Runs great, and runs away under load..... Great video!! I still don't know what it is about your videos, but I'm just a chef who loves watching you fix these up and breathe new life into them.
Great video Jim. Tip: when I have a tank like that, I use a pressure washer inside the tank. Less chemicals used. It works well. Then I use evapo rust.
I had one similar to this a long time ago. It gave me fits all the time. I had it sitting in my back yard with a piece of tarp over it, and one day I went in the back yard and it was gone. I still wish I knew who stole it so I could thank him.
My dad was given one of those engines when he built me a go cart 30 years ago, I ran the wee out of it and when I rebuilt the same go kart for my kids last year I was amazed how well it still ran after a carb clean and a new strainer on the pickup tube!
I had the exact same generator but made by Dayton. Same engine though. I has the same issue with nasty gas in the tank, and cleaned it up just like you did. Of all the generators I've owned and repaired over the years, this unit always ran the best, and had dead on perfect frequency and voltage, unloaded and loaded. Smooth as anything. Really solid unit!
Learned a lot from this video Jim. A perfect example of what a fuel tank can look like after some neglect. Reminds me to go look in the tank of my P-washer.... Thanks for the video.
Between you working on small engines, and Cutting Edge Engineering Australia machining and fixing large parts, i really feel like i have it made when it comes to watching quality content on RUclips. Keep up the great work!
Who would ever think a guy that fixes old generators on RUclips could have almost 200k subs? That’s amazing but it’s also pretty easy to believe because Jim is really great at what he does. The man is a perfectionist and at 55yo I’ve learned A LOT from him. The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to take my time and not rush when working on things. My Dad was a great mechanic, but he worked like a pit crewmen. I however am NOT a great mechanic, but I did pick up the pit crew thing from him and that’s a bad combination. I tend to break most everything I touch. Watching these videos has helped me realize that and overcome it! Thanks Jim! 😊
Used a couple of those Kawasaki engines over the years here in Oz - still got at least one somewhere. Pretty near indestructible. We used them instead of Breaks and Scrap 'em because they outlasted any B&S considerably on marine hydraulic plants. A mate was a major Kawasaki dealer, so it was a no brainer for me - there are dozens of these engines on farms all around my district running augers etc. and they have a very good reputation because they just keep going and start easy. Never seen one with that much crud in the tank though, that's pretty extreme... I've done very well with Acetone with grunged up tanks on old engines, seems to really melt the heavy varnish away overnight.
James you have certainly been an inspiration. I'm a hobbyist and a tinkerer, and my latest project has been cleaning up a compressor that my friend and I swiped from the side of the road. my patience and throughness has grown immensely from watching your videos. keep up the good work!
I love seeing these older gen-sets getting renewed. I guess it brings me back to my younger days. All of your videos have something that makes me feel good! Thanks for what you do! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
An absolutely fantastic job on saving that tank! Your patience and persistence are inspiring, as well as your methods. I can't thank you enough for posting your videos as there is MUCH we can all learn from you. Next time I get a tank like in this video, I want to try what you did here instead of finding another tank... WELL DONE SIR
I really loved the quality of this repair to this 4 decades old machine and you preserved it also which is honourable in the preserving of a well made old tiny motor and generator that could. 🎉🎉❤
To fasten the yellow tubing on the brass rod, you can use stainless steel “safety” wire, wound around twice, then twisted (available from several RC turbine vendors). We use it for RC jet fuel systems. Making a very small flare on the end of the brass rod helps too.
There is also a tool that allows you to make a clamp using safety wire. The wire is doubled over, wrapped around the line and through the loop. The tool is used to help cinch the wire down tight.
James, I love seeing these old machines brought back to life. Your ability to "think outside the box" enables you to succeed where others would not even try. Your success is proof that " where there's a will, there's a way" . I trust you had a great Christmas and will have a very satisfying and prosperous 2024 !
Those were real popular in the late 70's to about 1983 in the back of magazines like Mother Earth. They were literally the first tri-fuel sold you could get.
I use Chem Dip on really varnished tanks, and it seems to work really well. I have been reusing the same can for several years now with no issue. It still seems to work fine. I would have just filled up a bucket and soaked the entire tank. That is one of the most varnished tanks that I have ever seen.
Fantastic recovery of this unique old unit, Jim. Thanks to Kyle for getting, and giving, it to you. Great fix on the carb tube with the modern day 2 stroke design using the hose and filter. Favorite line? "... could try an Easy Out, but i don't think it's going to be easy". 😁👍👍 Happy New Year to you, yours and all fellow subscribers!
