Engine Speed control..... How

[cohippy]

Hello I have a new Kawasaki FE350D 11.5 Hp engine and am planning on mating it to a ST5 gen head.

My question is this, how do I control the engine speed when a load in introduced? I have searched for 60Hz throttle springs but none to be fount for this engine.

What have you done to over come this issue with a gas engine?

Thanks

[bschwartz]

What's a gas engine? 

[cohippy]

ummm one that doesnt run on diesel fuel........

[bschwartz]

Sorry, just being silly.  Many on this forum run engines with built in governors, and as such do not 'need' an external speed control. 

Wayne is working on a similar issue with a mercedes engine.

Check out this thread.
http://www.microcogen.info/index.php?topic=1898.0

[wiebe]

http://www.kawasaki.co.nz/kawasaki_custom.cfm?modelcode=FE350D&do=specs

I thing youre engine is ok with govener .

[Horsepoor]

There are a couple disconnected recent threads on electronic speed control. This inexpensive Generac Kit has gotten my attention. I am probably going to order this kit unit now that Wayne has trouble shot the part numbers. I suggest you Google this kit and research, for the money I like it.

http://www.microcogen.info/index.php?topic=2146.msg25027#msg25027

Check out page #18 Figure #20 in the PDF link below for installation instructions.
http://www.comdac.com/literature/generac/doc/079699rev8.pdf

Wayne - have my credit card in hand, really close to ordering contol unit p/n 098647 and stepper motor p/n 98290. Do you have any final words of advice or wisdom for a fellow M.E.? Being cheap, it is really hard for me to spend money, like to hear any other insights you might have gotten from the Generac service representative.

Bruce

[cohippy]

upon some hands on testing and research on the engines power curve chart..... I have developed the following opinion

this engine will NOT work with my requirements being:
      1. I managed to get this engine to idel down to 1800 RPM, crappy idle..... thus is a no go with my need to direct couple due to the crappy idle at that speed, but also a lack of power

      2. in oder to use this engine I would need to run the engine at around 3000 RPM and use a reduction drive in order to properly drive the ST-5 alternater (generator head). This is NOT what I want, I want an engine I can set the speed to give me about 62-63Hz with no load and be able to continue to handle the load dropping down maybe 5 Hz or less.

      3. I guess I will need to try to find an Isuzu c201 diesel or a Mercedes-Benz OM636

So I suppose I will just use this engine for the original purpose I bought it for...... running a 160 amp SI22 alternator with external regulation. and be on with a search for a proper diesel for the gen head project

Thanks all

[WStayton]

Horsepoor:

  I would hold off until I get my Stepper-motor/actuator and CONFIRM that it will plug together with control unit.

  I ordered last week, but, since shipping was at "No Charge", I assume that it is coming via dogsled and pack mule since they quoted ten day deliver!  <grin>

  Sometime "CHEAP" is its own reward!

Regardz,

Wayne Stayton

[markste]

Kawasaki's maximum engines are on govener.