Picked Up Another Toy

We all have our toys and for me the toys are machines.I love all kinds of old machines , especially ones I can use like old motorcycles , cars , and generators. I really like old generators.Working on them and getting them back in service just makes me feel good.There is something about them , not quite sure what but it's probably about how they help me be self sufficient . I use my little generators up at my camp. They run my water pump so I can shower and do dishes,charge the 12volt car battery that I use to have a stereo system ,  my drill and other power tools , and even get use in my kitchen running this 60 year old mixer I have.  This one here is my main generator and it has been in my service for 35 years.

It never failed me until this past summer.It only had a broken wire to the slip rings the brushes ride on  but I had it apart so I gave it new brushes ,a new bridge rectifier ,and rebuilt the carb. That was in August , I used her in September and October again and she works like a new unit . That breakdown made me realize I need a back up . I did have one but I haven't been able to get it running right yet.I brought it with me and did use it but it fouled the spark plug after a half hour so it still needs work. It's a pretty cool little generator though.early 60's vintage with a 3 hp Briggs & Stratton motor .

This past August when I was chasing after the parts to fix the Craftsman 2100 watt one I went to this place that fixes and sells power tools .While there I spotted a generator just like the little green one sitting under a table outdoors.I asked about it and the guy told me I could have it for free .He just wanted it gone to make space.I scored . The generator part of the unit doesn't work but the motor is NEW ! It was never used  so now I have a new motor to put on the green generator.I'm not too interested in the generator part because it only puts out 750 watts and that won't run my water pump so I'll just set it aside for now .The green one puts out 1200 watts and can run the pump and the battery charger plus some at the same time so it gets that nice new motor. 

I used the yellow (new) gas tank on the green generator this summer because the green one needs to be cleaned out  so they are switched here in the photos As you can see ,the yellow motor still has the tag on it ! The guy at the power tool shop ran it to check the output of the generator and that is all the use it ever had.He ran it long enough to burn the paint off the muffler . So, this is one of my projects for winter. Just when I think that is the only non motorcycle project I have in the shop I see on  Craigslist a little generator made in 1950 listed for sale for 40 dollars. I emailed the guy and bought it this past Saturday .The build date stamped on it is 5 / 50 .It is a 1000 watt generator and he claimed it worked 2 years ago. Ain't she cool

Then there is this gem I have been sitting on up at my camp for the past 15 years. This is a vintage Onan  1200 watt generator from the 1940's that I was told was used on a WWII naval vessel . This is a long term project that I want to do really nice.It does work.I had it running when I first got it and it lit a light bulb so it does make electricity  .

So,today I'm going online and getting all the information I can on my newest old generator so I can begin to bring her back to life. It's fun being retired

Winter

Yes it's winter here in New York now. Thanksgiving was last week.I got out riding on Thanksgiving day so I was happy . Had to do work on my wife's car over the weekend.It needed an oil change and a transmission fluid change plus a brake job so Saturday I dove in. It wasn't too bad but it took until Sunday to finish it up and I was racing against the snow that was expected by mid morning. It sucks working outside on the ground.I did have my kerosene heater blowing nice hot air on me though so I was ok .Got it all finished and road tested before the crap started to fly. I HATE WINTER ! It is such a waste of time and at 70 years old I don't want to waste any time . Things are slow for me now.Not much in the way of work and the cold makes working out in the garage expensive to do. It costs to run that kerosene heater but if I don't then I don't have any forward motion. I think later this week I'm going to go over to my storage garage and take some photos of project bikes I want to sell .

It's time to start selling some of this stuff off and putting that money away for a house out west.My wife has three more years before she can collect her pension so it's time to really start focusing on getting out of this fucking place . There is two inches of snow on the ground now , it's cold and wet ,  and here I am stuck here in the house not working . With any luck things will change and this will be the last I HATE WINTER post I write this year !