[Milsurplus] Re: Generators...

[Steve Harrison]

OK, so how about an opposed-four cylinder Onan generator? Can't remember
whether it was 400 Hz or 60 Hz. Supposed to run at 1800 RPM. My elmer got
one from SoCal MARS decades ago but we never got it running on its own due
to loss of magnetism in the flywheel so the magneto wouldn't fire.
Eventually, he gave it to my high school bud then I played with it some.
Was a rope start and I suspect that's where I first strained my shoulder,
trying to get that thing going  ;o( Eventually, we acquired a reversible
drill and by first yanking on the rope to get it spinning, the drill could
then keep it spinning. We even got it to fire a few times but AFAIR, we
never did get it to actually run. I think my high school bud still has it
in Phoenix.

My elmer also had one of those 300 VA single-cylinder types; definitely not
hand-sized but only about 30 lbs, hand-carriable, had a canvas cover and
small storage box for plugs and plug wrench, etc.. Ultimately reliable,
ALWAYS started with one yank. Had a bent pipe frame surrounding the engine
and generator and the single outlet was in the end of the generator. This
one was a two-stroke, though: had to mix oil with the gas in a 5:1 ratio or
something. It could give you up to 500 watts at 110 V and had a fairly
large tank that lasted a few hours IIRC at that power. When you ran its
exhaust through a long water pipe, it was quiet enough close up but the
water pipe would then drip burned, black oil from the exhaust  ;o))) Lost
it in a storage space incident about a decade ago in Virginia  ;o(((((

I acquired a strange one once, non-military. This was an ex-fire department
equipment (painted yellow) and had a regular vertical-crank B&S 3 HP with
the 120V, 1KVA alternator mounted on the bottom, looking like a pancake.
This, too, was ultimately reliable, ALWAYS firing with one yank. Shook like
a son of a gun and had to tie the extension cord to the side of the
generator to keep it from vibrating out. Was hard to keep the muffler
attached, which was simply screwed into the exhaust port. Never did find
any way to bolt on a quieter muffler although I did find a spark-suppressor
mowre muffler eventually. Louder than heck, like any B&S engine, too. Tiny
1-pint tank lasted no more than 35 minutes under full load and maybe two
hours with a 100W bulb. Never seen another like it; I lost it in another
storage space incident in Massachusetts just a year ago  ;o(((((

Steve, K�XP