Maybe in the old days Japan copied USA Briggs? Today China and Briggs seem to copy Japan (Honda GCV/H 160, 190, & 390) I wonder who they will copy now that Honda is stopping the US sales of lawnmowers? BRING BACK THE QUANTUM!!! @@robertwayland8477
I tried finding some information on Fairbanks Ward, and I totally struck out. I found one more generator that sold in an estate auction and a few more random tools, but no information whatsoever on the company itself, beyond that it seemed to be based out of Chicago. This is obviously a pretty rare machine, and is really unique in the way it was built. I think it is one that should definitely be preserved for the future. Nice save.
Thats the problem investing a lot of time in some of these old odd ball machines, you get them going again , and what will conk out next, and are you gonna fix it again, but they do make great videos,just like resurecting that old car that has been in a feild for 50 years
I also tried finding information about Fairbanks Ward. I found a few items including a milling machine and a dinner set. I wonder if it was one of those companies which just badged other (quality) products under their own name. Interesting when you consider that the trend now is to make cheap products under the name of once reliable brands. I've learned the hard way to research the actual manufacturer of products rather than go by the name. No more Toshiba, Panasonic, JVC, Hitachi, Finlux.
NOTE TO ALL: Don't run these old generators with expectations of it lasting unless you pull the Gen bearings and replace or Lube them. The grease will be junk, do not run them long but to test, then immediately deal with the generator head bearings.
I use “ The Works” toilet bowl cleaner for removing varnish & rust. Works great and does not cost very much. It contains small amount of hydrocloric acid that does the work. Can leave in overnight .
Growing up, we had a Fairbanks Ward generator that was the big brother to this one! Same red color. Early to mid 1980's vintage. Ours was 4000 watts, powered by an 8HP (I think) Tecumseh. It never ran perfect, always being hard to start and would hunt a little bit with no load. After my father passed away, I was getting it going for my mother and knowing way more about engines at that point, was able to get it running PERFECTLY after cleaning and adjusting the main jet open just a hair. Great old units - both yours and the one my family had. :)
Have you ever tried lacquer thinner to remove varnish from the carburetor and gas tank? I like that you work neatly ,clean and never throwing the open packages or old parts on the floor like the cool people on tv do. Thanks for showing us when you make a mistake not and editing it out. Markar
Its always great to see the old school generators resurrected by someone as knowledgeable and wise as you James. I could practically smell the vanish from here in the UK James, especially once you were mixing and cleaning it, you must have stunk like an you bathed in varnish... I know I did when I was refurbishing my emergency power plant earlier this year. The wife said she could smell me before she saw me... Bravo sir, as your patient was worth the effort and it would make a bally good backup genny for sensitive electronics as they love a good sine wave and can take the voltage on the chin all day long... Its always fab to see you persevere James, as most people just chuck in the towel as the first sign of hard work....Happy new year :)
I really hope there are some very happy retired Kawasaki engineers watching. I really enjoyed your meticulous work, detailed commentary and superb editing. Great stuff thank you
Love watching the old stuff run. I called that a Briggs first look! That machine is for real! I would love to have it! But ya spent 500 t&m to fix the tank!
I bought a1973 Honda 175 XL(on/off road bike) that'd sat for 20 some yrs. It cleaned it all up and put extreme off road tires on it and a 16" rear sprocket for going real slow. It ran OK at first, but one time 500 miles away at deer camp it started to have a hesitation when opening the throttle. Looking inside the carb, a "chunk" of varnish had come loose and was floating between the main jet and the discharge orifice. W/ very few tools out in the woods, I could not get the main jet out, so I just kept poking itt with a wire and penetrating oil in the passage. It finally broke up and I could clean it out good. Then it ran like new again. Innovation, persistence and a little knowledge pays off when it's important. ben/ michigan
You help me feel my age. You talk about that machine as being from the 1980s. As though it was an eternity ago. I was married and had 2 children by 1980. A great deal of my mechanical ability was learned on a 80s something car. It would be nice if time would just stop advancing. I like your videos.
Great vid as always, little tip on oiling filters if you don't want oil all over your hands you can put a cap full in a zip lock bag and work the oil around the bag then drop in the filter seal the bag and work it into the filter, I find it evenly and nicely coats the filter with no mess and is reusable!
