Thanks for the info. So I was without power for 5 days when Isaias came through a couple of weeks ago, I have a pto generator for the basics to keep the house going. My issue is that the tractor is running at around 2350 rpm to run the generator. I feel like the tractor can run the generator at a lower rpm. so my thought was to overdrive the pto to cut the engine speed.
Before making such decisions you need to educate yourself about Torque Curves publish by manufacturers for each engine.
Some focus on horsepower numbers but the real "hands on," test is measuring the engine's torque at all possible rpm's.
Horsepower is never measured but rather calculated from the torque and rpm.
The following is from something I wrote at another time:
For satisfactory generator operation, the engine needs to be running on the downward slope of its torque curve so that if it slows slightly under load the available torque is increasing.
Starting to try and run the engine slower means you may be at a point on its torque curve where the torque falls off as rpm's decrease which can lead to a sudden stall.
I apologize for resorting to technical jargon to make a point but it is critical in generator operations.
The torque curve shows a downward slope as it goes from 2,800 to 3,600 rpm.
If you have the engine rpm's in that range and the load on the generator increases as the engine starts to slow down from its 3,600 rpm needed to produce 62 cycle AC, the torque output of the engine increases so it accepts the extra load without any fuss.
If you think it is a good idea to slow the engine down and use pulley's and V belts to turn the generator head at 3,600 rpm, you are now operating on a place on the engine torque curve where a slight lowering of engine rpm produces less torque and this situation quickly deteriorates into the engine stalling.
The following torque curve is not for your engine but all engines have similar curves.
The tractor designers calculate gear ratios and study torque curves in order to have the pto 540 rpm occur at point #3 on the curve below.
What you are wanting to do is to run your engine at #1 on the torque curve. This is possible on large tractors with far more power available than the application (generator) needs. Tractors are now available with an E pto option to accomplish what you wish to do.
However, in your size of tractor it is a wish that is likely impractical.
Your tractor's engine was designed to run at the pto rpm.
Dave