PTO Generator experience with GC2410

[General Lee]

What is the downside of any of those three things?

Some extended run time would be good for most of these tractors. In the scheme of things the hours mean nothing.

It may not be a downside. I'm just taking things in consideration. And your right, in my case the run time could be good for my tractor.

 

[WilliamBos]

Interesting. I've been debating a PTO generator, however I'm not to keen on racking up hours on the tractor just sitting running a generator. I'm torn on the decision and not sure if it would be cost effective. My tractor would have to run close to full throttle for 540 rpm. For a stand alone generator, you buy cost and fuel cost. PTO generator, you have buy cost, fuel cost and wear and tear on the tractor......

Did you buy it to have it as a lawn ornament?? If you don't use it, it is a bad investment.

 

[WilliamBos]

General,
You also have to factor in the cost of maintaining an additional engine on the chance you might need it. You would be amazed at the number of people who buy a standalone generator and stick it in the storage shed, then drag it out when a hurricane leaves them without power. Guess what, it don't run.... and they want to take it back to the box store they bought it from, expecting a new one, or a complete refund. Bottom line, when you need one, it needs to run, and pto generators don't require an engine to be maintained as long as you use your tractor regularly. Running any generator constantly is kind of a waste of fuel, in my opinion, as the necessities don't require constant running, and if your running it for the central a/c unit, then shut it off, and open the windows.
There are ways to conserve the fuel (and tractor hours) if you want lights on all the time. A simple battery bank (take them out of your vehicles) and use an invertor to run a couple of lights. You can charge the batteries while your running the pto generator in intervals of a couple of hours to keep freezers going, or while cooking, if you don't have an outdoor grill.
David from jax

Exactly - well said!!

 

[tsteahr]

Any chance in the future of getting the neighbor to supply his own extension cords to run his fridge off your tractor while your powering your house, rather than having to add his hours to your tractor? That might justify running your tractor a few extra minutes at your place...
It is a little far to most of my neighbors to run a cord, so mine just gets the extra time.
David from jax

That's a good idea and we would have done that but he ended up getting his own generator. It would have been a bit of a run of cord, about 175'. But then a fridge does not draw a lot of amps either.

 

[sandman2234]

That's a good idea and we would have done that but he ended up getting his own generator. It would have been a bit of a run of cord, about 175'. But then a fridge does not draw a lot of amps either.

I am not a good electric guy, so keep that in mind, but 175 feet will make a serious difference in voltage drop, especially with too light a cord.
A fridge might not draw a lot of amps over the long haul, but the startup voltages of the compressor do a pretty good spike from what I hear. Pulling that over such a long distance will tend to want to burn up compressors, so probably not a viable option, unless he is going to spring for some seriously large extension cords, such as a #8 wire, which they don't give away these days with copper being what it is. May be able to buy some entrance cable cheaper, lol.
David from jax

 

[irvingj]

tsteahr, very inetresting, and thanks for the review!

A co-worker called me up during the storm- his road had washed out, he was trapped, and his generator wouldn't work... surprise, surprise. (I gave him some things to try, but apparently it's going to need an entirely new control board.) And yes, he has a tractor.

How 'bout some details on the PTO generator you got?

 

[Chooglin]

How 'bout some details on the PTO generator you got?

would also like details

 

[WilliamBos]

would also like details

Me also please.

 

[V1Rotate]

You are correct. Lots of pros and cons to a PTO unit vs stand alone. Each person has to weigh all the factors and make their own personal choice.

One other note, To get 60hz output on the generator I have to set the engine speed to a indicated tach of about 2450rpm. Running at the "pto speed of 2600" would have me well above 60 hz. I suspect the tach is not totally accurate. The motor really felt like it was almost loafing along. Certainly not wound out screaming.

How do you know when you are getting 60 hz? Is there a way to measure that?

 

[zzvyb6]

There is a small device named "Kill-O-Watt" that you can buy on eBay or elsewhere (Costco has them). You plug it into an outlet and it will show you voltage and frequency. Plug a device into it and it will show you power consumption.

On the subject of wear and tear, if you are concerned about the hours, disconnect the hour meter. I can't think of much else with such little work going on in the use of the tractor. Guys here break bearings, spindles, wheels, steering gears, loaders, cylinders, tires, hoses, upper and lower links, and even seats. If you are afraid of wearing it out, put a 540 splined shaft on a bike wheel and pedal your way to al gore's house. You ought to be able to get 540 wheel rpm out of a 10 speed with little or no worry, maybe have the old lady burn off a few kilograms in the process.