Genset out a Detroit 3-53

I was lucky enough to be given a great running Detroit 3-53 @ work! Boss said "take it, I"m tired of taking up space in the shop" I would like to possibly build a generator out of it, in case society falls! I know it would certainly be a loud one! Maybe I could install an over sized muffler. Anyway, can anyone guide me on where to look for the generator head itself? Any clue if bellhousing changes / gearboxes might be required?

Check E-Bay

look for military surplus gen sets they are out there mostly running condition but most will have very hi motor hrs.

generally, 4 head genset spins 1800 rpm, 2 pole ones spin 3600

you would have to determine what rpm's you want the motor to spin at then set up gearbox or pullies or chain drive to spin genset at correct speed, there's your problem

belts can slip throwing off your freq, gearbox might be costly, chains are a pain

but those old Detroits sure do make enuf noise to be fun!!

Northern tool has them.
I'd look for a used PTO gen set and then remove the gear box.

Grump,

What you reckon the optimal operating range of the Detroit is? It must have a "throttle" type governer for lack of a better term, it came out of a tracked vehicle with a throttle.

Having a big AC genset is not the greatest thing for a long-term use survival type rig. Wastes too much fuel when a high load isn't on it. A much better system is a battery bank, inverter, and generator. Then you get your power direct from the inverter until the batteries are emptied and makes no difference in efficiency if you're drawing 5 amps or 100 amps. Then - you start the generator and run at full bore and full efficiency just to recharge the batteries and shut down. In the long run, much less fuel is used this way. A DC genset can also be pretty efficient since it can make power at any RPM and maintain the Hertz Cycle. So, it only has to rev up enough to match load demand. That's why the Inverter generators are getting so popular (but expensive). They make DC and run it through an inverter to supply clean full-wave AC.

There are many Detroit Diesel gensets around down south. They were often used in refrigerated railroad cars. Now they are for sale all over used, rebuilt, etc. Even Harbor Freight and Northern Tool has sold them, off and on. I had one with a 2-71 and rated 15KW. Wasn't loud at all. I've got a 17KW Fairbanks Morse genset with a Continental gas engine that is louder (and spins much faster). The Detroit units are about the slowest running around - and they make power at 1100 - 1200 RPM. Most other AC gensets run at 1800 or 3600 RPM.

You might find a unit with a bad engine cheap? I'm sure they are direct-coupled to the generator heads and might have special crankshaft ends. You might need some sort of belt-drive rig instead.

This place (and many others) specialize in the old Detroit gensets.

http://www.emerson2-71gm.com/

One of the best places for belt-driven generator heads is Hardy Solar (AKA Hardy Diesel) (or at least they used to be). Haven't bought from them in a couple of years.

http://www.hardysolar.com/

Thanks for the great advice. I was kind of tongue-and-cheek about survival, but it's a concern. I have 3 SKS rifles with 1000 rounds. (in addition to the rest of the Browning, Ruger, Rem. shotguns and rifles for hunting and numerous pistols). Wife thinks I'm crazy. If the crap hit the fan, I would really only need to keep food cold, I have a windmill that pumps plent of water into the pond. Changing subjects, I wonder how long food seeds would keep in the freezer?

