buffalohunter
Member
I would like you folks opinion of a PTO driven generator, I have a 1989 4955 and a 2004 9620T. I figured a PTO generator would come in handy instead of buying gas driven separate generator. Thanks for any info or opinions.
Generator
- Thread starter buffalohunter
- Start date
- Views: 6199
RalphVa
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
- Messages
- 7,885
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Tractor
- JD 2025R, previously Gravely 5650 & JD 4010 & JD 1025R
There have been lots of threads on this. Try a search of the forums to find them.
Main drawback to using a PTO generator vs. a dedicated, fixed-in-place one with its fuel supply tank/vessel is providing fuel to it. Your tractor will use anywhere from 0.5 gallons/hr (for an 18-20 hp machine) to 2.0 gallons/hr (for an 80-100 hp machine): for diesels, up to 50% more for gas carbureted engines. My little 4000 watt gasoline generator with about a 10 hp engine uses about 0.5 gallons/hr, same as my 18.5 hp diesel tractor. It's a pain keeping gasoline supplied to it if power is out for an extended period.
The other aspect is your tractor is out of commission while sitting on a generator. Also, in my situation, I can't get my tractor out of its garage if power if off. I didn't provide a "people" door to that garage. Gotta crawl into a window to get to it if the little gas generator doesn't work. Poor planning on my part.
Ralph
Main drawback to using a PTO generator vs. a dedicated, fixed-in-place one with its fuel supply tank/vessel is providing fuel to it. Your tractor will use anywhere from 0.5 gallons/hr (for an 18-20 hp machine) to 2.0 gallons/hr (for an 80-100 hp machine): for diesels, up to 50% more for gas carbureted engines. My little 4000 watt gasoline generator with about a 10 hp engine uses about 0.5 gallons/hr, same as my 18.5 hp diesel tractor. It's a pain keeping gasoline supplied to it if power is out for an extended period.
The other aspect is your tractor is out of commission while sitting on a generator. Also, in my situation, I can't get my tractor out of its garage if power if off. I didn't provide a "people" door to that garage. Gotta crawl into a window to get to it if the little gas generator doesn't work. Poor planning on my part.
Ralph
my opinion is to buy a dedicated gas generator.
i really have a problem racking up hours on the tractor unless it's doing a job. i don't need 40hp to power a couple pellet stoves and some lights
besides, who's to say you don't want to play on your tractor when the power is out?
i really have a problem racking up hours on the tractor unless it's doing a job. i don't need 40hp to power a couple pellet stoves and some lights
besides, who's to say you don't want to play on your tractor when the power is out?
jdbower
Platinum Member
What I'm leaning towards is a PTO generator for on-the-spot applications (a field arc welder comes to mind) since I'd rarely use it and maintenance should be lower than a portable gas generator. I'm hoping to eventually get a whole house generator that runs off propane and/or natural gas, that way I've got the fuel supply covered for my cooking and heating anyway. Whether I need the latter will depend on how many outages I get, last year I had one minor outage but the year before power was out frequently for hours at a time.
OP
buffalohunter
Member
Thanks gentlemen.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
buffalohunter said:I would like you folks opinion of a PTO driven generator, I have a 1989 4955 and a 2004 9620T. I figured a PTO generator would come in handy instead of buying gas driven separate generator. Thanks for any info or opinions.
I like mine.
I have a 12.5kw northern tools pto genny. When i need it I know it will start .( I know my multi-thousand dollar hi-quality tractor engine will start.. I'm not so sure about a disposable aluminum hunk of junk throw away engine with a gummy carb).
I didn't worry about the fuel issue, as I'm not one of those people that can't live without AC power being continously on. thus wouldn't run my genny 100% 24/7 during a utility outtage... besides.. who wants to live next to the guy that has his genny run 24hrs a day.. vs just a few hours a day for tools or to power up a pump/heater/fridge for a while.
