@SeasideBJJ Indeed! This bad boy will power your shop, your house, your neighbor's house, and their neighbor's house. Its a great feeling to have full power available when nobody else has any!
Enjoy your videos. I work for an Onan dealer. We work on many others too including these old military sets. Reworked a MEP 6 not long ago. Stripped out the original regulator and controls. Installed a Murphy engine control and a Basler regulator. Worked great.
@urgentcareguy3 If the set is run for too long at too light a load, "wet stacking" occurs. This is where unburnt fuel and carbon build up in the combustion chamber, valves, turbo, and exhaust system. This causes extra wear and tear on engine components and reduced engine performance. Only way to prevent it is to put the generator under a heavy load
You mentioned " wet stacking". I've witnessed that in real life back in the 1970's . I was working with an equipment Company, when some of the mechanics brought in a Terex Loader , a 72-31 I think it was. Powered, of course with a GM Diesel 2 stroke engine. Well, it was the day before Christmas eve, and everybody was in a rush to close up for the 'holidays', which would have been 4 days in this case. Well, you probably can see this coming,...Yup they took the loader off the float, parked it outside the shop in the back, and went inside to warm up. They forgot about it, and we all went home to enjoy Christmas. Not such a nice scene when we came back an discovered the totalled engine in the Loader . Talk about a tee'd off Manager ! In the meantime, and back to this video,...it looks and sounds like there is nothing in the world a-miss with that Allis-Chalmers prime-mover. Good unit for somebody to buy here, for certain. Thanks for this one too.
+Reg Sparkes Don't feel too bad. I was running a D-8 H on a dam job and another crew decided to work on saturday. On monday I came in and went to hunting the 8. The foreman said he didn't know where it was so I got in with him and we went dozer hunting. On the other end of the job we saw some smoke and lo and behold, there was the 8 sitting in a little draw and had been idleing since saturday morning. This was monday. I pulled my jacket over my head because the stack was sooted shut except a hole about 2 inches out of 8 and yanked the throttle wide open. With no cab it rained soot for a few minutes. Then I walked it back, fueled and oiled it back up and went to pushing pans. A chunk of soot would fly out of it for several days but it just ran on and on.
+Lewie McNeely Good story Lewie. That shows the differences in what can happen between the 2-stroke and the 4-stroke. I think the Cat survived because of it's engine design. The Terex equipment back then were all GM 2 strokes , naturally, as General Motors owned Terex back then and put their engine in it. Man these engines were prone to the wet stacking problem. I am seeing the soot rain now in my mind...that must've been quite a mess.
It was and you're right, Reg. A G.M. Detroit would start "slobbering" right quick if it idled much, either out the stack or air box drains or both. I've been around them in all matters of stuff and they don't like to be babied. The Cat was just worn out and din't care.
+Reg Sparkes I load tested a 30kw MEP-005a (6 cyl NA 4 stroke) a few years ago that had around 200 operating hours under no load. On initial load, the throttle was wide open and the set was only capable of about 15kw. After about 10 minutes, it was raining glowing chunks of carbon and the exhaust was opaque black. After about an hour under 1/2 load, I was able to incrementally increase load. After each increase there was another cloud of soot and burning embers. Eventually, I was able to pull the full rated load and the exhaust cleaned up nicely. I can't imagine what the cylinders, exhaust valves/ports, and muffler looked like inside before the load test.
YOu'd think there would be enough compression to keep the rings set to start with but obviously not. Takes the added load to seal them off. Everything probably looked like the poor old 8. All clogged up. Did you ever mess around with a military genset with a G.M. in it? I was around some but can't remember the wattage.
@urgentcareguy3 Not bad; they are pretty simple as far as generator design goes. Normal maintenance items (filters, belts, hoses, batteries, etc.) are over the counter at my local Napa. Engine parts are usually available from my local injection pump shop (I've had a few pumps rebuilt there). Generator parts are almost all repairable by a decent generator tech; for the parts that need to be replaced, it is easy to retrofit something in their place.
@ThirtyAcrePrep I have a few of those MEP004a 15kW machines in acoustic enclosures; they are awesome. I have one for backup power for my shop and house...rock solid reliable!
