New Toy

[Steve Simmons]

This one doesn't have wheels, although wheels would be nice for when it needs to be moved (330 lbs). It's a 1943 (June mfr) military PE-75 generator, used by the US Army Signal Corps. I haven't yet identified exactly which model this is but I suspect it's either a T or a U. Motor is 4-stroke, single cylinder, 6.5 HP gasoline unit, running at 2400 RPM (alternator 1800RPM). Combination splash and forced lubrication, air cooled. Runs like a top and puts out 2500W / 22A. Currently set to run 142 volts / 60hz as it did in the field during WWII but I may drop it to 120-ish to make it more useful. Most of its original green paint is still there and should polish up nicely. Rope start fires on the second pull. Magneto is very strong, in fact I wasn't watching where my hand was one time starting it and I found out how far I can still jump. Two of the original (I believe) wood handles are still clipped on the side of the skid sled. I'll have to make the other two from some oak rods.

Everything is in great shape - no rust in fuel tank, oil bath mesh clean, sediment bowl clear, motor oil clean, no play in alternator bearings, etc. The only thing it needs is a new muffler. The one on it is just a spark arrester and it's really loud. I don't think that part is original so I'm on the hunt for the correct part. It's also missing the tool box that mounts on the right, so I'll have to source one of those or make something. I have an old heavy duty munitions box that could work although it's pretty big.

[Martin Keller]

Hi Steve,

You know now that you have a generator capable of running most of your home if the power goes out you will never have a power outage or at least if you do by the time you get it out and running the power will come back on....... .......

[Steve Simmons]

Problem is, it sends 50% voltage down each line so I can't patch it directly into my house's panel. I'll have to come up with some sort of transformer as an intermediate device to get a modern 3-wire configuration. It also doesn't have a regulator so it would probably be a good idea to run it through one before powering anything sensitive off it. One warmed up it holds within 2-4 volts and hertz.

[VWNate1]

VERY nice ! .

Where did you ever find it ?! .

[Steve Simmons]

It was originally purchased just after the war by a gentleman in Ojai. His young son was the last to use it before storing it away until a couple years ago. At the age of 70 he sold it to a guy who services, collects and restores old generators among other things. This guy then went to an estate sale and was told there was equipment in crates out back. When he opened three crates, he found that they each had a brand new, never run generator of this exact type. He bought all three, so obviously had no use for this one and that's when I bought it from him for what I considered a great price. Probably 1/8 of what a new model would cost in the same power range.

A week and a half after I bought it, the whole area lost power for a couple hours. My neighbors were all walking by asking how my power was back and theirs wasn't, because they saw the garage lights on, radio playing and power tools running.

Also turns out that the so called muffler is original for a Briggs ZZ engine, but not for the military version. So someone probably replaced it with a correct muffler from a Briggs dealer, but for a civilian version. So I need to find the correct Nelson muffler and Wells fittings.

[VWNate1]

I think it's *VERY* nice ! .

I have a crappy Chinese made generator, powerful and a copy of a popular Honda one except : it's EXTREMELY NOISY ! .

I hate it and cannot stand to have it running anywhere on my property .

I'd like to buy one if he has any more....