110 volt generator for the lawn tractors...hello CC and JD

Greenfrog · Oct 10, 2018

Several years ago a storm did much damage in this area resulting in power outages for several days. Not everyone had portable generators and local stores were sold out. Yet, sitting in our garages are these 18 to 25 hp tractors not in use because there is so much brush and other debris laying around that one can?t mow anyway....
Why can?t JD, CC, etc. come up with a generator attachment or implement that these tractors can run? ...and put them to good use.
If the mower belt can crank a set of blades .. why can?t it crank a generator?
Any ideas here?
Hello manufacturers...
Any homemade generator set-ups here?

Russ from MN · Oct 10, 2018

Farmall came out with that very thing many years ago, it didn't go over then, I doubt if it would now. For one thing, the engine has to have a good governor to control the speed regardless of load, and you would have to set the throttle to the correct hz. For someone that really understood what they were doing it would work, but not practical for the average Joe.

Bob · Oct 10, 2018

Your idea is by no means original/new, it's been tried, and I'm gonna GUESS the market "voted!

<img src = "https://www.wfmachines.com/pincor/pincor_140_1.jpg">

timcasbolt · Oct 10, 2018

(quoted from post at 04:12:20 10/11/18) Your idea is by no means original/new, it's been tried, and I'm gonna GUESS the market "voted!

<img src = "https://www.wfmachines.com/pincor/pincor_140_1.jpg">

That was an available option on my square fender 110. 4000W. I've never actually seen one. Just read about it.

I have a 10KW alternator mounted on the 3 point hitch of my Kubota. Makes about 7 KW.

I've built 4 of them over the years. Sold 3 of them on ebay. Each one was designed to run at a desired pto output speed. One was 540, one was 858, one was 1000, and one was 398. The 398 guy had a 31 hp tractor and wanted to throttle down to save fuel.

I don't build them anymore, but if anyone had questions about building their own I'd be happy to answer to the best of my ability.

Tom Arnold · Oct 11, 2018

A front mounted generator was offered in the late 50's and early 60's by John Deere and Case. Other brands may have also had one available because an aftermarket company was building them and selling them to the major manufacturers. Keep in mind that back then, most garden tractors did not have more than 14 HP. There was never any suggestion that these generators were to be used to provide power to the home during an outage. The main purpose was for you to have a portable source of power on the ranch or farm to run drills, Skill-saws and lighting......none of which are particular about line frequency, noise or slight variations in voltage. Most power tools use "brush-type" motors, not induction motors such as you find on table saws, drill presses, furnace blowers and so forth.

In addition, those old generators only put out 110 volt power at around 15 amps tops. That limits you greatly as to what you can use the generator for. Gen-sets designed to provide emergency power put out at least 10,000 watts at 120 or 240 volt and are capable of doing so at a constant 60 Hertz. They will run on natural gas, propane or diesel which is far superior to gasoline. Many of them have a built-in computer that forces them to start and run for a certain number of minutes on a regular schedule. This is done so that the gen-set is ready to go whenever you really need it. Generators that are not run regularly can lose their ability to produce electricity and the worst thing for gasoline engine is to sit in the corner of the garage for years. Even modern generators that you see at the Big Box stores and not "friendly" to the electronic devices in most homes because of the amount of "noise" they also generate.

I suggest that you take a serious look at WHAT you want to power with a generator along with HOW LONG you expect to power it. If you intend to feed your house, then you need a special interface to protect everything and everyone. THIS is not a Plug and Play situation. Do your homework FIRST and above all........STAY SAFE. Portable generators can kill you DEAD.

jeffcat · Oct 11, 2018

A very very long time ago I built a portable battery jumper for the farm. Had a Briggs 10hp with a motorola altinator and a car battery mounted to a frame. You could wheel this baby around and hook it to any dead tractor or vehicle. Start the Briggs and baby we a cooking with gas! Today I would have added a heavy duty inverter to this rig.

t1 · Oct 11, 2018

I have a 3000 watt generator that was offered by Bolens for my 1254 Tube frame. Was powered off the pto shaft that drove all other attachments.

This was made in the mid to late 60s or so. Still working great for quick power out in the far corners of the yard, etc.

