Visit our Popular Forums

**cat man do** · 31-07-2012, 15:31

Anyone have an opinion on a pull start , single pot 5.5 kva VM Motori diesel Generator / charger for the boat?

It's cheap and I am going for a look in a few hours time but I really have no idea as to the suitability apart from it looks very simple therefore I would think trouble free. (Motor plays up so swear at it, hit with stick and it runs for another 20 years)

Seems air cooled and am thinking exhaust can be extended outboard.
I am wondering how hard it would be to add electric starter from say a Yammie 9.9 four stroke ( I have one lying around)

**cat man do** · 31-07-2012, 16:03

My god, looking at a couple of youtube vids on old single pot diesels it may be a raucous lump of iron.

Maybe better to get one of these Electric start and Super Silent 68DB at 7 Metres models (Honda EU20i is 53 DB)

Reefmagnet · 31-07-2012, 16:40

Uggh! Noisy, shaky and horrid things to pull start. If you're lucky you may be able to source a recoil starter to fit it.

downunder · 31-07-2012, 16:50

Very rough, vibrating and OK in a farmyard where the noise is not an issue.

Cheap but I suspect not for your vessel. check it out running to make up your mind.

bobconnie · 31-07-2012, 17:37

If your Hoss enough to hand start it maybe BUT In my youth when these things were more common, I WAS A Hoss and unless everything was perfect(which it never was)I could not hand start one ! and as said above they are bad noisy, and vibrate like a Coochie Dancer !! Id look and laugh and run away !!! just my 2 cents

**cat man do** · 31-07-2012, 18:38

Well they are certainly a robust device, ex Aus army and stamped 2004 models on the plate.
I reckon they are a steal at (currently) $350 each, but unfortunately I don't have the space in the engine-room for a pull of this magnitude.

VM 5kva diesel genset - YouTube

**cat man do** · 31-07-2012, 18:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobconnie

they are bad noisy, and vibrate like a Coochie Dancer !! Id look and laugh and run away !!! just my 2 cents

Yep, pretty much what happened.

Would love one non the less for the impressiveness factor.

atoll · 31-07-2012, 19:25

i would load the boat up with them and sell in indonesia,and buy a decent genny from the proceeds

bobconnie · 31-07-2012, 19:33

Atoll thats the best use of these gennys Ive ever heard of!! thats a real Idea!! LOL

**reiner** · 31-07-2012, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat man do

Anyone have an opinion on a pull start , single pot 5.5 kva VM Motori diesel Generator / charger for the boat?

It's cheap and I am going for a look in a few hours time but I really have no idea as to the suitability apart from it looks very simple therefore I would think trouble free. (Motor plays up so swear at it, hit with stick and it runs for another 20 years)

Seems air cooled and am thinking exhaust can be extended outboard.
I am wondering how hard it would be to add electric starter from say a Yammie 9.9 four stroke ( I have one lying around)

I have a 3.2KW Diesel pull start in my workshop and it is maybe 4 years old.
To start that I have to make sure I had a good breakfast and taken all my pills for the last 3 weeks. If it doesn't start at the second attempt I go for a coffee and try again later. Very hard to start and very loud.
I don't use it often, only when the power is out.
Walk away, my 2 cents worth on that one.

Cheers
Reiner

Astrid · 31-07-2012, 20:05

Quote:

i would load the boat up with them and sell in indonesia,and buy a decent genny from the proceeds

Now that is a decent plan if ever I heard one.

**roverhi** · 31-07-2012, 22:56

Before we got electricity, our neighbors installed a single banger air cooled Petter diesel as far away from their house and as close to our house as they could get it. Lead to a lot of bad vibes between us. It made conversation impossible in our house. They couldn't seem to understand why we were upset with them.

Finally had to play Led Zeppelin with 200 watts on my L100 studio monitors at max volume at random times day night. They finally got the hint and moved the generator to the other side of their property. Even 200' away, it was annoyingly loud.

Reefmagnet · 01-08-2012, 04:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by reiner

I have a 3.2KW Diesel pull start in my workshop and it is maybe 4 years old.
To start that I have to make sure I had a good breakfast and taken all my pills for the last 3 weeks. If it doesn't start at the second attempt I go for a coffee and try again later. Very hard to start and very loud.
I don't use it often, only when the power is out.
Walk away, my 2 cents worth on that one.

Cheers
Reiner

I had the misfortune to work in a factory in my younger days that made these things and I had lots of opportunity to play with them. There is a trick to starting rope start diesels. Basically you rock backwards and forwards off the compression stroke until one big heave throws it over compression. Doesn't make the task any more pleasant but it does reduce the burst of effort required.

mbianka · 01-08-2012, 06:07

I guess one good thing about installing one of these on board is the vibration may prevent barnacles on the hull.

I'll be sticking with my Honda 2000 eu thank you.

**cat man do** · 01-08-2012, 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbianka

I guess one good thing about installing one of these on board is the vibration may prevent barnacles on the hull.

I'll be sticking with my Honda 2000 eu thank you.

Soft mount it, problem lessened considerably.

I have 1000 litres of diesel on board so it makes sense to have a diesel genset.
I have limited petrol and a 20hp outboard on the dinghy, so I guess I'll be wanting the petrol for that.