Info Required Coventry Climax Genset

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

An acquaintance of mine has an operating generator powered by a Coventry Climax 4 cylinder air-cooled engine. He uses this as an auxilliary power supply in the event of bushfires. Unfortunately he doesn't possess any manuals for either the engine or generator. Anyone out there who can help?

The data plate for the engine has the following - SR/240/3026.

Data for the generator:

The generator is a GEC single phase made in England. 6kva 0.85 PF 50 cycles.
230v 26.1amps.
300 rpm - Cat No. XC/GEC/1386
SR SM 41328
187 TPL

Another plate lists:
Cat No. X2/XB 18150
Generating Sets AC
240v single phase
50 cycles

No. 1MK 1/??
WD B/32/cc/34
Unit No. SR 240/1/1419

I wouldn't have a clue what most of that means but there has to be an expert out there somewhere.

Bob

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Bob Moseley
An acquaintance of mine has an operating generator powered by a Coventry Climax 4 cylinder air-cooled engine. He uses this as an auxilliary power supply in the event of bushfires. Unfortunately he doesn't possess any manuals for either the engine or generator. Anyone out there who can help?

Bob,
This is a 6kva gen set made for the British Army in the '50's. The generator is mounted above the engine if memory serves me? They were mostly fitted in 1/2 ton trailers with pannier fuel tanks. Remember working on them many years ago until they were replaced by Onan gennies.
Will have a look to see if I have a book, if so will copy it, don,t hold your breath though!

Richard

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Just to further assist with this matter.

Bob

[Richard Farrant]

Sorry Bob,
Memory is bad, engine over the generator, I got it the wrong way round......this is the one made for the British Army. Will try to locate a book, although am not sure now if the manual was for an air or water cooled one.
Will get back if I find it.
Richard

[ruumar]

Hello Bob.

I see that your topic is from 2003, i hope you don't mind i put my questions here also, because i have the same one but then on the trailer.



If you whant to see more of it, you can go to here.

http://www.ya126.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=196

The questions i have, is there allready found a manuel for it ?

If not, can somebody please tell me the distance for the contactpoints and the sparkplugs.

At the back of the flywheel i found a arrow, it's for adjusting the time i guess.

If so, where has the arrow to line up with, can't find anything on the engine.

I hope you guy's know what i mean, my englisch is not so good and technical english is not good at al.

With greetings.

Ruud (Netherlands)

[Col Tigwell]

In the back of my mind, I have feeling that the engine was from the Hillman Imp.

Anyone clarify that

Thanks

Col

[Noel Burgess]

I believe the Imp engine was a de-rated Coventry Climax (fire)pump engine - dont know if it was also used on gensets.
Noel

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Col Tigwell

In the back of my mind, I have feeling that the engine was from the Hillman Imp.

Anyone clarify that

Col,

The Climax engine that the Imp engine was based on was used in firepumps, but not in this particular gen set. This one is an air cooled four cyl. engine and I think the cylinders were horizontal. Still looking for a manual, know I have a Cov Climax one somewhere not sure which type though.

[ruumar]

Hi.

This is indeed the engine with the cylinders horizontal.

For those who want to know, this is wat i have done today.

The starterengine and the teeth on the flywheel are not so good anymore, it's going and starting, but i don't like it.

So what have i done.

This is the starter that's normal on the engine.



I have taken a starter from a toyota pickuptruck.



In one of the montingholes i made a sleeve, because the mountingholes where further away then the bracket where it is going on.



Then i made the braket of the starter a 5 mm thinner, so it goes in further of the mountingbraket.



Fits just fine.





When is starts it completly runs on the flywheel.



This starter graps in the flywheel from the other site, so as you can see, i now have better teeths again, it's not perfect, but it's better, look at the site where the otherone grabbed in.



I know, it's not original, but i can use it again for a long long time, and if i whant it, i can put back the old starter.



Greetings.

Ruud

[Col Tigwell]

Looking at the starter motor you made a wise choice, because the Toyota one looks like it is a geared one, which will mean reliable and more swinging power.

Had you thought of taking the ring gear off and reversing it through 180 degress.

Might make for even nore reliability.

I must say that the quality of your work is excellent.

Regards

Col

[Richard Farrant]

Ruud,

A neat modification........but, there is no lead-in on the ring gear teeth on the starter side, you may have problems getting the pinion to engage.

