I bought a cheap $25 Generator that I knew was not producing power.  It’s a Brigs and Stratton OHV engine and it’s this one

https://www.briggsandstratton.com/na/en_us/product-catalog/generators/portable-generators/5500-watt-portable-generator-with-co-guard.html

I tried all the tricks to flash the polarity and now I need to consider the reality this isn’t an easy or inexpensive fix and I have a perfectly good generator this size that does work.  

I know most people repurpose these to go carts or mini bikes.  My kids are a bit past that stage.  I tried looking for ideas online but I came up short of anything that sounded worth doing.   We are a frugal bunch in here, can anybody come up with an idea worth considering or I may attach this generator for the scrap metal value of the copper in the generator head and sell off the engine to go cart makers and save the rolling frame and build a welding cart with it or something similar.   The gas tank is big and flat but I can’t come up with a good use for it either.  

Any ideas?

Great ideas!




 I already have a very small flux welder but it would be easy to make a portable DC stick welder with this too.  Here are some plans.

https://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/portable-dc-arc-welder-zmaz80ndzraw

Certainly looks like quite a few uses for it so I hope to work on tearing it down this weekend.  Certainly looks like there may be a use for the full sized generator frame and gas tank too - IE any pulley tool like the DC Welder - as I can turn the motor sideways with a multi step pulley and weld in a plate where I can mount anything of interest.  

I also found this useful page for working out pulley size needed for pulley operated pump to work properly (same would apply to lots of projects)

https://www.dultmeier.com/blog/high-pressure-cleaning/pulley-sheave-sizing-pumps/

Later, could turn into a go cart, boat engine or anything else.  

FWIW, I tried all the tricks to flash the magnetic field including the drill and 12-bolt battery methods.  It could be an inexpensive fix like a regulator but I paid $25 for it and I don’t want to jump into fixing it any further than the day I spent going the obvious fixes.  Hence, looking at its next life.

I am still trying to figure this engine out.  I know it’s 389cc but as near as I can tell it’s rated as 11 horsepower.  I think for what you suggest a bigger engine might be better but I’ll research it more.  Thanks!

I haven’t updated but my brother is an electrician and gave me some insight how to check the windings and there was a short in the generator windings themselves.  So, I have pulled the generator head off the motor at this point.  

Still considering options and my brother may have a use as he has an air compressor that has a bad motor so he may end up being able to mount this engine to a big air compressor.  I think it’s currently got an electric motor but he wanted to cut the cord so he can use it off grid for some of his projects.  

Regardless, motor runs great with generator off and it looks like the shaft has a very high RPM that likely will need to be geared down to get a more useful RPM for most other uses but that should be easy and will add more torque to the engine.