Bob · Oct 11, 2018

(quoted from post at 07:36:26 10/11/18) A front mounted generator was offered in the late 50's and early 60's by John Deere and Case. Other brands may have also had one available because an aftermarket company was building them and selling them to the major manufacturers. Keep in mind that back then, most garden tractors did not have more than 14 HP. There was never any suggestion that these generators were to be used to provide power to the home during an outage. The main purpose was for you to have a portable source of power on the ranch or farm to run drills, Skill-saws and lighting......none of which are particular about line frequency, noise or slight variations in voltage. Most power tools use "brush-type" motors, not induction motors such as you find on table saws, drill presses, furnace blowers and so forth.

In addition, those old generators only put out 110 volt power at around 15 amps tops. That limits you greatly as to what you can use the generator for. Gen-sets designed to provide emergency power put out at least 10,000 watts at 120 or 240 volt and are capable of doing so at a constant 60 Hertz. They will run on natural gas, propane or diesel which is far superior to gasoline. Many of them have a built-in computer that forces them to start and run for a certain number of minutes on a regular schedule. This is done so that the gen-set is ready to go whenever you really need it. Generators that are not run regularly can lose their ability to produce electricity and the worst thing for gasoline engine is to sit in the corner of the garage for years. Even modern generators that you see at the Big Box stores and not "friendly" to the electronic devices in most homes because of the amount of "noise" they also generate.

I suggest that you take a serious look at WHAT you want to power with a generator along with HOW LONG you expect to power it. If you intend to feed your house, then you need a special interface to protect everything and everyone. THIS is not a Plug and Play situation. Do your homework FIRST and above all........STAY SAFE. Portable generators can kill you DEAD.

"A front mounted generator was offered in the late 50's and early 60's by John Deere "

Oh, gosh, Tommy, as usual you are so full of yourself, and lacking facts.

DEERE didn't even enter the lawn and garden tractor market 'til 1963.

Just say'in!

Greenfrog · Oct 11, 2018

Yes, this is what I am thinking of...just something to keep refrigerated and freezer going, a light or two, and cell phone charger. Do need to power the whole house. Can even use small electric heater in one room or so.
Wish this was still available.
Hiello wake up, John Deere, cub cadet and others....

Greenfrog · Oct 11, 2018

I want one.

Greenfrog · Oct 11, 2018

Bet that would fit on the front of my Cub Cadet 128

steve_in_mo · Oct 11, 2018

The Farmall Electrall unit was intended to run implements, using big wires
and electric motors on the implements. Auxiliary power was not a primary use.
I've seen pictures of a baler but that's about it.

WGM · Oct 11, 2018

Oh gosh, Tommy has probably forgotten more
information about small equipment than you ever
knew.

Just say?in!

Tom Arnold · Oct 12, 2018

OH Bobby........ You are absolutely correct. I am exactly one decade too early in my original post. I am ever so sorry about that and i thank you profusely for bringing it to my attention in such
a kind and respectful manner.

Bob · Oct 12, 2018

No prob, that's what I'm here for!

Greenfrog · Oct 14, 2018

Meant to say....Don?t need.....to power the whole house

MNGB · Oct 14, 2018

I have a 4000 watt Sears generator made for the Sears Suburbans I've used it a number of times manly with an electric chain saw and it works great very handy

DoubleO7 · Oct 14, 2018

I think such things as an add on generator is beyond what most manufacturers want to put in the marketplace.

I have had one of these add on AC generators on a CJ Jeep and could likely be adapted to most garden tractors if you can get to a shaft or pulley for a v-belt.
The power unit looks exactly like and is the same size as the starter generator on vintage Cub Cadet garden tractors.

http://www.fabcopower.com/generat/bgen.htm

DR. EVIL · Oct 14, 2018

Yes, I had a IH Cub Cadet brochure decades ago of other manufacturer's equipment approved to use on Cub Cadets. Those Pincor generators were in there, along with a couple other brands.

I doubt your local Cub Cadet dealer could get a generator for your 40 year old Cub Cadet now days, but the generators or alternators are available from Northern Tool and it would be simple to make a quick-attach mount for the front of your 128 and run it with a v-belt from the pto clutch. You would have to match the pulley size to the pto clutch pulley size, most generators run 3600 rpm, same as your CC's engine. Might be easiest to start with a spare mower deck mule drive bracket.

jeffcat · Oct 16, 2018

There was also a 1500w unit that bolted to the front of a Gravely L model walk behind machine.

110 volt generator for the lawn tractors...hello CC and JD

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads