Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 02-09-2013, 06:52   #1
cruiser

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: medusa NY
Boat: Tayana Surprise 45 schooner "Union Pacific"
Posts: 2,097
air cooled generator:?

So my generator engine is shot, 100% dead.
i tried starting it with starting fluid, and it still does not start, that means no compression.

SO, i have come across the name Changfa. this engine is suppose to be the most reliable china engine made. and used world wide.
can be had for $800 brand new. and is air cooled
so i am thinking an AC powered blower, using the air scoop that now exists,
to suck air out while it is running.

(i am also in the process of adding a 190amp alternator to the main engine)

so is this recommended? cautioned against?
whats the best exhaust solution?
i was thinking after a 3' pipe run the exhaust would be pretty cool, but could do water injection and use a small DC water pump....?
i am far too cheap to pay $6000 for a new gen set.
scoobert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 07:11   #2
Registered User
 
Teknav's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Texas - USA
Boat: Twin Otter de Havilland Floatplane
Posts: 1,838
Re: air cooled generator:?

Hiya Scoob! Don't be cheap! Cheap is expensive in the long run, so invest in a good quality generator! Chinese Junk by any other name is still Junk! Read the thread about the guy who bought two engines from China, then deduce your conclusion.

Mauritz
The boa is not for sale!
__________________
Retired - Don't Ask Me To Do A Damn Thing!
Teknav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 07:24   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
Re: air cooled generator:?

Impractical in seaway, noisy at anchor.

Otherwise why not.

b.
barnakiel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 07:27   #4
Registered User
 
Sailmonkey's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Houston
Boat: ‘01 Catana 401
Posts: 9,626
Why not just rebuild the engine?
Sailmonkey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 07:34   #5
Moderator
 
Dockhead's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey View Post
Why not just rebuild the engine?
+1


If you're trying to make 3kW of power, you'll be making 6kW+ of heat (cooling + exhaust) plus the heat produced by the alternator. Do you really want that in your engine space?!

Rebuilding the engine in your present genset is going to cheaper, simpler and vastly better, then some ill-conceived cobbled-up contraption.

If you want to build a generator yourself, then you will want something like the water-cooled Kubota EA330 driving a school bus alternator and with proper regulation. You will need to marinize it with a water cooled exhaust, sea water pump, heat exchanger, etc. It will not be much cheaper than buying a properly engineered factory-made generator, although maybe you could find a used engine, etc.

Or you could buy a good used real marine genset.

Or you could put in solar.
Dockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 07:49   #6
cruiser

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: medusa NY
Boat: Tayana Surprise 45 schooner "Union Pacific"
Posts: 2,097
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailmonkey View Post
Why not just rebuild the engine?
The new top end kit is $3900.
scoobert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 07:56   #7
Moderator
 
Dockhead's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scoobert View Post
The new top end kit is $3900.
That's ridiculous -- what kind of engine is it?? Maybe we can help steer you to a more reasonable source.
Dockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 08:17   #8
cruiser

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: medusa NY
Boat: Tayana Surprise 45 schooner "Union Pacific"
Posts: 2,097
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead View Post
That's ridiculous -- what kind of engine is it?? Maybe we can help steer you to a more reasonable source.
Ferrymann diesel, has a brigs an stratton mark as well.
Model 15w.
scoobert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 08:38   #9
Moderator
 
Dockhead's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scoobert View Post
Ferrymann diesel, has a brigs an stratton mark as well.
Model 15w.
Ah, you mean Farymann.

Have you tried these guys? Part Prices - Page 7

The prices seem reasonable. Piston with rings & wrist pin is only $213. Complete gasket set $92. Head gasket $13. Main bearing $61. Even if the engine is really trashed, and you need a cylinder and a whole new cylinder head assembly, those are only $290 and $566, respectively. No way could you spent $3000 on parts rebuilding one of these things.

