NorthStar PTO generator

jdepetri2210 · Aug 25, 2005

What is the deal with mounting these generators to the 3ph. It seems more convenient to have these 3ph mounted and then lower them to the ground to operate. Most look like they are trailer mounted. I am guessing there are some vibration issues that make it a bad idea to have it connected to the draft link arms??? I see that the Deere pto generator is a 3ph mount? Anyone want to weigh in? thx

EastTexFrank · Aug 25, 2005

I don't think there is a problem with mounting it to the 3-pt at all. I think that you probably need it mounted to a frame of some sort, rather than mounted directly on the rocker arms although that might be possible with a really short PTO shaft but drive shaft alignment might become an issue. My idea, when and if I ever get a PTO generator, is to mount it to a 3-pt carry-all that will cost about $100. Cover the arms of the carry-all with 3/4" plywood, space out the PTO shaft and bolt the generator down. Then it should just be a case of getting the PTO shaft and generator level using the lift arms and the top link and it should run good.

jdepetri2210 · Aug 25, 2005

thanks. interesting idea. Here is a cat 1 carry-all that might work:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=200315811&R=200315811#productinfo

Dutch445 · Aug 25, 2005

This is offered by JD,,, 10KW,, Cat-1. I believe they are around $1800.

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KTD · Aug 25, 2005

I ordered the trailer for my generator so that I could move it around my garage more easily (when it's not hanging on the tractor). They are quite heavy.

KTD

lance_w · Aug 27, 2005

I built my own 3pt mount similar to the deere photo and welded casters to the bottom to make it easy to roll around
the shop. Works great. I paid $625.00 for a new 10K leroy
sommer gen head with gearbox and $75.00 for the pto bar.

DennoAce · Aug 27, 2005

I was hoping this thread would have input on the actual Northern Tool generator, and if it is any good/quality for the price. I have been considering getting one and would love some input on this unit. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

ps - I was thinking particularly about the smaller 7500watt unit....

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dicker · Aug 27, 2005

Hi

I have a 15 KW PTO generator and I left it on the packing skid on which it was shipped. I placed it in a small shed.

When I need to use it, I just drive up to the shed doors and attach the PTO shaft. I do not need to have mine mobile so this works fine. If I have to transport it, I can pick it up with the 3 point hitch.

Richard

EastTexFrank · Aug 28, 2005

I think that there is someone on this board that has a Northern Tool PTO generator. I'm not sure but it may be Soundguy. I think his is a slightly larger version but as I remember, he was very well satisfied with it.

Do a search and you will come up with his analysis.

jdepetri2210 · Aug 29, 2005

I bought the Northstar PTO 7200-7800 watt gen based on Soundguy's feedback on the larger unit. In my opinion it is a great price for that unit. The wattage is perfect for a 7500 10 circuit Gen-tran switch. Everything else that I have seen is appreciably more $$. The Deere 10K watt is almost 3 times the cost. I already have the PTO shaft. So I am going to follow EastTexFrank's advice and mount it to a carry all. I may take it one step further and somehow mount casters to the carry all to make it that much easier to roll in and out. I will take pics and give feedback when I have it all tricked out.

kennyd · Aug 29, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I paid $625.00 for a new 10K leroy
sommer gen head with gearbox and $75.00 for the pto bar.
)</font>

Where did you get this deal from?

jdepetri2210 · Aug 31, 2005

To answer the original question on why some PTO generators must be trailer mounted: It depends on the size and hence starting torque required by the generator. Large PTO generators require more starting torque and when they are lifted off of the ground they put twisting force on the 3ph. That is obviously different from the implement resting on the ground requiring a lot of starting torque. The 3ph was not designed for that kind of twisting force. However for smaller PTO generators, there is really no issue.

jdepetri2210 · Oct 10, 2005

Here is the unit mounted to a carry-all. I put some small casters on it to make it easier/faster to mount. Plus, I put a couple of 2x4's across the underside of the plywood to give the 5/8 inch mounting bolts something rigid to bolt to. Runs like a champ. The tractor needs to run at around 2700 RPM to bring the generator up to the correct voltage (120).

lance_w · Oct 11, 2005

check out www.generaljims.com
look under generators then go to gas generators.
They have raised the price to 795.00 since I bought mine
this spring. These are just the gen head and pto gearbox.
You have to come up with your own mount as well as an
electrical panel with plugs and circuit breakers. After I built
my own panel and dumped about $70 bucks in plugs, a panel
box and breakers I found out surpluscenter.com had a variaty
of pre made generator panels for dirt cheap.

SkyPup · Oct 11, 2005

I have the larger Northern Tool 12kW unit mounted onto a two wheel trailer, it works great and @ 544rpm rear PTO (Kubota L-3130 real time PTO tachometer) she puts out 50 amps of 240V or 100 amps of 120V @ 60 hertz.

thescubasmith · Feb 2, 2016

jdepetri2210 said:
To answer the original question on why some PTO generators must be trailer mounted: It depends on the size and hence starting torque required by the generator. Large PTO generators require more starting torque and when they are lifted off of the ground they put twisting force on the 3ph. That is obviously different from the implement resting on the ground requiring a lot of starting torque. The 3ph was not designed for that kind of twisting force. However for smaller PTO generators, there is really no issue.

So...if the gen head produces too much torque for the 3ph, that's a LOT of torque. Think how much torque it must take to turn a 6' rotor tiller, for example, or an 8' bush hog. So if a gen head needs more torque to start it, what keeps it from flipping a little trailer over when you engage the PTO?

sea2summit · Feb 2, 2016

Holy thread revival:stirthepot:

Sawyer Rob · Feb 2, 2016

thescubasmith said:
So if a gen head needs more torque to start it, what keeps it from flipping a little trailer over when you engage the PTO?

I've seen in happen, because the trailer axle wasn't wide enough for that size gen set... But the gen set was already running, it just had enough load on it to lift one side of the narrow trailer.

Once a wider axle was put under the trailer, it never happen again...

SR