Harbor Freight Predator 3500

Gdetrailer wrote:

otrfun wrote:
Has anyone been able to obtain parts for the HF Predator 3500 inverter generator (or one of its related cousins)? About 3-4 years ago was surprised to learn HF didn't sell any parts for it. All they offered was the optional one-time replacement warranty. All or nothing.

From all accounts this appears to be an excellent generator for the money. However, it wouldn't be fun to have a $800 boat anchor all because you couldn't obtain a $5 part.

I would rather have a $800 "boat anchor" than having a $1600 plus Honda that would cost well over $800 to repair.. Not sure you will find a Honda brand part for $5, perhaps you might get a Honda branded spark plug but I suspect even that would cost $20..

But the reality is even that cheaper $800 gen can often be "repaired" using generic Honda knock off parts which fit Hondas also.. Heck you can buy new Honda clone carbs for $15 and they do work as good as the Honda branded carb..

Point taken. For me, best value is determined by individual wants, needs, and ultimately luck (or lack of).

shastagary wrote:
parts list for Predator 3500
predator 3500 parts list

Thanks for the link! Good to know they at least have a parts list. That's encouraging.

otrfun wrote:
Has anyone been able to obtain parts for the HF Predator 3500 inverter generator (or one of its related cousins)? About 3-4 years ago was surprised to learn HF didn't sell any parts for it. All they offered was the optional one-time replacement warranty. All or nothing.

From all accounts this appears to be an excellent generator for the money. However, it wouldn't be fun to have a $800 boat anchor all because you couldn't obtain a $5 part.

I would rather have a $800 "boat anchor" than having a $1600 plus Honda that would cost well over $800 to repair.. Not sure you will find a Honda brand part for $5, perhaps you might get a Honda branded spark plug but I suspect even that would cost $20..

But the reality is even that cheaper $800 gen can often be "repaired" using generic Honda knock off parts which fit Hondas also.. Heck you can buy new Honda clone carbs for $15 and they do work as good as the Honda branded carb..

shastagary wrote:
parts list for Predator 3500
predator 3500 parts list

Just because HF "lists" parts in the manual, does not mean that HF stocks and sells the parts. Parts are not their main business and may or more often may not be available from HF.

To make that even worse, once that model has been discontinued, all references to that model are completely removed from HF's memory.

However, that does not mean you are 100% out of luck, HF gens are copies of Honda engines, Honda or Honda CLONE parts can often be substituted with a 100% success rate. Basically you just need to know the CC size of the engine and match that to equivalent Honda or after market Honda clone engine size in CC..

Where you might run into a problem is gen and inverter parts, with that you might need to match those to equivalent wattage clone gens..

But as for reliability for HF gens, I have a non inverter 8000W HF gen and so far has been dead on reliable for many yrs.. Also have a smaller 4000W non HF generic Honda clone gen and outside of the normal Honda carb jets clogging has been trouble free..

The Honda Clones also use the same Honda carb design, it is the Achilles heal of Hondas. That carb design has a emulsion tube with many little pin holes, they clog shut even if you drain the carb between uses..

I just revived a smaller 2KW Honda clone gen that a neighbor tossed in the trash.. Carb was clogged from rust from the tank.. Good carb cleaning and substituted a temp tank and gen runs and creates power.. That gen predates my 4KW honda clone gen by many yrs and my 4KW gen is at least 20 yrs old..

parts list for Predator 3500
predator 3500 parts list

Has anyone been able to obtain parts for the HF Predator 3500 inverter generator (or one of its related cousins)? About 3-4 years ago was surprised to learn HF didn't sell any parts for it. All they offered was the optional one-time replacement warranty. All or nothing.

From all accounts this appears to be an excellent generator for the money. However, it wouldn't be fun to have a $800 boat anchor all because you couldn't obtain a $5 part.

I bought one a couple of years ago, unfortunately I never was able to start it. Faulty unit, returned it and it was the last one. Bought a Pulsar inverter generator from Ebay and starts on the first pull every time. Very pleased with it. Light and very quiet.

I've had one for several years that I use at the house for running water and heat when power is out. Use it a lot for yardwork in the woods. Power quality is excellent. Regardless of load, the frequency is dead steady at 60.02 Hz. Shows a perfect sine wave on an oscilloscope. Great for electronics and my ham radio gear. My only complaint is that the ignition switch is in combination with the fuel shutoff. This makes it impossible to turn only the fuel off to run the gas out of the carburetor. I added a bypass switch for the ignition so it will run with the fuel valve closed. I always run the carb dry after use. It has never failed to start on the first pull of the rope. The original starter battery didn't last very long. You can easily have a conversation right next to it at full load. It's a bit hefty. Any heavier and I would ask for help lifting it into the pickup bed. Hope this helps.

Carl, WG2E

We have the 3500 HF. It stays in the truck bed. Used it once when we had too much shade from tall pine trees for the solar to charge. With the genny running on one side of the 5th wheel, I could barely hear it from the other side of the RV. And it was VERY quiet in a tall pine forest - no traffic or wind noise.

YEP, good ol copy-cat junk. Why not spend the $ for some quality???