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View Slideshow View Slideshow View Slideshow View Slideshow View Slideshow View Slideshow View SlideshowFabrication is complete and the MFRFP has been successfully powered on store bought vegetable oil. The current in the electrical system is at proper voltages and we have a reasonably shiny coat of paint on all surfaces.
The last 4 weeks has seen a wide variety of accomplishments. We were able to create a dual tank fuel system that uses the stock mounting points. We did have to fabricate new brackets due to the tank was not only larger in capacity but heavier as we used 3/16th steel for the tank. It is overkill but at the same time it is what we had on hand. Fuel capacity is in the area of 3 gallons (1 gallon diesel, 2 gallons vegetable oil.) This amount should be enough to run for more than 10 hours without refueling.
We had belt tensioner issues using the automotive components for all of the drive belts except the generator. Since using non-purpose built tensioners created belt tracking issues, we had some 6/6 nylon stock turned down to suit the needs of the platform. The one reservation our machinist had was over time would the center bore of the tensioner would start to enlarge. If this is the case, then the pulleys can be reworked with bearings in the center to eliminate the problem.
The cooling system was a concern because the fan switch was not able to be wired in as we had hoped. The solution was actually very easy. A contact switch from a wood burning pellet stove has solved the problem. It is not intended to cycle rapidly so we are hoping the overall cool running nature of the motor will be of benefit in this case.
So while all things are pretty much positive, where the project seems to have hit a snag is in fuel filtering. With a two tank system it was thought that the vegetable oil would be fine running through he same filter that the diesel runs through. This is not the case. The temperatures here were in the 30 to 40 degree range over the weekend and the vegetable oil simply would not flow fast enough for it to get through the filter without starving the motor for fuel. As our fabrication shop is cool to cold at best, the vegetable oil had the thickness of straight 40 weight motor oil. So, it was back to the phone to call Willem at Old Style Listers. He assured me that as long as pre-filtering is done, then an in-line filter will not be needed. I am planning on going this route this week as soon as I can source some parts. An additional thought that I ran by him was creating a closer contact preheater for the vegetable oil by fabricating a bracket to bring the vegetable oil line in direct contact with the exhaust manifold. While Willem agreed this should work, it will have to wait for another day. An additional thought was to get a fuel strainer from a 1930s to 1950s cold start diesel tractor. They are good enough to filter to about 20 microns and have worked for years on old school farm tractors. This would offer the additional benefit of have a fuel/water separator as well. Fuel consumption is approximately 1 quart or .25 of a gallon per hour at half power which is approximately 6 hp and 2 quarts per hour at full power running at 12 hp.
So what is next on the “To Do” list? Rework the fuel tank with soldered together fittings (the compression fittings make me nervous), run a straight pipe to the fuel pump from the tank and eliminate the inline filter. After that we should be good to go for fuel delivery. The real list comes when we get the platform set up in its natural habitat. Currently we are going to set up a small pole barn and place the platform outside and run it in a field trial sense. We are hoping to crush some canola, soy, cottonseed and possibly sunflower to gauge yields. The water system will need to be tested for cleanliness as well as volume moved and the flour mill will be grinding flour for whatever we can bake, cookies anyone?
