Which gen head for my R170

[bschwartz]

I picked up a used R170 on fleabay, and would like a gen head for it.
Of these two, which would you purchase?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Belt-Driven-5000-Watt-Generator-Head-W-Outlets-MS100SE-/380373105057?pt=BI_Generators&hash=item589000f9a1#ht_2377wt_700

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Voltmaster-Generator-Head-AB50-/270825746928?pt=BI_Generators&hash=item3f0e78f1f0#ht_500wt_950

The first can be had for $300 including shipping,
The second for $400 including shipping.

Thanks for your thoughtful input.

[bschwartz]

Wow!! I'm shocked.  22 reads, and NO one has an opinion?!?!?

[vdubnut62]

If it helps, the first one looks like an old  Harbor Fright unit? Other than that, I'm not very familiar with an R170.
Sorry,  I'm just not a lot of help.
Ron

[bschwartz]

Ron, an R170 is a changfa type, Chinese single cylinder horizontal.  Hopper cooled 4-4.5 HP at 2600 RPM.


Either generator head would be bigger than the engine can fully use, but which one would you buy for the money?
Is the Voltmaster better than the Harbor Freight unit?
Is it worth $100 more?

Has anyone used either of these units (or similar)?

[vdubnut62]

The first unit you listed is an Italian made unit by NSM, not horrible freight, that is a plus, I guess.  It's a 50hz unit spun up to 3600rpm.
Evidently they are sold all over the world, the documentation is in several languages. This 'un has FREE shipping.

The Voltmaster is by Wanco and is supposed to be USA made. I wonder though........  The warranty and parts might have better availability, the website does have a parts list.
Look close at the pics and see if it doesn't look like it was cut loose from something with a torch.
It is still bolted to a plate. For me that would set off a bell or two.

Sorry!
Tell you what though, at times like this I always just follow my gut and don't look back whatever else I do.

I sure am a lot of help huh? The hell with it- when in doubt go cheap  You can always cuss me later, I'll never feel a thing!
Ron

[cujet]

It seems one of those Northern Tool gen heads would work. Since the engine is low HP, simply pick a small gen head.

[veggie]

Both of my generators use the AB50 head.
Excellent unit.
Quality is very good.
Brushless design is easy to work on.

veggie

[mobile_bob]

me i would put a 555 alternator on it and charge my battery bank

(ok, that is what i plan on doing with my r170 changfa)

my plan is to build a hybrid inverter genset, using the r170 means it probably can't do much over a couple kwatts
and surge would be non existent, so using a reasonable size set of batteries and  an inverter capable of 2 kwatts and
perhaps twice that in surge would make a nice unit. done right the efficiency overall could be very close to what a small
AC head would be anyway and i would have no problems with frequency or voltage stability.



bob g

[bschwartz]

I'm glad to hear the positive reports on the AB50, as that is the one I won.  $300 including shipping.  I think I did pretty good.  This will be a portable genset for camping or as yet unforseen situations.  I'm hoping for around 2KW (I hope this isn't too far out of line).

Veggie, you say the AB50 is easy to work on.... What kind of maintenance can be done to these.
Right now I've got the ST-5 on the Listeroid for running the house.
Both of those are EASY to work on.

cujet, the northern tool gen heads were all more than what I paid for this unit.  I may not be the cheapest guy on the forum (would that be you wayne?  ) but I'm still pretty cheap, and poor, and rarely pay full price for things.

Thanks for the input guys.

[Lloyd]

me i would put a 555 alternator on it and charge my battery bank

(ok, that is what i plan on doing with my r170 changfa)

my plan is to build a hybrid inverter genset, using the r170 means it probably can't do much over a couple kwatts
and surge would be non existent, so using a reasonable size set of batteries and  an inverter capable of 2 kwatts and
perhaps twice that in surge would make a nice unit. done right the efficiency overall could be very close to what a small
AC head would be anyway and i would have no problems with frequency or voltage stability.



bob g

Bob,

This might be just what you're looking for http://www.powernet.fi/products/pdf/spec7480.pdf

Woops meant this link http://www.powernet.fi/products/pdf/spec60000_24v.pdf

Lloyd