[GVARC] N6IJ generator;Propane Use

[Pat Barthelow]

Hi Dick, (both of you)  and NCCC,

The propane 'T' idea sounds real good for our backup generator at N6IJ.  Is 
the modification easy to do, and once done, can the generator easily be 
switched back to gasoline operation, if circumstances require?

BTW, for you mechanics out there... We have a very old (1947 vintage) 5.5KW 
Signal Corps generator, which was known to be in great operating condition 
several years ago.  Transport and setup at N6IJ has met with a problem.  The 
starter is by armstrong-rope, whith a spring loaded ratcheting return.  The 
generator, including  fuel system was completely cleaned, and renewed from 
scratch, new gas, cleaned carb, etc.  Some months back, we tried to start 
it, with the rope-pull starter, and after a number of pulls, it began to 
cough, and almost-start, but no joy yet.  Some of the coughs and 
almost-starts were maybe  2 to 3 seconds, before dying.. To get it to start 
after several years of inoperation, I used my trick of a gasoline saturated 
rag, held close to the intake filter to get some good rich fume mixture into 
the cylinders.
Came out again to look at it and now the engine is locked solid, no give at 
all to rope start attempts.  It even has a hand crank, direct to the 
crankshaft pully, which when attached an tried, felt like a rock solid 
frozen engine.  Probably couldn't rotate the crank even a degree...I dont 
know what could have happened, but its something that locked it up 
solid..Dropped valve?  Timing Chain broken? siezed bearing?  There was no 
hint of a big bang, or break at our last almost start sessions..any ideas?  
The engine is a flathead 4 cylinder, Onan.

Pat
n6ij@hotmail.com

>From: Dick Wilson <k6lrn@arrl.net>
>To: nccc@contesting.com, ddddd@attbi.com
>Subject: [NCCC] re: generators
>Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 10:04:57 -0700
>
>Consider propane, also. If you have propane for home use, consider a 'T'
>to your generator. Propane is clean burning, etc. In addition to the
>hazards mentioned by Garry, gasoline will turn to jelly if left too long
>unless you put a fuel conditioner in tank. Last fill up here was about
>$1 for propane.
>
>Dick
>
>_______________________________________________
>NCCC mailing list


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