Four Winds II Wind Generator

[hgd137]

I have a Four Winds II Wind Generator which has a defective motor which I have not been able to replace. Everything else seems to be OK the last time I used it. I would like to sell it. $350(I am on Marco Island, Fl)
Check it out on Four Winds Wind Generator II | Passport 40 – S/V Grendel

[senormechanico]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tor-74106.html

You might have to come down a bit.

[hgd137]

Wow, that was a once in a lifetime buy. If I saw that I would have bought it!!!

[phorvati]

How would you define defective?
If my memory serves me right, o test you should get 7-10V when spinning shaft by hand when blades are off. Was shaft not spinning?

[hgd137]

There are a number of problems with the motor. First a couple of magnets detached themselves from the case interfering with the shaft rotating. Secondly the commutator is very worn and one or more of the armature
winding are open.

[AnchorageGuy]

The magnets coming loose is a common problem with these units and they can be epoxied back in place. There is pretty much nothing in these units that can't be fixed by a good generator/alternator shop. The expense will determine how bad things are and how that compares to replacing a unit. Even if you find a used unit, these same issue will present themselves later. We used a Four Winds for over 15 years in constant use. Chuck

[phorvati]

Do you know what causes them to come loose? So far so good for me. 5+ years trouble free on the generator.

[AnchorageGuy]

The epoxy that held the magnets was not of good quality and failed on many units. They changed that and the problem went away. Chuck

[Flooding]

If you still have the generator call meJoe Polanco 907 350 4214.

[hgd137]

Sorry the wind generator has been sold.

[llmhillman]

Originally Posted by Waterwayguy

The magnets coming loose is a common problem with these units and they can be epoxied back in place. There is pretty much nothing in these units that can't be fixed by a good generator/alternator shop. The expense will determine how bad things are and how that compares to replacing a unit. Even if you find a used unit, these same issue will present themselves later. We used a Four Winds for over 15 years in constant use. Chuck

My four winds II, old style w/brushes, is in the shop but they don,t know what to do about those capacitors or whatever they are inside the generator. Do you/anyone know what those components are or if they are even necessary?

[hgd137]

They may be electrical noise suppression capacitors. I doubt if they are bad. It will probably work ok without them.

[AnchorageGuy]

Originally Posted by llmhillman

My four winds II, old style w/brushes, is in the shop but they don,t know what to do about those capacitors or whatever they are inside the generator. Do you/anyone know what those components are or if they are even necessary?

I'm not sure what you mean by capacitors. Are you referring to the magnets?

[hgd137]

Magnets(4) are epoxied to the case of the motor housing(you hope). I know he use to install noise suppression capacitors somewhere. I thought maybe that was what you were referring to. The noise suppression was used in an attempt to eliminate radiated rf signals from the brushes interfering ham or ssb receivers.

[llmhillman]

I was confused because the noise suppression capacitors were mounted inside the generator. In my manual, they were shown in the 2" mounting pole. I am having the shop remove them ( they are broken) and if needed I will put new ones out side the generator. I don't have an SSB or Ham.