looking for thoughts/ideas for a hydraulic power unit/generator build

[7lakes]

First off, I am the kind of person that wants to minimize gas engines around the house for the sake of upkeep.
Secondly, I could make all of these PTO driven from my BX25d, but I don't want to put needless hours on my tractor.

I want to take a riding lawn mower and remove the mower deck and install a generator and a hydraulic pump. Then add the hydraulic tank and levers and such. Then, I want to make quick connects for the hydraulics.

I don't want this to actually do anything, but serve as a mobile generator and mobile hydraulic power unit for things like a log splitter, saw mill, etc. I could drive up to the saw mill, quick connect to the saw mill and off we go. I could get a more powerful engine this way and it will be easier to upkeep the engine and I could garage the engine. This way tools stay where I want them, but the engine is taken care of.

I am wanting to add the generator as well for mobile welding, flood lights, water pumps etc.

I am looking for advice, thoughts and other uses prior to starting my design process.

thanks

 

[muddstopper]

Doing the generator is easy enough or doing the hydraulics is easy enough, doing both with a vertical shaft mower engine might take a little thinking. If you could score a horizonal shaft engine, then you could mount the generator head on the tail shaft of the engine and the hydraulic pump on the flywheel end of the engine and keep everything simple. With a vertical shaft engine, I think you are going to end up either pulling the genset or the hydraulic pump, and maybe both, off of pulleys and belts.

 

[7lakes]

I haven't heard of attaching to the tail shaft of an engine. How is that done? I looked for google images of that.

 

[farm boy00]

Like the idea. But I think your going to want a horizontal engine and extend the front frame out to fit everything properly. With a horizontal engine you could drive one off on side and the other on the other side but still have the mower function fine.

I would use a little older wheel horse. Simple hoods, lots of space under the hood usually, horizontal engines, good power usually, good turning. And with mine if not careful you could pop wheelies in high gear.

 

[7lakes]

I will have to look for one. Good thinking.

My next question. If I had a generator and hydraulic pump, can they both be hooked to the same pulley or would they need seperate pulleys with some kindof engaging system. I don't plan on using both at the same time.

 

[farm boy00]

I will have to look for one. Good thinking.

My next question. If I had a generator and hydraulic pump, can they both be hooked to the same pulley or would they need seperate pulleys with some kindof engaging system. I don't plan on using both at the same time.

I think you need 2 pullers but you could do one like this



Then could do 2 different Engadget systems like a mower deck where you pull a lever and it activated what you want. Then another for the other piece

 

[MossRoad]

Take a look at my Power Trac PT425 tractor. Its a hydraulically articulated mini front-end loader. Its powered by a 25HP Kohler engine. There is a two section pump on the drive shaft side. One section powers the main PTO for hydraulically powered implements (mowers, trenchers, brush cutters, stump grinders, etc....) and the other section powers the steering and FEL arms lift, curl and dump. On the other side of the engine, where the cooling fan is located, the fan shroud has been cut and a PTO shaft (you can get these from Kohler) is mounted. That powers the variable volume tram pump to drive the four wheel motors.

So, its a horizontal shaft motor with a shaft sticking out of each side and you can power anything you'd like. You have to get standard pump mounts that meet up with the engine and various lovejoy connectors to adapt shaft sizes, but it very doable.

One thing, though.... unless you have some sort of clutch, the generator will always be turning and the hydraulic pumps will always be turning. This creates a lot of heat, even if there is no load. And you'll be running it at 3600RPM to keep air moving over the engine or it may overheat, so it will suck a lot of gas. Mine consumes a little over a gallon per hour.

Interesting project, but I'd keep a generator separate from any other piece of equipment, because it seems that any time I need a generator, its because of a natural disaster (wind, rain, snow, etc...) and I don't want anything else tied up to run the generator.

I understand your quest to reduce the amount of engines to maintain, as I did the same thing. I'm down to three engines; a tractor, a generator and a log splitter.... just the things you want to combine! :laughing:

 

[Sawyer Rob]

First off, I am the kind of person that wants to minimize gas engines around the house for the sake of upkeep. Secondly, I could make all of these PTO driven from my BX25d, but I don't want to put needless hours on my tractor.
thanks

How many hours will you be running a generator OR log splitter???

I run both of mine off the pto of my tractor and it just doesn't add up to very many per year!

It's just so much more efficient to run them off the pto too...

