Diesel generator question

Darkspeed · October 29, 2015, 02:57:32 PM

I am looking at 4-stroke 1800rpm diesel engines/generators - Mitsubishi and Kubota from Magnum portable light towers and there seems to be a varying number of hours.

How many hours is too many?

What would be a good walking away point?

Most seem to be in the 4k range.

I dont know how many hours these engines were designed to run but I did see one with 32k hours on it still in service.

TomC · October 29, 2015, 03:17:23 PM

Probably stay under 10,000hours on a brushless alternator. I had a truck driver friend that had over 28,000hrs on his 3 cylinder Kubota and still running strong. He told me the new owner of the truck has over 43,000hrs and still not overhauled. 1,800 rpm for those little engines is like a truck engine idling. Good Luck, TomC

Darkspeed · October 29, 2015, 04:14:58 PM

also have the opportunity to get a NOS 0hr SHIBAURA N843 3 cylinder 4 stroke 1800rpm diesel connected to a 120/240 generator for 2k

luvrbus · October 29, 2015, 04:34:16 PM

I have a N843 in my New Holland tractor it hardy burns any fuel and never been a problem for 12 years the best little engine I ever owned

Oonrahnjay · October 29, 2015, 05:30:15 PM

Quote from: Darkspeed on October 29, 2015, 04:14:58 PM
also have the opportunity to get a NOS 0hr SHIBAURA N843 3 cylinder 4 stroke 1800rpm diesel connected to a 120/240 generator for 2k

How many watts?

Darkspeed · October 29, 2015, 06:09:06 PM

10kw, im going to go to my friends place and check it out next week.

It is missing a few parts that are needed , like a radiator, but it may be my best option.

Darkspeed · October 29, 2015, 06:19:37 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on October 29, 2015, 04:34:16 PM
I have a N843 in my New Holland tractor it hardy burns any fuel and never been a problem for 12 years the best little engine I ever owned

Thanks! That is what I wanted to hear!

OneLapper · October 30, 2015, 01:33:47 AM

Todd,

I love generators, specifically diesel gens. I've had a nice side business of rebuilding small diesel generators as of late, and in my opinion, it all boils down to this: parts availability over cost. I have a really nice Westerbeke 8kw gen in my bus. I use the stock heat exchanger and a remote radiator. I rebuilt the Westerbeke's Mitsubishi K3D last year and it cost about $2k in parts. Although expensive, I can call the local Westerbeke dealer and have the parts UPS ground next day. Any part. No down time. On the other hand, I picked up a 10kw diesel gen with a two cylinder Chinese engine. Getting parts was HORRIBLE! Granted, they were cheap parts, but when the machine shop tells you they can't use new exhaust valves you just bought for the rebuild, what good is it? I completely rebuilt that Chinese gen and I can't bring myself to sell it to anyone because getting the parts was near impossible.

Since you plan on living in your 4106 for quite some time, and I plan on buying it from you when you upgrade, go for a good generator!

Hey, you still want to part with that control panel?

Mark

Darkspeed · October 30, 2015, 01:51:20 AM

Quote from: OneLapper on October 30, 2015, 01:33:47 AM
Todd,

Since you plan on living in your 4106 for quite some time, and I plan on buying it from you when you upgrade, go for a good generator!

Hey, you still want to part with that control panel?

Mark

Ha Ha, thanks! I have not forgot about you on the panel I will try to get it in the mail..

Darkspeed · November 02, 2015, 02:10:58 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on October 29, 2015, 04:34:16 PM
I have a N843 in my New Holland tractor it hardy burns any fuel and never been a problem for 12 years the best little engine I ever owned

Im going out this morning to look at this generator, it has sat new unused for 27 years, is there anything I should look for on the N843?

Thanks!

TomC · November 02, 2015, 03:16:17 AM

27 years is a long time to try to get something running. Are parts made for it anymore? Try to buy something less than 10 years old.

Dave5Cs · November 02, 2015, 04:05:24 AM

I have a kubota 3 cyl diesel in bus for 7k genny with only 2100 hours runs great. We also have a Yanmar 187D tractor with a 3cyl diesel 21 years old Yanmar engine Japanese. Runs great and can also use kubota parts and filters on it.
Only problem now is the tractor only wants to go in reverse but engine still runs good?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

luvrbus · November 02, 2015, 04:29:33 AM

Setting that long you probably are going to need to flash the fields after you get it started to make it produce electricity.

Those little engines haven't changed in design or parts in the last 30 years,there is a bleeder valve on the supply open it till fuel flows.

The supply will need to pumped or gravity flow they won't pickup fuel with only the injector pumps.If you have problems locating a manual use the name Ishikawajim

Darkspeed · November 02, 2015, 09:00:56 AM

Well the Diesel gods smiled upon me... I just returned with the mystery diesel.

It turns out to be an American Made Mercury Quicksilver 8kw 1800 rpm diesel 3 cylinder 4 stroke water cooled.

It sat new for 27 years, still has the factory plug in the fuel line, had quite the layer of dust on it.

It came from the estate sale of a Mercury dealer, he was saving it for something?

It is a Shibaura N843 directly connected to a US made Pancake 120/240 generator.

It's tiny for an 1800 rpm 8kw but it is heavy as hell 30L x 22T x 16W

I have named it Darth Vader

eagle19952 · November 02, 2015, 09:02:23 AM

Some thoughts here:ishikawajima shibaura

http://www.ihi-shibaura.com/english/aboutus/history.html

https://coxengineering.sharepoint.com/Pages/EngineDerivations.aspx

Perkins started importing these 100 series engines from a Japanese company called Ishikawajima Shibaura ... In the US, the engine was distributed through Detroit Diesel – Allison which is ..