Will a Farmall Super A power a PTO generator?

GRAPE-DRANK · Aug 30, 2011

My Farmall project is coming together nicely. I got the sleeves, domed pistons, hardened valve seats, etc. etc. etc. It's coming along. I will post pics when I can.

My question is this. Will the tractor turn 540rpm's at the pto and power a pto generator?

CNKS · Aug 30, 2011

I have never tried it, but it would have to be small. On this forum, I think the smallest tractor to use one has been an H. But, if it will it will use a lot less gas.

GRAPE-DRANK · Aug 30, 2011

Northern Tool has a 7200 that requires 14 PTO horsepower. I just want to know if the super A will spin it at 540 rpm's. The Farmall Super A, through 140's seem to me that they operate at a low rpm range.

Bob M · Aug 30, 2011

A Super A in good tune can deliver up to 16 HP at 540 RPM at the PTO. So your Super A will spin the 7,200 watt generator you are considering just fine. (The generator needs 14 HP input @ 540 RPM for full output)

CNKS · Aug 30, 2011

I would call the 7200 watt generator small. I have a 5550 watt electric generator for emergencies. It will run my lights and refrigerator and a couple of portable electric heaters. Probably my well, but maybe not everything at once. The 7200 watt one, maybe. It will not run my electric heat or air conditioning. It will probably run the electric part of a gas furnace which I don't have. So, if 7200 watts is enough, then the SA is ok.

Bob M · Aug 30, 2011

Yeah - a 7.2 KW PTO generator is indeed "small".

OTOH for many years I've gotten by just fine with a 4 kw emergency generator. It will run the refrigerator, freezer, sump pump, and plenty of lights. It's all we ever need when the power goes out (we heat with wood and have a gas stove and water heater).

David G · Aug 30, 2011

Rule of thumb, multiply KW * 1.5 to get horsepower.

old · Aug 30, 2011

Well that one is a simple yes, no or maybe. Yes it will spin a small unit but not not enough of a unit to power the whole house and maybe depending on how big you want to try. I have a 6.5KW unit that has an engine that is as for looks smaller then the engine in my BA but how small it is I do not know since it is a factory Koler power unit form who knows when

gene bender · Aug 31, 2011

You will need a pulley system that will turn the gen to its rpms but you have enough power. Did you use the 3 1/8 pistons as they will dyno 23 HP when done. I would make the drive so the tractor would run around 3/4 throttle you dont need to run full throttle.

IH fan · Aug 31, 2011

(quoted from post at 07:34:25 08/31/11) You will need a pulley system that will turn the gen to its rpms but you have enough power.

Gene,
Are you saying the pto speed of the Super A is NOT 540 @ rated engine speed?

I have a 5000w-5500 peak and I hook it into my breaker box so I can switch on what I need at the time. I kill the main to the line and feed the gen "backwards" thru a spare 30A breaker. Only thing that noticably messes with it is the micro-wave. I can run the gas furnace fan, washer, gas dryer, two stove burners, refrigerator, freezer and micro-wave by switching circuit breakers on and off as I need them. I put a clamp on amp meter on the leades to keep an eye on it.

mkirsch · Aug 31, 2011

I find it REALLY hard to believe that the Super A's PTO doesn't turn 540RPM at the rated full-load engine speed...

Yes, the engine runs at a low RPM, but there's this magical thing called GEARING that allows you to manipulate output RPMs based on input RPMs.

NawlensGator · Aug 31, 2011

PTO's on my IH 140's run 540 rpm. You might could go 10 or 12 generator KW.

David G · Aug 31, 2011

The PTO speed must be kept at or about 540 RPM so that the line
frequency will be around 60HZ. The generator has a gear box to
convert the speed to a multiple of 60. The voltage regulator in the
generator will excite the fields to maintain voltage.

GRAPE-DRANK · Aug 31, 2011

Gene, I'm at work today. I'll post pics tomorrow. The pistons are "Red Power" RP-374338R93. You posted in the forum about those pistons 4 years ago.

FC Andy · Aug 31, 2011

Yes, It will run that. That tractor will run 540-550 pto rpm's at full throttle all day long.(assuming you haven't tweaked the governor up).

All tractors (at least north american ones) with the 1-3/8 6 spline pto will turn approximatley 540 rpm.

If your super A can't, then it has a very big problem. (It should just fine.) Your high dome pistons should, as Gene said, make 20-25 pto horsepower (Depending on where you do set the governor for rpm.)

I've thought of doing the exact same thing, except maybe a size or two bigger to run with my 450 diesel. I don't have a generator, and when I buy one, it'll probably be a pto unit.

Will a Farmall Super A power a PTO generator?

GRAPE-DRANK

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CNKS

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Bob M

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old

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