This video has given me an idea for a slow rotating wall mounts motor. Something with a shaft that you could slide a piece of round stock over with a snug fit drill and tap it for a lock down screw on the shaft. The other end could have a flange with four holes to screw a rectangular piece of wood maybe 12“ x 6“ with a piece of wood to act as a shelf with a bracket so you can set a small gas motor tank including a motorcycle tank on that piece of wood, hold it in place with a bungee cord, and let it rotate with screws or bolts in it and just rotate like a rock Tumbler.
Great job Jim! I never thought that the tank would clean up that well. That little generator was very impressive, seemed like it hardly noticed the load. Thanks for another great video!
Great work James! I have the exact same red color Fairbanks Ward Gen. and it was given to me. I cleaned the tank and it works well, and kind of hard to pull the rope on the 5hp Kawasaki motor (due to compression) as I saw you giving it a good pull too on yours. Fortunately almost no plastic on the Fairbanks Ward Gen. and lots of compression with fairly low AC distortion. It's built like a tank and we all only wish that all modern Gens. were built with that build quality. I just fired up "old red" a few min. ago and it and runs well...137VAC at 60.1 hz, no load, and 120VAC at 58.3 hz with 2000 watt load for my gen. It will run a 1500 watt heater with no problem for sure.
@@jcondon1Yep.. I mounted that gen. to a dolly that has 4 wheels and lays flat, and the removable dolly handle installed in the vertical position. I put it on 2 2x4 boards and used 4 extremely large harbor freight tie wraps to secure it to the dolly, and it says put, is much easier to move, and also easier on my back.
excellent video, it is a very old generator and it worked well for its age and thanks to you for the good service you did, especially with the fuel tank, thank you very much for sharing your work, greetings from Michoacan Mexico
James, great jod of saving something old into something useful for someone who is in need. Keep posting as your information on repairs is very helpful and useful to those of us that still DYI . Tks, Michael
Your videos are actually therapeutic for me!! I find your demeaner and the quality of your videos extremely relaxing. You also have the patience of a saint! Thanks Jim. ✌
very impressive... this video sheds some light on the time and patients required to get an older gem like this working again. Thanks for the video & happy new year!
to get that jet out use a torx driver that is just a little larger than the opening in the brass jet that is above the actual jet orifice "hole". Get one you have to tap in. The torx bit will grab the inside diameter and allow you to put some force on it. you can save the jet as well.
Your WAY more patient than I am on gas tanks. After one round of HF degreaser and nuts and bolts, as nasty as it is, I'd of grabbed the jug of muriatic acid and left it in for an hour. Quick and clean. Once in a while I'll end up with pin holes, but you get that no matter what. Proper PPE is, of course, a must. A masterful job as always.
fantastic as always! I love how you don't give up,, you are so tenacious. If anything has a chance, I know you are going to go the distance and fight the good fight. When you say at the end "I hope this video helped someone" Always man, you have given me more confidence on my own projects. Thanks
James I normally use my sandblaster poked in the filler neck, within seconds the tank is clean, save your self twenty hours and materials get a sandblaster. Super video as usual.
Old POKY DO'RIGHTS Big Tip @1:12:20 Keep a few cheap birthday candles in your shop to use the hot wax on bolts/nuts that are in very hard to start places by lighting it, dripping wax on a open end wrench with the intended bolt/nut in it to fish it in to start it. Same with many things you need a temp grip on.
Another great video Jim. I always enjoy your patience and method to restore these pieces. I have had really good luck with a small long nose visegrip on stubborn small bolts and screws. Looks like you may not have had enough to work with but give it a try next time.
Another great project Jim! It's great to see another vintage machine put out clean power. Just a note on the carb, maybe you could leave the throttle disconnected from the throttle body (since it is removeable) when installing the governor linkage. Install the carb to the intake sans the throttle lever first; thread the linkage on to the throttle lever and then replace the lever in to the throttle body. Maybe this could work and save you some effort?
James, thank you for all of the entertainment and knowledge you provide. I love Thursdays waiting for another video of whatever it is you are working on. Again thanks for the last year of videos and look forward to the next year. P.S. I like the longer videos, Happy new year!
Hi James, should you first loosen the plug then blow all the debris, years ago the auto manuals stated that you loosen the plugs then run the engine to use the compression to clear the chips away and then remove them, many engines had scoring in the cylinders probably due to junk through the plug hole. although almost nobody did this. Like your videos Rich
Your picture should be in the dictionary under tenacity for how hard you worked on getting that gas tank cleaned. On a side note you have got to love the $20 diaphragm pump from Kawasaki that cost .35 cents to make in china. It is so cool to see an older well-made machine, unlike the half-plastic junk being sold today.
