Generator PTO generator problem

[JHTFarmer]

Thanks. I will try this right away, however, I did engage the PTO lever very slowly and the tractor engine did not lug, bog down, or shudder at all when it crushed the trailer.

 

[Slamfire]

As you surmise the generator's field should NOT be full on when starting. I'd have someone check that is not the case when you are starting yours. I must admit I don't know a lot about small generators, having never operated one with less than 156,250 kW rating. We'd have the alternator up to speed before energizing the field. ;-)

 

[BobRip]

."

One other thing about this genny is that it is billed as being voltage regulated, that voltage stays constant regardless of load on the device. On startup, there is no load, so does that mean the field is on full and as a result much more magnetic load to overcome which contibuted to the crushing force applied to the trailer?

With no electrical load, the torque requirements should be at a minimum. As you add more electrical load the torque requirements will increase. More power out of the generator requires more power (torque) in.

Bob Rip

 

[Soundguy]

Wow... I guess the trailer was just too crappy to withstand startup. I know those step up ger units probablt put alot of rotational load on the wheels.. Depending on how low of idle you were.. the laod was higher....but you would think it would have held up.

I mounted my 12.5kw northern unit to a carryall.. never have any issues with it.

If it was new.. I'd pursue the seller to replace .. if he won't.. and it was a CC purchase.. pursue the CC company to get him to deal with you on the product. If he won't deal.. he may have to eat it... depends on how good a relationship you have with your CC ( if it was a cc purchase ).. and how his attitude is with the CS dept of your CC.

I hate for it to come to things like that.. but if the dealer automativcally blamed your tractor.. then I'd say they may not be the brightest bulb ont he tree so to speak. Yor tractor did what it was suposed to.. it spun the pto.. what did they expect it to do?.. I can't figure out what they were refering to when they advised you to have the tractor checked immediatly.... I think they need to have their R&D dept checke dimmediatly.

Though it is hassle.. you may have small claims court material here if the CC issue doesn't pan out.. or is unavailable due to a cash/check transaction.

The manufacturer/dealer may also be interested to find out that the pic of their failed genny ( failed under no load? wow.. glad you didn't have a load on it.. it might have spun the whole trailer and beat up the genny...) is posted on one of the biggest / most traveled websites in existance about tractor usage..e tc.

I agree with 3RRL... don't let them bully you.. go over heads till you are at least at manufacturer level if the dealer won't help.. then pursue the CC or smal claims issue.

Heck.. that looks like a safety issue to me... might be able to find an applicable gov't dept CPSC comes to mind... that could kill somebody... CPSC might be interested in seeing that failure... That is the kind of thing that class action lawsuits were made for... If push comes to shove, and the dealer makes it tough on you.. make it as tough as convieniently possible for him. Would be entertaining to see a safety recall or class action lawsuit at the manufacturers / dealers expense out of this because he didn't want to warranty your trailer.. Go at it with both barrels and don't stop pulling the trigger, making phone calls, and writing letters till you are 100% satisfied...

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks. in". Ironically, the manual warns of some tractors with a PTO brake, but no warning of hydraulic driven PTOs. . i.e. "if the genny was mounted on a slab, I might be complaining of a broken PTO shaft, gearbox, or worse."

One other thing about this genny is that it is billed as being voltage regulated, that voltage stays constant regardless of load on the device. On startup, there is no load, so does that mean the field is on full and as a result much more magnetic load to overcome which contibuted to the crushing force applied to the trailer?

I really really doubt you have a fully hyd pto.. unless you have a power track.. etc. A HST tranny will still have a countershaft driven pto in most cases... this is irrelevant to the situation anyway so...

Pto brake will just be an abrupt stopping issue, and thus some rotational load witht he pto gears spinning.. etc.. Kind of reverse of the startup problem you experienced.

I have a feleing if it had been mounted.. there would have been no problems. ( no broke shafts.. etc ) After all.. it spun up fine you said.. just torqued the axles.. etc.

Only think I can think of is that the gearbox was a tad stuck.. perhaps from an arrant metal filing from the manufacturing process, and that this created a very momentary high torque load.. thent he piece of debri gave way and no longer exists .. etc.

Did you lube the gearbox? My genny came 'dry'.

Voltage regulation.. won't be much of a deal till you have a load... I.E. your startup won't be as bad with no load , as compaired to starting under full load. If it is an economy unit.. voltage stabilization is most likely capactive anyway.. works ok and is cheaper... Field won't be too powered up untill you have some current flow ( load ). i think your dealer is a scheister...

Soundguy

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

Just to echo what some others have already said, I have a 15KW PTO generator and it is mounted on a 3 pt carry all. The torque under load is substantial and the buggy yours is mounted to is no where close to sufficient. Winco should willingly remedy this quickly!

 

[3RRL]

I agree with Soundgy too. Especially this becoming a dangerous...possible injury related attachment. Let them take a whiff of that and they'll change their story. I'm not sure if you bought that locally or out of state? If out of state you can involve (easily by a phone call) the attorney general of your state and their state and the Federal interstate trade commision. They are there to protect you from out of state purchases that are fraudulent or not being as advertised. It is a growing problem and they are keenly focused on it nowadays because online purchase rely on honest advertising. The consumer is at a disadvantage because he can't feel or touch the product. They will contact them and put immediate presure on them or shut them down. A phone call from you to the company advising them that you are thinking of calling those agencies has worked for me.

One other thing, try to keep the tractor out of the equation. It obviously did it's job and turned over the generator shaft. You could give them an example that if you rotated the generator by hand and with enough force, (like an extended pry bar lever) the same thing could have happened to the trailer. Keep the focus on the wimpy trailer...where it should be.

 

[PineRidge]

After looking at your picture I have to say that the manufacturer really skimped on the steel that went into that trailer. If you like the generator pitch the wagon and make a good one out of angle iron and with a sufficient sized axle.

 

[Soundguy]

At the manufactures' expense though.. No reason he should have to eat their pathetic attempt at designing trailers..

Soundguy

 

[normde2001]

There is (was), nothing wrong with that trailer, that gen head should not be that hard to turn. You should be able to easily turn it with your bare hands just like any electric motor of that size. Did there happen to be any SHIPPING BOLTS OR BRACKETS holding the shaft that needed to be removed before operation? It should not be anywhere near as hard to turn as a rotary mower.