Diesel Generator First And Last Start

As many know, Direct Energy, and others electricity retailers in Alberta are absolute criminals. As if our rates aren't already the most expensive in Canada, they add an apx $80 monthly "distribution charge" to the bill every month. Since we now own two homes, we cut the bills down by shutting off the electricity at the "cottage". We have been running the cottage off 12v car batteries, and the little 1000w generator.

The 1000w genny has been really efficient. I can't get over that it runs for 8 hours on $4 of gas. Wile running it is working to power all the lights in the house and battery chargers for the car battery lights. Video of them to come, no I don't have headlights duck taped to the walls. There is an old vid of the generator here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K6jGNRNBhE

I really bought that generator for work, so I almost need to replace it with something. I have always wanted one of those 10hp diesel motors they sell at Princess Auto. They cost about $800, but go on sale for $500, and I keep thinking I will buy one to power my tank track garden tractor, as seen here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HAMf_rgfZA

So when Princess Auto put the diesel generator on sale, powered by my beloved diesel engine all for $800, there was no losing. I have a new generator and my much wanted air cooled diesel! I could make the tank track garden tractor a "diesel electric" like the 400 ton heavy haulers, and trains. In the summer when my tank track diesel electric snow plow (thats a mouth full) isn't needed, I pop the generator off for work.

Wow was I wrong. Maybe I got the one bad unit, but it didn't work right. Besides the somewhat expected ridiculously hard to start in the cold. I had to recharge the starter battery so many times I didn't turn the camera on for the time it actually started. But I did get some of the madness on film. It makes me sad editing this video together, I really wanted this generator. Put I am really happy I got it from Princess Auto, because I know they will take it back with no problem, unlike like Canadian Tire, and a lot of other retail bee-otches out there.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• plasma
• red hot
• cloud of smoke
• high rev engine engine
• diesel fail

[kens97sto171]

Looks to me like the exhaust valve was not closing all the way. Or perhaps the injection timing was off, and NO WAY you should see the glowing gas and flames shooting out. The sparks are from the metal that is flaking away from the inside of the muffler. There is no such thing as lean or rich with a diesel. Fuel controls engine speed. Too much fuel might make it smoke and run like crap. Too little and it will just stop. Probably the valves were not adjusted correctly. Not your fault.

[pacificcloud]

@kens97sto171 Princess Auto stated the timing was out in their "Returned Goods" pile, for sale half price.

[EtoMaster1]

i know why the muffler is red and it is blowing out fire.you need to adjust one of the chokes.and trust me i did that with my onan 15-jc 15kw generator

[pacificcloud]

@EtoMaster1 Yeh, too bad I didn't buy it back for half price :-(. Is your onan still going strong?

[heavyhaultrucker]

I have ETQ 6000W genset bought used off a roofing guy runs great when you get it started I start mine only on half throtle ( held by locking pliers ) untill warm and than kick in full throtle never had a problem...it will backfire and shoot flames if the throtle is set to full off the start. I run 10W30 AMSOIL in it and runs 10 hrs at a time as a plug in for two semis in the yard

[pacificcloud]

@heavyhaultrucker Good to know its working for somebody, I was sad to return it to the store, especially now I have my diesels all running on waste fryer oil, that would be like free electricity. The one I had could have been just fine, it just freaked me out, if it had kept running in the end, I would have kept it.

[mattm1495]

you are not suposed to put gasoline in a diesel

[Rippey574]

@kens97sto171 I think it was wrong or contaminated fuel Every diesel i have ever seen with injection timing off it does not fire or pre-detonates. If the exhaust valve doesn't close all the way, the engine never can reach combustion temp on the stroke to fire the diesel.

[tinkysbrother]

did you put oil in the engine?

[davida1hiwaaynet]

There are a few things that can cause hi exhaust temp. Most common is restricted airflow on the inlet. Diesels pump extra air that is not combusted (because it is a lean condition at most all times). This cools the combustion and exhaust temps.

Other cause is late injection timing. It will cause low power, high exhaust temps, and often smoke.

Another possibility is compression release not kicking out completely. This will cause high exh temp and burned exhaust valve quickly!

[menno874]

i think he did not add engine oil, the tag ADD LUBE OIL is still in place. these things don't get a drop of oil in production

[stingraystud]

@EtoMaster1 there isnt a choke on a diesel engine

[sonicsound84]

i can only imagine what color the piston was... white possibly... lol

[ismokewead420]

the dicription saays runs for 8 hours on 4$ of gas... your supposed to put diesel in it!

[possumpowerd]

@TheMrmattpizza78 Does honda have a small Diesel genny available?

[possumpowerd]

@sheephat89 Sorta heard rite. But we don't go out to that cabin much, and start the gennerator even less. It takes a couple months to go through $5 of gas, at the rate we use it.

[sheephat89]

Did i just read that you pay $120 to run just your lights (8hrs @ $4 x 30 days = $120)? Seems extravagant and unnessary

[customh]

@auroraron You've got it right, if it was valves or fuel it just plain wouldn't run right. Thing sounded like it was running right, too much backpressure and couldn't cool itself so the innards smoked themselves. Had to have some sort of emissions control these days which is another reason why I think you're right with the plugged catalytic converter or particulate filter, whatever it's called on those things.