cat 3412

dchevak · Nov 8, 2015

Hi there I am getting 2 generators for my shop 12 x16 and would like to use these generators for backup power cat 3412 700kw and a cat d342 cat they where running when removed does anyone have any experience in these I want to Check them out without breaking stuff and causing me more work and determin what I need I can send pics I was thinking of using the d342 for my truck but I just want to make sure when they took them off line I still need to get them first but what should I look for before I even get started I know gas can turn to varnish and was wondering if I should or able to manualy pump fresh diesel in the system and put oil in the pistons before I try and turn it over

Scrub Puller · Nov 8, 2015

Yair . . .

dchevak. Man they are some gen. sets for back-up in a shop!

The D342 is slow revving engine quite unsuitable for a truck.

As far as getting them going check for free movement of rack and linkages, check all fluids and bar them by hand or bump them over on the starter several revolutions . . . if possible spin up oil pressure before admitting fuel, they may even have a hand pump.

I always like to disconnect the air intake and have a piece of plywood handy in case there are any issues with the governors. The 3412 may be fitted with a Woodward which may have an oil level plug but most probably will be topped up from the sump.

You really need to get operators manuals but I am sure others will chime in here with some good advice.

Cheers.

dchevak · Nov 9, 2015

Yea I have the manual for the d342 but not the 3412 I understnd the basics and alll and glad you came by and said anything I live in Chevak Alaska and google mp it you will see no road in or out I have to have everything flown in I pay 6.50 a gallon of fuel and I charge out the butt just to break even

dchevak · Nov 9, 2015

Yea I have the manual for the d342 but not the 3412 I understnd the basics and alll and glad you came by and said anything I live in Chevak Alaska and google mp it you will see no road in or out I have to have everything flown in I pay 6.50 a gallon of fuel and I charge out the butt just to break even

dchevak · Nov 9, 2015

sorry guys I am a 50 year old hillbilly that lives in the open there are no trees nothing I make mine by the skin of my teeth but wont stop just need a little guidence so I dont have to spend more then I can afford I can by a used 6.5 diesel from florida and will coast me $5,000 grand to send it shipping kills me!!!

Nige · Nov 9, 2015

Approximately how much electrical load do you have in your shop..? The reason I ask is that a 3412 genset will pump out somewhere in the region of 550-750Kw of electrical power depending on specification. It seems to me that's an awful lot of power consumption for a shop that's not exactly large.
As a rule of thumb a genset should always be pumping out at least 40% of its rated power which would be 220-300Kw in the example above. Any less than that is inviting engine problems due to the low load.

dchevak · Nov 10, 2015

well I need to get you guys some pics so you can see what I am talking about for one thing I think the 3412 is missing the controller for the generator that has nothing to do with getting it running but does to geting it working

kshansen · Nov 10, 2015

As Nige said using too big a genset will not be good for the life of the engine powering it. Have you looked into how much load you are going to be using? What other than lights and an air-compressor runs of the power in this shop?

oarwhat · Nov 10, 2015

I can't even imagine what it would cost to have those delivered by air!!!

dchevak · Nov 11, 2015

well this is an issue I never thought about everyone I have talked to said to get 2 to 3 time your power consumption because you will always run into needing more power I understand I am talking about a large gen set I could probably power 50 house and my shop for one thing I would like to get them running again and I cant afford 30 to 50 gallons of diesel at 6.50 a gallon I will be ether rebuilding to sell off for a more econmocal gen set or trying to use them in a differnt manner like truck boat or like I said sell off I am intersted in getting them going again so I can make a decision on what to do with them like I said in earlyer post I think the 3412 is missing the panel controller they where set up with each other to run a small village the d342 has no generator just the engine

Nige · Nov 11, 2015

To be honest something in the 100KW range would probably be more than what you need to allow for increasing usage over time. Something around 700KW was just overkill.
The 3412 will burn around 50 gallons of diesel an hour at full rated load and about 35 gallons an hour at 35% load

Mobiltech · Nov 11, 2015

Is your shop really 12x16 or is it 120 x160?

kshansen · Nov 11, 2015

Mobiltech said:
Is your shop really 12x16 or is it 120 x160?

Or are we talking meters?

One more thought off the top of my head, what ever genset you end up using have you considered using the heat in the coolant as heat for the shop? You are paying big bucks for the fuel and it would be crazy to just push that heat out of the radiator into the air outside the shop then have to spend money for more fuel to run a heater in the shop or need to run a larger less efficient generator to power an electric heater.

dchevak · Nov 11, 2015

yea sorry to say my shop is 12 foot by 16 foot I hve a 14 x 40 lathe 2 large drill presses 1 cnc milling machine welders and plasma cutters grinders and such

Scrub Puller · Nov 11, 2015

Yair . . .

dchevak

my shop is 12 foot by 16 foot I have a 14 x 40 lathe 2 large drill presses 1 cnc milling machine welders and plasma cutters grinders and such

??????????????????? It must be a bloody tardus mate . . . bigger on the inside than the outside like the phone-box in Dr Who.

Cheers.

dchevak · Nov 11, 2015

How do we post pics on here

Nige · Nov 11, 2015

dchevak said:
yea sorry to say my shop is 12 foot by 16 foot I hve a 14 x 40 lathe 2 large drill presses 1 cnc milling machine welders and plasma cutters grinders and such

You could power a couple of dozen shops that size with a 3412 without even breaking a sweat......

How do we post pics on here

To post photos look at the line of icons above where you type the text to reply to a post. If you hover your mouse over the 4th from the right a message "insert image" will appear. Click that and follow the menu, it's relatively simple.

dchevak · Nov 11, 2015

dchevak · Nov 11, 2015

Thanks these are from the Chevak power plant running when removed

Scrub Puller · Nov 12, 2015

Yair . . .

Thanks these are from the Chevak power plant running when removed

Unfortunately they're a long way from running now.

The generator will need drying and testing and, at best, control gear and panels . . . most likely a rewind, you can't let that sort of gear sit out in the weather.

It also looks like the 3412 was hooked into some heat exchanger system and will need a radiator and fan . . . a bit hard to see the configuration of the D342.

Big bucks to get them running . . . possible but is it worth the bother?

Cheers.

cat 3412

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