For Tractor Owners, Dedicated Diesel Genset or PTO Unit?

 
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qbwebb
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Post by qbwebb » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 4:43 pm

I have an 7.5 kV Generac gas hog I'm looking to replace now that I have a pump on the No 2 tank I'm using to fill my compact tractor. Tractor is 39 hp unit w/ < 80 hrs, was thinking it may be a waste to decrease tractor value by adding engine only hours w/ the PTO unit.


 
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Post by coaledsweat » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 5:54 pm

Dedicated genset, you may need the tractor when the power is out.

 
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Post by coalnewbie » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 6:05 pm

Champion 1400w from TSC Black Friday usually about $170. Will run the heating and a few other things forever on few galls and that is enough and yes, I've tried them all.

 
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Post by Rob R. » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 8:17 pm

Why are you replacing the current generator? just because of fuel consumption?

 
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Post by Lightning » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 8:24 pm

Don't ever let a diesel run out of fuel.. I just had that problem while moving some dirt around at my house. I borrowed a Kubota from a friend of mine for a few days unaware of the fuel thing. What a PITA to get it running again. Took two hours with two guys that knew what they were doin!! :mad:

 
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Post by Wanna Bee » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 8:34 pm

Spend the money on a Honda 5500. It will save the tractor and they are very fuel efficient. Three point gen set isn't cheap so spending $2000 on a quality generator shouldn't hurt to bad.

 
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Post by Hambden Bob » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 9:36 pm

Other than "For Free",how much of a Financial Beating are you willing to take? Do you need 240vac power to operate a submersible well pump? What would your Loads add up to and are you willing to rotate them by being at Home to do so? Just a couple of thoughts,and questions.. :gee:


 
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qbwebb
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Post by qbwebb » Wed. Aug. 27, 2014 11:24 pm

Rob R. wrote:Why are you replacing the current generator? just because of fuel consumption?
Just want to convert to diesel because I like the idea of having all the HEating oil on hand, still painful memories of trying to get gas during oct 11 storm and we were only out 4 days. Loads are submersible well, furnace, stoker, 2 fridges and a chest freezer. Only need to run intermittently and stoker has ups that keeps it going automatically.

 
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Post by top top » Thu. Aug. 28, 2014 6:44 am

qbwebb wrote:
Rob R. wrote:Why are you replacing the current generator? just because of fuel consumption?
Just want to convert to diesel because I like the idea of having all the HEating oil on hand, still painful memories of trying to get gas during oct 11 storm and we were only out 4 days. .......
I'm with you on that, but quality diesel gen sets are not cheap. If you go that way do not get a cheap consumer type gennie with a Chinese engine. Used industrial units with some life left in them is the way to go. I would stick with Cummins, Cat or John Deere mechanical diesel power. I was looking at buying a used rental unit from United Rental as well as the Ritchie Brothers auctions. One was an Ingersol Rand 30kw with a Cummins on a trailer, the other a Miller Big 40D welder, but I ended up buying an older industrial unit with only 37 hours on the clock. 18kw, multiphase, 12 wire reconnect-able. It is a gasoline engine & wouldn't run but I took a chance on it. For $500 I figured it was worth it.

How many hours/year do you expect to run it? If low hours, I would lean towards the tractor power for redundancy with the current 7.5 kw gas genny as primary. Just use what you have but with the option of using the diesel tractor if needed. If that would put a lot of hours on the tractor then I would probably look for a dedicated diesel backup.
Last edited by top top on Thu. Aug. 28, 2014 4:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

 
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Post by top top » Thu. Aug. 28, 2014 7:03 am

Lightning wrote:Don't ever let a diesel run out of fuel.. I just had that problem while moving some dirt around at my house. I borrowed a Kubota from a friend of mine for a few days unaware of the fuel thing. What a PITA to get it running again. Took two hours with two guys that knew what they were doin!! :mad:
I never ran a Kubota dry but have started many mechanical diesels without a problem. What did you have to do that took two hours?

On my Case 580 the tank gravity feeds to the filters. Just dump in some fuel, open the bleeder on the top filter and wait for the fuel to show up, then she is ready to fire. On the older Cat & Cummins mechanical engines in tractor trailers & the John Deere engines in the boat I just pulled the filters and filled them with fuel or ATF or motor oil, whatever was most convenient, and fired them up. The old two stroke DD could be stubborn after losing their prime. The proper way was to use a priming pump or pressurize the fuel tank to force the fuel through the system. The "sitting on the side of the road" way was to spin the engine about 2,000 rpm for 30 seconds or so and the transfer pump would prime the system. You could do that by towing it in a lower gear or with judicious use of starting fluid.

 
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Thu. Aug. 28, 2014 9:19 am

What about a generator that runs on natural gas?

I'm considering one as the gas company just installed a new gas line and supply. They had my street dug up for several weeks. The new gas line has more capacity than the one it replaced. If I remember correctly, some units are multi-fuel as well.

I plan on replacing the electric clothes dryer with a gas unit and replace the electric range with a gas range in the kitchen as well.

 
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Post by top top » Thu. Aug. 28, 2014 2:01 pm

EarthWindandFire wrote: What about a generator that runs on natural gas?
I'm considering one as the gas company just installed a new gas line and supply. .......
The main drawback I see is you are still dependent on an uninterrupted flow of fuel. There is a lot to be said for having your fuel already on the property. When Sandy hit in NJ/NY all central services like water, electric and NG stopped for a week or more in some areas. Within 24 hours there were reports of people rummaging in dumpsters for food and people dying in their homes from exposure. Even people in posh upscale neighborhoods were forced to leave since they had no water or heat & even if they had a portable generator they couldn't get gas for it. They couldn't even use their gas grills if they were on NG.

 
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Post by grumpy » Thu. Aug. 28, 2014 4:48 pm

Get yourself an 1800 RPM Diesel, you won't regret it. Just make sure your at 2 HP per 1000 watts or very close to it.

 
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Post by Rick 386 » Thu. Aug. 28, 2014 5:53 pm

Hambden Bob wrote:Other than "For Free",how much of a Financial Beating are you willing to take? Do you need 240vac power to operate a submersible well pump? What would your Loads add up to and are you willing to rotate them by being at Home to do so? Just a couple of thoughts,and questions.. :gee:
This is why we hooked up my dad's generator directly to his electric box via a dedicated breaker. He is still nimble enough to be able to do the load balancing himself. And it eliminated having multiple cords throughout the house. Outside connection for the 5500 watt genny and he is good to go.

But if I had the money and time, I would get an old mil surplus diesel unit and get a 500 gal tank.

Rick

 
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Post by EarthWindandFire » Fri. Aug. 29, 2014 9:29 am

When Sandy hit in NJ/NY all central services like water, electric and NG stopped for a week or more in some areas.
I was not aware the natural gas supplies were effected by the storm. I thought it was only things that require electricity. That's why I recommended natural gas. My favorite liquid fuel is kerosene. Kero has a ten year storage life if kept properly.


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