I enjoy my MEP006A. Upgraded the fuel system so it's easier to service. Rebuilt the injection pump. Very low hours unit when I got it. Keep your eyes peeled for a exciter winding if ya would. Someone poorly loaded my gen-set on loan and overloaded that winding (fried the diodes, then took out the winding). I have the manuals to hand-wind a replacement but I'm not looking forward to it.
@urgentcareguy3 If a person wanted a "genuine" set and only wanted mil-spec parts in it, there are dozens of surplus yards online that carry OE spares for everything in the generator.
Matt, I really enjoy the generator videos, realize that they are pretty old but wondering if you are still in the business of refurb and selling these. Im looking for a MEP-803A (15kw ) for backup power / battery bank charging. Thanks
Hello sir, What would be the most amps you could safely get from an MEP006 at 460 volts 3PH for extended times? And also, is it true that a 60KW military generator is equivalent to about a 85KW Sullivan generator? Thanks and kind regards.
@urgentcareguy3 I stay away from anything gas powered. Also, many of these sets are 400hz; almost useless for any civilian application (except as spare parts for a 60hz unit). Whatever set you choose should be loaded 50-80% at all times...so don't get a 60kW model just to provide backup power for a house!
@sewerzuk Darn.50-80% is a lot of chistmas lights lol. I could come up with something for a dummy load, like Government. Just curious. What happens if you don't have a constant load? No gas units?
I'm in the market for a generator that will produce 3 phase, 208 volt 60 hertz, with 60 amps. I think I need 20 KW hoping for something a bit smaller. Can you help ?
@sewerzuk Thanks for the very thorough replies! I would like to get a 15kW I guess. Just not sure what to look for at these Auctions. Most say condition is unknown. Nevertheless, I want one of these beasts!
Hello. I am buying some land soon and want to be off the grid. I have been watching your videos and they are great. I will need a generator to power a guest house, main house, work shop and music recording studio. What model do you think would be the best? Would the MEP-006a be overkill? Also, would it be more efficient to have one main generator and a small backup for the layout I mentioned, or would it be better to have 2 mid-size generators? I am also planning on running some 3 phase tools in my workshop as well. Thank you, Curt
Without knowing exactly how much power your buildings will take, this is difficult for me answer. Generally speaking, a 60kw machine is much larger than you would need even for a setup like yours. I can't imagine needing that much power, even if you had every tool, appliance, light bulb, etc. on at the same time. You would end up paying extra $$ in fuel, and it really isn't good for a diesel generator to run it at a light load. It should be sized so that it is pulling around 70-80% of rated load while it is running. I'm betting that an MEP-004a or -005a would suit your needs, but would need to know more details about what exactly is being powered.
Ok. Thank you for the information. When I get closer to my build I will contact you. I may even buy a generator from you if you have one available down the line. Thank you very much. These generators seem really heavy duty.
It depends on what the home has for appliances (heat, water heater, oven/range, clothes dryer, etc.). For the average 1300 sq ft home, 15kW is MORE than adequate...but a generator should be sized according to the loads that you intend to power with it, and not just the square footage of the home.
What on earth could you use to 'load test' 60kw with let alone exceed this? That is a damn AM radio station transmitter power worth+ Most commercial AM stations put out 50KW. Good god.
I bought a 300kw resistive load bank off of ebay; it was designed as a dummy load for a 600kw generator so that the set was never run unloaded (bad for a diesel engine to run unloaded for extended time). I modified it to run on 120v single, 120/208 wye, 120/240v split, or 240/417 wye. I added extra relays so that I can control individual elements so I can tailor the load to the generator I am testing. The biggest set I have tested with it was 100kw. That thing puts out a TON of heat at that load...but that's still only 1/3 of what it was designed for. I don't even need to put a fan on it until I hit about 50kw.
@SeasideBJJ Indeed! This bad boy will power your shop, your house, your neighbor's house, and their neighbor's house. Its a great feeling to have full power available when nobody else has any!
Enjoy your videos. I work for an Onan dealer. We work on many others too including these old military sets. Reworked a MEP 6 not long ago. Stripped out the original regulator and controls. Installed a Murphy engine control and a Basler regulator. Worked great.
@urgentcareguy3 If the set is run for too long at too light a load, "wet stacking" occurs. This is where unburnt fuel and carbon build up in the combustion chamber, valves, turbo, and exhaust system. This causes extra wear and tear on engine components and reduced engine performance. Only way to prevent it is to put the generator under a heavy load
You mentioned " wet stacking". I've witnessed that in real life back in the 1970's .