Just a thought

[ruumar]

Hello Richard.

Thats true about the startersite, but the pinion has got it and i must say, it has not given a problem after a start of 10, but time whil tell, but it's not going te be a problem at the looks of it.

But when starting i going to be a problem, then i have 2 options, 1 i put the old starter back on 2 i make the lead-in on the flywheel myself.

[ruumar]

Originally Posted by Col Tigwell

Looking at the starter motor you made a wise choice, because the Toyota one looks like it is a geared one, which will mean reliable and more swinging power.

Had you thought of taking the ring gear off and reversing it through 180 degress.

Might make for even nore reliability.

I must say that the quality of your work is excellent.

Regards

Col

Hi.

Thanx for the compliment about my work.

And this starter is indeed a geared on.

I did not thougt of the 180 degree turn around because i whanted it on this site because of the bad starterteeth on the original startingsite

With greetings.

Ruud

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hello Ruud - sorry my answer has taken so long, my contact has been away. He has a photocopy of the manual for the side valve engine. Is this the one you require? If so I can get a copy of this.

Bob

[ruumar]

Hello Bob.

Better late then never.

You have posted this picture back in 2003.



Thats the same as i have, the one with the cylinders at the site.

So if you can help me at a manual then that would be great.

Reegarts.

Ruud

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Still looking for a manual, know I have a Cov Climax one somewhere not sure which type though.

Found the Climax gen set manual, but it is the wrong one , it is the wartime one with water cooled engine, sorry.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Found the Climax gen set manual, but it is the wrong one , it is the wartime one with water cooled engine, sorry.

Sounds like your Climax is too early, good thing you apologised.

[ruumar]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Found the Climax gen set manual, but it is the wrong one , it is the wartime one with water cooled engine, sorry.

No sorry needed, you have looked for it, so thats verry appreciated.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Sounds like your Climax is too early, good thing you apologised.

[Mike K]

Hi BOB

I noticed the details

6kva 0.85 PF 50 cycles. 230v 26.1amps.

I think looking at 0.85 PF .. the PF means Power Factor ? Somebody may know more ... explain . The lower the PF number the more efficient the generator is .

From memory , the Power Factor is a number that tells you the power wasted in the reactive components of the generator or AC load ... inductance and capacitance ...

Mike

[Rusty]

Power Factor is a electrical method of equating efficency in an inductive load. Unity power factor is 1. this loosely equates to no losses in the system at .85PF we do have losses in the copper and iron.

Loads also have a power factor that effects output for example a incandecent globe is a pure resistive load and will have unity power factor. A fluro is an inductive load and will have a lagging power factor. A capacitive load will have a leading power factor.

Bob I think your gen set probally should turm at 3000RPM, a 300 RPM unit would have a 22 pole gensetand be turned by a diesel ships engine.

[ruumar]

Just to keep this topic a little bit on top for the manual search.

I post a picture so now and then.

Find the difference.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

One is brown and marked No.1 whilst the other is silver and marked No.2.

I think I have found the manual and am waiting for either it or a photocopy of it. That is all up to my contact.

Bob

[ruumar]

Hello Bob.

Your making me a happy man.

And the answer on the photo is spot on.

Done a little bit of building today, it starts to look like a generator again.

[Col Tigwell]

Is that your son or you near the shadow board.

How about putting up a better photo of him am sure many would like to see

Regards

Col

[ruumar]

He Col.

When is the last time your glasses where checked ?

Reegarts

Ruud

[ruumar]

I am almost finished, i only have to do the electric wirring.

I think the overloaded it once.

Because of the melting from some wirres.




What i am thinking about and maybey you guy's can advise me.

At the bottom of the control box is a air intake.



At the generator i have a conection that blows a lot of air, during operation.



I am thinking of conecting this to the bottem of the control box, so it gets verry good ventilated.

Bad or good idea ?

[ruumar]

Hi again.

Almost finished.

Can somebody advise me at the feeler gauges.

There talking about 018 but it's a englisch manual and there is no info on if it's in inches ore what so ever, what do i need, because the one i have are in mm.



Reegards

Ruud

[hrpearce]

Ruud the metric equivelet to 0.018" is 0.46 mm.

[ruumar]

Thanx a lot.