Kubota D600 engine + Harbor Freight generator

[fatjay]

I get the 2hp to 1kw, 18hp should be sufficient to 9kw. If you look at the specs they're only 2 30a breakers anyway, which is 7200w, which is exactly what the rated wattage is, if its exceeded it'll just trip the breakers.

If the engine is in good shape it should handle 3,600rpm just fine. I'll rebuild it over the winter either way. The engine isn't a tapered shaft, it's likely a keyed shaft. I'll get more details, but it was a front mount mower.

Kubota gensets are pretty much out of my price range, or any diesel generator for that matter.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Probably a bolt on stub shaft to the flywheel...

I'd want to make sure I got as much of that, I could get with the engine when I was buying it.

SR

 

[CADplans]

Dig around on tractordata,, that engine pops up.

TractorData.com Kubota G52 tractor engine information

14HP at 3200rpm,, ask a local diesel engine shop if that engine can run 3600 rpm, that would get you more power.

If it were me, I would install the pulleys and run it, and enjoy.
I have a 10KW generator, but, I have it on a 60 amp breaker.

That works perfectly for me,, I can even run the electric hot water heater, and the well pump.

 

[fatjay]

CADplans I saw that, but apparently there's a couple versions of this engine. This one in particular is out of a GrassHopper 1822D. From what I have found it's detailed here: Model 1822D Grasshopper Mower Parts Diagrams -The Mower Shop, Inc.

I've seen 14, 15, 16, and 18hp versions of this engine. This one is supposed to make 18hp at 3600rpm though. It's just hard to find info on this mower, I wasn't able to find it on tractordata.com which is my normal go-to.

 

[unimog_jason]

Some reading material from a different site:

Kubota G52 / D6 for generator project

I have a D600 in a mower and when the mower dies, the engine will go to genset duty. I'll use the existing sheaves on the engine that drive the deck to drive a 5kw 2 bearing alternator:

Central Georgia Generator (CGG) -- Generators Brush Type

and locate the right diameter sheave so that the engine can run at 2600 RPM and the alternator at 1800.

My experience with a couple of these Kubota mowers is that if you run the just under wide open, the fuel consumption drops noticeably. Coupling this engine to a 5kw alternator will give you enough head room in the hp area that you're not going to over stress the engine and running the engine at 2600 RPM should give decent fuel consumption.

Jason

 

[finn1]

Diesel engines set up for generator use have different governor spring setups than a normal industrial or agricultural engine.

The governor overrun curve is very steep so that any load fluctuation will have minimal effect on engine rpm. Regular commercial applications have a more gradual overrun curve.

The generator applications have more isochronous like characteristics.

Simply put, if you aren't running the generator on a very steep part of the curve, you can't maintain 60 Hz output.

Not to say you can't make it work after a fashion, but you'll have dirty power.

 

[Sprinklerman]

get on govdeals.com and buy a big one on auction

 

[fatjay]

Sadly this project was abandoned for now. The D600 sold before I could get there, but I found another 3cyl 21hp diesel motor that I picked up for $500, but it came with an entire kubota zd21 zero turn mower, which only needed one hydro rebuilt, and I couldn't justify scrapping the whole mower for the motor, so now I'm rebuilding the mower.

Thanks all for the info, I'll stick with my gas gen for now, and revisit this in the spring.

 

[fatjay]

get on govdeals.com and buy a big one on auction

Problem with those is they're typically 40kw or some huge number, well surpassing my needs, which comes with a negative side effect of having much higher fuel consumption.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I also see pretty good deals on diesel gen sets, and they also are waaaaaaay to big, no doubt that's why they are cheap!

There's NO WAY I'm buying the fuel for a 30, 40, or 50kw genset!!

SR