rustystud
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- Woodinville, Washington
I have several MEP-501 and MEP-531 generators. Four to be precise. They have all worked great for years now. So I was surprised to find one of my MEP-501 engines seized the other day. I usually go around and either start-up my engines or just spin them around once a month. This last year though due to all the construction going on around here I neglected my engines until last week. All turned over or started right up no problems except this one MEP-501. So for the last four days I have spent a few hours trying to d\find out what happened. At first I thought the rings had rusted to the bore, so I removed the injector and filled the head with some anti-rust spray. I let it set for two days then tried to spin the engine. No go. Not even a little. Now I'm concerned. So I remove the starter and try turning over the engine with a pry bar. It moves a little one way then stops then goes back the other way then stops. Could be a rust spot on the bore but I decide to remove the fuel pump and inspect the cam. Well it wasn't the cam or anything in the engine, it was the fuel pump itself. It was stuck so hard I couldn't even move it using my vise and a rubber mallet !
So I took it all apart and with the help of some lubricant spray and the vise again I was able to remove the shaft. The fuel had turned to such a sticky mess it had seized the shaft to it's bore like it was welded. After spending some quality time with it I was able to clean it up and now it is all "right as rain" again !
Here's a picture of the disassembled pump.
This engine had been stored away for several years now. What is so annoying is I know better ! I should have properly prepped the engine for long term storage then but I didn't. So I just wasted about ten hours and a few cans of spray for something that should never had happened.
So just a reminder to all you out there storing your generators to properly prepare them. That means removing "ALL" the old fuel and putting some kind of lubricant spray in the fuel pump and allowing it to go through the injector/s .
Also all the old oil should be removed and fresh oil installed and circulated around. Still kicking myself.
So I took it all apart and with the help of some lubricant spray and the vise again I was able to remove the shaft. The fuel had turned to such a sticky mess it had seized the shaft to it's bore like it was welded. After spending some quality time with it I was able to clean it up and now it is all "right as rain" again !
Here's a picture of the disassembled pump.
This engine had been stored away for several years now. What is so annoying is I know better ! I should have properly prepped the engine for long term storage then but I didn't. So I just wasted about ten hours and a few cans of spray for something that should never had happened.
So just a reminder to all you out there storing your generators to properly prepare them. That means removing "ALL" the old fuel and putting some kind of lubricant spray in the fuel pump and allowing it to go through the injector/s .
Also all the old oil should be removed and fresh oil installed and circulated around. Still kicking myself.