sewerzuk
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- Seaside, OR
I have been buying and repairing MEP generators from Ft. Lewis now for a few years; I have a pretty standard method of checking one out and doing the first startup. Basically, I do a walkaround, noting any obvious missing parts, damaged components, melted wires, etc. I pull the intake manifold off to check for foreign objects. I'll usually try to tun the engine over by hand to find out if any of the cylinders have water or fuel in them (or rings/bearings rusted or seized). I make a list of what is needed, and procure those parts. Once everything that is missing has been replaced, I do a fuel and oil fluid and filter change. New batteries are next. Then I flush the fuel system to get anything out of the lines before it gets sent into the injection pump.
When I do the first start, I only crank it over for a second or two, and then go check for any leaks (oil and fuel). Then I'll go back and crank it until it starts (or for 15-20 seconds). Then is another check for leaks, oil level check, and injector line leak check. Once any leaks are taken care of, then I'll go ahead and fire it up. I pay close attention to oil pressure, and if it doesn't rise within a few seconds I'll shut the set back down to find out why. Once the generator is running, I'll walk around again and check for sparks, leaks, funny noises, etc. After that comes a warmup under no load, followed by a load test. During the load test, I check operation of gauges, meters, the engine's cooling system, overloads, etc (I have other videos of this procedure).
I have used this sequence of events on MEP-002's through MEP-006's with good success; I started pulling the intake manifolds off after a stray bolt (that somebody intentionally put in the intake manifold and then covered with an air cleaner) destroyed a really nice MEP-005a.
So...anybody have any suggestions for additions/procedure changes/etc.? What do you do when you recover a generator?
Made up a video of the last set that I got running; it is a MEP-004a. The video covers everything from the initial assessment, to parts replacement, to first start. I didn't edit anything out...at one point, I try to start the generator and fail due to a bad solenoid (which I repair in the video). It is a pretty typical recovery, although it started MUCH quicker than they usually do...starting literally on the first revolution is not something I'm used to
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INhecpiGAoc[/media]
In the second video, I pull the generator outside and do a series of functional checks and tests that uncover several additional problems that I repair. At the end of the video, the generator is ready for its full load test...
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGyQj2RqhCQ[/media]
When I do the first start, I only crank it over for a second or two, and then go check for any leaks (oil and fuel). Then I'll go back and crank it until it starts (or for 15-20 seconds). Then is another check for leaks, oil level check, and injector line leak check. Once any leaks are taken care of, then I'll go ahead and fire it up. I pay close attention to oil pressure, and if it doesn't rise within a few seconds I'll shut the set back down to find out why. Once the generator is running, I'll walk around again and check for sparks, leaks, funny noises, etc. After that comes a warmup under no load, followed by a load test. During the load test, I check operation of gauges, meters, the engine's cooling system, overloads, etc (I have other videos of this procedure).
I have used this sequence of events on MEP-002's through MEP-006's with good success; I started pulling the intake manifolds off after a stray bolt (that somebody intentionally put in the intake manifold and then covered with an air cleaner) destroyed a really nice MEP-005a.
So...anybody have any suggestions for additions/procedure changes/etc.? What do you do when you recover a generator?
Made up a video of the last set that I got running; it is a MEP-004a. The video covers everything from the initial assessment, to parts replacement, to first start. I didn't edit anything out...at one point, I try to start the generator and fail due to a bad solenoid (which I repair in the video). It is a pretty typical recovery, although it started MUCH quicker than they usually do...starting literally on the first revolution is not something I'm used to
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INhecpiGAoc[/media]
In the second video, I pull the generator outside and do a series of functional checks and tests that uncover several additional problems that I repair. At the end of the video, the generator is ready for its full load test...
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGyQj2RqhCQ[/media]
Last edited:
MEP-006.
