Onan parts should be easy to get, Cummins still supports them.
Martin
Martin
CK5
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'83...? ONAN diesel genset startup project.
- Thread starter bix
- Start date
If you find a breaker, it may look wrong. Depending on the design, you may have a full power breaker, which would be around 60+ amps, or you may find one that is normal looking, but seems much too weak. In the range of 2 or 3 amps.
My big genset has a breaker on the front that is around 3 amps if I remember right.
This is on a genset that could put out as much as 400 amps @240volts.
But, if you turn off that small breaker, the generator makes no voltage. That is because that breaker controls the exciting current for the main armature.
The main reason for that is due to the large number of voltages and currents my system is set up for. There are 12 very large wires in the reconnect box, and by connecting them in different ways, you can get different phases, voltages, and currents. There is a chart inside the box that you go by.
A full power breaker would be hard to rig up, since the maximum output current varies widely according to how its connected.
Yours seems to be permanently wired for one output. If so, then a full power breaker would work.
Either way, there should be some kind of breaker.
BTW, if you get it running, and plan to use it, you might consider replacing the mechanical lift pump with a small electric low pressure pump with a switch to run it without the engine running.
Not only would that make priming the fuel system and getting any air out much easier, but killing the power to that pump will starve the engine for fuel and make sure it turns off.
My big genset has a breaker on the front that is around 3 amps if I remember right.
This is on a genset that could put out as much as 400 amps @240volts.
But, if you turn off that small breaker, the generator makes no voltage. That is because that breaker controls the exciting current for the main armature.
The main reason for that is due to the large number of voltages and currents my system is set up for. There are 12 very large wires in the reconnect box, and by connecting them in different ways, you can get different phases, voltages, and currents. There is a chart inside the box that you go by.
A full power breaker would be hard to rig up, since the maximum output current varies widely according to how its connected.
Yours seems to be permanently wired for one output. If so, then a full power breaker would work.
Either way, there should be some kind of breaker.
BTW, if you get it running, and plan to use it, you might consider replacing the mechanical lift pump with a small electric low pressure pump with a switch to run it without the engine running.
Not only would that make priming the fuel system and getting any air out much easier, but killing the power to that pump will starve the engine for fuel and make sure it turns off.
I would definitely replace those fuel filters before starting it. You never know there could be a bunch of old diesel sludge, water, and/or trash in them.
Tossed a battery on it. Starter works and it turns over. Don't have 12 volts to let fuel in though so it didn't fire. Just wanted to make sure it would crank over. Without a control switch wired up I have no glow plugs, no 12v to the injector pump. I did order up key switch so I can try and wire things like the glow plugs to it. As chevy 305 just said I should probably replace all the filters and what not first. Bleed the whole system and then try to fire it up.
As for the generator side of things Ive spoken to a Cummins sales guy and they don't make much of the wiring side of this generator anymore. He was gonna see if I could rig up an old box to this one?
As for the generator side of things Ive spoken to a Cummins sales guy and they don't make much of the wiring side of this generator anymore. He was gonna see if I could rig up an old box to this one?
Hasn't been an update to this for a while... Anything to report?
No I've been so busy with school starting back up I haven't gotten. Much time. Times being spent on the 79 c10 at the moment. I need to stop being dumb and order the new filters. I've got a battery on it and it turns over. I need to uncover the tank because it's hidden. I want to inspect on if it's worth dumping a bunch of fresh diesel into or if it's hiding a bunch of junk.
If I understand it correctly that's a DJC generator. Here's some resources I found.
If you wanted to ship that down to me, I'll take real good care of it. 
I've got an 11 kw generac with a v-twin that was setup for propane. It needs a new engine. It somehow broke both connecting rods and cracked the block where they hit it from the inside but it spins over just fine with the starter and makes no bad noises at all. Took a little troubleshooting to figure out why it would not start. Pulled a spark plug and found the piston did not move when cranking.If you wanted to ship that down to me, I'll take real good care of it.
Was watching a guy on youtube that works on old Onan gens. Listed the below link as a good resource for service manuals.
awesome, after watching the video posted in VAD. Im a tad horny again to put some time into it!
You ever decide to get rid of it....
Well the c10 has taken priority but I had to show the generator some love and get the ball rolling. I plan to sell the container it was in and free up yard space behind the shop for covered parking instead of covered sea can storage.
Borrowed a crane from work and got the generator pulled out.
