Cheers Joseph, that setup is enough to make me smile, and it has the bonus of being small and light enough to fit in the back of a small van for transportation.
Hi Gary, I was probably applying my bicycle logic when I created that set up, with the top being tight and the bottom being slack - I seem to remember that I did falter for a while trying to think about the physics of how a friction belt should work and probably went for the wrong option. Thinking about it now, if the top is the slack side, the belt will naturally wrap itself further round the pulley, which will of course increase the friction to the pulley and reduce the temptation to slip, which is a good thing.
Yes, that's it exactly! You have an awesome, beautiful exhibit there- that to me Is just as visually appealing to anything 4 times its value. I used to exhibit listers and Wolseley engines with Dynamos, and I really enjoyed them! But I have a very special love for your set. Well Done!!!!! (P.s.) See the little engines I mess about with ua-cam.com/video/08p2RwTJmk8/v-deo.html
Oops, sorry Gary, your last message made it's way into my "held" comments area because it had a link in it - I've released it now so the world can enjoy. I've seen a few of those miniature engines at shows - they can look a bit lost when surrounded by full size engines so I've maybe not paid them the attention they deserve, but seeing yours running in a previous video, it's rather lovely, and the idea of having a small hit and miss engine that could be run inside on a rainy day is very appealing. Now that you've pointed out the belt tight at the bottom, loose at the top thing, it seems so obvious, and I've often seen traction engines with their big floppy flat belts, where it's bottom tight, top loose, yet I never questioned my own set up. Guess I'll swap it round sometime, maybe next year during the winter when I can't really play with it much.
Cheers Gary, it has the benefit of being relatively light, so I can pop it, and an engine in the back of my van to go to shows. I still wouldn't turn down a genuine old PetterLight set, but I'd probably have to build a shed to house that, and come up with a different solution if I ever wanted to display it!!! One day I'll build a slightly bigger generator setup to go with my Enfield engine - I'm gradually collecting suitable components for that project......
@@GrumpyTim Personally, I've been there in the past with fancy, expensive engines- but got more enjoyment and much less hassle from my Lister D, and Wolseley WD1. Stick with what you have, it's lovely!
That's a very good point Gary - running my little Petters always brings a smile to my face, and they're simple to work on, reliable, and spare parts are easy enough to find - why would I need anything else. I haven't run any yet this year - must rectify that soon - if it would stop raining!!!
Lovely setup you have there, I have the diesel version (PAZ 1) and a couple of alternators lying around and was thinking of doing something like this with the battery storage and inverter, I'm going to look at an A1 this weekend and have a feeling i might get it dirt cheap.
Hi Zak, that sounds like a great idea, and you'll get a bit more power output than me if you're using an alternator. It may not be the most efficient way of generating electricity, but it's lots of fun for occasional use, and the alternator/dynamo, 12V battery and inverter route is nice and simple. I can't remember the idle speed of the PAZ 1 - I'm guessing around 1500 RPM - you'll need to check what speed your alternator requires, to work out your pulley sizes - I run my belt on the edge of the flywheel, it takes a bit of alignment to keep it on there but once that's right it can run all day without any problems and I can run the A1 at around 750 - 800 rpm. I hope you manage to pick up the A1 nice and cheaply too - they're a lovely engine, and you can never have too many!!!!!!!!
Cheers John, the oldest of my three A1's was made before they started fitting the valve lifter/decompression lever so I kind of got used to starting them without. Also, all three of mine are fairly well used and some of the compression they would have had when they were new has leaked away over time so that also reduces the likelihood of needing the decompressor lever on my engines. My Enfield Diesel on the other hand would be close to impossible to start without the decompressor!!!
Good spot Samuel, I had a random selection of old electrical fittings, mostly plugs, sockets and light fittings, but lacking in plain switches, so I used that early 2 pin socket - the plug in the top just has a wire bridging the two contacts, meaning the live and neutral terminals on the socket are connected when the switch is turned on - nice and simple.
