Power Plant



The engine is a 6.5 Hp new lawnmower engine I purchased off of eBay.  It turns an auto alternator to make 12 dc power and sits on a rubber mounted frame that holds the alternator and a belt tensioner. engine_in_frame

engine_in_frame I purchased a 180 amp unit from AlterstartThis site has a lot of info about using auto alternators driven by small gas engines for electric power.

The frame hangs from rubber straps to isolate it from the tank frame.  Here you can see the belt tensioner, which presses between the alternator and the engine crank shaft.

With the engine installed, you can see the lower ball bearing mounted on the crank and the tensioner pressing against it. engine_view

engine_isolated The sub frame is suspended from the main frame with rubber straps (cut up rubber bungee cords).  Eight lengths (two per corner) of strap suspend the assembly from the frame.  You can see the straps in this image..  The suspended engine assembly is on the right, and the battery is on the left.

Here's a top view with the battery.  I've put a heat shield on top of the sub frame to help keep the alternator cool.  Without it the engine's flywheel would direct air down over the cylinder and onto the alternator.

Not visible here is a new alternator pulley.  The stock one was too small and caused the engine to bog down.  The new pulley was machined out of aluminum stock, and has the same diameter as the engine pulley.
engine_in_body

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