How to / DIY > Generators

Another Westerbeke project

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32 coupe:

Picked up this Westerbeke 4.4 with a bad gen end. The little Mitsubishi engine only has about 60 hrs on it.
After removing the marine parts, adding the alternator, frame and the Honda radiator I bought a clone 6.5 generator head, built the frame and am in the completion phase.
 
Notice the brace between the engine and gen end. The mounting frame on the head is somewhat flimsy and I chewed up a couple of spiders before I figured that problem out. After adding the brace she runs perfect.

It's a fun little project. It will pull about 4.2 kw so it is not a large set by any means but should be pretty economical to run if needed.

Enjoy,
Gary

32 coupe:
Another pic.

mikenash:
Hey Gary, when you say "spiders" - do you mean the rubber insert for the drive coupling?  Maybe as the torque/load happens the two units move relative to each other or something like that?

I'm interested in your thinking - my approach would have been to build a more rigid base, maybe.  Or is it the feet part of the head that is flimsy?

Just being nosey.

Nice-looking unit :)

32 coupe:
Yes, Glort answered the spider question.
The frame is 4" "C" channel with welded "3" cross mounts for
the head and engine. I am sure it is strong enough.
The gen head mount is a 3/16 bent metal piece. Without the brace I
could move the head a bit with my hand on the input shaft.
The threaded rod brace eliminates the "wobble".

Gary

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