Topic: anyone ever disassembled a generator? 9 HP vanguard.

[mowinmachine]

I picked up this Vanguard powered generator ( coleman powermate 5000) and the engine needs work. Only problem is... I CAN'T get the #*@ generator  off the engine shaft. The windings are housed in a plastic case. I can't determine how the thing is stuck on there. I removed a bolt on the end... and that's it. The windings are too fragile to grip with tools. So I'm stuck. Sorry as this might seem unrelated, but I thought I'd pick your all's brain.

[crocco58]

Look like a good engine. 

[mowinmachine]

Oh ya, it is a NICE engine. It is a Briggs, but made in japan and built like a Honda. One guy on another forum mentioned that I could stick the bolt back into the shaft and try tapping it with a mallet to loosen the generator. The whole reason for taking it apart is stupid. I was taking the governor arm off and the rod going into the engine was so corroded it just snapped. So I have to take the engine apart to get the old governor out and replace it. It is also missing the carb, which is 80 bucks. I was hoping to repair and sell this for 2-300 dollars, but as it looks now, I might barely break even after parts.

[mowdak1]

If the governor rod on the engine was so corroded that it snapped off, would it not stand to reason that the crankshaft is rusted into the armature on the generator, wherein it is likely going to take a good deal of penetrating fluid, a good deal of beating and framming on that delicate piece of machinery, a good deal of heat on the armature coupling, or a little bit of all the above to get the two to separate? /o:?

[mowinmachine]

Very likely you are right. What parts I did remove came off very easily. But the governor on this engine is very thin and made of what appears to be unprotected high speed steel. So it rusted to bits. I HOPE I can can get the thing apart. Otherwise, a waste of $20.

[mowmaster]

I have had the same issue before with a generator and a pressure washer.
if you pulled the bols out of the end, is it long enough to thread into the
end of the crank shaft? if so look into the hole with a
light and see if there is anotherbolt in there, the bolt you
pulled out could be a cover.also if you think the bolt threaded
into the crank, then you might just need som liquid wrench and some
patience because they can be a real pain in the butt to pull off, even
when it is as simple an just a 1/4 key, that is 2" long.
I wish you the best of luck,
Andrew

[Squidd]

Generator motors generally have a "tapered" shaft...

Similar to a flywheel...they need a puller to get them to pop, even if the bolt/nut is removed...

[mowinmachine]

I was trying to see if this engine has a tapered or straight shaft. I downloaded the diagram of the engine and it shows a straight keyed shaft. It could be wrong. I do have a puller, so the next step might be to see if the puller will separate the 2.

[crocco58]

I bet if you brought it to our shop we could get it off Seth.

[mowinmachine]

tell you what, I might do that if I can't get her apart. thanks for the offer!

[mightymowe]

Most of the ones I seen have a tapered shaft.I have a few of the engines from generaters and I had to machine the crank straight to use them on something else.You will have to use a puller to pop it off.

[mowinmachine]

update: used a puller, tapped with a hammer, then beat the crap out of it with a rubber mallet. The problem is that the generator is made out of cheap plastic and it is permanently rusted solid to the shaft. There is no way to get it off. Bottom line: the carb for this engine is almost $100. I paid $20 for it. As much as I hated to do this, I let it go and just gave it away to a farmer guy on Craigslist. Makes me sad. I've NEVER not gotten something apart. Some of this new crap is too flimsy!

[mowmaster]

.Some of this new crap is too flimsy!

Well said, all the plastics on everything is redicules.
Half the time you cant even se the engine anymore!
Andrew

[mowinmachine]

Some plastic is ok, but some companies really take it too far, like Homelite. Anytime anyone wants me to repair a homelite weedeater, I usually tell them it isn't worth fixing. Seriously- the crank case cover on some of the new homelite blowers is made out of plastic. On the other hand, my tacoma has a LOT of plastic parts in there, and so far she has lasted past the 200k mark. Go figure.

[Hotrodboy91]

this engine is a POS.... dont waste your time with it.

I worked on one that was on a generator as well, and the carb was gummed up reall bad. even after several full disasemblys,
and cleanins it still ran like crap. Also, you cannot adjust the mixture on it (has one main jet). The fact that some govenor stuff
broke when you were just fiddling with it is another example.

And guess how much the float needle is... just the needle itself!
$8.00 !!! no lie! a briggs one is like .25cents lmao (if that)

-Casey