Who are you saving the BX for?? It's yours, use it, run it, and enjoy it! IF it's any good, the motor will last waaay longer than you will ever need to use it!

SR

 

[7lakes]

well, part of the issue is that I want to use the tractor while I use the log splitter.

 

[7lakes]

I am looking into two electrically activated clutches like for electrically activated lawn mower blades

 

[Xfaxman]

You can buy one that will do it with no modifications, check this forum: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/case-ingersoll/

I used to have a Case 446 with a 46" deck and the hydraulic connectors on the back.

The Case Ingersoll 3 Point Hydraulic Log Splitter Model J32.

Here is a 10K generator on the front, in another forum: Case/Ingersoll 540 PTO Rear hydraulic hookup! - Page 2

The generator could be done out front, like this Wheelhorse attachment.

Another option: Raven America

 

[7lakes]

That little case has the same issue I have with the power beyond on my BX. It outputs about 6-8 gpm. I am looking to make a fairly overly powered setup with 16 -20 gpm for some pretty good log splitting and a sawmill setup.

After my research and what I have found, I think I am looking to use 2 AC compressor clutches for the activation of the generator and hydraulic pump. I haven't settled on the mower/engine yet, but I am looking on craigslist for about 20-24 HP machine, hopefully in good shape with a screwed up deck, so the price is right. I think I am going to use a 120 amp car alternator for the generator and I haven't settled on an inverter or whatever I need to convert to 120V.

The suggestion for a horizontal engine seems easier to mount to, but I don't know if I will find those as easy.

 

[farm boy00]

That little case has the same issue I have with the power beyond on my BX. It outputs about 6-8 gpm. I am looking to make a fairly overly powered setup with 16 -20 gpm for some pretty good log splitting and a sawmill setup.

After my research and what I have found, I think I am looking to use 2 AC compressor clutches for the activation of the generator and hydraulic pump. I haven't settled on the mower/engine yet, but I am looking on craigslist for about 20-24 HP machine, hopefully in good shape with a screwed up deck, so the price is right. I think I am going to use a 120 amp car alternator for the generator and I haven't settled on an inverter or whatever I need to convert to 120V.

The suggestion for a horizontal engine seems easier to mount to, but I don't know if I will find those as easy.

Sounds like a good plan but what aim you be running with the generator?? Also you better have a good charged battery for running those clutches. Maybe put a truck battery in.

 

[4570Man]

A 20-25 hp motor can't produce that on a single stage pump.

 

[mikefromnh]

By the time you rig up and pay for multiple clutches it will be cheaper and easier to buy a couple HF engines and mount them on a tractor if you want to be mobile... Just my thoughts.

 

[Xfaxman]

How much power will an AC compressor clutch handle without slipping?

 

[bigdeano]

I think I would just have 1 pulley on the engine and switch the belt. You could have the pump and generator mounted on pivots with a simple over center lever on each to tighten the belt. You may have to use double belts to handle the power.

I doubt if AC clutches would handle the torque, but you could test one before committing yourself to using them.

 

[7lakes]

My original thought was to use pivots, but I thought it would be a more elegant solution to have less moving parts. I have been wondering about the AC clutch strength. Yes, that will require research. My latest thought was trying to find a way to attach a hydraulic pump to my generator.

 

[muddstopper]

Personally, I think by the time you buy a used motor, make all the jackshafts and pullies, purchase a couple of electric clutches that will actually work, you could buy a small generator and build your hydraulic power supply using a new predator engine. Your plans of using a auto alternator and inverter for ac power wont pull a skilsaw or hand grinder unless you also have a high amp battery and then it will only work until it pulls the battery down. Ebay deals has 5000 and 8000 watt generators on sale all the time for about the same cost of those two electric clutches you will need. Harbor freight almost always has the predator engines on sale. I can appreciate the desire to have an all in one piece of equipment, but I dont think this build makes any sense unless you already have everything just laying around, which it sounds like you dont have anything to start with. Not saying it cant be done, but sometimes the DIY approach can cost more than just buying ready made.

Now your saying you already have a generator and just want to add a pump to it. That is simple, remove the flywheel cover and have a stub shaft made to bolt to the flywheel. Add a lovejoy coupleing and pump mount and bolt everything together. Make or buy a small hydraulic tank, add whatever type of valve you need and done.

 

[7lakes]

I will take a look at the generator, muddstopper. That seems easy enough.