Generator Harbor Freight PTO Generator

Mudfarmer · Jan 15, 2010

Has anyone had experience with Harbor Freight's 15,000 watt Chicago Electric PTO Generator advertised in link below: - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
If so, how would you rate it. The price looks good. I have a Kubota B7100 and a John Deere 3005 to run it, so understand that I could not get the full 15,000 Watts.

Comments and Guidance appreciated.

Zick · Jan 15, 2010

It's been talked about a few times on here. Here are a couple threads on it.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/142090-15kw-power-take-off-generator.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/139209-yet-another-harbor-freight-thread.html

bbirder · Jan 15, 2010

I have no info on it, but the price seems good. I think I would try to get a coupon to present with it. I see 10% coupons everywhere and I get a coupon in my American Legion Magazine that is good for 20% off any one item.that would really be an attractive price.

Mudfarmer · Jan 15, 2010

Zick - I looked at your two strings. Seems no one has bought one and the strings get side tracked to other products. I like the idea of a coupon.

slotoro · Jan 15, 2010

Mudfarmer,
I bought a Torq 15,000 watt and it looks exactly like the Harbor Freight version but has different decals on it. It works very well on my Kubota L4240 (35 PTO HP). It has automatic voltage regulation and easily maintains 240 volts no matter what is running in the house. I have not had to use this for power outage but have tested it for about 8 hours and all seems well. It you need any more info let me know.

EE_Bota · Jan 16, 2010

I would have one right now if I could find any reviews, but I couldn't find any. I got tired of looking, so I bought the Northern Tool 7500w instead.
I liked the design of the H-F one, because it already has a frame and a PTO shaft, and is ready to attach to the tractor. But since I bought the Northern one, I had to make a mounting situation, and buy the PTO shaft.
Reading on the H-F page, it claims it is brushless, but looking at the manual, which can be downloaded off the HF site, it seems to have brushes, so that also bugged me...the lack of agreement.

H-F reviews seemed to suggest that often H-F will take an order, and sometimes even charge against a card, but you will not see the actual product arrive for a very long time. But all these things can be managed...and sorted if you are vigilant. H-F has stalled me for months before, but I always come out in the end.

Shipping can eat you alive as well, so more and more I try to get things shipped to the stores of these types of places, and pick it up myself to avoid shipping. How practical this is on truly heavy items varies. My local Northern store could probably load most anything, but my local H-F store seems (at least to the casual observer) to be more limited in what they could load on a trailer for me.

Zick · Jan 18, 2010

Mudfarmer said:
Zick - I looked at your two strings. Seems no one has bought one and the strings get side tracked to other products. I like the idea of a coupon.

Strange, I was pretty sure someone here bought one and tested it out. Must not have been those threads I guess.

SuperCobra · Jan 18, 2010

20% off coupon here:
Factory Direct To You!

Zick · Jan 19, 2010

SuperCobra said:
20% off coupon here:
Factory Direct To You!

Has anyone actually printed and used this exact coupon before?
Reason I ask is because the fine print on it says that it can not be duplicated in any manner including photocopies or computer printouts.
So how exactly do you cut this out and keep it original? Don't think my scissors will cut through my monitor very well.

mattman · Jan 19, 2010

It says click here to print coupon. So I would think you would be ok.

rambler · Jan 20, 2010

mattman said:
It says click here to print coupon. So I would think you would be ok.

That's fine I guess, but it also says for use in retail stores only.

They do not sell the 3pt generator in-store, only mail order. I asked my store.

So, I don't see how you can use the coupon????

--->Paul

Skyco · Jan 20, 2010

Ask the manager- when I bought my log splitter from them I asked to use a % off coupon even though it wasn't a store item and had to be ordered. The manager let me.
Doesn't hurt to ask, he can either say yes or no.
Apparently the managers have a wide discretion, last week I called about a particular blast cabinet I wanted, it turned out to be discontinued, but the manager readily offered 20% off a different one they did have, I didn't even ask.

Zick · Jan 21, 2010

mattman said:
It says click here to print coupon. So I would think you would be ok.

Yes but then that would make it a computer printout now wouldn't it.

That's why I was just asking if anyone's actually done it before.

Travelover · Jan 21, 2010

Zick said:
Yes but then that would make it a computer printout now wouldn't it.
That's why I was just asking if anyone's actually done it before.

My local HF has bent over backward to honor any coupon that I presented as long as it was not expired or a coupon used with a coupon to double dip. YMMV.

Cocre · Jan 25, 2010

Went in to the local HF before Christmas to buy my son a gift. I handed a 15% off coupon to the man behind the counter and he said keep it, I''l give you 20% off. What a deal.

FritzII · Apr 15, 2010

rambler said:
That's fine I guess, but it also says for use in retail stores only.

They do not sell the 3pt generator in-store, only mail order. I asked my store.

So, I don't see how you can use the coupon????

--->Paul

I've had one of these on backorder at the local store for a couple of months. I got the call that they are now in their warehouse and if I still want one I need to come in and order/pay for it. It will come into the store and I can pick it up there. Manager is honoring the 20% off coupon

Mudfarmer · Aug 9, 2010

I'm going to resurrect this string. I was at my local HF this week to pick up some incidentals. They have a small section in the front where they sell off open-box items and had a PTO generator sitting there. Story was that a fellow bought it for power back-up for his house, then the house burned down (True-True-Unrelated). He returned the generator unused to HF. They had it marked down to $999 from the $1299 listed in the catalog (and obviously no freight charge). I asked the manager to knock off another $100 bucks and he did. It's now sitting in the back of my pickup waiting for the weekend to give it a try. I'll give you all a review in a few weeks. My wife seems to think she now has an $800 credit to even things up.
Mf

Mudfarmer · Aug 28, 2010

The Harbor PTO Generator works great. I now have electricity whenever i want it on the tree farm without having to maintain a small engine. Easy to move on the three point. I'm in it, including extended warranty, for $1063.28 (see my last post for the deal I got). The gear box for the generator sits pretty close to the tractor so the PTO shaft (comes included) is quite short. It takes a little jockeying to get it connected, since when leveled with the PTO there isn't enough clearance to get the female end of the shaft over the spline. Fortunately by putting it at full lift there is enough clearance. A bigger tractor with longer rocker arms would not have that problem. To use a smaller tractor one may have to cut the shaft down a little. It's a real solid unit. It's easy to adjust the the throttle since it has a cycle readout. It doesn't quite require the RPMs to produce 60 cycles that my tachometer rates as 540 out.. That is probably a good thing since less fuel and less wear and tear on the tractor. I have attached some photos.
Mf

jimgerken · Aug 30, 2010

From your pics, it appears there are multiple mounting holes to choose from, in the frame, for the generator to mount to. I wonder if it can be slid back to make your shaft space a bit more generous???