Closing a generator breaker onto the grid might seem like a simple procedure, but a careless moment can shock the engine and cause serious damage. Couplings fracture. Breakers and alternators absorb the impact. The solution is simple: synchronization. This guide shows how to synchronize a generator with Woodward governors and ComAp controllers safely. What Is […]

A compressor station miles away from the nearest town. The engine idles for a Friday night. The only part you need, you don’t have on the shelf. Every hour of downtime costs money, and the nearest supplier is days away. Sound familiar? You are not alone, and there is a solution. In this guide, you […]

Your diesel engine is subjected to high-energy burning, metal expansion then contraction and other forces. Sometimes the stress becomes too much for cylinder heads or their gaskets, which causes cracks and other damages. Heat is the main cause of thermal stress in caterpillar diesel engine parts. This article discusses how and why thermal stress occurs […]

The engine starts, then the speed hunts up and down. Or, it overspeeds, or simply will not hold a steady load. Many blame the governor, but the culprit is often a wiring or linkage misstep during installation. Even the best of Woodward governor parts fail to perform when installed incorrectly. This article shares the most […]

Your generator sits, idle, for weeks. Then the grid goes down, and you need it right away. Will it start and hold voltage? The answer often depends on three small but vital components. Quality Caterpillar generator parts keep the alternator healthy, and the AVR, diodes, and stator assembly matter most. This guide explains each part […]

Woodward recently discontinued production of its SG governor, the mechanical-hydraulic droop governor for diesel and gas engines since the 1940s, a reality every operator still maintaining the governor must face as they balance a diminishing spare parts pool for a critical engine regulation component. This consideration underlies a series of retrofit projects to upgrade legacy […]

While a legacy manual generator panel provides little or no insight into the status of operations until the panel has been physically visited, a ComAp smart control panel is able to provide early awareness that a parameter has drifted outside of acceptable limits and, in many cases, allow for remote checking of the generator itself […]

Ignition timing is a compromise, not something that can be set and forgotten. Advanced too far and efficiency is gained until knock occurs, retarded too far and knock risk is reduced but thermal efficiency falls and NOx and fuel burn rates go off in different directions depending on the direction of adjustment. On a Waukesha […]

Ordering your Caterpillar overhaul kit in pieces means receiving an incomplete engine and missing gasket that delays your scheduled maintenance. Components you need to address during a Caterpillar diesel engine overhaul fall into several categories for reference and for ordering, and the required items will vary according to whether you are purchasing new or used […]