Im planning on using 3.0 L 4 cylinder motor I have to power a 20k generator head.
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Anyone know a good place to buy a generator power head?
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Central Georgia Generator
Go for an 1800 RPM unit.
Danny “Doc” Cox here did a woodgasified former telecom four cylinder project he put up on youtube and here on the DOW.
The early BenBook instructions were for loaded 1000cc to lightly loaded 5.0L engines.
The revised, expanded later publications were heavily loaded 500cc to lightly loaded 5.0L engines.
You are in the sweet spot of usages for that system.
Steve unruh
S.U.
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Thanks for the info I did allot of research before I went with the proper jetting and I’m thinking with that big 4 cylinder engine rated at 165hp with the hp drop even at 50% I can easily power a 20kw gen and it will not have to work hard at all. super excited for the project… Also bought the the book off hear and really liking that to may be my next project.
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Also do you have a link for his info?
Open up the blue highlighted line to read in detail.
Then you can click open his big D avatar icon.
Click open the even bigger big D there to find his activities lists.
Open up his activities listings.
Read all of his individual posts, experiences and opinions.
S.U.
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bummer all his video links are dead
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I saw this at Surplus Center 12.5 KVA Bendix 51B8-3 115/230 Volt AC Generator | AC Generators | Power Supplies | Electrical | www.surpluscenter.com For $199.
Kent
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Kent,
That looks sweet, and ex-military to boot. Have to make a fancy coupler is all! Might get one myself. 240 v. @50-ish amps at 240 volts?? that’s pretty useful! going to need a decent-sized engine to run it at that power level. 
Ship weight 160 Lbs! Surplus Center is in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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I have no connection to surplus center other than a satisfied customer. I buy a bit of hydraulics from them. I just noticed the splined end on the shaft that could be a problem to couple to, I would hope that it could be either pressed off or machined off. not sure what shipping would be for that, could be as much as the cost.
Kent
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Man that is a deal though
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Planning a lovely vacation tour that just happens to go by Surplus Center… 
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I only have a 2019 catalog but the price for the generator was the same then. Shipping rates only went to 150 lbs in the catalog but were between 104 and 130 depending on your zone.
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Read This on a forum seems like it may be harder then it looks to mess with "Hi…I have studied the schematic of the Bendix generator in TM-5-6115-434-12 in detail and have concluded that the generator and the regulator as sold by Surplus Center will not work properly or at all. The regulator requires a Protection Panel Box external to the regulator to provide the following. An over speed sensor, under speed sensor, over current sensor and an anti cycle lockout 1 sec delay. These sensors input to the regulator to make it work properly. Also I believe there is a servo mechanism that as the load on the generator increases will load down the engine so the throttle needs to advance to maintain a true 60Hz output.
The protective panel part # is 694210-2 made by Honeywell for the Bendix Generator 51B8-3. I have searched on line and can not find any info about it.
Additionally you need the cable to connect the generator, regulator and the protection panel."
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Your research got farther than mine. I looked at them several years ago and even asked the counter guy about them. Apparently whoever they bought them from wasn’t much help either. So I stayed away. They used to have great counter help but have lost them due to covid and better opportunities. I still use them.
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Definitely going to follow your design build! My wife and I are preparing to build off grid/ modified Earthship Biotecture home and I need back up generator that will be woodgas powered. Thanks for posting your build!
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Sooo some updates I’m getting close to the finished product but the closer I get the more I worry about leaks I think my welds are good but can’t help it lol
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Looking good to me! Are you testing with soapy water and a blow gun?
Spray some water mixed with a little dish soap and blow air from the other side of the weld. Watch for bubbles growing or coming out.
Or pressurize the whole thing with a shop vac on blow setting and spray on the welds like that.
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Well not to much so many parts in the project and hard to test as you go I do have a good welder but nothing is perfect as we all know. I will pressurize when done but if some internals are leaking I will have no idea
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If you have any bad internal leaks where air could meet gas, you’ll see hot spots. Paint the gasifier in regular spray paint, nothing high temp. The paint will peel away with the heat.
Some spots may self seal with tar running around if it’s above the hot zone. Stuff in the bottom should seal with ash. I would preload with ash to protect the bottom. And charcoal for a fast test burn, with a little bit of wood over the charcoal.
When you do your test run check with a thermometer gun for any odd hot spots.
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