I found many threads relating to portable generators but not much on PTO units. Around Iowa at farm auctions you can pick up 25-35kw PTO Wincos at about 1/2 the price of 6500 Honda’s.
I’m wondering whether people on the forum find the PTO’s are an irritation where the tractors are multi use.Such as the generator is needed on the PTO when the tractor is needed for end-loader work.
If you have a problem, don’t just talk do something to set it right.
Jim Andersen
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Replies
I haven't use a LOT of PTO generators. But they sure are handy when ya need one.
Whether you need the tractor when you also need the generator would probably be different for every situation. If you have several tractors it's not likely to be a problem. If you only have one...
I like the idea of PTO generators in general. For starters, that's one less engine you have to maintain. If you have tractor trouble, you can switch over tp another tractor easily.
They have one heck of a lot more capacity than typical portable units. I've know guys who ran their whole farms off a PTO generator for a couple of days when they had to. The bigger ones even have enough balls to run a clothes dryer or water heater.
The only downside I know of (besides tying up a tractor) is that running a tractor at high RPMs for a long time uses a lot of fuel. If you're not pulling a lot of load it costs a lot to run relative to what you're getting out of it.
As an update. I found a 25kw preowned, but unused, PTO generator for $1500. I can run the diesel tractor a long time for the difference vs a Honda 6.5kwIf you have a problem, don't just talk do something to set it right.
Jim Andersen
Nice find - unused? Wow.
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
Dang - I'm jealous.
Show me a person with a consuming dream coupled with a deep, unshakable faith and I'll show you a champion mountain mover. [Robert Schuller]
The guy I got this from is in east central IA and frequently has used PTO units available coming off livestock farms.
Wes Sebetka Malcom, IA Cell: 641-990-1094If you have a problem, don't just talk do something to set it right.
Jim Andersen
A friend from IA sent me this link (among other related ones). I realize one of the advantages of the PTO is one less engine to maintain, and it allows portability, but here's the link anyway:
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001011.php
jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
We have an engine sort of like that at the historical society. It's a little bigger, though - About 10' tall and 150HP 2 cylinder diesel. (-:Apparently it used to run pumps at the levees down at the illinois river somewhere. No one has really figured out what to do with it or had the time to get it running...
Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here. [Captain John Parker]
We have an engine sort of like that at the historical society.
It's a little bigger, though - About 10' tall and 150HP 2 cylinder diesel.
Just think of the generator you could run with that sucker! If you're in Ameren electric country, it might be cheaper to use the engine.jt8
"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." --Albert Schweitzer
It would power a heck of a generator. But probably not economically. Where the heck would you find a generator that big anyway ???I'd like to see the thing running. But doing so would be a monumental undertaking.The pistons were scavenged to be used in another engine. And you can't get pistons like that at NAPA. The engine would have to be mounted on something like 9 yards of concrete so it will have a solid base. Then there's the matter of fabricating and running the 10" diameter exhaust pipe. And you need a rather large tank of 200 PSI compressed air to get the thing started. So it may sit there for a looooooonnngg time....
When you go after honey with a balloon, the great thing is not to let the bees know you're coming. [Winnie the Pooh]
> Where the heck would you find a generator that big anyway ???
These guys have been around forever, and are pretty much the Rolls-Royce of location generators:
Young Generators Inc.
Edit: The address and phone didn't come thru, though they seemed to paste OK when I wrote the msg. Lemme find them again:
2442-A Will
Arroyo Grande, CA, 93420
v 800 821-5095
f 800 489-2917
Address:
2442-A Will93420 Arroyo Grande California, USA.
Phone:
1 800 8215095
Fax
1 800 4892917
Address:
2442-A Will93420 Arroyo Grande California, USA.
Phone:
1 800 8215095
Fax
1 800 4892917
-- J.S.
Edited 9/27/2006 7:37 pm ET by JohnSprung
I just returned from one yesterday... visited an old WWII battle ship, pistons are something like 3 feet in diameter. On the downside, you need an equally large fuel tank to keep it running.
25-35 kw translates to 50-70 hp tractor iirc, thats a lot of fuel if run very long. A little onan diesel 7.5kw from an RV covers my house if we're careful & at a lot less fuel cost.
But if you have the tractor & the inclination, PTO could fit well. In fact I'd likely have gone that route had I not happened across the little Onan. It runs a lot longer (like 2x) than our 10kw miller gas generator/welder on the same amount of fuel.
"25-35 kw translates to 50-70 hp tractor"
Not if it's ain't maxed out. I've run one on my 30 HP tractor, but I wasn't trying to run a whole farm off the thing.
Anything with a PTO can turn the thing for smaller jobs - Even a 20HP "toy" tractor.
The meek shall inherit the earth..........after we're through with it
And besides I can shift my tractor to 1000rpm and at 85HP still pull 25-35kw at 1/2 engine speed. At that speed my diesel burns about 8gal/day.If you have a problem, don't just talk do something to set it right.
Jim Andersen
Then what are you waiting for? The extra power might come in handy. Put the savings in your pocket & don't lend your tractor to your neighbor...
Years ago, we had a guy lose all his chickens (thousands of them) when the power died and the tractor for the generator was across town. With no fans to cool the place they all overheated & croaked.
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
I've got a 25 KW that I bought for the same reason you're interested. Mine's 3 phase, which I wanted (3 phase machinery). It's also the reason the seller was selling, he burned up 3 cash registers. Been fantastic for me, portable enough since it was on a trailer. Mostly I spin it with a 25 hp compact which has a 1000 rpm pto option if I don't need a lot of current.
Being nice, I explained that his "electrician" wouldn't have had that problem if he'd stopped by Radio Shack and dropped 10 bucks first. Anyhoo, it came home with me. My thought was as Boss', no reason to have another engine to maintain.
You do know the difference between 1 and 3 phase? Mine's fine for running the whole house, just gotta make sure you know which legs to hook into. 3 phase is normal (used) here from dairy/poultry operations.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!