Collection: DIY Vertical Shaft Belt Drive Generator

Build Yourself a Vertical Shaft Generator using an Old Lawn Mower Engine

Use an old lawn mower engine to build yourself a VERTICAL shaft belt drive generator. Our unique Vertical Shaft Bracket mounts a 10SI or 12SI GM alternator to a lawn mower engine. The universal mounting pattern fits all lawn mower engines and has the same integral belt adjustment slot and alternator mounting provisions as our horizontal design.

Detailed information on this project and be found on our blog tip at Convert a Lawn Mower into a Generator - Vertical Mount (Part 2).

Universal Vertical Shaft Generator Bracket

Our unique Vertical Shaft Bracket mounts a 10SI or 12SI GM alternator to a lawn mower engine. The universal mounting pattern fits all lawn mower engines and has the same integral belt adjustment slot and alternator mounting provisions as our horizontal design.

Bracket Dimensions

24" long x 12" wide.
11" from center of motor shaft to center of alternator shaft with belt adjusted in center.
6.6" between standard 2 bolt mounting bolts for GM 10si alternator.
Made from 10 gauge steel or Stainless Steel (0.135" thick).

Optional Items for the Vertical Mounting Bracket

2.5" Pulley for Engine (Cast Iron, 3/16" key way, 7/8" shaft, "A" style industrial)
30" Belt (for use with the Vertical Bracket and 2-1/2" Special A style Industrial Pulley)

Related Items

Alternators and Regulators

Refurbished Alternator For use with any of our generator projects. If you plan to run your system near capacity for extended periods of time, we recommend replacing the standard pulley on the alternator with one of our special Industrial "A" belt alternator pulleys above.

Be aware, you must have a battery hooked up to an alternator or you will damage the internal voltage regulator if you try to rotate it at normal RPMs.

Alternator Pulleys

If you plan to run your system near capacity for extended periods of time, we recommend replacing the standard pulley on the alternator with one of our Special Industrial "A" belt alternator pulleys.

We offer a special 2.5-inch Industrial "A" style pulley that fits the GM 10SI and 12SI alternator. This special pulley will fit any of the alternators we sell, and we will install it for you at no cost by special request. If you already have your own alternator, or did not buy an alternator from us, we cannot guarantee this pulley will fit your alternator. You may return it if it doesn't work out, but you will be responsible for shipping costs BOTH ways which may be more than the cost of the pulley.

Alternator Direction and Fans

An alternator will function in either direction. Cooling can be an issue, however the fan still functions (but at reduced efficiency). The alternators in our projects are bolted to a metal mounting plate which acts as a large heat sink. We do offer a special bi-directional fan that can be used in place of the stock fan. This fan is as efficient when rotated in either direction.

Alternator Fan A bi-directional fan is available from us! For a true reverse direction fan, you will find them used on '65–'69 Corvairs. But the Corvair fans have an integral pulley which cannot be removed and is not the ideal diameter. Bi-directional fans for use with our 10SI and 12SI GM alternators are available here at TheEpicenter.com. If you already have an alternator, we cannot guarantee these will fit. They will only fit if the existing fan has a dish in the center, and the dish points toward the alternator.

NOTE: We no longer offer or provide technical support for Propane Conversions or Propane Conversion Kits. Please contact U.S. Carburetion Inc. in West Virginia.