Micro CoGen.

It's been a busy two months. I'm looking forward getting back to some of my unfinished projects. One of the first things is I have to disassemble and move a Jet RF-20 milling machine to the shop. This milling machine it's just what I've been waiting for. It comes with everything that I need for my projects. Looking forward to start machining engine mounts for the 1A08-4 engine powered DC alternator project.

Just finished removing brake drums from a 2013 Chevy Cruze.

Once a ridge is on the inside of a drum it usually means that the self adjuster needs to be backed off to slide the drum off. This is not easy with some GM vehicles. Some have no access holes to the adjuster. I could not believe that GM allowed this. I went on some forums and owner's and mechanics commented that there was absolutely no way to get a drum off without damaging the backing plate and other components.

I read that many beat the drums with hammers and tried prying with no success. I was in the same situation. But I did not start banging and prying.
I just took some time off and thought about it.

I want to share how to get these drums off.

If they won't slide off, the only way I figured out to get drums off without the risk of damaging the backing plate and other parts is:

• Get a 4-1/2" right angle grinder
• Get 4-1/2" cut off disks

1– Measure 1/2" back from the face of the drum on the outer circumference of the drum.

2– Cut through the drum around the whole circumference of the drum until the drum is completely cut through.

3– Take hold of the drum face and pull it off.

4– Now you can get to the adjuster. Back it off completely and pull the rest of the drum off.


It's that simple. It only took 10 minutes per side.

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https://www.rt.com/business/565445-electric-car-charging-italy/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLbuY_AS6pE

https://www.ebay.com/itm/295247436610?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20191002094254%26meid%3De7c3778db7f54a4a90f65a8010c69307%26pid%3D100889%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D155198047686%26itm%3D295247436610%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWeb&_trksid=p2332490.c100889.m5204

I found this on eBay. There lots of small engines we don't know about. This one is for sale in the U.S..

What a beast!

The thing looks way overbuilt the owner says it weighs about a ton.

Here is his YouTube clip.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5i0MGEJ0128


Decided to copy and paste the description from the seller below since the eBay ad will expire.

Kaelble F125E 15/18 HP Single cylinder diesel engine. Running. This unit is mounted on a cart with on board air tanks. The air tanks are not functional right now. We start it off tractor PTO. Go to you tube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGaOpUJRHE2eCFr8rvk5QzQ  This is a video of starting and running. There is also a crank mechanism to start engine.This unit was made in 1951 and installed in a road roller. I have copy of original receipt from factory in Backnang Germany. I can load at my shop. Weights about a ton. Very rare engine in USA!

Hurricane Ian is causing havoc. I was sitting down transferring data to the new cell phone and the lights went out while hearing a loud deep humming noise. The humming noise happened three times and then everything went silent. It could have been a transformer at the sub station got overloaded or shorted out. Everything is fine here. The small Yamaha 1000 watt inverter generator is doing its job. It's on economic mode. At 250 watts the generator fuel consumption is rated at .6 of a gallon running up to 12 hours. I switched the water. heater to propane. It's cool out so AC is not needed.

Spoke to someone at Charleston South Carolina and so far rain fall total is around 8 inches.

Will be updating what's going on later.

I just found the trailing arm bushing removal and installation tool that I purchased when I had a 93 240 Volvo Wagon. This tool saved lots of time and headaches. If anyone has a 240 Volvo, and wants to keep it. The trailing arm bushings will need to be replaced. This tool was purchased new and was used to replace a set of bushings on the wagon. And it's been put away and never used again.

I'm posting it here thinking a member might need this tool. It's $50.00, plus shipping.

Just PM me if intrested.

Henry

Just found this.
Looks like prices might increase considerably on small engines.

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Balmar ARS-4 & MC-412
Installation and Operator's Manual

Please see attachment below:

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I am looking for an efficient 12 Volt, 60 to 80 Amp alternator that can be set up to rotate Counterclockwise.
If anyone has knowledge of which alternator's might be good to consider please feel free to comment.
Thanks,
Henry

Want to give a heads up that there is a Ivory Soap Shortage. I've been looking for two days looking for the regular soap bars. There is none to be found. I just called one pharmacy that is about 15 miles away in the country. They are holding a 10 pack for me.

This is nuts! I think we are going to see hard times very soon.

