Power Generation: Product Operation and Maintenance

[mopar74]

Another question  I have been task with locating and purchasing a barring motor for our 3516 co-gen engines. Any recommendations?

[mikel]

I used to use a Rigid pipe threader with a modified die head on the large (one that bolts to the starter flange) turning tool.  Long handle gave good control, slow speed and lots of torque.

On some sites we rigged the outlet for it thru the E-Stop switch, E-Stop had to be pushed in to assure engine wouldn't crank and controlled power to the turning tool.  It wasn't 100% but it made you think about it.

We tried many times to come up with an effective permanent unit, but the costs were very high with poor reliability.

Hope that helps.

Mike L.

[mopar74]

Thanks Mike it does somewhat help and hopefully some others will chime in. I see your in San Diego I'm up in Carlsbad at Encina Wastewater Treatment plant and we have four of these engines running on digester gas/natual gas. We have some other issue also but we"ll wait and see if Hawthrone can sort them out. Engines have been on line less than 2 years and we are finding out they are labor intensive compared to the wakashuas we removed. later Kevin

[mikel]

I am familiar with your site, I left Hawthorne just before that project began, did some work there while I worked for Emerson.

On barring 3500 gas engines, not a lot of good options, if you have the time and resources, a barring device can be fabricated, I've seen several in Europe, all done by a small group that used to be affilliated with Geveke, the Netherlands CAT dealer.  As a service tech I found the pipe threader worked well and used one for many years.

Mike L.

[Dfischbone]

As Mike has stated, this is the method I too have seen used extensively in the field.  I still use the old push and hold using a socket drive.  But Mike, I must inquire further regarding the modified die head.  Where does one obtain this?  I have the Rigid pipe threader but not the adapter.  I do a lot of ignition installations and this would come in very handy for me.

Thanks.

[mikel]

We made the adaptor out of a die head with a socket welded to it.  I made the last few using my lathe to tack it up, but the early ones were just welded on in the field.  Concentricity was off a bit but the die head turns slow so it really isn't a problem.

Last one I did I made a saddle that clamped to the engine frame rails to help hold it in place and added a bit of safety.

Mike L