Who makes the highest quality PTO generator?

[Sawyer Rob]

I致e always wondered why so many here thought so highly of the PTO generator. After reading this thread and others, I still don稚 understand. They don稚 really save you much money, they tie up your tractor, PITA to hook up (at night/always in bad weather), and rather than listen to a generator you have to listen to your tractor rack up the hours. I
I知 starting to think some people just don稚 have many uses for their tractor and like to find ways to keep it from sitting idle. I would too, but I can稚 think of one advantage a PTO generator has over a stand alone.

When I had a gen/welder I had to listen to it roar away, drinking fuel! Now I have a PTO gen set, it will easily run my whole house, it will run my welder or anything else I need powered. AND it does it with my tractor running at a bit less than 2,000rpm's. I can't even hear the tractor running when I'm in the house.

I don't buy tractors because they are fragile! They will "comfortable" sit and run at pto speed for days or even weeks if needed, with loooong oil change intervals, running on diesel that I already have around....UNLIKE small hi speed gen sets that burn more fuel that's harder to store...

I'm always amazed how folks will buy a tractor then be afraid to put hours on it!

As for pto gen set hook up, what's the big deal?? Put it near your house just like any other gen set and when needed, just drive you tractor to it and put the pto shaft on it. It can easily be left on a pad next to the house, just like a built in auto start gen set...

SR

 

[kidr]

When I had a gen/welder I had to listen to it roar away, drinking fuel! Now I have a PTO gen set, it will easily run my whole house, it will run my welder or anything else I need powered. AND it does it with my tractor running at a bit less than 2,000rpm's. I can't even hear the tractor running when I'm in the house.

I don't buy tractors because they are fragile! They will "comfortable" sit and run at pto speed for days or even weeks if needed, with loooong oil change intervals, running on diesel that I already have around....UNLIKE small hi speed gen sets that burn more fuel that's harder to store...

I'm always amazed how folks will buy a tractor then be afraid to put hours on it!

As for pto gen set hook up, what's the big deal?? Put it near your house just like any other gen set and when needed, just drive you tractor to it and put the pto shaft on it. It can easily be left on a pad next to the house, just like a built in auto start gen set...

SR

And unlike a stand alone, The tractor will usually start.

 

[newbury]

I致e always wondered why so many here thought so highly of the PTO generator. After reading this thread and others, I still don稚 understand. They don稚 really save you much money, they tie up your tractor, PITA to hook up (at night/always in bad weather), and rather than listen to a generator you have to listen to your tractor rack up the hours. I
I知 starting to think some people just don稚 have many uses for their tractor and like to find ways to keep it from sitting idle. I would too, but I can稚 think of one advantage a PTO generator has over a stand alone.

If you do not need power at different sites there may be no advantage. A PTO generator can move.

And unlike a stand alone, The tractor will usually start.

Yup.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

If you like the idea of an 1800rpm generator head this place sells the parts you would need to put one together. I don't have any personal experience with them.
Central Georgia Generator, LLC (CGG)

 

[MMagis]

If you do not need power at different sites there may be no advantage. A PTO generator can move.
.

I do understand why they make PTO generators, they certainly have their place. Just not as the primary back up source of home energy.

As for pto gen set hook up, what's the big deal?? Put it near your house just like any other gen set and when needed, just drive you tractor to it and put the pto shaft on it. It can easily be left on a pad next to the house, just like a built in auto start gen set...

SR

That's sounds like fantasy to me, where I live. None of my yard is flat, and I don't want to have to navigate the side of my hill in the dark, in the blowing snow with 12" already on the ground, drifted to 4' in my back yard. Because that's when I need a generator, not when it's 75 and sunny out.


Just like anything with an engine, if your generator is left neglected and gathering dust for months at a time, it may be a little tough to start. I don’t find it difficult to start mine every once in a while, and of course keep fuel stabilizer in it. If I’m ever convinced I need whole house back-up I’ll go with natural gas, but I have my own well so it’s the obvious choice for me. I looked long and hard at PTO generators, and they simply make no sense to me if their only use is back up during power outages.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That's sounds like fantasy to me, where I live. None of my yard is flat, and I don't want to have to navigate the side of my hill in the dark, in the blowing snow with 12" already on the ground, drifted to 4' in my back yard. Because that's when I need a generator, not when it's 75 and sunny out.

Because of the home/land YOU chose it sounds like fantasy to you?? Do you think the rest of the world made a choice just like you??

My 15KW takes up no more space than the 5KW gen set it replaced. I have to park the tractor someplace, so it's no big deal to put the pto gen next to my house or in my garage and hook a pto shaft as needed.

I think MOST of us, are in THAT same boat, so it's not fantasy for us.

YOU may be the exception though...

SR

 

[MMagis]

I think MOST of us, are in THAT same boat, so it's not fantasy for us.

YOU may be the exception though...

SR

Yes, that’s exactly what I said. Where I live, that’s a fantasy. I wasn’t suggesting it wasn’t possible for anyone.
Honestly, I thought someone might offer some sort of advantage they offer that I hadn’t considered.

 

[brown40]

A PTO generator has less wiring, fuel and air supply for mice and insects to find their way into, and no additional motor to maintain. Not having another set of filters, oil, plugs, battery, and the time to service makes a difference. Plus you wouldn't need to exercise one as often as a powered one. I looked at PTO, but got a 10kw standalone with a Honda engine, as I could take it to relatives and friends to keep them from freezing up without having to haul the tractor as well. No one's needed it in 5 years, but it's there!

 

[cat fever]

I have enjoyed the intensity of this thread. I have no backup power currently for my home. I am planning to build a new barn starting in about two weeks. My plan is to make one corner the place for a PTO generator, easy access and can even exhaust the tractor to the outside if needed. I will store between 500-1000 gallons of fuel in the barn. This way I don't have to deal with weather or anything else to have power for a extended period of time. If the need came up where I needed the tractor, I think my home could do without for a few hours. Best of all I can have power and keep everything locked up and out of sight.

 

[buickanddeere]

Even a premium pto generator will expire early if it is not stored in a clean, dry, rodent and insect free location.
Some operators have closed the transfer switch then start the pto and rev it up to speed. Not a good idea. Same as shutdown , open the breaker/switch then slow down and stop the generator.