Hi Tim, love the generator setup. Reminds me fondly of my Grandfather making a wee generator with a Suffolk punch lawnmower engine and an old car dynamo, belt driven. I bought a Petter A1 recently, v tidy but haven’t started it yet. Doesn’t seem a lot of compression when turning flywheel. Is there anywhere I could get simple instructions as how to start it and what levers and valves do what? Keep up the good work, Andrew. Costa NI
Hi Andrew, I love those old Suffolk Punch lawnmower engines - that's where it all started for me - I spent so many hours playing with them. There's not a whole bunch of compression on my engine in the video and it's fairly easy to turn the flywheel as the air seeps past the rings, but it still runs pretty well (it's had a hard life!!!). Stationary Engine Parts in the UK sell an instruction manual for the Petter A1 www.stationaryengineparts.com/petter-a1-a2-w1-w2-1951-onwards-instruction-book-1356-0.html which isn't perfect but it can be useful. There's also a Facebook group dedicated to the Petter A1 W1 A and so on engines facebook.com/groups/664186990354878/
Nice little rig, though I am deeply disappointed that you failed to answer the most important question: Can you boil a kettle with the reserve power in the battery to make tea? ;)
Theoretically yes, although I haven't tried it out - I'll do that next time I have it set up - assuming I have a suitable kettle - I wouldn't want to use a fast boil 3kw. I'd need something like one of those little plastic kettles you get in a hotel room and they take forever to boil. 3kw is the stated maximum output of the inverter and I bet it would fall over with that load!!! I do have one of those stand alone hot plate thingies and they're not very high wattage (maybe around 1500) so I could use that. Good question :-)
I guessed you still could, it's just all I seem to see are the 3kw ones lately. I'm quite looking forward to the kettle test - might even video it, then you can see my entire generator go up in smoke because I've overloaded it!!!!!
Hi Richard, I was planning to do a Wico series A magneto strip down/repair video at some point, I just haven't got round to it yet - it's been a while since I've done one so I'll have to refresh my memory. I've got a box full of magnetos in various states of disarray but I should be able to make a couple of good ones out of them. I'll see if I can get round to it in 2021. Cheers for the suggestion.
hi Tim - I am buying a similar engine and would like to also use it as an electric generator - I am semi off grid so a back up for charging batteries when the power is down. Would I be able to ask you about your generator set up? (E.g. via email). I don't think I can build anything as elegant as yours but guidance on the components I should get would be appreciated!
Hi Mark, yes that's fine to get in touch by email, you should find the address in the "about" tab. My initial thoughts would be to use an alternator rather than a dynamo because you'll get more power that way - I used a dynamo partly because I had one kicking around and also I wanted the whole thing to look pretty - alternators are kind of ugly!!!
Hi Tim Do you know of any Petter A1 spares distributor othe than Stationary engine parts from York as I'm in need of set of 85mm piston rings. Best regards Richard
Hi Richard, I only know of Stationary Engine Parts but I always figured that if I needed parts like that, I'd go to my local engine rebuilders because I've heard that they are good with old tractor engines and stationary engines and maybe they'd have contacts for parts like that. Also, there's a really good Petter A, A1, W1 etc Facebook group - I think you have to request to join but there are a lot of people with bags more knowledge that I have regarding the Petter A series of engines. If you search on Facebook for "PETTER A AS A1 & A2 W1 & 2 PETROL ENGINES GROUP" you should find them. Hope that helps a bit.
Hi James, I can't remember which of my three usual suppliers I got that particular belt from but it would be one of these: Simply Bearings simplybearings.co.uk/shop/ Bearing Boys www.bearingboys.co.uk/ Wych Bearings www.wychbearings.co.uk/ I know the belt I use is an "A" profile and I deliberately selected a really long belt so it would flop around, somewhat like the old flat belts did. My particular belt is marked as "A 116 13 x 2950 Li" Hope that helps.
Hi James, yes I'm on Facebook - you should find a link to my facebook page in the "about" tab on this channel, but I very rarely bother to use facebook - not enough time and all that.......
Hi Mack V8, the Petter A1 and all it's derivatives are 4 stroke engines, some running on plain petrol like mine, and some running on vaporising oil (which smells fantastic). Petter did also make 2 stroke machines like the Petter M which has a fantastic and very recognisable sound.
@@GrumpyTim hi - does the A1 run on modern unleaded petrol (e10) or is there some extra wizardry/ potion mixing required? (e.g. adding a lead additive, only using e5 petrol?)
Hi Ethan, what engine are you restoring? Is it a Petter A or something else? They are rather nice things - I've loved the sound of an old engine chugging away since I was a kid - modern high revving engines just aren't so relaxing to listen to (although they probably win on efficiency).
Brilliant setup. Certainly you have a nice taste to set up something like this. I enjoyed all of the video thank you
Cheers Joseph, that setup is enough to make me smile, and it has the bonus of being small and light enough to fit in the back of a small van for transportation.
Great little lighting plant, but put the dynamo at the other side of the engine, so the belt is tight at the bottom, and slack on the top.
