2012Coleman wrote:
This is the crappiest stuff out there - My experience with power driven equipment from both Harbor Freight and Northern tool are not worth the money or hassle. Both my generator and pressure washer needed to have the carburetor replaced. Why? Because they are junk made in China. After the recent replacement on my Powerhorse pressure washer, it started running bad again. This time because of broken up pieces coming from the fuel filter and petcock. The money and time I have to spend just to keep these machines running is not worth the price paid. These places are truly the land of throw away tools.
They are nothing but junk. I wouldn't have one if you gave it to me because I'd be saddled with he task of getting rid of it after minimal use.
The are a fraction of the cost compared to supposed "forever tools" like Honda and yet they come from the EXACT place that those supposed "forever tools" like Honda does, CHINA.
Granted, sometimes HF stuff quality is a bit well suspicious at times but hey IT COST LESS and it is no worse than many of the OTHER no name generic branded inverter gens like WESTINGHOUSE, WEN, PREDATOR, GENERAC (yeah they DON'T MAKE THEIR OWN INVERTER GENS), CHAMPION, DUROMAX, CRAFTSMAN, DUROSTAR, NORTHERN and so on..
To get a Honda with that wattage level in an inverter style gen you WILL pay $1,200..
For the measly $700 I am WILLING to roll the dice and take the gamble.. I have MUCH better things to waste that $500 savings difference on.
HF DOES offer additional warranties on many of it's products, those warranties you walk in with broken item and walk out with a NEW item.. Try that with with a Honda dealer, they will laugh you out the door while your $1,200 gen sits and rots away on their tech bench waiting to parts/repairs.
And by the way, for my camper, I use a Chinese Honda knockoff 4Kw gen and I have owned it for over 12 yrs, runs good, did have to clean the carb and did have the fuel shutoff valve break, but even Honda is not immune to the SAME problems since the clones use the SAME HONDA DESIGNED CHINESE MADE CARB AND THE SAME FUEL SHUT OFF VALVES!
I also have a HF 8,700 Watt gen, owned that now 4 yrs and works great, have had to use it for a couple of 4-5hr power outages and I am well pleased with it.
Over the years, I have bought a bunch of HF hand and power tools, have not had any issues with them and as long as one realizes that they will work for the average consumer and for industrial use one might wish to go a bit more expensive.. Sometimes you don't wish to spend $100 on a "one use" tool and can get that tool for $20 at HF..
