John Deere Begins in Agriculture
John Deere was born in Vermont in 1804 as the third son to William and Sarah. His father was a merchant tailor and, in 1808, boarded a ship to England to claim an inheritance. He was never heard from again, and the ship was assumed to have sunk. John was raised entirely by his mother and educated in the common schools of Vermont. At the age of 17, he entered into a blacksmithing apprenticeship.
In the 1800s, farmers were struggling to overturn new sod. In 1837 John created a plow out of a broken saw blade. By the 1850s he was producing 1,600 plows per year and expanded into other farming tools. In the mid-1860s, the Hawkeye Riding Cultivator was introduced, and he patented his plow design. The company commissioned the Rock Island County electric light power plant in 1888. This was the first electrical supply in the area.
In 1918, John Deere introduced the first tractor with a gasoline engine. This ear-marked the company’s entry into the world of automation. This world leader of agricultural equipment expanded into the markets listed below:
- Agricultural Equipment - Include tractors, combines, and a host of other equipment such as cutters shredders mowers discs & plows.
- Construction Equipment - Track loaders, wheel loaders, utility vehicles, compact excavators, and dozers are a few featured in their equipment lineup.
- Generation & Engines - Complete line over residential generators from 3 kW to 14 kW. John Deere industrial generator engines are available for both prime and stand by generator applications.
John Deere has produced manufacturing equipment for more than 180 years for many different fields. In 2018, the company employed 67,000 people worldwide, and is listed as 87th in the Fortune 500 Americas ranking, and ranked 329th globally in 2019. The logo “Nothing Runs Like a Deere" has been the company slogan for over 155 years. It is not uncommon to see vintage tractors and combines still in use, carrying the John Deere name when traveling through rural America.
Many industrial, marine, and indoor generators are powered by John Deere engines. Many generator manufacturers, such as Kohler, use the time-tested John Deere engines to power their generators. When a customer purchases a generator with a John Deere engine, generator performance when needed is ensured. Generator Source has more than 38 years of generators sales and service experience.
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Generators & Generator Drive Engines
Complete generator packages are available from John Deere. These generators are sized for the homeowner or small business owner and are manufactured large enough to supply large property owners and contractors with virtual power. They are manufactured in PR series and AC series.
PR series generators have capacities from 3,600 watts to 8,000 watts, all powered by gasoline overhead valve (OHV) engines. The AC series generators have capacities from 3,000 watts to 14,000 watts powered by a Honda engine or Kohler diesel engine. Both series feature 120 VAC output with some models delivering 120/240 VAC outputs. For more information about residential generators, go to
John Deere.
John Deere Engines
With more than 100 years of engine manufacturing experience, John Deere is a preferred engine for many generator manufacturers. Engines are produced from non-emissions certified ratings to EPA Tier 4 rating matching the clean air requirements as they were developed. All completed without sacrificing engine performance.
PowerTech series engines are the new engines introduced by John Deere. Below are the six engine categories in this series:
- PowerTech PWX - Available in 4.5 L engine with an interim EPA Tier 4 certification. A high-pressure common rail fuel system controlled by the electronic control unit supplies fuel pressures of up to 1975 bar (29,000 psi). Wastegated turbocharger, exhaust gas recirculation system, and exhaust filters round out the engine operating systems.
- Powertech PVX - 4.5 L, 6.8 L, and 9.0 L engines with EPA interim Tier 4 certification. A high-pressure common rail fuel system controlled by the electronic control unit supplies fuel pressures of up to 1975 bar (29,000 psi). Wastegated turbocharger exhaust gas recirculation system and a 2-stage exhaust filter All contribute to smooth engine performance.
- Powertech PSX - 6.8 L, 9.0 L & 13.5 L engines with an EPA interim Tier 4 certification. Same high-pressure fueling system controlled by engine control unit as PVX & PWX. Features a twin turbo charger arrangement. A fixed displacement low pressure turbocharger supplies intake air to a variable geometry turbocharger. EGR coolers and air to air coolers are used in this system.
- PowerTech M - 2.4 L & 4.5 L engines with an EPA in term Tier 4 certification. Fueled by a mechanical rotary pump with timing and fuel injection pressures optimized for maximum performance and fuel economy. The fixed geometry turbocharger supplies air to the engine.
- PowerTech E - 2.4 L, 3.0 L, 4.5 L, 6.8 L & 9.0 engines certified to EPA tier 3. Engine fueling is a high-pressure common rail system controlled by the engine control unit. fuel pressures of 1600 bar (23,000 psi).
- PowerTech Plus - 4.5 L, 6.8 L, 9.0 L & 13.5 L engines certified to EPA Tier 3. Features exhaust gas recirculation system, variable geometry turbocharger and a high-pressure common rail fuel system controlled by the engine electronic control unit. Electronic unit injectors provide pressures of up to 2000 bar (29,000 psi).
Kohler & Deere Team Up to Produce High Quality Gensets
Kohler generators use John Deere engines for many of their applications. These mid-size industrial generators are manufactured for both indoor and outdoor use. Indoor generators must have auxiliary systems support for operation. They must have fuel connections, exhaust connections, and access to outside air via a louver system. Once these systems are connected, the generator can be electrically connected to the grid and is ready to supply power.
Outdoor Generators
The generating unit consists of an engine, alternator (generator end), and radiator mounted on a framework. The framework contains a fuel tank that is often dual walled. The tank is sized for the engine operation. An enclosure surrounds the generator and is either weather resistant or weatherproof in design. This complete unit is ready to be set on a flat level surface that can support its operational weight. It is not uncommon to see these units mounted on rooftops of industrial buildings.
The 150-kW standby Kohler generator pictured supplies 480 volts 3 phase power. It was manufactured in 2017 and has approximately 61 hours of operation. Some additional features for this unit are:
- Weatherproof Enclosure
- Auto Start/Stop Switch
- Emergency Shutdown Switch
- Dry Air Pack Cleaner
- 200-Amp Circuit Breaker
- Tank Style Block Heater
- Digital Generator Control Panel
- 250-Gallon Fuel Tank
The Kohler generator powered by John Deere engine featured above is just one example of a generator manufacturer that utilizes these engines. Go to
Inventory to see all of our generators. Our large generator stock includes both a new and used generator selection. All of our generators must pass a 31-point inspection prior to being placed in our inventory. Often, we can arrange for shipping within 24-hours of purchase completion.
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