Hi Gary, I was probably applying my bicycle logic when I created that set up, with the top being tight and the bottom being slack - I seem to remember that I did falter for a while trying to think about the physics of how a friction belt should work and probably went for the wrong option. Thinking about it now, if the top is the slack side, the belt will naturally wrap itself further round the pulley, which will of course increase the friction to the pulley and reduce the temptation to slip, which is a good thing.
Yes, that's it exactly!
You have an awesome, beautiful exhibit there- that to me Is just as visually appealing to anything 4 times its value.
I used to exhibit listers and Wolseley engines with Dynamos, and I really enjoyed them!
But I have a very special love for your set.
Well Done!!!!!
(P.s.)
See the little engines I mess about with
ua-cam.com/video/08p2RwTJmk8/v-deo.html
Oops, sorry Gary, your last message made it's way into my "held" comments area because it had a link in it - I've released it now so the world can enjoy. I've seen a few of those miniature engines at shows - they can look a bit lost when surrounded by full size engines so I've maybe not paid them the attention they deserve, but seeing yours running in a previous video, it's rather lovely, and the idea of having a small hit and miss engine that could be run inside on a rainy day is very appealing.
Now that you've pointed out the belt tight at the bottom, loose at the top thing, it seems so obvious, and I've often seen traction engines with their big floppy flat belts, where it's bottom tight, top loose, yet I never questioned my own set up. Guess I'll swap it round sometime, maybe next year during the winter when I can't really play with it much.
Nice, neat little lighting set!
Cheers Gary, it has the benefit of being relatively light, so I can pop it, and an engine in the back of my van to go to shows. I still wouldn't turn down a genuine old PetterLight set, but I'd probably have to build a shed to house that, and come up with a different solution if I ever wanted to display it!!! One day I'll build a slightly bigger generator setup to go with my Enfield engine - I'm gradually collecting suitable components for that project......
@@GrumpyTim Personally, I've been there in the past with fancy, expensive engines- but got more enjoyment and much less hassle from my Lister D, and Wolseley WD1.
Stick with what you have, it's lovely!
That's a very good point Gary - running my little Petters always brings a smile to my face, and they're simple to work on, reliable, and spare parts are easy enough to find - why would I need anything else. I haven't run any yet this year - must rectify that soon - if it would stop raining!!!
Lovely setup you have there, I have the diesel version (PAZ 1) and a couple of alternators lying around and was thinking of doing something like this with the battery storage and inverter, I'm going to look at an A1 this weekend and have a feeling i might get it dirt cheap.
Hi Zak, that sounds like a great idea, and you'll get a bit more power output than me if you're using an alternator. It may not be the most efficient way of generating electricity, but it's lots of fun for occasional use, and the alternator/dynamo, 12V battery and inverter route is nice and simple. I can't remember the idle speed of the PAZ 1 - I'm guessing around 1500 RPM - you'll need to check what speed your alternator requires, to work out your pulley sizes - I run my belt on the edge of the flywheel, it takes a bit of alignment to keep it on there but once that's right it can run all day without any problems and I can run the A1 at around 750 - 800 rpm.
I hope you manage to pick up the A1 nice and cheaply too - they're a lovely engine, and you can never have too many!!!!!!!!
Very nice setup. I always start mine using the decompression lever. Hot or cold first try.
Cheers John, the oldest of my three A1's was made before they started fitting the valve lifter/decompression lever so I kind of got used to starting them without. Also, all three of mine are fairly well used and some of the compression they would have had when they were new has leaked away over time so that also reduces the likelihood of needing the decompressor lever on my engines. My Enfield Diesel on the other hand would be close to impossible to start without the decompressor!!!
The 1st switch is an early form of a 2-pin socket ~ could see the plug on top of it and assuming the wire went into the unit
Good spot Samuel, I had a random selection of old electrical fittings, mostly plugs, sockets and light fittings, but lacking in plain switches, so I used that early 2 pin socket - the plug in the top just has a wire bridging the two contacts, meaning the live and neutral terminals on the socket are connected when the switch is turned on - nice and simple.
@@GrumpyTim - quite ingenious, re-using electrical antiques and bridging the plug
Hi Tim, love the generator setup. Reminds me fondly of my Grandfather making a wee generator with a Suffolk punch lawnmower engine and an old car dynamo, belt driven. I bought a Petter A1 recently, v tidy but haven’t started it yet. Doesn’t seem a lot of compression when turning flywheel. Is there anywhere I could get simple instructions as how to start it and what levers and valves do what? Keep up the good work, Andrew. Costa NI
Hi Andrew, I love those old Suffolk Punch lawnmower engines - that's where it all started for me - I spent so many hours playing with them. There's not a whole bunch of compression on my engine in the video and it's fairly easy to turn the flywheel as the air seeps past the rings, but it still runs pretty well (it's had a hard life!!!).
