Scored a $250 Kubota GL7000 Diesel Generator

[SupremePossum]

Very happy! The key switch is completely ruined and does not turn, so I ordered a new one. Coolant looks fresh, its filled to the brim with fuel, oil drain hose is disconnected so there is oil everywhere, but no water in the engine, just looks like old oil

Date shows its only 2 years old, but its been a hard 2 years, it has over 3000 hours on the meter and it lived on a ship out in the gulf doing some kind of oil drilling work

 

[cptbarkey]

Looks salty. Nice project.

 

[dnewton3]

I hope it's in good shape.

A buddy of mine got a similar model off of CL many years back. It ran, but not well. Ended up that everything needed a rebuild; the injection pump was bad, the injectors were trashed, and the compression was poor. I think these things get the snot run out of them and ignored except for adding fuel and maybe topping off the lube when the LOS stops it.

 

[Donald]

Now if was only a 1800 RPM one.

I bought a used generator that is dual fuel. Since I have hundreds of gallons of propane.

Diesel is safer storing fuel but you still need to think about using up the fuel and getting fresh.

 

[SupremePossum]

Now if was only a 1800 RPM one.

I bought a used generator that is dual fuel. Since I have hundreds of gallons of propane.

Diesel is safer storing fuel but you still need to think about using up the fuel and getting fresh.

This will be the backup to my Generac RG027, which is 1800 RPM and liquid cooled. A 2.4L I4 Mitsubishi Engine. So at least the "Primary" backup is 1800!

 

[Donald]

This will be the backup to my Generac RG027, which is 1800 RPM and liquid cooled. A 2.4L I4 Mitsubishi Engine. So at least the "Primary" backup is 1800!

The question I went in circles with was how much to spend on a generator where most years we never loose power. Sure we are 10 minutes from the Delaware ocean, but the power company has put up tons of huge metal poles. And say they have a lot of automatic back feeding around failed circuits. And they are a COOP which seems better run than the power companies in upstate NY.

 

[SupremePossum]

The question I went in circles with was how much to spend on a generator where most years we never loose power. Sure we are 10 minutes from the Delaware ocean, but the power company has put up tons of huge metal poles. And say they have a lot of automatic back feeding around failed circuits. And they are a COOP which seems better run than the power companies in upstate NY.

I went through that same question in my head, even after buying the Generac. Then when we lost power for over 7 days after Beryl, I realized just how great it was

 

[SupremePossum]

If you noticed, the handle was missing a bolt. Since the thing weighs almost 600lb I figured I should fix that. Also just replaced the other ones too. Kubota spare parts call for a M8-1.25 x 20mm bolt but the ones that were in it, clearly factory, were not. Weird

I feel a lot better about lifting it out my truck now

 

[The motor guy]

Now if was only a 1800 RPM one.

I bought a used generator that is dual fuel. Since I have hundreds of gallons of propane.

Diesel is safer storing fuel but you still need to think about using up the fuel and getting fresh.

other than the noise and extra rpm, what's the issue with it being 2 pole vs 4? That kubota will still hit 10K hrs at 3600rpm assuming the oil is changed.

 

[The motor guy]

You know they typically run bunker fuel in ships, and I don't think you can run stuff like this on that type of fuel. I'd guess they still have plenty of regular diesel on hand though.

 

[mobilnissan1991]

Supremepossum, youre from South Louisiana?

 

[SupremePossum]

Nope, Houston, TX

 

[The motor guy]

Supremepossum, youre from South Louisiana?

Houston has Opossums too

 

[burbguy82]

The first thing I would do, after changing the oil of course is to run a really healthy amount of Diesel Kleen Silver or white bottle, maybe twice the dose, or some diesel purge in the fuel, then change the oil again.

I would let it run all day, a few tank fulls at least

Nice find, wish i could get something like that for that price.

 

[SupremePossum]

I'll check out the Kleen, thanks

Whats everyones thoughts on if I should drain the tank? If its 2 years old with 3000+ hours, the fuel can't be more than a year and a half old. Just run it?

 

[The motor guy]

I'll check out the Kleen, thanks

Whats everyones thoughts on if I should drain the tank? If its 2 years old with 3000+ hours, the fuel can't be more than a year and a half old. Just run it?

I'd look inside and smell it. Make sure it smells like diesel and looks clean, then run it.

 

[chrismo]

Even though it looks like you found it in a creek $250 is an incredible steal for one of these. We have a few mounted on trucks at work and they’re dead reliable and I’d say at 3000 hours it’s only just getting bedded in. Obviously you’ll have to give it a real good look over but the only thing other than general maintenance we’ve had to do was one had a weeping water pump. In enclosed generators the drive belts get roasted so consider replacing it too.

Fun fact: There was a recall in Australia because after selling them here for 20 years the distributor realised that the circuit breakers on the front were never up to Australian standards and had to remedy them.

 

[The motor guy]

So have you fired it up already even with the bad key switch?

 

[sdowney717]

$50 bought 10 years ago
Carb float flooded entire crankcase with gasoline, seller thought it ruined.
All it needed was oil change and carb cleaned

And it needs carb cleaned again, diesel is so much nicer.
Gasoline gens are no good for emergencies unless checked for running frequently.

This one sat a while once and when started made no power. Turned out the commutator was dirty. Ran sandpaper over commutator made power again. Gas sitting in carb collects water and then it corrodes the carb, even if it runs dry will still be gas left in float bowl.

These plastic tanks suffer ambrosia beetle attack, they smell the ethanol in gas and drill 1/8-inch holes all over the tank. Then the gas leaks out. Beetles drill till the gasoline kills them

Beetle hole examples.
I melted shut with solder iron over 60 holes

 

[repairman54]

Use a fuel treatment in it that prevents algae build up since it's a backup unit.