changeover valve was passing baldly on both the front and back seats. Someone had tried to fix this but had made the problem worse by refitting the copper seal out of place and leaving it mangled so there was a lot of compression loss due to the poor seat sealing and this misplaced seal. This is all now OK after a bit of regrinding and careful reassembly. Second issue was that the micro-switch for the engine speed was defective. Someone had responded by removing and taping up a wire in the gen control box, defeating the automatic start functions.
The generator is currently getting all the attention. I have replaced all the wiring back to the main control box and rewired both boxes entirely. Now waiting for the replacement bearings to arrive, then the fun should really start. It will either auto start or there will be some interesting smoke and problems to sort out.
Chris