This weekend I was rebuilding a carb for a similar machine - FA76D. Few differences I managed to spot: air filter box is a bit different due to choke mounting (mine is a push-style verticutting machine and it has a cabled choke lever) and carb is different. It’s the same brand - TK carb, but it’s a bit different. And yes it was an issue to get the gasket set, so I bought 2 of them. Great video and tremendous work on that tank! I’d give up with just seeing what’s inside there :)
I have a Dayton generator that uses a Briggs engine. I got it dirt cheap because it had no compression, it was an exhaust valve rusted in "open" position. I got it to run with a valve job & new head gasket and it made power. I haven't played with it lately. I should pull it out again.
Excellent James; I have had some luck using vinegar to dissolve dirty tanks, but you need to be careful that you don't eat thru the tank. Thanks for a great video.
Kawasaki is always worth saving. And even though Kawasaki had nothing to do with the generator, the last Kawasaki setup you had was also exceptionally clean, too.
Great repair.. Love the older machines. Those older flat heads, certainly make less HP, and are probably less fuel efficient, But they seem to make good torque and handle loads well at lower RPM's They are mechanically a bit quieter too. I had a yellow version of this machine.. did not realize it till you showed the yellow one at the end. Unfortunately it had some failure I could not fix.. something ignition related, and I could not get the flywheel off to get to the problem.. It think the coil was mounted inside the flywheel not around the perimeter... so it ended up in the trash. :(
These videos are so satisfying, I prefer watching these instead of a movie!
Me too
That is exactly the kind of historical machine preservation I adore!
Runs great, and runs away under load..... Great video!! I still don't know what it is about your videos, but I'm just a chef who loves watching you fix these up and breathe new life into them.
Great video Jim. Tip: when I have a tank like that, I use a pressure washer inside the tank. Less chemicals used. It works well. Then I use evapo rust.
I had one similar to this a long time ago. It gave me fits all the time. I had it sitting in my back yard with a piece of tarp over it, and one day I went in the back yard and it was gone. I still wish I knew who stole it so I could thank him.
My dad was given one of those engines when he built me a go cart 30 years ago, I ran the wee out of it and when I rebuilt the same go kart for my kids last year I was amazed how well it still ran after a carb clean and a new strainer on the pickup tube!
I had the exact same generator but made by Dayton. Same engine though. I has the same issue with nasty gas in the tank, and cleaned it up just like you did. Of all the generators I've owned and repaired over the years, this unit always ran the best, and had dead on perfect frequency and voltage, unloaded and loaded. Smooth as anything. Really solid unit!
Learned a lot from this video Jim. A perfect example of what a fuel tank can look like after some neglect. Reminds me to go look in the tank of my P-washer.... Thanks for the video.
Between you working on small engines, and Cutting Edge Engineering Australia machining and fixing large parts, i really feel like i have it made when it comes to watching quality content on RUclips. Keep up the great work!
Generator surgery withdrawals are over here we go. Glad your back James.
Who would ever think a guy that fixes old generators on RUclips could have almost 200k subs? That’s amazing but it’s also pretty easy to believe because Jim is really great at what he does. The man is a perfectionist and at 55yo I’ve learned A LOT from him. The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to take my time and not rush when working on things.
My Dad was a great mechanic, but he worked like a pit crewmen. I however am NOT a great mechanic, but I did pick up the pit crew thing from him and that’s a bad combination. I tend to break most everything I touch. Watching these videos has helped me realize that and overcome it!
Thanks Jim! 😊
Used a couple of those Kawasaki engines over the years here in Oz - still got at least one somewhere. Pretty near indestructible. We used them instead of Breaks and Scrap 'em because they outlasted any B&S considerably on marine hydraulic plants. A mate was a major Kawasaki dealer, so it was a no brainer for me - there are dozens of these engines on farms all around my district running augers etc. and they have a very good reputation because they just keep going and start easy. Never seen one with that much crud in the tank though, that's pretty extreme... I've done very well with Acetone with grunged up tanks on old engines, seems to really melt the heavy varnish away overnight.
😂😂 breaks and Scap 'em 😂😂😂
They are named BS for a reason, rite?
Get it way hotter than that.