I also don't worry about the 'tie up my tractor' issue for 2 reasons.. 1, as I said.. 24/7 ac power isn't needed.. it's a 'backup' genny.. in an emergency i will be conserving my fuel and only make ac power when needed.. and 2, I got more than 1 tractor.. and my primary generator powering tractor is only usefull for mowing anyway... my 'more versatile' tractor with a loader on it would be my 'storm cleanup' tractor.. etc..
given that the gen head electronics will probably be about the same.. that means the price difference you pay on a pto gen vs a self powered one is in that little 1800 or 3600 rpm chunk of aluminum with a pull start on it, and a carb made in china out of 2$ of materials.. vs your 5000+ dollar tractor engine... which one you gonna trust when the lights go out? the aluminum throwaway whizzbang? or your tractor? Sure.. when new.. the whizzbangs are pretty good. throw 1000 hrs of runtime on it and re-evaluate. your diesel tractor is just getting broke in... make it a 'mid life' test and throw 3000 hrs of runtime on it. If you change your oil and filters every year on your tractor.. it should be good and used but running fine at 3k.. even for a compact... I'm not so sure about todays whizzbangs.... I don't plan on buying another generator for aloooooong time.. By having it as a pto gen.. the electronics can be moved from tractor to tractor.. thus the 'engine' life issue is not tied to the genny life issue... the rest of it is the head... mostly a loop of wire... if a little use/ care and storage considerations are taken.. the head for either type should last fine..
soundguy
JB4310
Super Member
I to have debated this question for a long time and have decided on the pto for many of the same reasons as Soundguy, just like to add that regarding the small 4 stroke gas engines, none of them will ever see 1000 hours, that's not the point since they are for back up use, the problem is they are a stored engine, every time I take a stored engine out lately I've got to service them, take carbs apart etc. Everything from job site generators, pumps, snow blowers, log splitter, welder etc. etc. etc. Always fuel related and I do use fuel stabilizer faithfully.
Yes we always get them going, but sometimes it takes an hour or more and I have an employee who is a very good mechanic and has become quit the expert in cleaning low idle metering valves as he's the one who's been doing the maintenance. I don't have the patience I once had for that tedious work. I wouldn't want to be doing that in the dark, by myself, and in need of some tiny o-ring or other part.
like was said, my tractor is always in top shape, if something goes wrong it gets fixed right away when the stores are open, having 2 tractors makes the likelihood of mechanical failure at the time of need very small.
I have three small generators, only up to 4kw, Home depot had an incredible promotion last week, they had a 5.5 KW with a Yamaha engine for only $399. they had a stack of them brand new in boxes with the full power cords, cover and other acs. I almost bought one just because it was such a great deal. The only thing I could think of was that they don't meet new emissions standards and they had to sell them before the new year, they were reg around a grand.
Yes we always get them going, but sometimes it takes an hour or more and I have an employee who is a very good mechanic and has become quit the expert in cleaning low idle metering valves as he's the one who's been doing the maintenance. I don't have the patience I once had for that tedious work. I wouldn't want to be doing that in the dark, by myself, and in need of some tiny o-ring or other part.
like was said, my tractor is always in top shape, if something goes wrong it gets fixed right away when the stores are open, having 2 tractors makes the likelihood of mechanical failure at the time of need very small.
I have three small generators, only up to 4kw, Home depot had an incredible promotion last week, they had a 5.5 KW with a Yamaha engine for only $399. they had a stack of them brand new in boxes with the full power cords, cover and other acs. I almost bought one just because it was such a great deal. The only thing I could think of was that they don't meet new emissions standards and they had to sell them before the new year, they were reg around a grand.
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
Ironically, my wife couldn't even handle a portable genset.. or an inverter.. so making it 'wife friendly' wasn't one of my concerns.(hmm.. maybe she does that on purpose.. ;-) )
soundguy
soundguy
OP
buffalohunter
Member
I appreciate all you folks input on this subject, I believe I am goin to start lookin around for a PTO generator. They have several companies that manufacture these machines in a local farm paper I get. Again appreciate the info.
