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WYDave

Posted 1/11/2007 05:15 (#86342)
Subject: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Wyoming

I'm seeing an ad for 12.5kW gensets driven by a Detroit 2-71 for about $2500 in the Capital Press.

If memory serves, the 2-71 was a dry sleeve engine, right? Rather noisy, but it worked.

The picture of the genset gives me the idea that it must be pretty massive -- the gen head was larger than most I've seen in the 12 to 15kW range. The vendor claims they have "1500" of these beasts in stock -- 12.5kW or 20kW, both with a 2-71 on them.

Anyone have any experience with the 2-71 as a genset engine?

mwilliams

Posted 1/11/2007 07:02 (#86348 - in reply to #86342)
Subject: Re: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Saranac, Michigan

We had a couple of 2-53's that we probably bought in the late fiftys - early sixtys that ran for tweny years at least. They were standby power on portable asphalt plants and I don't remember any mechanical problems with them. The only thing was the sound drove everybody nuts. That 2 cylinder had some kind of whine or something. I don't know if the 71's would be the same.
We finally got rid of them because the guys would run the big gensets when they were working on the plant after hours.

Bob Blue

Posted 1/11/2007 10:10 (#86421 - in reply to #86348)
Subject: Re: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Dave Ran the 2-71 in a small A C dozer for 15 years. Good engine, trouble free, and loud. You wouldnt want it 100 feet from the house. If you live in the country and could route the exhaust thru long flex pipe and point it towrds the woods or have several mufflers on it, it would quiet it down. I put 2 mufflers on my Jeep driven plant and it is quiet . On the earlier genset posts, I have some reed freq meters and 220VAC volt meters from my ham radio parts collection, made up a small box with each and plug it into a kitchen outlet and can watch freq and line voltage in the house while on the generator or normal service. Usually run 61 to 59 cps when on generator.
Bob Ohio

Jon Hagen

Posted 1/11/2007 10:44 (#86441 - in reply to #86342)
Subject: Re: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Hagen Brothers farms,Goodrich ND

Yes,the 2-71 was a reliable old bird like most of the 71 series Detroit's, and yes,dry sleeve. There used to be a lot of 2-71 gensets and some with 53 series engines used on rail car refrigeration units. Seems many of the 2-71's had 6 pole generators on them, so only ran at 1200 rpm.
Like the guys say,they have that busy 2 cycle exhaust sound mixed with the scream and howl of that roots type blower, but the good thing is they will make that noise for many thousands of hours.

Edited by Jon Hagen 1/11/2007 10:46

WRnSWTN

Posted 1/11/2007 11:10 (#86458 - in reply to #86342)
Subject: RE: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Can you post the link where you saw these gensets? Thanks!

MTfarm

Posted 1/11/2007 11:24 (#86464 - in reply to #86342)
Subject: RE: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Shelby, MT

is this similar to the ones harbor Freight advertises...with a detroit?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=55...

Jon Hagen

Posted 1/11/2007 13:37 (#86518 - in reply to #86464)
Subject: RE: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Hagen Brothers farms,Goodrich ND

Those look like 2-71 engines on the HF generators. I see what looks like the "door knob" valve cover retaining bolts at each end of the valve cover which would indicate 71 series engines. The 53 series
Detroits have a ring of bolts through the valve cover flange like most engines.

John..neAR

Posted 1/11/2007 11:28 (#86465 - in reply to #86342)
Subject: RE: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Caraway, AR

I have a 271 and a 371 I've run on irrigation wells since the early 80's.

Just Overhauled the 271 last year. Good to go again. They are dry sleeve, but then I figure all the 2 cycle DD's are.

Not the most efficient, and leak or blow some oil. Not bad for the money.

Have a good day,

John

Bob Blue

Posted 1/11/2007 11:44 (#86468 - in reply to #86465)
Subject: RE: what's the story on Detroit 2-71's as gensets?

Dave had an after thought but Jon got there first, probably a 6 pole per leg for my 2-71 HD-5 was governed at 1200. I have a PE92 that is a 6 pole. It is powered by a 4 cyl Contential , 120vac 100 amp winding only. That engine will run for ever and the sleeves , pistons rings in a 6-71 GM are the same used in the 2-71. Parts are no problem for that series GM. B

harry

Posted 1/11/2007 12:45 (#86498 - in reply to #86342)
Subject: No better engine for power generation, but...

Virginia, Northern Neck

Most of the 2-71 units for sale on the internet were taken out of railroad service.

They are 3 phase and they are not reconnectable..

That means they make 3 phase only.

You can take 120 or 208 off them, but you have to balance your single phase loads among the 3 phases.

The generator ends that are most useful to most of us are 12 lead, reconnectable.

With a 12 lead unit, you can reconnect for 1 phase or 3 phase.

Now, if you have a 3 phase load, or you are willing to split out your 120 volt loads among the 3 phases, you will be okay.

Similarly, you can split your 240 loads among the three 208 volt phases.

If you don't balance your load among the 3 legs, output of the genset will be greatly reduced.

If these 2-71 powered units were single phase, every one of them would have been sold by now.

As far as using 2 stroke detroits for power generation, they are a world standard, even today when they have not made any new ones in years.

They are used in applications such as ocean transport refrigeration, where reliability and fuel economy can not be compromised.

Jon Hagen

Posted 1/11/2007 13:45 (#86523 - in reply to #86498)
Subject: A quote from another site .

Hagen Brothers farms,Goodrich ND

The majority of GM sets are either former railroad refrigeration units or standby sets from now defunct AT&T facilities. All of the railroad units were 3 phase, as were most of the AT&T sets. The "railroad" sets are typically set up for a "wye" output of around 220v phase to phase and 127v phase to neutral. At&T sets were configured to specific site requirements, some were single phase.

It is possible in some cases to re-configure these units to 120/240, but also worth mentioning that most household loads will work fine off of the 127-220 output anyway.

A google search for 2-71 gensets brings up over 1100 hits :)

Edited by Jon Hagen 1/11/2007 13:48

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