I used boiling water and dawn to clean a tank before
James you have certainly been an inspiration. I'm a hobbyist and a tinkerer, and my latest project has been cleaning up a compressor that my friend and I swiped from the side of the road. my patience and throughness has grown immensely from watching your videos. keep up the good work!
It amazes me how long lasting these old machines really are.....great job James
I love seeing these older gen-sets getting renewed. I guess it brings me back to my younger days. All of your videos have something that makes me feel good! Thanks for what you do! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Thanks. Merry Christmas and Happy Nee Year
paint stripper gets weaker the more work it's done, as I found out, using it for it's original purpose, many years ago !
@@CrimeVid Yes indeed, strippers do get tired out. Taking it all off can take a lot out of a person.
An absolutely fantastic job on saving that tank! Your patience and persistence are inspiring, as well as your methods. I can't thank you enough for posting your videos as there is MUCH we can all learn from you. Next time I get a tank like in this video, I want to try what you did here instead of finding another tank... WELL DONE SIR
i concur! here here! (or is it hear hear?) hear here?
I really loved the quality of this repair to this 4 decades old machine and you preserved it also which is honourable in the preserving of a well made old tiny motor and generator that could. 🎉🎉❤
To fasten the yellow tubing on the brass rod, you can use stainless steel “safety” wire, wound around twice, then twisted (available from several RC turbine vendors). We use it for RC jet fuel systems. Making a very small flare on the end of the brass rod helps too.
There is also a tool that allows you to make a clamp using safety wire. The wire is doubled over, wrapped around the line and through the loop. The tool is used to help cinch the wire down tight.
James, I love seeing these old machines brought back to life. Your ability to "think outside the box" enables you to succeed where others would not even try. Your success is proof that " where there's a will, there's a way" . I trust you had a great Christmas and will have a very satisfying and prosperous 2024 !
Those were real popular in the late 70's to about 1983 in the back of magazines like Mother Earth. They were literally the first tri-fuel sold you could get.
I use Chem Dip on really varnished tanks, and it seems to work really well. I have been reusing the same can for several years now with no issue. It still seems to work fine. I would have just filled up a bucket and soaked the entire tank. That is one of the most varnished tanks that I have ever seen.
Or Berryman's carb cleaner.
Even better is Goof Off, but it's a little more expensive than commercially prepared paint stripper which works FAST.
Buy the Berryman in the 5 gall pail it comes with a nice basket inside the pail too dip it in , napa will order it for you
That generator isn't running, it's slowly walking away 😂
It looked like it was trying to dismount from the lift table too.
@@Snooooozel I noticed that too. I told Jim if he had 21 more vibrating generators he could play a football game. lol 😝
Fantastic recovery of this unique old unit, Jim. Thanks to Kyle for getting, and giving, it to you. Great fix on the carb tube with the modern day 2 stroke design using the hose and filter. Favorite line? "... could try an Easy Out, but i don't think it's going to be easy". 😁👍👍 Happy New Year to you, yours and all fellow subscribers!
Thanks Eric
The gas tank looks like an old Briggs setup
Maybe in the old days Japan copied USA Briggs? Today China and Briggs seem to copy Japan (Honda GCV/H 160, 190, & 390) I wonder who they will copy now that Honda is stopping the US sales of lawnmowers? BRING BACK THE QUANTUM!!! @@robertwayland8477
We’re going to start calling you the Gas Tank Whisperer!
Simply amazing, James! You resurrected this one.
I tried finding some information on Fairbanks Ward, and I totally struck out. I found one more generator that sold in an estate auction and a few more random tools, but no information whatsoever on the company itself, beyond that it seemed to be based out of Chicago. This is obviously a pretty rare machine, and is really unique in the way it was built. I think it is one that should definitely be preserved for the future. Nice save.
Thats the problem investing a lot of time in some of these old odd ball machines, you get them going again , and what will conk out next, and are you gonna fix it again, but they do make great videos,just like resurecting that old car that has been in a feild for 50 years
I also tried finding information about Fairbanks Ward. I found a few items including a milling machine and a dinner set. I wonder if it was one of those companies which just badged other (quality) products under their own name. Interesting when you consider that the trend now is to make cheap products under the name of once reliable brands.
I've learned the hard way to research the actual manufacturer of products rather than go by the name. No more Toshiba, Panasonic, JVC, Hitachi, Finlux.
