Do you have the Harbor Freight 15KW PTO Generator? What do you think?

[dex3361]

After the dust has settled from the widespread storm related power outage I am thinking of adding a PTO generator to the fleet. The best deal for the dollar appears to be the HF 15KW PTO generator. My questions to the TBN Brain-trust are: Do you have one or have experience with one? What are your opinions on the unit? Would you buy one again? Do you know of a better option on PTO Generators?

 

[psj12]

I purchased the identical unit from Rural king online and am very pleased with it. It was also a couple hundred cheaper than HF.

 

[Code54]

Good question Randall - never seen one at Cross Lanes, is it one of those by order only items? After that storm I have to admit I am thinking of making some changes around the house for the "next one"

 

[dex3361]

I purchased the identical unit from Rural king online and am very pleased with it. It was also a couple hundred cheaper than HF.

How long have you had it?

 

[dex3361]

Good question Randall - never seen one at Cross Lanes, is it one of those by order only items? After that storm I have to admit I am thinking of making some changes around the house for the "next one"

Yes it is a order only only item. I have been looking for a coupon that will work online but no go so far. I met the demand with my little diesel generator but I have an old 4KW Coleman gas generator. I want my back up to be diesel fuel based. I found that I could get diesel even when the stations were out of gas. How long were you out of power?

 

[Code54]

We were down for the entire week. Funny you mentioned the diesel generator, I been starting to look for a diesel version myself. I had about 25 gallons of diesel when the storm hit and about 5 gallons of gas - I only have a gas generator so that didn't help a whole lot.
Check out the "Entertainment book" if someone has one, they always have one of the 20% coupons in it. I would send you one but I already used them - we really spend too much time at Harbor Freight....

 

[dex3361]

We were down for the entire week. Funny you mentioned the diesel generator, I been starting to look for a diesel version myself. I had about 25 gallons of diesel when the storm hit and about 5 gallons of gas - I only have a gas generator so that didn't help a whole lot.
Check out the "Entertainment book" if someone has one, they always have one of the 20% coupons in it. I would send you one but I already used them - we really spend too much time at Harbor Freight....

I had a 20% of coupon and the fine print said it could not be used on generators(wouldn't you know it).

 

[dex3361]

We were down for the entire week. Funny you mentioned the diesel generator, I been starting to look for a diesel version myself. I had about 25 gallons of diesel when the storm hit and about 5 gallons of gas - I only have a gas generator so that didn't help a whole lot.
Check out the "Entertainment book" if someone has one, they always have one of the 20% coupons in it. I would send you one but I already used them - we really spend too much time at Harbor Freight....

I had 60 gallons of diesel with what I had in jugs and the truck. I finished cleaning out some 35 gallon poly drums and bought a 12V fuel pump. I used about 65 gallons of diesel in little air cooled generator running for about 200 hours +-. I want to keep about 100+ gallons of diesel on hand.

 

[dex3361]

So no more thoughts or opinions on the HF 15KW generator?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

On the subject of PTO generators can one run a generator too large for the tractor (say a 30KW on a 30 HP tractor) as long as they did not demand more than 15KW out of the generator?

I know it takes at least 2 HP per KW of output.

thanks.

 

[dex3361]

On the subject of PTO generators can one run a generator too large for the tractor (say a 30KW on a 30 HP tractor) as long as they did not demand more than 15KW out of the generator?

I know it takes at least 2 HP per KW of output.

thanks.

Yes and like you stated you would only get 15KW or so of the potential 30KW. My L4400 has 37HP on the PTO and my BX1500 has 10HP on the PTO. If I get the HF unit I will try it with both tractors and see how well they both perform. Likely wouldnt get much over 5KW out of the little BX.

 

[thatguy]

I purchased the identical unit from Rural king online and am very pleased with it. It was also a couple hundred cheaper than HF.

from looking online, did yours come with the PTO shaft? The RK pic does not show one, but the HF pic did..

 

[Dan in CT]

I also have the same generator from Rural King. I ran it for 6 days last fall during the Halloween snow storm, 16-18 hours a day. It ran great. The voltage stayed right in the band, the lights never dipped when the big loads (well pump, electric dryer, etc) kicked on. The only thing I will modify is to put some type of shield over the cooling air intake on the end of the generator. With all the blowing snow we had, I put a tarp over it while it was snowing. I was afraid that it would suck in snow (it moves a LOT of air). I think rain would also have the same problem.

 

[dex3361]

I also have the same generator from Rural King. I ran it for 6 days last fall during the Halloween snow storm, 16-18 hours a day. It ran great. The voltage stayed right in the band, the lights never dipped when the big loads (well pump, electric dryer, etc) kicked on. The only thing I will modify is to put some type of shield over the cooling air intake on the end of the generator. With all the blowing snow we had, I put a tarp over it while it was snowing. I was afraid that it would suck in snow (it moves a LOT of air). I think rain would also have the same problem.

I have bren comparing both the HF unit and the one from RK I see 100# difference between them I wonder how.

 

[Code54]

Just thinking out loud - could it be in the shipping weight and the way it is packaged maybe?
If not that could be a decent chunk of copper!

 

[dex3361]

Just thinking out loud - could it be in the shipping weight and the way it is packaged maybe?
If not that could be a decent chunk of copper!

I looked at the pics and the RK looks to be an aluminum frame on the motor and the TS unit is black and could be cast iron. I still cant see 100# difference.

 

[dex3361]

Just thinking out loud - could it be in the shipping weight and the way it is packaged maybe?
If not that could be a decent chunk of copper!

I will let you know when it gets here. I noticed this evening that it was on sale for $200 off. HF PTO Generator. I have pondered it enough and the sale has pushed me to go ahead.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I will let you know when it gets here. I noticed this evening that it was on sale for $200 off. HF PTO Generator. I have pondered it enough and the sale has pushed me to go ahead.

I've been thinking about it myself. Hard not to pass it up at that price.

I really wish you hadn't shown me that. It's all your fault now.

 

[dex3361]

I've been thinking about it myself. Hard not to pass it up at that price.

I really wish you hadn't shown me that. It's all your fault now.

Your TBN friends are always thinking of new toys/tools for you to spend your money on. I try to buy what I need and TBN lets me know about all the stuff that I need.:laughing:

 

[Ductape]

$6.99 flat rate shipping ????