I guess the average rebuild would require less than $500 in parts, and maybe a couple hundred in machine shop work. Maybe a couple hundred more to have the injection pump serviced. You would not generally need more than rings, bearings, have the crank ground, the cylinder honed, valves lapped, all new gaskets. Only if the engine has really been severely abused would you start to get into new cylinder head, etc. Injection pumps usually last forever; just need to send them off for service.

You can even buy a whole new injection pump for only $256! The parts for this engine are a lot cheaper than parts for my Yanmar generator engine, I'll tell you that!
Dockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 08:44   #10
Registered User
 
Teknav's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Texas - USA
Boat: Twin Otter de Havilland Floatplane
Posts: 1,838
Re: air cooled generator:?

Hiya Scoob! ...once you get the needed parts, invite Sailor Chic to put your engine together. She might even help you in rebuilding your square rigger! Treat her well! (Still cheaper than $3,900 USD.)

Mauritz
The boa is not for sale!
__________________
Retired - Don't Ask Me To Do A Damn Thing!
Teknav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 11:30   #11
cruiser

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: medusa NY
Boat: Tayana Surprise 45 schooner "Union Pacific"
Posts: 2,097
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead View Post
Ah, you mean Farymann.

Have you tried these guys? Part Prices - Page 7

The prices seem reasonable. Piston with rings & wrist pin is only $213. Complete gasket set $92. Head gasket $13. Main bearing $61. Even if the engine is really trashed, and you need a cylinder and a whole new cylinder head assembly, those are only $290 and $566, respectively. No way could you spent $3000 on parts rebuilding one of these things.

I guess the average rebuild would require less than $500 in parts, and maybe a couple hundred in machine shop work. Maybe a couple hundred more to have the injection pump serviced. You would not generally need more than rings, bearings, have the crank ground, the cylinder honed, valves lapped, all new gaskets. Only if the engine has really been severely abused would you start to get into new cylinder head, etc. Injection pumps usually last forever; just need to send them off for service.

You can even buy a whole new injection pump for only $256! The parts for this engine are a lot cheaper than parts for my Yanmar generator engine, I'll tell you that!
It seems they have no email address or phone number???
scoobert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 11:35   #12
Moderator
 
Dockhead's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,764
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scoobert View Post
It seems they have no email address or phone number???
Toll Free: 1-800-545-4574
Local: 727-522-9471
Marine Sales Fax: 727-527-7013
Industrial Sales Fax: 727-381-3235
Parts Fax: 727-528-9799

From:

Contact Information
Dockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 12:20   #13
cruiser

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: medusa NY
Boat: Tayana Surprise 45 schooner "Union Pacific"
Posts: 2,097
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dockhead View Post
Toll Free: 1-800-545-4574
Local: 727-522-9471
Marine Sales Fax: 727-527-7013
Industrial Sales Fax: 727-381-3235
Parts Fax: 727-528-9799

From:

Contact Information

thank you, left message, will see what they say
scoobert is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 12:28   #14
Registered User
 
denverd0n's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 5,009
Images: 6
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by scoobert View Post
i tried starting it with starting fluid, and it still does not start, that means no compression.
No, actually, no compression is only one possible explanation. There are others. I would suggest that the best place to start is to have a qualified mechanic take a look at your generator. It might very well not need a rebuild at all.
denverd0n is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2013, 12:34   #15
cruiser

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: medusa NY
Boat: Tayana Surprise 45 schooner "Union Pacific"
Posts: 2,097
Re: air cooled generator:?

Quote:
Originally Posted by denverd0n View Post
No, actually, no compression is only one possible explanation. There are others. I would suggest that the best place to start is to have a qualified mechanic take a look at your generator. It might very well not need a rebuild at all.
i am actually a diesel mechanic.
as you may know diesel only needs a few things to run.
air, fuel, compression.
so if i have compression the starting fluid would give me something.
it may not run if there is no fuel being injected, but using starting fluid would eliminate that aspect.

of course a valve could be stuck, or it may have a stuck compression release. i will tear into it soon, and get the head off. either way its easier to take out without the head. i wish i could make the engine run slower.... 3600RPM is so noisy.
scoobert is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
generator

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:24.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.