Car generator as a motor.

[Windy in Kansas]

Have any of you used an old car generator as a motor?

Any idea of the amperage draw? Does the motor get hot if used for several minutes?

Any other thoughts?

A drill fill auger my dad had used a motor that looked like a generator. Moved a lot of grain so it was powerful. Didn't seem to draw down a large well charged combine engine battery too harshly. Many drill fills before it needed recharging.

Looking for ways to power a small cart where there will be a lot of stop and go movement of just a few inches, also for a lightweight garden tractor that will just be moving along and used to drop potatoes or transplants.

[HermitJohn]

Think back to lawn tractors in '60s and '70s. They used basically a car generator both to start them and to charge onboard battery. Now no idea if they were designed where they could be in continuous use as a motor. I guess bearings would be up to it since they were in continuous use as a generator after engine started.

I havent personally dealt with one for two or three decades since most of what I personally have owned, though old, is rope pull start. I saw electric start on small engines as just one more thing to cause trouble.

[ace admirer]

yes they can, even alternators will run as three phase motors, but thats another deal.

there is a manual titled something like Lejays electrical projects sold by,,,,darn what is that reprinter,,,,,i'll have to think about it anyway it has a bunch of projects using dc generators as a motor.....i'll try to find the manual for you. and as stated above,,,cub cadets used the generator as a starter.

[Windy in Kansas]

This is probably the book by LeJay offered by Lindsey Publications.
http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks/lejay/

Thanks for the replies. Now that I think about it I have at least two 12 volt generators that can be robbed from engines for a trial, and a 6 volt one that was replaced by a 12 volt alternator. Either the generator or voltage regulator was bad so I switched to alternator which I had been thinking of doing anyway.

If I get something built and going I'll post back with some photos. Thanks again.

[PyroDon]

I believe you'll find the amp draw to be nearly the same as a starter .
a alternative that may still work for the augar might well be an old trolling motor .
shouldnt over heat under short run times and is designed to go quite a while on a battery. .
for the garden tractor a golf cart motor would be the best choice .
if you look around you can pick up an old 3 wheel cart for a little bit of nothing once the batteries have died .

[farminghandyman]

the 110 JD lawn tractor (1960's era) had a generator, motor for the starter, but I am sure it was not continuse duty, as a motor.

[agmantoo]

The drill fill was probably powered by a starter motor which resembles an old generator. Starter motors are used to power a number of 12 volt driven items such as dump trailers, winches and lift gates along with reverse drives on combine headers.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

reverse drives on combine headers.

Speaking of the old Massey Harris combines are we? lol We had a 21A and a 21C that both had such a lift. Think the 27s used them after that. Used to have one stored in the old family barn but think it finally disappeared.

While I suppose the drill fill auger could have had a starter motor on it it did have the appearance of a generator complete with pulley, etc. and really didn't use the amp that I figured a starter would have. My land renter still has it guess I could inquire about it and look at it to see if I can get a replacement motor. Good, powerful, and didn't use much energy, what more could a guy ask for but low cost.

Thanks for all of the replies.