Dad and I put one together behind a JD engine about 6 years ago and remembering back I know Marathon makes some good generators and has/had pretty good reputation, so I"d give them a try. Going the new route that are also alot of others out there that are good also, you just have to take the time to seak them out.
Going the used route you could do some shopping at the military surplus sites and maybe come up with an old military unit since alot of them used Detroits, especially in marine applications. Too the RR"s used alot of Detroits so you might come up with something related to RR surplus if you looked around.
As far as the RPM you"ll need to be looking at the 1800 RPM units. One the Detroit isn"t going to like 3600 for an extended period. In fact I don"t think the 3-53 can turn that fast anyway, at least not under normal conditions but I"d have to check my book. Put it this way though I"ve never heard of a Detroit genset turning anything but 1200 or 1800 RPM. Too I"ve always been told that the lower speed units/generators tend to last longer than the higher speed ones do anyway.
As far as the governor you may need to change it depending on what the one you have is set up for. Detroit had variable speed as well as fixed speed models and you"d want the fixed speed one for a generator so it maintains the set speed of 1800 without varying too much. Too there are electronic governor controls available for many generator engines and the older Detroits may have something available for them.
As far as mounting if you know what flywheel and housingconfiguration you have you can often get the generator head set up for that engine. If not there are places that make adapters that can be purchased. I know there is a link on the Davidson Sales site in the tech talk section that shows drawings on how to tell what SAE pattern you have. Too, if I remember right, they have some good info too on sizing the generator to the engine, etc. As a company they also carry a pretty good line of generator controls, etc. All I"ve ever bought from them are alot of Nason switches and small stuff like that but they have always been really good people to deal with and always very helpful if called for tech help.
Below are a few links that might help you get started at least. There is another place that does the flywheel housing adapters and are more industrial related than the two i listed. I have done business with in the distant past but I don"t recall who they were and the link to their site was lost when my old computer crashed. In other words there are more than just these two so a little research should turn up some more if you need them.
Good luck.
Marathon generators

Davidson Sales

Phooenix casting

GL power products

Something such as ebay 160340135487 or 230490325856 etc

A small insulated shed will help keep down the noise. Just run the exhaust out the side away from your house, and make sure there's a large enough intake vent.

All depends on what type of seeds. Some you don't want to freeze because it will cause premature stratification. Some non-hybrid seeds store well dry for years as long as they do NOT freeze.

I've got three SKS rifles and 10,000 rounds of the el-cheapo Russian "Wolf" and " Golden Bear" ammo with the coated-steel cases. I'm glad I bought it all when it was much cheaper a few years ago. Also got the regular assortment of hunting rifles in .22, .22 Mag, .270, 5.5 mm Mauser, 30-30. 35, 300 H&H Magnum, and 30.06. Once in awhile cheap military ammo comes around in 30.06. I've got a bunch of Greek-army stuff.
With the SKS rifles, I've got one Yugo, one Russian, and one Chinese. Ironically the Chinese seems to the best with it's chrome-lined barrel grooves.
I'll say this. These guns are heavy. So if they don't fire, I guess you can use them as baseball bats or battering rams.

I've thought about society collapse or something equivalent. It's my humble opinion that everybody (that can afford it) ought to take some measures so at least they can live a week with the gas stations and supermarkets closed. It amazes me how many spend thousands on toys and vacations and nothing on "looking ahead" a bit.

We've got enough food stored to last three people a year. Also got solar power in two places 150 miles apart. Also always have 1000 gallons of diesel and 1000 gallons of propane. Have two water wells with hand pumps and one is Artesian. About refrigeration. I've never seen anything that works as well as the Sundanzer chest refrigerator that run on 12-24 volts DC. They are amazing how well they work and on such little power. You can hook one to a single 120 AH battery and a single 120 watt solar panel and it will work great - even in the damp darkness of New York State.
Also got a few "new old-stock" Civil Defense radiation meters. Hope I never need to use one. But, if there were nucelear explosions somewhere in the USA, and all communications gone, at least you could travel and figure if you were driving into a worse area, or driving away from one.

Note though that if something bad DOES happen - the biggest problem for anybody that's done some prep -is not getting it all taking away. Either stolen from thugs, or siezed by the U.S. Government. And remember that people are nice when they're not cold and hungry, but not so nice otherwise. FEMA is now allowed to take survival items away from any private citizen in "a time of need" if it's for the greated good.

If the grid is down for a long time, you don't want your place to be a "shining beacon on the hill." Somebody will find you and take what you've got.

Good idea. I stock one years worth of fuel for my generator. It is not a question of society failing. The question is WHEN.

Hello JBMack,
Its a nice engine for a gen set. If it was in a stand by electric set, it would have these specs. 35 KVA 50 cycles @1500 R.P.M.'S
40 KVA 60 cycles @1800 R.P.M.'S.
Gets yourself an 1800 rpm generator and you'll have a nice setup.
Guido.