PTO driven generators

Geoff NY · Oct 30, 2012

Been running on generator since 2pm yesterday. Generator surges a lot (5500 watt Robin). Thought about when things settle down looking into a pto genny, any pro or cons with you guys. I'd bet some of you farmers have them? Be running it off of an MF 20d (3 cyl Perkins diesel. Thinking it would be nice to have somthing with more watts and smoother.

Bob Bancroft · Oct 30, 2012

I have an old Winpower 25/15. 25 KW surge, 15 KW constant. I wouldn't be without it. Although I wouldn't mind having a bigger one. It's parked behind, and generally run with an AC "C". The house lights flicker a little. If I need full output from it, it's run by a JD 2520 D. I think it's a little smoother with the diesel governor. Of course that's running over 2000 engine RPM, while the old C is running about 1350.

Bob M · Oct 30, 2012

PTO generators work very well. They are however not cheap to purchase.

Your 20D will run a 15 - 20 KW PTO generator with ease. And it will burn less fuel than your Robin-powered generator, even at full load.

As for the Robin generator surging problem could be the carburetor is running lean. Try dropping the carburetor bowl and thoroughly cleaning out the insides. Pay particular attention to the main fuel metering orifice and idle jet.

Or if the carburetor has an adjustable main metering orifice ("high speed" jet), give the screw 1/4 to 1/2 turn out (CCW) to richen the mixture.

If that doesn't do it, and if the governor arm has several holes to attach the spring, relocate the governor spring to the next hole out from the pivot. This decreases governor sensitivity which will lessen surging.

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2012

If your generator is surging, it probably has a blocked low-speed/idle circuit in the carburetor.

PeteTheRookie · Oct 30, 2012

My wife keeps after me to get a whole house gen.
I insist it be diesel as we heat with oil and I would have a ample supply in a prolonged power outage.
Plan is to finish up all the heavy tree removal with current 4500 and then sell it.
Get a tractor with a pto and a pto gen.

LOOOONGGG range plan that is.

Pete

Kevin Happke · Oct 30, 2012

If you watch your chance here Minnesota you can find used 55 KW for 3500.00

Geoff NY · Oct 30, 2012

Thanks for all the replies, figured I could count on some good info here. I'll try moving the spring in the AM. I think the pto unit would be good here and I have an all electric house in NC, so it could move with us. Thanks again Geoff

danofarming · Oct 30, 2012

Check the Governor linkage, I had one that the linkage seized up and it would not run right.

Huskers86 · Oct 30, 2012

Bob does your 2520 have a 1000 rpm shaft? I had an old winco 20kw/25 surge 540 pto and got tired of running the tractor fast so I put a 1000 yoke on the pto shaft and slowed the rpms down on the tractor and it worked fine. I ran it off a 4430.

Huskers86 · Oct 30, 2012

I ran an old winco pto and didn't use it much but when I did it was a great thing to have around. I now have a miller bobcat welder-generator and get along good with it but it's a gas hog! I do like it for the ability to just let it be on my shop truck and just move it to the pole and plug it in if needed. It's a little faster than moving a tractor and hooking up.

Dalet · Oct 30, 2012

Get an adaptor from 1000 to 540 and run the tractor at the speed to make 60 hz. That gives you the best economy and the best surge capacity of all. I use a 4020 on a 25kw this way and it barks sometimes, but works quite well. If I don't have the snowblower on the 4430 that has been on it that way as well. The tractor isn't running fast, and very little fuel gets burned.

toolz · Oct 30, 2012

I had a 10K portable, and was thinking about a PTO unit, but went with a 16K stationary automatic gen hooked to the propane tank. It"s probably the best money I ever spent. Burns clean, don"t have to worry about diesel gelling in the winter, and it comes on after a few seconds of power out, while I sit in the house. I also don"t get those "power"s out" calls from the wife when I"m not home. Should have done it years before I did.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 31, 2012

Just run it at normal PTO speed. The 3 cylinder
Perkins isn't going to use a lot of fuel and it's
better for the engine to run it at the proper PTO
RPM. It's not like it's a 200 HP tractor. Tractors
are the most efficient at rated PTO RPM.

John in MD · Oct 31, 2012

I've been on my Winco 15-25K since 4 PM on Monday and was wondering what kind of fuel consumption per hour you are getting. I've been using my 2520 diesels and one used 10 gal in 8 hrs, and the other is using 20 gal in 8 hrs. Same load on both of them.

buickanddeere · Oct 31, 2012

Why not just use a 35-40HP tractor at rated rpm"s ?

Mike M · Oct 31, 2012

We have an old generac pto unit that runs at 540 then gears it up to 3600 You do not want one of these ! VERY NOISY !!! Get one that only goes up to 1800 it will run alot quieter.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 31, 2012

My 1957 Farmall Electrall pull type generator is powering my house right now.12.5 KW I believe,have it hooked to a 1000 pto idling.Bought It at an auction many years ago,brand new,had never been used,$130.

buickanddeere · Oct 31, 2012

How do you keep the cord from getting tangled up?

PTO driven generators

Geoff NY

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Bob Bancroft

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Bob M

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MarkB_MI

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PeteTheRookie

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Kevin Happke

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Geoff NY

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danofarming

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Huskers86

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Huskers86

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Dalet

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toolz

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Anonymous-0

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John in MD

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buickanddeere

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Mike M

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Anonymous-0

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buickanddeere

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