Adding pull start to older Onan CCK

[Bigblockyeti]

Ok, this genset is great in that it always starts quickly once primed but requires a ton of amps to get it going, the little mower or motorcycle batteries mounted on many portable generators won't even come close. I'd like add a pull start as I've see on some slightly older Onan RV gensets but I haven't seen anything for my vintage, nor do I have any ideas on the best way to go about this. Anyway, all ideas would be welcome, here's the only picture I have of it:

 

[The Cobbler]

is the generator the starter as well?

 

[Bigblockyeti]

Yes, it is, no dedicated started motor. The RV I pulled it from had 30' of 2 gauge copper wire going from the main battery to the starter solenoid.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have an old Onan generator that has the generator starter, and it takes a ton of power to turn it over . mine has a pulley rope start too, not a recoil

 

[Bigblockyeti]

A rope sheave would be acceptable, just not having anything is the problem. I know it wouldn't be easy but it would be far better than not having a backup.

 

[The Cobbler]

you might be able to add something to the flywheel end

 

[American Locomotive]

There's a big difference between "motorcycle" batteries and "lawn/garden" batteries. In my experience, the lawn and garden batteries will start these generators (but perhaps not always reliably?) Why not just get a small automotive/car battery and mount it to the cart?

Some CCKs were rope or recoil starts, but those often had magnetos instead. On an electric-start only CCK, you might be able to add some kind of rope start, but you'll also need to

1) Provide power so the gen-head and ignition coils will work.
2) Temporarily bypass the low oil-pressure switch
3) Somehow trick the generator into turning the coil and fuel pump on

Other e-start CCK's had an "emergency" pull/rope start. However they had switches and mechanisms that bypass the oil pressure safeties and applied power to the coil for starting. These units will not start without a battery, or a battery that is completely dead.

 

[Farmall450]

There's a big difference between "motorcycle" batteries and "lawn/garden" batteries. In my experience, the lawn and garden batteries will start these generators (but perhaps not always reliably?) Why not just get a small automotive/car battery and mount it to the cart?

Some CCKs were rope or recoil starts, but those often had magnetos instead. On an electric-start only CCK, you might be able to add some kind of rope start, but you'll also need to

1) Provide power so the gen-head and ignition coils will work.
2) Temporarily bypass the low oil-pressure switch
3) Somehow trick the generator into turning the coil and fuel pump on

Other e-start CCK's had an "emergency" pull/rope start. However they had switches and mechanisms that bypass the oil pressure safeties and applied power to the coil for starting. These units will not start without a battery, or a battery that is completely dead.

This. I have a Kohler RV genset I've been meaning to sell. You need to power several solenoids to get it going out of a unit. Understandable, since they didn't want a fire when you're sleeping above it.

 

[rlitman]

There's a big difference between "motorcycle" batteries and "lawn/garden" batteries. In my experience, the lawn and garden batteries will start these generators (but perhaps not always reliably?) Why not just get a small automotive/car battery and mount it to the cart?

Some CCKs were rope or recoil starts, but those often had magnetos instead. On an electric-start only CCK, you might be able to add some kind of rope start, but you'll also need to

1) Provide power so the gen-head and ignition coils will work.
2) Temporarily bypass the low oil-pressure switch
3) Somehow trick the generator into turning the coil and fuel pump on

Other e-start CCK's had an "emergency" pull/rope start. However they had switches and mechanisms that bypass the oil pressure safeties and applied power to the coil for starting. These units will not start without a battery, or a battery that is completely dead.

I agree with everything except that the fuel pump is vacuum powered. And that's going to make pull starting particularly difficult. Plus how will you get the ignition to work without a battery? You still need a battery for that.

 

[ttpete]

Consider going to a Lithium-ion battery or a Braille AGM. Both work very well. The Brailles are small and are used in race cars to crank bigger engines than yours.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

The fuel delivery on mine is actually gravity fed. I'm considering a lithium-ion battery as their still fairly small and light (anything helps with a generator of this heft) and I have one in my motorcycle that cranks the 2 liter engine no problem, albeit with compression release.

 

[American Locomotive]

I would avoid lithium. Those old Onans have a very crude charging circuit. They tend to slightly overcharge the batteries. Lead acid batteries can take a lot of charging abuse. Lithium? Not so much.

 

[The Cobbler]

using the generator as a starter motor is very inefficient, they should have been equipped with a compression release