60kw to 80kw genset engine options.

RonA

RonA

Active member
Currently looking at 60-80kw gensets. There are Cummins, JD, Perkins, and Cat powered versions. Any of you have experience good or bad with these. 60kw is about the right size for the shop, and I see some with the 4BT so I have a tendency to lean that direction. A lot of the low hour military ones are JD. Not familiar with them.
RonA
 
RonA said:
Currently looking at 60-80kw gensets. There are Cummins, JD, Perkins, and Cat powered versions. Any of you have experience good or bad with these. 60kw is about the right size for the shop, and I see some with the 4BT so I have a tendency to lean that direction. A lot of the low hour military ones are JD. Not familiar with them.
RonA
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We have a JD powered generator at work, not sure on the output but we have had very little trouble out of it.

My one complaint is that the engine is unusually noisy for what I would think is normal.
 
Cat all the way. They have common rail Perkipillar engines that do very well. The control panels are lightyears ahead of Cummins, Kohler or Generac.
 
Going to look at one in NV. Cat 3208 65KW. If it's an 1800 rpm set up the 3208 should be ok from what I've read.
 
At work oir small genset is a Kato light powered by a jd engine. We have had no trouble out of it and it sips fuel. It is shocking how little it uses. Have a kohler with a old Detroit and it has been a pain, another big v12 cat and it has cost us a decent chunk of money in repairs and we have little faith in it. It has not provided power to my water pumps at least 3 times and damn is it loud.
 
Not sure I would want a dedicated engine for a backup power supply. PTO generators make more sense if you have another use for the tractor.

I have a Generac propane standby generator on my house and it starts and runs 15min every Sunday and needs serviced once a year for $350. A larger version of this that has fuel that will go bad if not used doesn’t sound very appealing. Unless I was without power a lot it sounds like a maintenance nightmare.

If you still want a dedicated generator Richie Brothers auctions are usually flooded with them. Some are brand new and trailer mounted.
 
RonA said:
Going to look at one in NV. Cat 3208 65KW. If it's an 1800 rpm set up the 3208 should be ok from what I've read.
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Genset and firepump 3208's are still chugging everywhere. The only failures I really see on them anymore are age related leaks at the fuel injection pump and the coolant crossover tubes at the front of the head. Every once in a while the block heater will die without anyone catching it and it scuffs pistons.
 
I bought a Generac 35kw gen yesterday. Needs some work though. 138hrs, 4.3 GM V6 propane(yuck).
 
Convert it to NG if you have that available, i think it's not much more than a regulator swap and some transient load tuning adjustments if memory serves, which it often does not.

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RascalMafia said:
Convert it to NG if you have that available, i think it's not much more than a regulator swap and some transient load tuning adjustments if memory serves, which it often does not.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
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Think those burn like 12gph on propane. NG is definitely the way to go but propane is better than diesel that goes to chit. Working on a truck now that’s been sitting. Pump was full of sludge and all 6 injectors are plugged.
 
jfaulkner said:
Think those burn like 12gph on propane. NG is definitely the way to go but propane is better than diesel that goes to chit. Working on a truck now that’s been sitting. Pump was full of sludge and all 6 injectors are plugged.
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I'll have to check on the fuel usage. If it burns $25-30 per hour of fuel, I'll scrap the pos GM V6 and find a diesel engine for it.
 
It appears to have a faulty stepper motor that controls the throttle position. I'm guessing there is an electrical signal that tells the stepper motor when 1800 rpm is reached and holds the position kind of like a throttle body on an LS motor. Hopefully the part isn't crazy expensive or requires some kind of fancy meter to set rpm.
 
RonA said:
It appears to have a faulty stepper motor that controls the throttle position. I'm guessing there is an electrical signal that tells the stepper motor when 1800 rpm is reached and holds the position kind of like a throttle body on an LS motor. Hopefully the part isn't crazy expensive or requires some kind of fancy meter to set rpm.
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Are you sure it's a stepper motor? They usually use brushless torque motors on those which are typically cheaper.
 
According to the numbers on the part, it's a 24V dc stepper motor.
PM42L-048-NBF6. I can't find the exact part number online, but the
PM42L-048 comes up as described.
 
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Made a little off the generac 35K. The 60kw 3208 Cat is still for sale. Has 226 hours on it. I'm thinking about using the Lister for the house and maybe the Cat for the shop.
 
I build new ones for a living. We use cummins QSF3.8s for 60-80kw’s. I work for cummins in Charlotte, NC. I can get you some more photos and information if you’d like.


Retaliation Racing
 
The Cummins/Onan gens look really nice and seem to hold their value very well. Not sure how much fuel they burn but surely way less than the 3208.
 
Having a new electrical panel(200A) and transfer switch installed shortly. The Lister will be a bit small to power the house if I need to use the A/C. I'm guessing I'll need a 30 to 40 KW. Been looking on craigslist and there are quite a few rental yard ones for sale but $15K for one with 20 to 30K hours doesn't seem that great. According to that a new one must be 30 grand. Don't want a fart burner(propane), and not fond of the cheap Generac stuff.
 
RonA said:
Having a new electrical panel(200A) and transfer switch installed shortly. The Lister will be a bit small to power the house if I need to use the A/C. I'm guessing I'll need a 30 to 40 KW. Been looking on craigslist and there are quite a few rental yard ones for sale but $15K for one with 20 to 30K hours doesn't seem that great. According to that a new one must be 30 grand. Don't want a fart burner(propane), and not fond of the cheap Generac stuff.
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Any plan on rotating the diesel fuel source out? Trying to store it more than a year is not a good idea even under ideal conditions.
 
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