Generator auction prices

I have a few minutes before my next meeting so I'm watching a couple generators cross the blocks at gov planet. I've been looking for a reasonable parts machine to snag and I'm amazed at what I'm seeing happening with the auctions for machines. Machines that are missing parts and don't run. One of the ones I had tossed $700 on knowing I was unlikely to get it is now north of $1,300 with people still bidding on it. I find this on one hand amazing and on the other hand disheartening. Yea, supply and demand, I know. Market conditions.. bla bla bla.

Just crossed $1,400. Wow.

DieselAddict said:

I have a few minutes before my next meeting so I'm watching a couple generators cross the blocks at gov planet. I've been looking for a reasonable parts machine to snag and I'm amazed at what I'm seeing happening with the auctions for machines. Machines that are missing parts and don't run. One of the ones I had tossed $700 on knowing I was unlikely to get it is now north of $1,300 with people still bidding on it. I find this on one hand amazing and on the other hand disheartening. Yea, supply and demand, I know. Market conditions.. bla bla bla.

Just crossed $1,400. Wow.

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And the market for used runners . Can’t touch a used one for less than $5k or $6k and it’s beat to hell from the 90’s. Not knocking capitalism one bit, just not buying another one right away.

It ended up going for just under $1,600. That is more than I have bid and won zero time machines in the past.

Man, times change really fast.

I feel very fortunate to have picked up a running 802 a few years back for $1000. It’s been great having backup power when the utility service goes down.


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I have a few that I bought to sell but the more I think about it I should hold on to them. With the way they are appreciating this may be some real retirement $$$!

We have a member here that is trying to sell a nice looking 802. He's down to $2,900 and no takers. 400 hours. Not sure what year.

There appears to be a multitude of factors that are driving up prices in the mil surplus generator market due to better public awareness & needs:

- Websites like "Steel Soldiers" along with Youtube videos have familiarized the general public with how good military surplus gensets can be. The SS website with its outstanding membership demonstrates how Mil Surplus units can be maintained & supported by private citizens that are electro/mechanically inclined along with a little support. Judging by all the rotating advertisements showing up in SS threads recently, we must have a sizeable & growing amount of viewership/membership to attract such advertising.

- Apparent public awareness of increasing Utility outages due to effects of changing weather patterns bringing more wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, snow/ice storms, plus increasing summer droughts threatening hydro-electric power production, & preemptive rolling blackouts etc.

- Vulnerabilities in aging U.S. power grid - Preparing for the worst & hoping for the best by having a genset backup(s)

- The feeling of increasing ones "ability to be in control" and less reliant on public infrastructure if/when problems arise (SHTF).

I'm in the same boat as DieselAddict, I used to buy and sell lots of these, but when the prices got to be more at auction than I sell them for retail, I backed out. I have the nicest of each model ( 831, 002, 003, 802 and 803 ) most with single and double digit hours, that I purchased very reasonably that are still here because I could never replace them for anything close to what I have invested. Only thing I intend to sell right now are 3 additional low hour 002's.
What I need to do is make a decision to just keep a 5K and a 10K , either air or liquid and sell the others but.... can replace it once it leaves my yard and I haven't yet found a cure for the Green Machine disease, but maybe money can buy a cure??

Someone is going to be mighty disappointed when they go get their MEP 1041 that was labeled an MEP 1040 that they paid 7500 dollars for today still some parts value but probably not 7500 worth

I watch tons of stuff on there but don't buy to much anymore...got a 1101 trailer about 3 months ago still waiting on papers...but yes the gensets dropped off the back of the cargo plane at 10k feet are bringing crazy money.

Picked up a 2000 802 with 32 hours on it last month from a Marketplace add. Paid $900 for it knowing it ran but didn't make power. Swapping out the voltage regulator took care of it, but it also needs a head gasket as I noticed a coolant drip going down the outside of the block. Still not a bad deal since I had the voltage regular from a spare set and the head gasket was $25.

On the auction prices, yeah, they are way high and you never know what you get. Once I get rid of my current stock of 4 802's (keeping my 803), I do plan to keen an eye out for a 1040 for a fair price (and hopefully won't get a mislabeled 1041, lol).

I do miss my 003 sometimes. That thing was a beast, and definitely had the loudness to go with it, lol.

For as many machines as I have had come through my hands, I've only been able to keep one for myself. Maybe someday I will actually be able to tell someone No... Im keeping this one.

This is for sure quite a development. We have seen these prices go up and down in the last 10+ years and it seems every time there is some form of political discord or global event happening, prices escalate.
On the other hand, some spare parts are difficult and very expensive to procure which then makes sense to invest in a donor set. Basically the same thing one would do when fixing up an older car. Those prices have gone through the roof as well.
Thought I put my 25 cents in

Light in the Dark said:

For as many machines as I have had come through my hands, I've only been able to keep one for myself. Maybe someday I will actually be able to tell someone No... Im keeping this one.

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My wife thinks I say NO too easily. She keeps asking why I have 6!

Hold on to them, we’re going to need something to charge our electric school busses and semi tractors!

Jbulach said:

Hold on to them, we’re going to need something to charge our electric school busses and semi tractors!

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Maybe we can burn politicians lies in future biomass plants? Talk about win-win.

Seems prices went nuts as soon as they switched from GL to GP. Of course GL sold them all untested and drained.

I feel fortunate that I snagged mine. I overlooked the forklift hole in the side and it had 2600 hours on it so I got it for $975 before fees and pickup. Unit had no damage behind the hole and I got it sorted for a few hours time, fluids, and batteries. I was all in, wired to the house, and had my load bank built for two grand.

I found one on EBAY Marketplace, locally for $750. Hours 78. Fuel Tank nasty red muck. Filters completely clogged. Metal looks good. Radiator and coolant good. Aux pump removed. Main pump removed, aux sitting inside. IP's rusty, but removed them and cleaned/unstuck two. Cleaned injector lines. Replaced fuel hoses. Waiting on cartridge filter. Air filter & case pristine date 2010. Waiting on bung seal for tank. Waiting on fuse holder for electrical upgrade. Will soon find out if it gens. Great support from SS folks.

$750... thats a deal even if it came with someones mother-in-law shoved inside it

Yea! $750 is probably way less than many guys are paying just in auction Fees lately! Between buyers fees, credit card fees.... taxes.... shipping....