Are you sure that motor is single phase? I too will go relook now but I doubt it?

I also have a new respect for that little genset as I presumed it would die long before as my friend's had. I'll ask how many hours his ran as he used it most of the winter but for only a few hours a day. What so you think I should I do with the old Onan propane unit in my RV? I doubt it has run in many years and it is a 4000 watt unit. How fuel efficient can that unit even be as it dates back to 1983?

Positive its single phase....we can still make it work and the windings can take a good bit of current, just that 3 phase is so much better.
Again with these units many look the same just different colours, or slightly different specs, ask him exactly what model it was, and where bought, and how long ago....also, what specific problem did he have...the guy who is over 1000 hours had a problem too his wouldn't start at one point, but as he found out, he often kept forgetting to take it off choke and suspects that fouled his plug up bad over time, a new plug and away he went, hardly a problem with the engine.
Those onans are great engines, I have two from 1981 I think, just 1kw units on propane...I don't like running a engine on propane as I reserve propane for cooking where I believe its greatest value is, but it doesn't hurt to have backups of all types. you may as well hang on to it, and I think you can change it to gas or dual use, check on line for a kit, I know I have seen them. check the rpms...if its a 1800rpm unit it very likely would be good on fuel. They have little value for resale as they are so heavy, and of course people think they are old and of no value, but those old engines just go and go like Honda's. check out the alternator, if there is no AVR then that unit is a keeper if it has a avr at that age, you have a grenade with the pin pulled....when that avr will fail?...soon I would guess.Just a guess

With the propane system on the generators could a person rig up wood gas system any easier than a regular gas engine i wonder

With the propane system on the generators could a person rig up wood gas system any easier than a regular gas engine i wonder

First I have to qualify what I say. I have 0 experience with wood gas, its generation or use. doesn't mean I don't have a opinion just 0 hands on regarding the subject. so feel free to disregard my thoughts.
The short answer I believe is yes, not so much with my units as they are already low power at 1kw, but with Knuckles I would quess they would be a good candidate. wood gas is not as energy dense as propane so you will lose HP, that's why I say mine arnt ideal, engines that would be driving Knuckles 4000watt head must be 6 to 8 hp or so...they could lose a hp or so and still punch out 2500-3000 watts on the alternator I would guess.
But I would consider wood gas, or other gases for motive transport....for stationary power generation I would look to steam, again just my thoughts,

I am going to look for a old site on a diesel wood gas conversion you might find interesting, it was done to a type of engine that I own .I will send the link by PM when I find it.

Still waiting for my magnets to arrive, but It looks like the manufacturer agrees with me, and is now listing the genni 1500/1200 as a 1800/1400 watt unit now. I found this from the States, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjgVygB5Z9I I don't think its come to Canada yet, or at least I haven't seen it. It looks like the exact same unit, and I would bet money they did nothing more than put in a higher breaker... I will buy one when they come available here and knock it apart just to see. Same 80 cc engine...and I still say with a little tweaking its a 2000 watt unit. Again at the sale price of 199.00 its unbeatable, for those who don't want or cant afford a Honda, this unit will give you great performance...now at 870 hrs on my test unit, that's the equivant of 36 days 24 hrs a day...it sounds louder on that vid than these units are, the mic seems to pic up the noise. I forgot to mention but I noticed when I took apart one of these units you can change these units to put out 240 volts if that's a voltage you need.

Just back to add this, for fft..... I have burnt through roughly 435 liters of fuel to get to 870 hrs (actualy a little less, just averaging up) So 435 liters at lets just say 1.00 a liter+ cost of genni =635.00 dollars+ say 5 liters of oil at 5.00=25.00 so the total cost fuel, engine and maintenance to get to 870 hrs is 660.00.

I cant even buy the Honda eu 1000 for that, let alone the 2000......... these things just from those I know running them, including myself are at lest 1000hr units. That kind of performance would have easily carried most everyone through that ice storm in Ontario back in 98 or so ( a month plus without power). The worst disaster electricaly speaking that has happened in this country. I am going to say since both the Honda and this unit will do the job
,
I will be recommending this genni over the Honda as with this unit you get all the fuel you need to carry you through any type disaster that's happened and for half the cost of just a Honda genni. in fact lets say you get a good deal on a Honda eu2000 maybe 1300 add the cost of fuel to get to the same hours(it does a little better fuel wise) so + 400= 1700.00 dollars + 25= 1725.00 you would have to spend 1725 as opposed to 660. hell you could buy two of these gennies bringing the cost to 860.00 you would have two gennies, and all the fuel to get to 870 hrs for half the cost....You would be crazy to buy a Honda...Crazzy...

One other thought, just as I showed with the engine earlier in this thread the alternator driven by this engine is equally simple and durable, way more durable than whats in a Honda inverter type alt, not that there is anything wrong with the Honda alt on the eu2000/1000 but if your someone concerned about emp/cme type events you do not want a Honda alt if that's a concern for you...way more semi conductors and parts count. Just something to consider

My mags came early... I drilled and tapped the disk, screwed the mag cups down, and glued them for a extra measure. You don't have to use mag cups there must be a dozen other ways to fix them to the disk its just how I did it for this one. Now this steel disk weighs more than the engine, with the magnets and cups it weighs even more now, if I had to do it again I would have used a thinner steel disk...3/8ths would have been plenty thick. I am just winging this so I will make a few mistakes along the way. These magnets are powerful, If I stuck this disk to a car or my fridge door I would never get it off.
One of the boxes of magnets is sitting on top of the disk, those are not the magnets I used on the disk, they are for my yard lighting windturbine kits in the other thread, I shoudnt have set them there when I took the pic.

Its now March 11, in Alberta we have had warm weather for days now,I have let the fire go out, the snow is mostly gone, the delay in getting these magnets put me way behind on this winter project, and now that I can work outside I must get a early jump on spring so this project is on hold now...I may get the odd hour to work on it but my attention is to outside and other projects for now.