Diesel generators....which one ??

[AKDrifter]

Hi folks, been doing a little shopping for a diesel gen. in the size of 5. 5k or 6k. There seems to be a lot of options out there ranging from $2k to $4 or so.



I plan on running this 20-30 hrs. a week to power a biodiesel setup I'll start in mid May. It will be running a heater and pump, vent fan, and a compressor. I should'nt have them all on at the same time... . I'm thinking this should be enough power.



Anyone heard of Multi-Power Inc. Industrial Equiptment out of Kansas? A used one is for sale in my area with low hrs. for almost 1/2 of thier web price. Guy said it was a Yanmar "type" designed engine. Anyone?



If you have a favorite or bullet proof one you know of... ... fess up please



Paul

 

[Hoefler]

I have a Yanmar 3 cylinder 32 horse diesel in my John Deer tractor. I have never had any issues with this motor. It starts with a bump of the key, have never had to use the heater grid ( sets in a unheated shed and has been started at 0* ) doesn't use any oil, runs for ever on a 6 gallon tank of fuel, etc... We use it with a back hoe and front loader primarily. Great machine!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mberry]

Look for Robin-Subaru diesel powered generators. Yamaha and Honda also make several models of diesel powered gensets. The "Yanmar type design" is probably a Chinese copy of the Yanmar. I wouldn't touch it personally.

 

[Dieselnut59]

As mberry says, stay away from the "clone" engines. They LOOK like a Yanmar and are CHEAP, but avoid the chinese knock off's. Northern Tool has a Yanmar powered generator that is nice. It uses the same 10. 5 horse air cooled engines like we have on our service truck air compressors. Yanmar is a good engine, just like Kubota.

 

[AKDrifter]

Thanks for the replys folks.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I have one of the aforementioned Chinese made Yanmar 'clone' single-lung diesel engines bolted to my snowblower.



So far - it has been a flawless performer all winter and I'm not exactly easy on equipment.



Matt

 

[mberry]

Matt,



I was just stating my opinion. I did not mean to bash anyone else's product. I have just been trying extra hard to "buy American" lately. If it has a "made in China" sticker on it, I pass.

 

[Dieselnut59]

If it has a "made in China" sticker on it, I pass







Ditto!!!! I recently bought a second dual handset phone and searched for one made anywhere but china. Found a made in Mexico Panasonic at Best Buy. I refuse to buy ANYTHING chinese if at all possible. The quality sucks on chinese goods, they are not repairable and the chinese are our enemy!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

This topic has now 'moved' into the political forum... but that's OK.



China is going to cease to be the source of all our cheap/low cost goodies in the next quarter century or so. Their middle class is expanding at a rate where they will have similar buying power as us in about 15 years and we'll have to outsource to somwhere else (South America or Africa - you decide). We did it to Japan and then they became too expensive... so we moved elsewhere.



Buying American only helps when the products you want are actually made in this country. For a single lung, air-cooled diesel engine - you don't have many choices: Hatz, Lombardini, Deutz, Yanmar, etc - none of them are made in this country.



My engine is a carbon copy of a Yanmar - parts interchange just fine. I'm not a big fan of how outsourcing is hurting the US, the environment, etc... but there's not much we can do about it. About all you can do is wait 20 years and then China won't be the source of our frustration; it'll be another developing industrialized country and you can vent at them.



Matt

 

[mberry]

I am not venting at China itself. In fact, about the only thing I care about on this subject is quality. If it was a Yanmar that was produced in China to Yanmar's specifications, my opinion would be different. I am not in a position financially to exclude purchasing stuff from China, I just don't like it much. I also am not making this political. My comments are quality product driven.