stand by generator advice

Mike M · Oct 24, 2009

We have an old US Army Corps. made 8-59 by Hol-Gar it only has 71 hours on the meter and all works fine. It is rated at 5 KW or 6.25 KVA 1 + 3 phase 120/208 120+240 Hard to believe the only 5 kw rating as this is pretty decent size and has a 4 cyl. continental gas engine. But I think it's just like HP ratings the old stuff actually will do alot more then rated.
My question is how much should a person expect to get $$ for something like this when selling ?
Were in North central Ohio and Mom and Dad are going to have an all automatic unit installed since Dad had a stroke.
Being 3 phase capable it is kinda rare as I don't think you see this much in smaller units. But I didn't know if that would add any to the value or not ?

old · Oct 24, 2009

I have seen machines like that go for as little as $50 or as high as around $500. I was at an auction years ago and they sold an Army gen. set that was made to run something like a mash unit and it sold for $2000 but it was a very big unit mounted in a 4 wheel wagon that was about 8 foot wide and 20 foot long. Had a 6 cylinder diesel in it and put out something like 50KW singe and 3 phase

Flurette Farm · Oct 24, 2009

I think you'll be lucky just to sell it. There is very little call for that small of unit, 3 ph. Try and get what every you can but be prepared to back down. Good luck.

noncompos · Oct 25, 2009

You might try asking on the generator forum at smokstak; there"re quite a few posts there re" ex-military generators, and there"ll probably be people there who can give you an idea of what kind of market exists for it.
If it does have little value as a generator it may well have more value for the engine, depending on what model it is. I"m advised that some engines built to military specs sometimes have different parts from the civilian versions. Good luck.

Billy Shafer · Oct 25, 2009

Forty years in the standby generator field. That unit may be hard to sell. To small at 3 phase to be of any real use to anyone. Being military can make it also hard to sell. Because on some military units,parts are almost impossible to find. Most people buy two so they can have a parts unit. On smokstak they do have military collectors that might be interested. Hope your parents are not buying a Generac standby unit.

Mike M · Oct 25, 2009

I think it is a Generac 14 kw unit they are getting. Seems like that is what they all sell around here ?
What kinda problems have you had with them ?

Billy Shafer · Oct 25, 2009

Well they are cheap to buy,but they will nail you on the price for parts. Like VW price for the unit but Rolls Royce price for the parts. Very hard to get anyone to work on them. Very poor if any support from the factory. Quality is not good. Us old techs call them genajunk. I have been dealing with them for thirty years. I know dealers that hate working on them. But I hope your parents get one that will run like it should. If it were me I would go with Kohler or Powertech. Better units and if you have a problem. They will help you. Generac will only help you if you are a dealer.

stand by generator advice

Mike M

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old

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Flurette Farm

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noncompos

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Billy Shafer

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Mike M

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Billy Shafer

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