What you are looking for is Montgomery-Ward out of Chicago. Like Sears-Roebuck, they re-badged appliances to sell as their own.
Just now got done watching this vid , by far one of the hardest I've seen seen you overcome... Great job & God bless.
NOTE TO ALL: Don't run these old generators with expectations of it lasting unless you pull the Gen bearings and replace or Lube them. The grease will be junk, do not run them long but to test, then immediately deal with the generator head bearings.
Good info and glad I came to the comments section to learn this
Great save!👍
Makes sense
I use “ The Works” toilet bowl cleaner for removing varnish & rust. Works great and does not cost very much. It contains small amount of hydrocloric acid that does the work. Can leave in overnight .
Don’t be a pessimist
Growing up, we had a Fairbanks Ward generator that was the big brother to this one! Same red color. Early to mid 1980's vintage. Ours was 4000 watts, powered by an 8HP (I think) Tecumseh. It never ran perfect, always being hard to start and would hunt a little bit with no load. After my father passed away, I was getting it going for my mother and knowing way more about engines at that point, was able to get it running PERFECTLY after cleaning and adjusting the main jet open just a hair. Great old units - both yours and the one my family had. :)
Have you ever tried lacquer thinner to remove varnish from the carburetor and gas tank?
I like that you work neatly ,clean and never throwing the open packages or old parts on the floor like the cool people on tv do.
Thanks for showing us when you make a mistake not and editing
it out.
Markar
Yes!
Its always great to see the old school generators resurrected by someone as knowledgeable and wise as you James. I could practically smell the vanish from here in the UK James, especially once you were mixing and cleaning it, you must have stunk like an you bathed in varnish... I know I did when I was refurbishing my emergency power plant earlier this year. The wife said she could smell me before she saw me... Bravo sir, as your patient was worth the effort and it would make a bally good backup genny for sensitive electronics as they love a good sine wave and can take the voltage on the chin all day long... Its always fab to see you persevere James, as most people just chuck in the towel as the first sign of hard work....Happy new year :)
I really hope there are some very happy retired Kawasaki engineers watching. I really enjoyed your meticulous work, detailed commentary and superb editing. Great stuff thank you
Love watching the old stuff run. I called that a Briggs first look! That machine is for real! I would love to have it! But ya spent 500 t&m to fix the tank!
That gas tank clean up was incredible! Took a while but turned out great. I really like ur videos. The commentary u provide is so helpful.
If nothing else went correctly, I'd still applaud you for the fuel-tank clean up. Excellent work!!
I bought a1973 Honda 175 XL(on/off road bike) that'd sat for 20 some yrs. It cleaned it all up and put extreme off road tires on it and a 16" rear sprocket for going real slow. It ran OK at first, but one time 500 miles away at deer camp it started to have a hesitation when opening the throttle. Looking inside the carb, a "chunk" of varnish had come loose and was floating between the main jet and the discharge orifice. W/ very few tools out in the woods, I could not get the main jet out, so I just kept poking itt with a wire and penetrating oil in the passage. It finally broke up and I could clean it out good. Then it ran like new again. Innovation, persistence and a little knowledge pays off when it's important. ben/ michigan
I love the way you clean everything while you’re working on them. So many problems can be hidden under dirty and grime.
You help me feel my age. You talk about that machine as being from the 1980s. As though it was an eternity ago. I was married and had 2 children by 1980. A great deal of my mechanical ability was learned on a 80s something car. It would be nice if time would just stop advancing. I like your videos.
Me too.
I admire your thoroughness. I learn a lot about procedures from your videos. Thank you.
Glad you like them!
Great vid as always, little tip on oiling filters if you don't want oil all over your hands you can put a cap full in a zip lock bag and work the oil around the bag then drop in the filter seal the bag and work it into the filter, I find it evenly and nicely coats the filter with no mess and is reusable!
I really enjoyed watching this. Thank you so much!
Like most folks here, I really enjoy seeing this vintage equipment revived. It absolutely is a piece of history.
Great to see a Kawasaki small engine powering the generator so well. Useable antiques are the best.
Thank you for your help with my generator your ideas will help keep it going for years to come
Nice work James! That looks like the job site generators we used to use back in the early 1980s. Great for operating power tools for short periods.