Stationary Engine Parts in the UK sell an instruction manual for the Petter A1 www.stationaryengineparts.com/petter-a1-a2-w1-w2-1951-onwards-instruction-book-1356-0.html which isn't perfect but it can be useful.
There's also a Facebook group dedicated to the Petter A1 W1 A and so on engines facebook.com/groups/664186990354878/
Nice little rig, though I am deeply disappointed that you failed to answer the most important question: Can you boil a kettle with the reserve power in the battery to make tea? ;)
Theoretically yes, although I haven't tried it out - I'll do that next time I have it set up - assuming I have a suitable kettle - I wouldn't want to use a fast boil 3kw. I'd need something like one of those little plastic kettles you get in a hotel room and they take forever to boil. 3kw is the stated maximum output of the inverter and I bet it would fall over with that load!!! I do have one of those stand alone hot plate thingies and they're not very high wattage (maybe around 1500) so I could use that.
Good question :-)
@@GrumpyTim you can get kettles that do 1800 Watts.
I guessed you still could, it's just all I seem to see are the 3kw ones lately. I'm quite looking forward to the kettle test - might even video it, then you can see my entire generator go up in smoke because I've overloaded it!!!!!
Hi Grumps
Could you do a video on the wico mag assembly including the governor weight carrier please.
Richard
Hi Richard, I was planning to do a Wico series A magneto strip down/repair video at some point, I just haven't got round to it yet - it's been a while since I've done one so I'll have to refresh my memory. I've got a box full of magnetos in various states of disarray but I should be able to make a couple of good ones out of them. I'll see if I can get round to it in 2021. Cheers for the suggestion.
hi Tim - I am buying a similar engine and would like to also use it as an electric generator - I am semi off grid so a back up for charging batteries when the power is down. Would I be able to ask you about your generator set up? (E.g. via email). I don't think I can build anything as elegant as yours but guidance on the components I should get would be appreciated!
Hi Mark, yes that's fine to get in touch by email, you should find the address in the "about" tab. My initial thoughts would be to use an alternator rather than a dynamo because you'll get more power that way - I used a dynamo partly because I had one kicking around and also I wanted the whole thing to look pretty - alternators are kind of ugly!!!
Hi Tim
Do you know of any Petter A1 spares distributor othe than Stationary engine parts from York as I'm in need of set of 85mm piston rings.
Best regards
Richard
Hi Richard, I only know of Stationary Engine Parts but I always figured that if I needed parts like that, I'd go to my local engine rebuilders because I've heard that they are good with old tractor engines and stationary engines and maybe they'd have contacts for parts like that.
Also, there's a really good Petter A, A1, W1 etc Facebook group - I think you have to request to join but there are a lot of people with bags more knowledge that I have regarding the Petter A series of engines. If you search on Facebook for "PETTER A AS A1 & A2 W1 & 2 PETROL ENGINES GROUP" you should find them.
Hope that helps a bit.
Where did you get your belt from please I am making similar as generator
Hi James, I can't remember which of my three usual suppliers I got that particular belt from but it would be one of these:
Simply Bearings simplybearings.co.uk/shop/
Bearing Boys www.bearingboys.co.uk/
Wych Bearings www.wychbearings.co.uk/
I know the belt I use is an "A" profile and I deliberately selected a really long belt so it would flop around, somewhat like the old flat belts did. My particular belt is marked as "A 116 13 x 2950 Li"
Hope that helps.
@@GrumpyTim are you on Facebook
Hi James, yes I'm on Facebook - you should find a link to my facebook page in the "about" tab on this channel, but I very rarely bother to use facebook - not enough time and all that.......
is it a two stroke
Hi Mack V8, the Petter A1 and all it's derivatives are 4 stroke engines, some running on plain petrol like mine, and some running on vaporising oil (which smells fantastic). Petter did also make 2 stroke machines like the Petter M which has a fantastic and very recognisable sound.
@@GrumpyTim hi - does the A1 run on modern unleaded petrol (e10) or is there some extra wizardry/ potion mixing required? (e.g. adding a lead additive, only using e5 petrol?)
Ps I had a lister engine but I sold it
I nearly bought a Lister D as my first engine but was swayed towards my Enfield VS1 diesel because of the way it looked.
I am restoring a stationary engine
Hi Ethan, what engine are you restoring? Is it a Petter A or something else? They are rather nice things - I've loved the sound of an old engine chugging away since I was a kid - modern high revving engines just aren't so relaxing to listen to (although they probably win on efficiency).