I've seen building a Mercedes diesel generator discussed off and on over the years, and stumbled across someone who had done it. Looks well executed, too bad there's not more info on his build, though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hckMXoAIxCw

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RenaissanceMan Labs: where the future is being made today.

Garage:

2017 Chevy Colorado Diesel (nanny state emissions)
2005 Volvo S40 T5 AWD, 77k
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300D turbodiesel, 4 sp auto, 156k - 28.7 mpg
1996 Tracker 4x4, 2 door, 16v, 3 sp auto. 113k - 28.6 mpg

WARNING: this post may contain dangerous free thinking.

I think that back when mb used to make these motors they were available as generators, boat motors etc... 617 is still being built today under license in india

Rpm control under load may be an issue but thats nice. I did the same with a Yanmar 3 cylinder.

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Satan creates nothing: he only ruins everything. He does not invent: he tampers. And his followers are no different ~ Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigaṇ

Yes, the type of Governor that a generator engine has is different then the one used on a vehicle.

Of course the Engine can turn the generator but it is when you suddenly apply the load that the fun starts.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Modified Cruise control could work

__________________
Satan creates nothing: he only ruins everything. He does not invent: he tampers. And his followers are no different ~ Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigaṇ

Seems to have a electronic controller on the throttle. Looks nice for sure.

But raises other questions - why keep the vacuum pump? Why is there no oil cooler and why are the ports blanked off rather than looped? Have the internals been modified to bypass internally (or has someone found out if it bypasses internally anyway?)

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1978 300D, 373,000km 617.912, 711.113 5 speed, 7.5mm superpump, HX30W turbo...many, many years in the making....
1977 280> 300D - 500,000km+ (to be sold...)
1984 240TD>300TD 121,000 miles, *gone*
1977 250 parts car
1988 Toyota Corona 2.0D *gone*
1975 FJ45>HJ45
1981 200>240D (to be sold...)
1999 Hyundai Lantra 1.6 *gone*
1980s Lansing Bagnall FOER 5.2 Forklift (the Mk2 engine hoist)
2001 Holden Rodeo 4JB1T 2WD

Actually the fsm says that if you want to remove the oil cooler and close off the ports then you have to remove the oil thermostat. If you don't remove the thermostat then the engine will starve for oil when the oil gets hot

Yes I thought that may be the case but wasn't sure.
I would think a constant load like a generator would be a good reason to have an oil cooler. Or maybe the engine is de-rated enough at the power output it's working at to not need it.

My OM616 has no oil cooler. I wonder how rare those oil filter housings are?

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1978 300D, 373,000km 617.912, 711.113 5 speed, 7.5mm superpump, HX30W turbo...many, many years in the making....
1977 280> 300D - 500,000km+ (to be sold...)
1984 240TD>300TD 121,000 miles, *gone*
1977 250 parts car
1988 Toyota Corona 2.0D *gone*
1975 FJ45>HJ45
1981 200>240D (to be sold...)
1999 Hyundai Lantra 1.6 *gone*
1980s Lansing Bagnall FOER 5.2 Forklift (the Mk2 engine hoist)
2001 Holden Rodeo 4JB1T 2WD

Hz control used in that has too much variance. Fine if you're using it for mechanical devices or asynchronous motors, but if there are any electronics, synchronous motors or clocks they may not work correctly.

I would love to see that page. As many times as I have been through the chassis and 616/617 manuals, I've never noticed that page.

I think it was in a M110 manual. Euro M110 uses a similar style of oil cooler.

It makes sense to remove the thermostat when blanking off the ports. If you don't then you would have to loop it.

Where is his fuel tank?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

It looks like there is a pipe cap that leads to a chamber beneath the generator.

__________________
RenaissanceMan Labs: where the future is being made today.

Garage:

2017 Chevy Colorado Diesel (nanny state emissions)
2005 Volvo S40 T5 AWD, 77k
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300D turbodiesel, 4 sp auto, 156k - 28.7 mpg
1996 Tracker 4x4, 2 door, 16v, 3 sp auto. 113k - 28.6 mpg

WARNING: this post may contain dangerous free thinking.

that looks like it could be 1" deep pan across the entire gen.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

They actually make digital throttle control to convert old mech. governor generators over to electronic. Uses a basic magnetic pickup, control box, and actuator to control the throttle. Response time is very impressive and would likely work great on a 616/617.

The kits aren't that cheap.. but not terrible either.

You could likely also have the pump governor setup to run at 1800rpm under full load and just let the governor do the work. Not sure what a pump shop would charge to do that though.

Within a hz or two will be totally fine. Most electronics won't even notice - they all convert to DC anyway for actual use. A huge portion of them are rated 90-250v 50 or 60 hz anyway.

I considered doing something like this with my spare motor for about ten seconds. I'd sell the motor and use something more suitable than a Mercedes 617 long before doing that.

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617 swapped Toyota Pickup, 22-24 MPG, 50k miles on swap