This video has given me an idea for a slow rotating wall mounts motor. Something with a shaft that you could slide a piece of round stock over with a snug fit drill and tap it for a lock down screw on the shaft. The other end could have a flange with four holes to screw a rectangular piece of wood maybe 12“ x 6“ with a piece of wood to act as a shelf with a bracket so you can set a small gas motor tank including a motorcycle tank on that piece of wood, hold it in place with a bungee cord, and let it rotate with screws or bolts in it and just rotate like a rock Tumbler.
Great job Jim! I never thought that the tank would clean up that well. That little generator was very impressive, seemed like it hardly noticed the load. Thanks for another great video!
Another one back from the dead. Love the old stuff. Great job Jim.
Taryl Fixes all- has a vid on how to fix those tank tubes- a piece of brake line
Also, could put a length of plastic tubing with a weighted filter on the end !
Solid unit, thanks to Dave, a solid guy, you own a nice piece of history
Another great video amazing to see that generator come back to life thanks James for sharing so much valuable information
Amazing how well the engine cleaned up
James, I enjoy your channel, Ive watched a few videos, you know what youre doing, cheers !
If shipping wasn't priced like emergency vascular surgery without insurance, I would buy that machine in a heartbeat!
Great work James! I have the exact same red color Fairbanks Ward Gen. and it was given to me. I cleaned the tank and it works well, and kind of hard to pull the rope on the 5hp Kawasaki motor (due to compression) as I saw you giving it a good pull too on yours. Fortunately almost no plastic on the Fairbanks Ward Gen. and lots of compression with fairly low AC distortion. It's built like a tank and we all only wish that all modern Gens. were built with that build quality. I just fired up "old red" a few min. ago and it and runs well...137VAC at 60.1 hz, no load, and 120VAC at 58.3 hz with 2000 watt load for my gen. It will run a 1500 watt heater with no problem for sure.
It was surprisingly hard to pull over. It felt like an engine twice it’s size.
@@jcondon1Yep.. I mounted that gen. to a dolly that has 4 wheels and lays flat, and the removable dolly handle installed in the vertical position. I put it on 2 2x4 boards and used 4 extremely large harbor freight tie wraps to secure it to the dolly, and it says put, is much easier to move, and also easier on my back.
Absolutely wonderful to see old machine come back to life. hope you had a good Christmas, and all the best for the new year.
excellent video, it is a very old generator and it worked well for its age and thanks to you for the good service you did, especially with the fuel tank, thank you very much for sharing your work, greetings from Michoacan Mexico
James, great jod of saving something old into something useful for someone who is in need.
Keep posting as your information on repairs is very helpful and useful to those of us that still DYI .
Tks, Michael
Thanks for the interesting and motivating year. Have a safe and fun New Year. Best wishes from Oklahoma
Boy James, that tank was a bear buddy. I know right away you were going to have your work cut out for ya .well done brother 🙏 thanks for sharing 👍
Really neat old unit! Good job, that carb was really rough.
Wow I am amazed that the tank cleaned up that well. Great job!
Your videos are actually therapeutic for me!! I find your demeaner and the quality of your videos extremely relaxing. You also have the patience of a saint! Thanks Jim. ✌
Well said. I agree. His excellent editing ,makes a much better video, I feel like I am standing next to the bench.
Merry christmas and a happy new year to you and your family, great job getting that up and running again well done
as a unit its still a very good basic power generator despite the age , well done
very impressive... this video sheds some light on the time and patients required to get an older gem like this working again. Thanks for the video & happy new year!
to get that jet out use a torx driver that is just a little larger than the opening in the brass jet that is above the actual jet orifice "hole". Get one you have to tap in. The torx bit will grab the inside diameter and allow you to put some force on it. you can save the jet as well.
And well done the ultrasonic bath!
Brilliant restoration, James. I hope you and your family are enjoying the Holiday Season. Thanks for sharing,
I sure like it when things are around for many more years. Hooray!
Your WAY more patient than I am on gas tanks. After one round of HF degreaser and nuts and bolts, as nasty as it is, I'd of grabbed the jug of muriatic acid and left it in for an hour. Quick and clean. Once in a while I'll end up with pin holes, but you get that no matter what. Proper PPE is, of course, a must. A masterful job as always.
Excellent teaching value as always. A very solid machine. Your patience always pays off. Thank you and Merry Christmas and a very healthy New Year.
Brilliant outcome Jim. Lovely classic generator from yesteryear. Looks like something you'd find in an older American or German fire engine
fantastic as always! I love how you don't give up,, you are so tenacious. If anything has a chance, I know you are going to go the distance and fight the good fight. When you say at the end "I hope this video helped someone" Always man, you have given me more confidence on my own projects. Thanks
Another award winning job! I knew you could do it!
