John Deere 30KW liquid cooled generator

[murphy1244]

How often are you to change oil on your gen?

 

[thatguy]

just curious.. 350 hrs doesnt seem like a long time to me.. Is that typical for that size generator?

 

[pclausen]

How often are you to change oil on your gen?

I change oil & filter yearly. Running straight 30 weight.

 

[pclausen]

just curious.. 350 hrs doesnt seem like a long time to me.. Is that typical for that size generator?

I'll admit that about 4 years ago, I disconnected the low oil pressure switch because it kept shutting the generator down. That took care of that problem, but I suspect it might have been at the detriment of the engine.

It exercises for 10 minutes each week, so that works out to about 9 hours per year. So that accounts for about 144 hours over the last 16 years. The rest has been spent holding a full load more or less. The hour meter has 5 digits plus a 1/10 one, so in theory, the hour meter will read up to 99,999.9 hours. That's 11.4 years of running 24/7!

I took a closer look at the unit tonight, and it appears that the oil leak is coming from the oil pressure switch. Hmm, maybe I just need to replace it and that will take care of the oil consumption issue and perhaps it won't shut down if I reconnect the wires to the new pressure switch.

The 15kw unit at my mother's house is definitely burning oil as there are no leaks anywhere. I spoke to her about it, and think I know the culprit. When I installed the unit in 2006, I told my father that he needed to change the break in oil after running it it for 4 hours at progressively increased load. Then switch to 5w30 synthetic. Well, I think the break in oil was left in it until 2008! Maybe it just needs new rings and valves?

 

[Fi-Q]

Dang, that would be an awesome ser up, but a lot of money. Wondering if at that price a pto gen would be a better option, you already have 2 tractors. And at over 16k$ i would think you can get a top shape use 2wd tractor plus a well known brand pto genny. Than you ll have portable diesel water cool generator with an engine that can last over 5000 hour and an other tractor that have some use when power is not out. Just a tought.

 

[General Lee]

Dang, Here I am researching what generator option I'm gonna choose (was leaning towards generac) and I read 3 failures just from your experience with them. Ughhh...........I'm getting on the ball with this, electrician is coming out next week for a consult and assist with sizing. I'm debating on a big portable unit @12Kw or a whole house standby. I could get by with smaller but I want central AC when needed.

 

[Dirtball]

The 1996 Generac is not comparable to the Deere. I look down my nose at the Generac, and smile looking at the Deere. I have a Kohler 20kw diesel in my motorcoach and a Yamaha 6600w gas for the house. SOunds like you need a backup genny. On boats where you need genny 24/7 there typically 2 identical gensets and you give them a rest alternating units. But marine gensets have unlimited cooling capacity due the availability of cool water for the jacketed manifold. So I like the yellow unit, just keep the fuel fresh, rent it out locally and get a backup genny for the main genny if you cannot afford to loose power. I am prepared for the 3-4 week icestorm outage that I hope never happens. PTO units are cheap and powerful. Not always wife friendly. There are commercial NG/propane units based on 4 cylinder car engines with liquid cooling.

 

[Wnc3]

This topic brings up bad memories of hurricane Ike and my 40kw Generac with a 4cyl. Mitsubishi engine.
Horrible piece of equipment suitable for standby power of maybe 6hrs in 90 degree heat.
I got them to give me full credit towards SG 70kw with a v10 Ford. Both running on natural gas with auto transfer switch.
If I could have, I would have dumped Generac and gone with Koehler for auto. Standby.
That said, if I ever move I will have a manual transfer switch with twist lock cables and a Multiquip trailer mounted diesel unit. These are rental grade units and are,IMHO , the best generator available.

 

[murphy1244]

Is the engine a briggs vanguard twin? If so the oil should be 5w30w. I use Mobil 1. You need new engines not new units. Hope all is well for you folks, good luck peter.
Murph

 

[daybreak1998]

Howdy,
I had the same problem with the 400amp service situation. The transfer switch prices are crazy. I was able to work with my electric utility (Rappahannock Electric Coop). Its a special device which is connected right behind the meter. I made a posting about different transfer switches here.
generator-transfer-switch-connections
The unit says its rated at 40kw continuous and 48kw peak.

I use a tiger power 30kw pto generator with it. The tractors are always serviced and running. I do not have another engine to maintain. The pto generator is 30kw continuous with 90kw surge. It covers everything. I am very happy with my choice