The unit was equipped with a complete fire protection/suppression system. So there's all this aluminum tubing.. I'm sure I can use it for something.
Got the radiator pulled out first and all the loose stuff disconnected.
Fuel tank seems mint also, so that will be following the generator to its new home. I am going to build a custom housing for this unit inbetween the house and the water pump so I can have both operating in a power outage. My property has two power services so I have 200 amps in the shop and 200 in the house. The pump isnt on the same panel as the house so I'll have to run it to both locations.
Borrowed a crane from work and got the generator pulled out.
The unit was equipped with a complete fire protection/suppression system. So there's all this aluminum tubing.. I'm sure I can use it for something.
Got the radiator pulled out first and all the loose stuff disconnected.
Fuel tank seems mint also, so that will be following the generator to its new home. I am going to build a custom housing for this unit inbetween the house and the water pump so I can have both operating in a power outage. My property has two power services so I have 200 amps in the shop and 200 in the house. The pump isnt on the same panel as the house so I'll have to run it to both locations.
Sorry for the horribly organized photos.
Oil had some metal in it but it's apparently only got 40 hours on it or something.. was wondering if maybe it was low houred because someone destroyed it that early, but everything is pointing to the fact that probably isn't the case. Drained the oil and filled with shell t1. Next is to fill the fuel tank with clean diesel and prime the system. Not sure but the rockers seemed a bit loose. Going to check the manual for a valve lash measurement. I purchased a service manual for this engine so I can really dig into it.
Might replace this bearing also while I'm here...
Might replace this bearing also while I'm here...
Could be original oil for that low of hours.
No filters have been changed and every single item is still painted. Has the break in instructions tag on It so it's seems to add up with the previous home owners story. The other bonus is since this container was hard wired to the house there's about 60 ft of 6 Ga awg into the house panel already. Enough for me to relocate this without buying or burrying more cable. Im also hoping I can disconnect this at the home panel and Rob the 65 amp breaker and just install a few plugs beside the panel and send power to the opposite way than it was. Being so remote I deal with power outages quite a lot in the winter storm months.
It also leaves me with enough wire to run two 50 amp 220 plugs in the shop without dropping a dime on electrical stuff besides the plug. All in all I think I'm winning so far
It also leaves me with enough wire to run two 50 amp 220 plugs in the shop without dropping a dime on electrical stuff besides the plug. All in all I think I'm winning so far
The radiator definitely has a few leaks in it. Once I get the paint all off and it cleaned up, I'll be able to tell what it's made of and how I can plug said holes. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll get to bust out some braising rod...
All the aluminum tubing from the fire surpressionsystem. I wonder what this can would have been a power hub for.. the fire extinguisher in there was last inspected in 84'. Being that the generator is an 83... I don't think It was used very much or long before someone had a change of plans for it. House was built in 2012 so there's a big gap of who knows where it was..
Every single thing on this besides the filters is coming apart as if it was just installed. It's never seen the outdoor elements in its entire life. Like the barn find of generators hahah.
All the aluminum tubing from the fire surpressionsystem. I wonder what this can would have been a power hub for.. the fire extinguisher in there was last inspected in 84'. Being that the generator is an 83... I don't think It was used very much or long before someone had a change of plans for it. House was built in 2012 so there's a big gap of who knows where it was..
Every single thing on this besides the filters is coming apart as if it was just installed. It's never seen the outdoor elements in its entire life. Like the barn find of generators hahah.
The generator build is heading forward. I am either going to be building my own control box and voltage regulator using a ln aftermarket voltage regulating circuit board or trying to find one to modify for my unit. I have a thread going on smokstak, as there is tons of enthusiasts on that site that are full of goodies.
Here's a link for anyone interested. I'll post updates here but the techincal discovery will be over on that one only, most likely.
Here's a link for anyone interested. I'll post updates here but the techincal discovery will be over on that one only, most likely.
Onan: - 1983 15.0rdjc revival.
The story starts about a year ago as I bought a property that came with an old fire department office sea can type of thing. In the rear of the can it had a Onan Gen set. 15.ORD JC-3CR/1AD Serial No. K830685512 spec E The story I was given is that it was barely used. ( Under 50 hours and it...
www.smokstak.com
I know absolutely nothing about electrical. So I’m just going to follow along here and watch.
That will be the best thing ever for you to get running and working! Up the value of your place significantly I would suspect too!
That will be the best thing ever for you to get running and working! Up the value of your place significantly I would suspect too!