James I normally use my sandblaster poked in the filler neck, within seconds the tank is clean, save your self twenty hours and materials get a sandblaster. Super video as usual.
Need to get one of those.
Old POKY DO'RIGHTS Big Tip @1:12:20 Keep a few cheap birthday candles in your shop to use the hot wax on bolts/nuts that are in very hard to start places by lighting it, dripping wax on a open end wrench with the intended bolt/nut in it to fish it in to start it. Same with many things you need a temp grip on.
Great tip, thanks John
Another great video Jim. I always enjoy your patience and method to restore these pieces. I have had really good luck with a small long nose visegrip on stubborn small bolts and screws. Looks like you may not have had enough to work with but give it a try next time.
I hope that the maker of W D 40 sends you a case of W D 40 you have showed all the use of its products that can be used for !
Another great project Jim! It's great to see another vintage machine put out clean power. Just a note on the carb, maybe you could leave the throttle disconnected from the throttle body (since it is removeable) when installing the governor linkage. Install the carb to the intake sans the throttle lever first; thread the linkage on to the throttle lever and then replace the lever in to the throttle body. Maybe this could work and save you some effort?
James, thank you for all of the entertainment and knowledge you provide. I love Thursdays waiting for another video of whatever it is you are working on. Again thanks for the last year of videos and look forward to the next year. P.S. I like the longer videos, Happy new year!
A masterful cardurectomy, Dr, Jim!
Hi James, should you first loosen the plug then blow all the debris, years ago the auto manuals stated that you loosen the plugs then run the engine to use the compression to clear the chips away and then remove them, many engines had scoring in the cylinders probably due to junk through the plug hole. although almost nobody did this.
Like your videos
Rich
Your picture should be in the dictionary under tenacity for how hard you worked on getting that gas tank cleaned. On a side note you have got to love the $20 diaphragm pump from Kawasaki that cost .35 cents to make in china. It is so cool to see an older well-made machine, unlike the half-plastic junk being sold today.
Great Recovery James. Pretty good for 40 years old. New generators these days wouldn't last less than half that time.
Agreed, most new generators are luck to make if 10 years
Good job James.
I appreciate your tenacity with that gas tank...I think I would have thrown in the towel well before you did :). Nice save.
This weekend I was rebuilding a carb for a similar machine - FA76D. Few differences I managed to spot: air filter box is a bit different due to choke mounting (mine is a push-style verticutting machine and it has a cabled choke lever) and carb is different. It’s the same brand - TK carb, but it’s a bit different. And yes it was an issue to get the gasket set, so I bought 2 of them.
Great video and tremendous work on that tank! I’d give up with just seeing what’s inside there :)
Wow! What a beast. Thank you for posting
Metal is eternal. Most times! Great video!
Another fine exhibit in the James Condon Genny Museum!
My thanks to you, to the donor and Dave for the ethanol-free gas. Hurrah!
Great video's. I appreciate it. Can always learn new tricks.
Great job saved another one. It’s good for at least another 10 years. Actually, it’ll probably outlast us all. When things were built the last.
What amazing tenacity you have James, well done mate :)
I have a Dayton generator that uses a Briggs engine. I got it dirt cheap because it had no compression, it was an exhaust valve rusted in "open" position. I got it to run with a valve job & new head gasket and it made power. I haven't played with it lately. I should pull it out again.
Excellent James; I have had some luck using vinegar to dissolve dirty tanks, but you need to be careful that you don't eat thru the tank. Thanks for a great video.
Great to see it running again.
Well done. Bringing that tank back from the dead. I'm surprised at how steady it ran.
You and me both.
Kawasaki is always worth saving. And even though Kawasaki had nothing to do with the generator, the last Kawasaki setup you had was also exceptionally clean, too.
I really enjoy the thoroughness you put into every project. Happy New Year.
Thanks. Have a Happy New Year
Great repair.. Love the older machines. Those older flat heads, certainly make less HP, and are probably less fuel efficient, But they seem to make good torque and handle loads well at lower RPM's They are mechanically a bit quieter too.
I had a yellow version of this machine.. did not realize it till you showed the yellow one at the end. Unfortunately it had some failure I could not fix.. something ignition related, and I could not get the flywheel off to get to the problem.. It think the coil was mounted inside the flywheel not around the perimeter... so it ended up in the trash. :(