I was working with an equipment Company, when some of the mechanics brought in a Terex Loader , a 72-31 I think it was. Powered, of course with a GM Diesel 2 stroke engine. Well, it was the day before Christmas eve, and everybody was in a rush to close up for the 'holidays', which would have been 4 days in this case.
Well, you probably can see this coming,...Yup they took the loader off the float, parked it outside the shop in the back, and went inside to warm up. They forgot about it, and we all went home to enjoy Christmas.
Not such a nice scene when we came back an discovered the totalled engine in the Loader .
Talk about a tee'd off Manager !
In the meantime, and back to this video,...it looks and sounds like there is nothing in the world a-miss with that Allis-Chalmers prime-mover.
Good unit for somebody to buy here, for certain. Thanks for this one too.
+Reg Sparkes Don't feel too bad. I was running a D-8 H on a dam job and another crew decided to work on saturday. On monday I came in and went to hunting the 8. The foreman said he didn't know where it was so I got in with him and we went dozer hunting. On the other end of the job we saw some smoke and lo and behold, there was the 8 sitting in a little draw and had been idleing since saturday morning. This was monday. I pulled my jacket over my head because the stack was sooted shut except a hole about 2 inches out of 8 and yanked the throttle wide open. With no cab it rained soot for a few minutes. Then I walked it back, fueled and oiled it back up and went to pushing pans. A chunk of soot would fly out of it for several days but it just ran on and on.
+Lewie McNeely Good story Lewie. That shows the differences in what can happen between the 2-stroke and the 4-stroke. I think the Cat survived because of it's engine design. The Terex equipment back then were all GM 2 strokes , naturally, as General Motors owned Terex back then and put their engine in it. Man these engines were prone to the wet stacking problem.
I am seeing the soot rain now in my mind...that must've been quite a mess.
It was and you're right, Reg. A G.M. Detroit would start "slobbering" right quick if it idled much, either out the stack or air box drains or both. I've been around them in all matters of stuff and they don't like to be babied. The Cat was just worn out and din't care.
+Reg Sparkes I load tested a 30kw MEP-005a (6 cyl NA 4 stroke) a few years ago that had around 200 operating hours under no load. On initial load, the throttle was wide open and the set was only capable of about 15kw. After about 10 minutes, it was raining glowing chunks of carbon and the exhaust was opaque black. After about an hour under 1/2 load, I was able to incrementally increase load. After each increase there was another cloud of soot and burning embers. Eventually, I was able to pull the full rated load and the exhaust cleaned up nicely. I can't imagine what the cylinders, exhaust valves/ports, and muffler looked like inside before the load test.
YOu'd think there would be enough compression to keep the rings set to start with but obviously not. Takes the added load to seal them off. Everything probably looked like the poor old 8. All clogged up. Did you ever mess around with a military genset with a G.M. in it? I was around some but can't remember the wattage.
@urgentcareguy3 Not bad; they are pretty simple as far as generator design goes. Normal maintenance items (filters, belts, hoses, batteries, etc.) are over the counter at my local Napa. Engine parts are usually available from my local injection pump shop (I've had a few pumps rebuilt there). Generator parts are almost all repairable by a decent generator tech; for the parts that need to be replaced, it is easy to retrofit something in their place.
@ThirtyAcrePrep I have a few of those MEP004a 15kW machines in acoustic enclosures; they are awesome. I have one for backup power for my shop and house...rock solid reliable!
I enjoy my MEP006A. Upgraded the fuel system so it's easier to service. Rebuilt the injection pump. Very low hours unit when I got it.
Keep your eyes peeled for a exciter winding if ya would. Someone poorly loaded my gen-set on loan and overloaded that winding (fried the diodes, then took out the winding). I have the manuals to hand-wind a replacement but I'm not looking forward to it.
@urgentcareguy3 If a person wanted a "genuine" set and only wanted mil-spec parts in it, there are dozens of surplus yards online that carry OE spares for everything in the generator.
Matt,
I really enjoy the generator videos, realize that they are pretty old but wondering if you are still in the business of refurb and selling these. Im looking for a MEP-803A (15kw ) for backup power / battery bank charging.
Thanks
An MEP-004a would probably work fine for you; it is a 4 cylinder 15kw machine. I use one for my own shop. I currently don't have any though...
