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Arthur Brestlin 08-22-2004 05:15:13 205.188.117.15 455289 Report to Moderator	I am considering the purchase of a 13,000 watt PTO generator from Northern Tool. It requires 24 PTO hp. The owners manual for my '51 8N claims 27.3 Belt HP! Would Belt HP equall PTO HP? If so, do you think the 8N can handle this machine? Does this seem like a reasonable alternative to a much more expensive stand alone generator. As always, any and all thoughts are appreciated. [Reply]   [No Email]
Upper Peninsula, Mich 08-22-2004 12:53:13 205.188.117.15 455354 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Arthur Brestlin, 08-22-2004 05:15:13   Art. If you have propane or natural gas available consider going with a stand alone unit using either. I have two gen sets at camp both powered by propane and they are reliable & pretty much problem free with normal maintence. Both are heavy duty commercial units and we use each one 300-500 hours anually. I would stay away from the cheaper very low priced units considered by many throw away units. In gen sets a person normaly gets what he pays for. Cheaper units are generally over rated and not as reliable, while the better units are normaly under rated, can handle requirements considerably over there rated output and will run for years virtualy trouble free. Hope this helps. Ron   [Reply]   [Send Email]
souNdguy 08-22-2004 12:23:23 12.77.214.173 455340 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Arthur Brestlin, 08-22-2004 05:15:13   Your N may or may not handle the FULL rated load of the genny.. however.. if you are not using that power.. it isn't being made. In other words.. if your house is only drawing 7kw.. then the gen is only producing that.. and the PTO HP requirements are lowered as well. That 24 hp might drop to 18hp at 2/3rds of rated load. Myself? I'm getting one.. but them.. I have a small aging fleet of tractos that can power it, and still have a tractor left over for 'work'. My biggest reason for this is my well. I have a slightly larger than residential well, due to my irigation needs.. and a 5500/6500 watt genny was ify on kicking the pump off sometimes. The pto 13kw is only about 1k$ plus shipping anyway. Just depends on what your wallet feels like. The side benefit of a self powered geny is you can take it camping.. or take it anywhere your tractor can't go.. etc.. Soundguy   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Jim Cox 08-22-2004 10:47:30 66.250.68.54 455331 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Arthur Brestlin, 08-22-2004 05:15:13   I'm on Dell's side. For what you would spend on a 13kW that you HOPE your N can handle, buy a 6kW with a tecumseh or Briggs engine for less than $600.00 My DeVilbiss Generator runs fine on 3 year old gas with STABIL in the tank, and usually starts on the first or secont pull if I remembered to set the choke. I have a buddy with a 6kW on a Ford 1700 tractor that he likes alot, but he can't power the important stuff in the house and clear brush after the storm at the same time, Jim Cox Survivor, May 2003 Missouri Tornados   [Reply]   [No Email]
Gaspump 08-22-2004 08:23:25 65.140.1.139 455319 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Arthur Brestlin, 08-22-2004 05:15:13   After going thru over 4 powerless days thanks to the hurricane I would offer this from my latest notations. I have a Honda 6500 generator, it will power anything in my home including well, refrigerator, dish washer, washing machine, TV's, computer all lights and ceiling fans. We do without hot water and A/C. The point is this Honda unit is pretty fuel efficient and I ran it about 20 hrs per day on average and dumped about $20-25 worth of gas into it every day. My neighbor with about the same unit with kids and one window A/C unit over what I use spent over $30 per day on gas! Keep fresh gas on hand too, it was hard to find the first 2 days after the storm. Just think what that tractor running 20-24 hrs per day would cost per day and what can you do without.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Dell (WA) 08-22-2004 07:49:29 172.196.77.185 455314 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Arthur Brestlin, 08-22-2004 05:15:13   Arthur.........long time ago, before today's common engine/generator were developed, PTO driven generators kinda made sense, IF you already had a power source (tractor). And a need for remote electrical power usage. They were common in pig farrow barns and chicken egglayer barns for emergencys. I think you'll find that the genset is much more fuel efficent than the tractor. 13,000 watts IS BIG. Most household emergency power can be handled by 5-6000 watt gensets. I wouldn't go out an buy a new tractor PTO powered generator, I might pay $500 for a used one. Gensets are really the better way to go.........Dell   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Jack - Illinois 08-22-2004 06:38:42 68.254.112.162 455297 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Arthur Brestlin, 08-22-2004 05:15:13   In my opinion,it should handle the generator. One advantage is that you will probably have fresh gas in your "N". The stand alone generators need to be used or run enough to keep the engine in good working order when you need it. Will your "N" be available when needed on the generator? I have a small stand alone that I now drain the gas from after use. After having to clean the carb twice from varnish because I did not run the engine regular, I decided it was better to not have gas in it. Slow learner!! I lean toward the tractor/generator set up, but am sure you will get other views.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Hobo, NC 08-22-2004 07:24:24 151.213.87.53 455307 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Jack - Illinois, 08-22-2004 06:38:42   After ya have shut the gas off and run"er till she quit choke it and restart it with the fuel off. Mine will run 10 to 15 sec. after i choke it. Then iff"n ya won"t to go high tech you can remove the fuel line at the carb and spray some WD40 or CRC into the carb fuel line fitting, it will then be ready to go next time. I go as fer as to then restart it so i know I have flushed out the gas and have run WD40 threw all the carb circuts. Like you i have learned the hard way on boat engins, get tired of cleaning six carberators on old mercury 6 cyl.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Rob 08-22-2004 06:30:07 63.245.133.31 455294 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Arthur Brestlin, 08-22-2004 05:15:13   You've got the hp, if your N is in top shape and you keep it that way. You're paying for a stationary engine and a genny when you buy the more expensive genset. I've always thought that if I was going to go for emergency power for the house I would go with propane. I got a lot more propane than gasoline at any given time. Many, or most, emergencies I would like to have the N available for other stuff. If I was going to get fancy I would get a portable genny I could run off the pto or connect to a propane-fueled stationary engine. I've got a nice 18hp Wisconsin engine in an obsolete trencher (stand-behind & no ROPS) I picked up for like $500. I got my trenching done with it and now I would convert the engine to propane and use it with a genny. It's got some good hydraulics in it too. My point is that there are used engines out there a guy can pick up for a good price.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Mike S 08-22-2004 06:26:37 170.97.67.91 455293 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Arthur Brestlin, 08-22-2004 05:15:13   I thought long and hard about using a PTO powered generator on my NAA, which is rated at 31HP, I think. It seemed like a good idea, but I got to thinking that it would tie up the tractor for long periods of time when I just might need it for other tasks. The idea of it just sitting there running at about 1500 RPMs for 8 hours or more depending on the circumstances just did not make sense. So I bought a big standalone generator that handles all the important items. It is about 6000watts and it will run the furnance and the frig and lights and a TV or two. I don't use the PC with it, tho. Seems to make the PC act funny. If I had to do it again, I would buy a 10k generator than ran off natural gas and wire it up proper to the switch box.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Cargocult 08-22-2004 09:27:18 4.129.87.132 455327 Report to Moderator	Re: Need Opinion on PTO Driven Generators in reply to Mike S, 08-22-2004 06:26:37   Get a UPS!! I use one all the time, because the local power company has these neat little interruptions, which can play hob with the computer. Bueno thing while operating the computer on my genset. No problemo! UPS=Uninterruptible Power Supply. Not United Parcel Service, hehehe.   [Reply]   [Send Email]