Your last generator Maintenance Run

[CalG]

A ways of topic,

But how LOUD is a 10kw pto generator?

Not the tractor, just the gen unit under load at rated rpm.

Thinking of a 10kw unit, but close to the house...

 

[Popgadget]

It depends on the generator (1800 vs 3600 rpm) and the gearbox, but generally fairly quiet.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

A ways of topic,

But how LOUD is a 10kw pto generator?

Not the tractor, just the gen unit under load at rated rpm.

Thinking of a 10kw unit, but close to the house...

Mines is 15KW, and it's not loud at all.

SR

 

[CalG]

It depends on the generator (1800 vs 3600 rpm) and the gearbox, but generally fairly quiet.

I have not seen any offers for 1800 rpm in the 10kw capacity.

But , I just started looking.
Read a comment that the gens were noisy.

But compared to what?

The Winco, manual WARNS about wearing ear protection when working around the units. I'm sure it is boiler plate, but...

 

[bdhsfz6]

My Baumalight 12K PTO generator had a low gear whine but it could not be heard over the tractor engine noise unless you put your ear close to the gearbox.

Compared to the tractor, the PTO generator noise was negligible.

 

[WinterDeere]

Compared to the tractor, the PTO generator noise was negligible.

Glad someone said this. I don’t have a PTO generator, but I’ve been reading the last several posts thinking, “what about the damn tractor noise?”

 

[RjCorazza]

Glad someone said this. I don’t have a PTO generator, but I’ve been reading the last several posts thinking, “what about the damn tractor noise?”

My tractor running is music to my ears! The tractor and pto generator are also SIGNIFICANTLY quieter than my previous 7kw open frame Generac.
The Generac was a great generator over the years though.

 

[bdhsfz6]

My tractor running is music to my ears! The tractor and pto generator are also SIGNIFICANTLY quieter than my previous 7kw open frame Generac.
The Generac was a great generator over the years though.

Just the opposite for me.

I sold my 12KW PTO generator and installed an 11 KW standalone unit, which is considerably quieter than the tractor. No surprise though, the tractor is 60 HP compared to the 18 HP of the new generator.

I have to agree though. There was something comforting about that tractor diesel sound. The wife didn't care for it much, so she is happier.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I expect there is some efficiency to be gained in switching from a PTO to a dedicated generator. In my case, the fuel consumption of an 18 HP dedicated unit is considerably less than the 60 HP tractor. So far, with my test runs, I'm saving around .8 gal/hr. while generating the same KWH. This fuel savings may not amount to much with the power outages we get here but there are other factors.

I suspect a larger tractor engine does not work as hard as a smaller one, and conceivably would last longer, but the running hours are a consideration. Sure, spinning a PTO generator is easy duty for most tractors but an hour is still an hour when it comes to maintenance and resale value.

Changing 8 quarts of tractor engine oil and 12 gallons of hydraulic oil, plus filters every so many hours will be far more expensive than one gallon of engine oil and a single filter on a generator.

It's tough to put a dollar figure on the loss of use of the tractor for other purposes and the hassle of hooking up the PTO, but it's certainly worth something.

Of course, all this depends entirely on the number of outages you get and how long they last.

 

[LouNY]

On my pto generator it depends on which tractor is running it. The Oliver 1550 had a nice tone to it that was noticeable outside, but you didn't hear it in the house. The IH 574 is quieter and almost unnoticeable, when I had the IH Magnum on it with the 1000 rpm adapter the tractor was almost had to hear from 50 feet away, the Branson 8050 using the economy mode is also quite quiet. The hours a tractor puts on while running a generator are easy hours on the tractor. No strain on the hydraulics or transmission drive trains.