wrote in message
...
On Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:07:22 -0400, "vaughn"
wrote:


"Ulysses" wrote in message
...


Wow, thanks very much for the specific information. I'm on craig's
list
now
and they seem to start out at about $400.

FYI, my home standby generator is a 70's- era Onan 4CCK that once was
a
standby generator for a traffic signal. They are pretty simple to work
on,
parts and information are still generally available, and the gang at the
Onan board at Smokstak.com (including Bruce) gives amazing support.

Vaughn

I'm not up on the Onan model numbers, but if anyone is talking about
the old opposed-twin flat heads for a backup generator, I wouldn't
think those would be a great choice except for low-use applications.
My neighbor was fond of them because he could get them for peanuts,
which was a good thing because he seemed to have gone through quite a
few. They didn't seem especially reliable, quiet, or fuel efficient.
I'd think that the fuel inefficiency alone of flat-heads makes them
uneconomical for extended use. I'm not even sure that the 1800 RPM is
any great advantage. Better 3600 RPM engines last a long time if
properly cared for, and one can throttle most engines down to a lower
speed if planned for.

It seems like there are lots of decent small engines available these
days, some so cheap that even the most budget-conscious could afford
to have a complete spare on hand.

9hp, $150

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.as...atname=engines
13hp, $180

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.as...atname=engines
Wayne

This is from a CL ad:

Model 6.5 nh-3cr. 6500 watts, 120-240 volts. 54.2-27.1 amps. Phase 1. Starts
dependably. Hear it run. Like new! Came out of wrecked motor home. New
plugs, wires, points, condensor, oil and filter, 30wt. non-detergent. New
fuel pump and air cleaner. Dimensions are 23" in Heighth, 32" in width", 20"
depth. Mounting plate is 19x19

All of this makes me wonder about maintenance. There seems to be a lot of
stuff there that I currently don't have to deal with. How often does the
oil need to be changed on these generators? Does the oil filter reduce the
frequency of oil changes or just improve the lubrication? Does the flywheel
need to be removed to adjust the points or are they easy to get to?