Pulley info for making a generator

silly question, can't you machine the pulley instead of the crankshaft?

Sounds like he wants to drive the Kawasaki engine (with the rod removed) with a Briggs engine. He probably can't figure out how to remove the generator's armature from the Kawasaki crank- it's not obvious that the crank is tapered and keyed. The armature is removed by first stripping away the rest of the generator section until only the armature remains. The armature has to be twisted in the opposite direction of normal rotation. This is done by smacking it with a rubber mallet.

The best thing to do would be to repair the Kawasaki- they're good engines, better than the standard Briggs 'consumer grade' engines. It's a straightforward job, but because of the wiring and shock hazard, having the shop manual in front of you is the only way to go.

-Carl

Carl Byrns wrote: Sounds like he wants to drive the Kawasaki engine (with the rod removed) with a Briggs engine. He probably can't figure out how to remove the generator's armature from the Kawasaki crank(clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^ I ran across a close-coupled motor-gen once in which the generator had only an outboard bearing. It relied on the motor shaft for the other end. As in this case, the motor was shot, and it was kind of hard to figure out how to make use of the generator.

Sure, but the engine is shot and the other end of the Kawasaki crankshaft is tapered where it fits into the generator. I have that apart. It would be easier to cut the crank, since the engine block is shattered, and fit it to a pulley.

No one has answered the question about what pulley shaft size is predominant for 4,5, 6" or so pulleys. They don't know? There isn't any standard?

It is not necessary to field strip the generator. The shaft that drives the armature unscrews very easily.

I don't know if there is a standard, but all those sizes are readily available. Go to

and browse their cast iron pulleys for a representative selection. I'm sure graingers, MSC, and others carry similar pullies.

-- Regards, Carl Ijames snipped-for-privacy@verizon.net

You didn't say the Kawasaki block was damaged, but replacing the Kawasaki with another one is still the best repair.

There isn't any standard. There are specs- what RPM the armature is turned is critical- usually 3600 RPM for a small genset. 3500 isn't enough and 3700 is too much. Since speed is a function of the ratio between driving and driven pulleys, you need to know what the max governed speed of the replacement engine is. On the other hand, you can't run the engine below it's recommended low (or idle) speed because it will overheat. Don't assume that it's 3600 RPM- a lot of newer non-generator duty engines run slower for noise control.

-Carl

Carl,

I also didn't say what I had for supper. I simply asked if there were a predominant shaft size in small pulleys of around 4,6,8" diameter.

Save your lecture. The best repair is to buy a new one but I don't choose to do that. You go right ahead.

No problem. I sell new Kawasaki engines and have been known to offer discounts to friendly folks. I'll galdly sell _you_ one for 10% over retail, plus shipping/handling and lecture fee.

In the meantime, have fun with your generator abortion.

-Carl

No, thank you. I saw how shabbily this Kawasaki engine is. It is as light as a feather and the reason that it is so light, even though made from Aluminum, is that the walls of everything are paper thin. It is amazing that this engine held together for as long as it did (not long). The walls of the piston are paper thin, the connecting rod is a joke and broke and the lubrication system is woefully inadequate.

There is a reason that Kawasaki is not bigger in the small engine business - read above. That you handle/foist them on unsuspecting people is no surprise.

That would explain why they last so long in commercial service (+1500 hrs). Why don't you send the Kawasaki engineers a note showing them the errors of their ways.

I don't believe I've ever sold a replacement Kawasaki because the original engine wore out- it's always been because the engine was damaged (hit by a vehicle) or abused (no oil change). Broken rods are almost always the results of not changing the oil.

ROTFLMAO! Kawasaki is very big in the _commercial_ engine business- neck and neck with Honda. Anyone who knows jack shit about the small engine market knows that. Which explains why you don't. We also handle Kohler, Robin, and the Briggs Vanguard line. They all need regular oil changes so they don't meet your high standards either.

-Carl

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Regular oil changes are done by people who want to take care of their engines.

The fact is, is that this model of engine is a joke and for you to hold it dear while not even knowing the model number, speaks volumes about what you think is good.

Another thing, there is always a guy in a newsgroup who, when he sees a simple question, thinks the asker of that question can't get out of bed without help. He goes on the pontificate and hold court without the slightest idea of who he is lecturing or their fields of expertise.

Carl, you remind me of the buffoon who, when is asked directions and he doesn't know the answer, idiotically and stupidity lectures the asker of the question and says something brilliant like: "you could ask at a service station". As if the person lost is as stupid he is.

I'm guessing small engine design isn't yours. If it's engineering, please identify your employer so I can be sure not to purchase/use/go near their products.

BTW: I had a nice chat with my CPDSM today about your engine problem. He suggested you let your local Kawaski distributor take a look at the engine- maybe they'll replace it.

And you remind me of Altavoz.

(I'll bet you can't figure out 'CPDSM' and 'Altavoz')

-Carl

Aiiiiieeeee, he said the word!!!!

Now the daemon will appear.

Jim

================================================== please reply to: JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com ==================================================

LOL!

You have to say it three times- I only said it twice.

I'm looking at the OP's nickname/handle/whatever- 'saac' and with a little realignment the letters spell 'cas(s)'. Now _that's_ scary.

How do unix the daemon?

-Carl

Whoa. Missed that.

Jim

================================================== please reply to: JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com ==================================================

Since that article shows up as a hole in the thread map on my system, and I'm blocking all articles from the news server which he uses, I think that it is very likely that it is him.

Enjoy, DoN.

=8-O

Thanks for the tip.

Jim

================================================== please reply to: JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com ==================================================

Ditto. The shun is is on!

-Carl