A must have in times of power outages or world collapse;)
Hello sir, What would be the most amps you could safely get from an MEP006 at 460 volts 3PH for extended times? And also, is it true that a 60KW military generator is equivalent to about a 85KW Sullivan generator? Thanks and kind regards.
great video! thanks for posting
I live in NW oregon; not sure what is available closer to you...
@urgentcareguy3 I stay away from anything gas powered. Also, many of these sets are 400hz; almost useless for any civilian application (except as spare parts for a 60hz unit). Whatever set you choose should be loaded 50-80% at all times...so don't get a 60kW model just to provide backup power for a house!
This is a beast.
Wow! that is a beast! How hard is it to get parts for these units?
Do you have a website you sell these? How do we get in touch with you?
@sewerzuk
Darn.50-80% is a lot of chistmas lights lol. I could come up with something for a dummy load, like Government.
Just curious. What happens if you don't have a constant load? No gas units?
@sewerzuk \
Thanks for the info. I see all kinds of generator on Government Liquidators. Any types that I should avoid?
Are there Mazalat these establishments within the United States and parts
What all can a generator like this run? Like small town or dishwasher?
+Kyle Bullard a 60kw machine like this could fully power around 6-10 houses, depending on their individual loads.
I'm in the market for a generator that will produce 3 phase, 208 volt 60 hertz, with 60 amps. I think I need 20 KW hoping for something a bit smaller. Can you help ?
Hey I have an MEP-006a and I'm experiencing a problem receiving power on the control box
@sewerzuk
Thanks for the very thorough replies! I would like to get a 15kW I guess. Just not sure what to look for at these Auctions. Most say condition is unknown. Nevertheless, I want one of these beasts!
Hello. I am buying some land soon and want to be off the grid. I have been watching your videos and they are great. I will need a generator to power a guest house, main house, work shop and music recording studio. What model do you think would be the best? Would the MEP-006a be overkill? Also, would it be more efficient to have one main generator and a small backup for the layout I mentioned, or would it be better to have 2 mid-size generators? I am also planning on running some 3 phase tools in my workshop as well.
Thank you,
Curt
Without knowing exactly how much power your buildings will take, this is difficult for me answer. Generally speaking, a 60kw machine is much larger than you would need even for a setup like yours. I can't imagine needing that much power, even if you had every tool, appliance, light bulb, etc. on at the same time. You would end up paying extra $$ in fuel, and it really isn't good for a diesel generator to run it at a light load. It should be sized so that it is pulling around 70-80% of rated load while it is running. I'm betting that an MEP-004a or -005a would suit your needs, but would need to know more details about what exactly is being powered.
Ok. Thank you for the information. When I get closer to my build I will contact you. I may even buy a generator from you if you have one available down the line. Thank you very much. These generators seem really heavy duty.
hi I have a mep 006 for sale stevenb6974@yahoo.com
Any idea as to cost and availability, also your location? I'm in idaho
a better question would be ... what could you do with 60kw
I'm not receiving power on the control box
good engine!
how old this engine?
More than likely on 80's model Allis Chalmers or Cummins
For a 1300 square feet home is a 15Kw enough to run full load?
It depends on what the home has for appliances (heat, water heater, oven/range, clothes dryer, etc.). For the average 1300 sq ft home, 15kW is MORE than adequate...but a generator should be sized according to the loads that you intend to power with it, and not just the square footage of the home.
xavi xav
What on earth could you use to 'load test' 60kw with let alone exceed this? That is a damn AM radio station transmitter power worth+ Most commercial AM stations put out 50KW. Good god.
I bought a 300kw resistive load bank off of ebay; it was designed as a dummy load for a 600kw generator so that the set was never run unloaded (bad for a diesel engine to run unloaded for extended time). I modified it to run on 120v single, 120/208 wye, 120/240v split, or 240/417 wye. I added extra relays so that I can control individual elements so I can tailor the load to the generator I am testing. The biggest set I have tested with it was 100kw. That thing puts out a TON of heat at that load...but that's still only 1/3 of what it was designed for. I don't even need to put a fan on it until I hit about 50kw.
Matt te puedo llevar mi generador para que me lo arregles porfavor send yuo dirección pelease
Yo vivo en Houston tx pero puedo llevarte mi generador militar