Hey guys,

When I get so old that I can't do any more builds. And, if I have to go to a retirement home I think I want one of these. This is one engine that  I will fight to the end that the EPA will not be allowed to take.

https://www.stirlingkit.com/products/cison-l100-diesel-engine-evaporative-cooling-4-stroke-single-cylinder-gasoline-engine-model

Some members are following a build that I started. It's going to be a small genset that will be able to run on gasoline, kerosene and hopefully jet fuel. Some are wondering if this can actually work, and the answer is, yes. But it has to be an engine that has a compression of 6.5 to 1 or lower. And a carborator that has fuel  mixture adjusting screws for ease of adjusting the fuel mixture.

Briggs and Stratton and other major small engine manufacturers offered engines that operate on kerosene. There are some old documents stating that the compression can be lowered by using two head gaskets. Kerosene spark ignition engines have been around for a long time.

I remember quite a few years back reading about kerosene engines from the 70's and 80's. The fuel tanks had dual chambers. The gasoline chamber was small. Gasoline was used to heat the engine up. Once heated the engines fuel valve was switched to  kerosene.

At one time kerosene was only pennies  compared to gasoline. And this was a reason these engines were around.

The engine I have is a military 1A08 variant. The engine is an overhead valve with 6 to 1 compression ratio. The carb has a valve to switch to heated air that comes from the shroud  that encases the cylinder and muffler. I feel this will work fine. But, instead of going by theory, why not try it out. And this is my plan.

The purpose of this build is to have a genset that is able to run on different fuels or blends if times get very hard. And, I hope this will never happen.

Here is a clip of a person that did a test. Some of the engines he tested had too high of compression and that resulted in engine knock. And, the carburetor did not have adjustable fuel mixture screws.

https://youtu.be/MTlNjRDOJ5E

Any members experience kerosene spark ignition engines? Please share your thoughts.

Please list Fuel injection services in this topic.

Thanks

Here is a good clip that goes in depth on the differences of 4-stroke parallel twin cylinder engine variations.

https://youtu.be/a9ZFZABaLbg

For 1500 and1800 rpm  direct drive generator applications I feel a 360° variant is still the best. The rpm is low enough that primary and secondary balance is not much of an issue.

Too bad Kubota and other small diesel manufacturers do not make a  360° variant specifically for driving 4-pole direct drive generators.

The differences in parts would be: crank, camshaft, flywheel, counter balanced front pulley and possibly a different crankcase breather.

I feel a 360° parallel inline would address some of the harmonic issues associated with a 180° variant running at lower speeds.

Years ago many engine manufacturers made 360° even firing parallel twins for generator applications. Wisconsin had the 360° even firing THD parallel twin. And, it was used on many 1800 rpm direct drive generators. That is one nice running engine.

Henry

Here is a nice small radiator and coolant reservoir tank that might work well for small water cooled engines such as the:

• Kubota EA, EB and EL series engines.
• Changfa type R165, R170 & R175 engines

https://scooterswapshop.com/products/twpo-radiator

https://scooterswapshop.com/products/polini-coolant-overflow-reservoir

I would think its large enough for engines up to 7hp & more.

Henry

At times throughout the year I run into something that catches my interest and I get involved to learn more about it. And, this might also spark an interest in others to learn about it and possibly get involved.

If anyone has hobbies or interests that they would like to share, please do. If this topic takes off we might be able to make a section on this forum to post them.

Henry

While searching the web I came across Youtuber Mossy Creek Vids that has posted clips covering the Chinese 168F diesel engine and how to prep the engine for real world use.

These clips could be beneficial for all that owns one or more of these engines.

A big thanks to Youtuber Mossy Creek Vids for producing these clips.

Henry



Part 1, Detailed Teardown
https://youtu.be/gcW6YPH-uKc

Part 2, Detailed Teardown
https://youtu.be/yC06gdMn8bQ

Part 3, Detailed Teardown
https://youtu.be/FAIqrCqg7Cs

Part 4, Critical Component Inspection
https://youtu.be/nl0LtNHbMRU

Part 5, Critical Component Inspection
https://youtu.be/W5TWGGb6g4s

Part 6, Putting it all back together
https://youtu.be/cnqeAcAFtcs

Part 6.1, Putting it all back together
https://youtu.be/vxBqdYtc8ak

Part 6.2, Final assembly and test run
https://youtu.be/XOykOsaAlhk

Part 7, Taking care of some issues
https://youtu.be/MdtLah8B3tI

https://youtu.be/jWqgSddK_6U

And please watch you speed while driving.

Henry