This spring, bought a 1200 Watt Firman generator from Home Depot in Canada. It seemed like a good deal -- $249 plus tax, delivered right to the house, with a three year warranty. On the second occasion of using this generator -- a hunting/camping trip with a truck camper late last month -- I set the generator on the ground. It started normally, but a few minutes later, we noticed a strong gas odor. The fuel tank's on/off valve was leaking gasoline which was trickling down into the air intake of the motor's cooling system -- about a half tank had leaked out. The entire insides of the generator's motor, inverter, and electronic panel, were running with raw gas, to the point that the engine was starting to 'hunt'. Gas was being sucked into the air filter intake. It is extremely fortunate that it didn't catch fire, as it likely would have spread to the truck and camper. Managed to get the engine turned off and when the tank's fuel valve was closed, the leaking stopped. The cause seems to be a stripped machine screw on the bottom this valve. (see attached photo of a similar valve...) Click For Full-Size Image.Home Depot provided a full refund. But when I posted the story above with a "one star rating" to their website under reviews for this generator, they refused to publish it.So the learning here:Cheap Chinese machinery isn't always worth the savingssituate your generator so if it catches fire, it's as far away as possible from your RVnever leave your generator running unattendeddon't believe the reviews in Home Depot's web pages -- they won't publish the bad ones

I bought a Firman unit as well from Costco which had the same problem with gas leaking out. It has been returned. Lesson learned again, you get what you pay for.

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten is just as true today as when it was written 160 years ago. Some people are happy with their purchases but being a retired small engine mechanic I won't touch the cheap off shore equipment. I tried to buy a decent quality wireless keyboard and mouse, apparently they don't exist. I guess the manufacturers and retailers realize most people won't pay a little extra.

How did the Firman work after you repaired the fuel valve issue?

I never subscribe to the ole saying of "you get what you pay for."If I sell you my place for a million dollars, does that make it any better than the market value?Besides, I just replaced a carb on a Briggs and Stratton motor. Where do you think it came from?I just gave my stick home Predator gennny its 3 hour break in under close scrutiny and I am happier than a pig in you know what.Really, are you gonnna take turns keeping the next one company? Never heard of that.

shame on them trying to look like a champy! Even though they do build for rigid and kohler

Potentially Dangerous Generator Failure | Good Sam Community

Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Nov 27, 2017
2oldman wrote:
road-runner wrote:
This valve is NOT used in the Honda eu-series generators.
Nope. I've never seen one.

Just because the "EU" may have a DIFFERENT valve, you really should not pooh, pooh the fact that HONDA DOES use this same valve system on many of their equipment..

Just ONE of the variations of this valve design, this one IS for a HONDA.. And once again, made of pot metal and of Chinese manufacturers.

Honda

Just because the over all machine says it is Honda, does not mean EVERY part in the machine has been made by Honda..

Many manufacturers farm out parts, then ASSEMBLE all the parts into their finished product then put their name on it.

Probably more Chinese parts are in a Honda than actual Japanese parts..

I should also add that that same valve sold in a Honda brand box sells for $43.. The generic valve I linked is what, a whole $8..
robert_at_honda
Explorer
Nov 27, 2017
SidecarFlip wrote:
One man's ceiling is another man's floor......

Ahhhh yes....

There's been some hard feelings here
About some words that were said
There's been some hard feelings here
And what is more
There's been a bloody purple nose
And some bloody purple clothes
That were messing up the lobby floor
It's just apartment house rules
So all you 'partment fools
Remember: one man's ceiling
Is another man's floor
Remember: one man's ceiling
Is another man's floor

There's been some strange goin's on
And some folks have come and gone
And the elevator man don't work no more
I heard a racket in the hall
And I thought I heard a fall
But I never opened up my door
It's just apartment house sense
It's like apartment rents
Remember: one man's ceiling
Is another man's floor
Remember: one man's ceiling
Is another man's floor

And there's an alley
In the back of my building
Where some people congregate in shame
I was walking with my dog
And the night was black with smog
When I thought I heard somebody
Call my name

- - -
I work for Honda, but the preceding is my opinion alone.
Robert@Honda
Old_Islander
Explorer
Nov 27, 2017
Gdetrailer wrote:
Just because the "EU" may have a DIFFERENT valve, you really should not pooh, pooh the fact that HONDA DOES use this same valve system on many of their equipment..

Just ONE of the variations of this valve design, this one IS for a HONDA.. And once again, made of pot metal and of Chinese manufacturers.

There is no guarantee that this is a bonafide Honda part. This pic is from Amazon, where any company can list any part and call it whatever they want. This could be (and almost certainly is...) an aftermarket knock-off.

The first review of the above valve from Amazon:

ByCorey T.on July 25, 2017
Verified Purchase
Purchased for a 1985 Honda 250 ES, listed as compatible. When changing from 'Off' position to 'On', an impulse of fuel leaks through the face of the knob. Also, I had to change the fuel hose, this one requires a smaller hose. (I believe I used a 3/8", not positive, I just had it lying around.) Overall, not impressed, but for the price, I'm not sure what I expected.
Old_Islander
Explorer
Nov 27, 2017
Re the posts suggesting that Honda buys cheap aftermarket on/off fuel valves for their fuel tanks, I don't believe it.

The Honda manufacturing process is ISO 9001 certified, which means every part of their product undergoes a rigorous and ongoing QA/QC process. Whatever valve they use, would have the highest level of quality assurance available -- and that would include replacement parts.
blofgren
Explorer
Nov 28, 2017
Agreed. We have many, many Honda generators, lawnmowers, snowblowers, etc. at the city I work at and we rarely have any major issues with them. And trust me, this equipment is worked hard and sometimes abused.

I have also spoken to many people at campgrounds over the years and rarely has anyone had anything negative to say about their Honda generators and it is minor stuff at best.
SaltiDawg
Explorer
Nov 28, 2017
Old Islander wrote:

The Honda manufacturing process is ISO 9001 certified, which means every part of their product undergoes a rigorous and ongoing QA/QC process. Whatever valve they use, would have the highest level of quality assurance available -- and that would include replacement parts.

You give ISO 9000 way too much credit for ensuing that a cheap but functional valve might be included in a design. Far and away, China is the top user of ISO 9000 in the entire world, indeed having more certified companies than the USA and Japan combined.

There is a complementary Mil Std that is frequently invoked in things like Submarine and Ship design. Junk material still makes its way into ship design, hopefully in non-critical applications.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Nov 28, 2017
This post will probably really stir the pot. The new Oakland Bay Bridge in California was assembled/built using sections fabricated in China. I might add, they have found serious flaws in its construction. The real kicker is they were the result of American incompetence. Maybe it was an american that was responsible for the fuel valve. Just a thought.
road-runner
Explorer III
Nov 28, 2017
I had a similar experience with a coolant expansion tank for a German car. I bought a "genuine OEM" tank at a really great price. It had all the German company markings and also said it was made in China. It leaked from day one. I spent more money buying a second tank from a major retail parts outlet, and it's holding up well. It's visually identical to the defective part, same company markings and same made in China marking. I'm thinking the first part was either a counterfeit, or from a lot of defective parts discarded by the manufacturer. My point is that one was cheap and defective, the other cost more and isn't defective, and I can't tell any difference from very closely looking at them.

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