1964 3 kw skid mtd gen. set

[Ken Howard]

Are these units of any value? They're a little light for back-up power for ones home. We used it to power our electric trap thrower at our recreational property but since we had power strung in to the club property a dozen years or so ago it has sit idle. Other club members are pushing to get rid of it because it's taking up space in a building. I hate to just give it away if has some value. U. S.Corps. engineers gen. set port. skid mounted, 3kw 8pf 60 cycle, winterized, stock no. 6112 975 8381 s/n1855, Holingsworth/ wisconsin,1&3 phase, Man. 10-64. Thanks, Ken

[BTPost]

Depends on what one uses it for. 3Kw is surely enough to run a Hunting Cabin.
Hek, I got Close (Close = 10 Sq. miles) Neighbors that run their whole
operations on less than 3 Kw. Certainly would provide Backup for any Solar
Inverter System. I paid $200US for a similar unit 10 years ago, and it only
cost $250US to have it shipped up here, via Truck & Barge. Nice runner, and
NO GRIEF, about parts or breakdowns. Still running my Cabin, down the beach.
It feeds a little Trace 3624 Inverter, with a 400 Amp-Hour battery bank.

[Ken Howard]

Yeah, they seem to be pretty well built units, the best our tax money could buy. Aircaft shielded wire and plug, external mag.The only thing I ever remember having to do it in the last 20 years was flash the field once. I'll probably have to do it again after it sat this long. So you figure its probably worth a couple hundred. Thanks for the info Bruce. Regards, Ken

[K D Redd]

MEP-16?

Kent

[Ken Howard]

I don't think so. I thought the mep-16 had a larger engine. This has a single cylinder, air cooled wisconsin engine on it.

Ken

[BTPost]

Howard, could you post some pictures of the unit. I for one, would be
interested in comparing it to my unit.

[Ken Howard]

Yeah Bruce, Ii'll trry get some on. Ken

[Ken Howard]

Yeah Bruce, Ii'll trry get some on. Ken

[Ken Howard]

Bruce, see if these come through!

[BTPost]

Looks very similar to my unit. There are a few differences, but the controls
are very similar. The engine looks similar, but there are differences in the Fuel System, as well. When I get down to the cabin, next I will take some
pictures of my unit, and post them to this thread.

[Ken Howard]

Bruce, originally we bought two of these units in the mid 70's. They were both 3 kw, but there were differences between the two of them as well. The major difference being that one was winterized. That basically was a cowl that drew warm air from the cylinder and ducted it around the carb. and intake, if I remember correctly. But I think the carburetor, aircraft style magneto, shielded ignition lead, and massive electrode spark plug were the same. We used one to backfeed the house from a detatched garage to keep refrigerators and freezers running when there was a power outage, but it wouldn't cover much more than that. It's still there, but hasn't been needed or used in years. The other we used at the club. The wheels you see on this one we put on. I would like to see the pictures of your generator set. They are well built units but noisy and not too stingy with fuel. It's been a while, but seems like it burned a gallon an hour, loaded up or idling. You could run it 24/7 though, and they wouldn't melt down like the cheapies they sell nowadays. Regards, Ken

[BTPost]

Mine burns a 3 USG Fuel Tank in about 5 hours at rated load. It is also a bit
noisy but made a perfect backup for my 3 Kw Onan DJA diesel genset, which
is our Prime Power supply. The Onan is a bit skiddish on the first start every
spring, and really needs a HOT Battery to warm up the Intake Manifold
Heater and GlowPlug, as well as crank over the engine against the Cyl
compression. I use the Gas Unit to run a 200 Amp Battery Charger, on the
Onans starting battery, because it starts up on the first pull, every time,
even with gas that has sat in the tank, over the winter. Very nice Hot
spark out of the Fairbanks/Morse Magneto on the Wisconsin. Once the DJA
is running, then the Gas Unit, goes back into hibernation for another year,
or waits for the Onan to fail to run for some reason.