Generator: Any good reason to choose Honda over Yamaha

Both are equally good. Honda has a generator with a 30-amp receptacle built into it which is handy and the provision for easily adding an external gas tank for longer run time without having to add fuel to a hot engine. Yamaha has at least 5x as many dealers that are able to service a generator if there is a problem or needs servicing of any type.

First determine how much generating power (peak and operating) and then size the generator that is needed. I would sooner buy a 200, 2500 Watt or 3,000 Watt single generator than two 1000 Watt generators though the weight may be more than I want to lift with a single higher capacity unit.

Both types are going to be quieter than the average generator and safer to use with electronics attached.

From things I've read about both brands, I'd go with Yamaha over Honda because:

1) Some Hondas may not have fuel gauges, while some/all Yamahas do.

2) Some Hondas may not have fuel shutoff valves, while some/all Yamahas do.

I have the Honda eu2000i, very very reliable. Everywhere I have camped, probably 95+% of the generators I see are Honda 2000's. It's rare that I see a Yamaha genset. There must be reasons that the Honda vastly outsell the Yamaha gensets.

I like the Hondas, they have larger engines and they are cheaper around here

I've had a pair of Honda 2000s for about 10 years. Until the last two years they were used infrequently. I mostly used them when I needed 120v far from an outlet around the property. Now, we use them a couple times of month while boondocking.

I always ran them dry before storage. Even after a couple years on the shelf, I could change the oil, add gas and start with one or two pulls. Besides reliable they are very quiet. When we boondock you can run the cord out point the exhaust away from the trailer and hardly hear them inside. We added an extended run gas tank to the setup.

I have a Yamaha 2800I and it runs my 13.5 AC just fine. it weighs about 70 lbs and is about 62 decibels. Paid 1200 with free shipping from Wise but I think they are 1500 dollars now. have had it for about 5 years and running great.

Any reason to buy Honda over Yahama? Not as far as I am concerned.. HOWEVER.

There is one: Honda uses a genuine fuel pump and thus can suck gasoline out of an external "Extended run" tank if you use the special fuel cap included with the kit.. I do not think Yahama has this extended run feature.

Some folks comment on the proliferation of Honda dealers that can work on them v/s the relative lack of Yahama factory authorized service centers. Frankly I think they are fooling themselves, and of course MURPHY says it will never fail in the driveway of such a shop (Either one)

Now: Why buy Yahama instead of Honda.. Here we have some talking points.

As you noted 2,000 running 2400 peak, instead of 2000 peak and what 1760 running, Makes a big difference when you need to run the A/C. 2400 MIGHT do it where 2000 won't (kick start the thing) epically if you have a soft start kit.

Bearings.. Now this comes from a biases source (Yahama sales) but he said the Yahama has better bearings. These last longer, result in lower fuel consumption and.. The Yahama is 1dB quieter than the Honda (not enough to notice but a dB is 10th of a Bell after all).

Honda is about to make a drastic change in their fuel delivery system by eliminating the carburetor. Wait and watch what they do! Worth the wait!

One thing I found out was that my buddy's Yamaha 2400 is quieter than my Honda 2000. :E

old guy wrote:
when my Honda runs it runs very well, BUT in saying that, I have had it in the shop a lot to fine tune so it will run.

There is very little, to no, tuning that can be done on the smaller Hondas.

Which model do you have, and what are the issues?

What kind of gas do you use?