โMay-27-2010 02:06 AM
โJul-20-2011 03:19 AM
byates wrote:professor95 wrote:#40Fan wrote:
Pulled the top unit off and found a small puddle of gas in the right front, top corner pocket of the lower unit.
Funny you should make this post today.
I learned today that there were a bunch of new units received in California from the factory in China that had the same problem. Before CPE Tech Support discovered the problem an unknown number (maybe 200?) were shipped out to suppliers and sold to customers. When they discovered the problem they began a process of replacing the petcock on several thousand new units still in the warehouse. A rather daunting task.
Anyway - CPE is aware of the problem and will gladly replace or repair any unit that has the leak you described. You apparently were the recipient of some of the bad units.
Tech support will most likely pick-up on your post but will have no idea who you are or how to contact you. I hope you will call them and report your problem so they will know what supplier or store may have units with a leaking petcock.
CummingsOnan had a similar situation last year involving 550 of their Chinese made units with potential fuel leaks. After 25 reported problems, CummingsOnan was a bit more proactive in that they voluntarily issued a recall alert in cooperation with the CPSC. CummingsOnan directly contacted affected consumers offering a full refund plus $100. CummingsOnan was able to quantify the number of potential hazardous units, with model/serial numbers and dates of manufacture.
What I find interesting is that the Recall Alert advises that it is illegal to sell or resell a recalled consumer product. By issuing the recall, CummingsOnan served their customers well with the notification of a potential safety hazard absorbing any associated cost.
Take what you will from this post, but it is factual.
http://www.cumminsonan.com/www/html/Common/pdf/recalls/recall-alert-052510.pdf
โJul-20-2011 03:00 AM
Old & Slow wrote:BVW wrote:
Just bought a 'yellow' one in BC Canada:
1. powers a standard micro + fridge + inverter (any 2 of the 3) no prob.
2. only 'burps' when revving from econo.
3. it has a fuel leak in the bottom (not from filling).
Anyone else have this issue?
Thanks to all for all you do here!
This report of the leaking issue was posted some ago. How could CPE not be aware of the serious nature of the leaking problem? If '200 or so' of these leaking units got into the hands of buyers, sounds like a product liability issue for the factory. Some folks might not even know they have a problem or know of possible serious injury.
โJul-19-2011 10:14 PM
โJul-19-2011 10:10 PM
โJul-19-2011 09:21 PM
MrRchitty wrote:DennisCPE wrote:
Hi all. I am currently vacationing at Bass Lake, CA and decided to catch up on this forum. I can say there is a lot of misinformation being posted here. I have listed below a few facts that you might be interested in:
1). The only report of a leaky petcock is the one posted here by #40C. ( by the way, we have no record of #40c calling into Champion.). I would like to speak to him personally if he will call into Champion. The picture he posted shows a misaligned petcock. I would guess it was cross threaded. It is possible this could have happened during assembly but every one of our units is run for 10 to 15 minutes so it is certainly strange that it was not caught by QC.
2). In over one year of production of this inverter we have no records of any leaky petcocks and never even replaced one. Of course we would issue a recall and notify the CPSC if ther was any leak problem.
3) The picture of the O-ring postednby #40C is not from a Champion inverter. So, with respect, his post is suspect. No phone call to Champion, which he indicates he did, and a fabricated photo. Please call me.
4) The petcock replacement that we are now conducting with two guys from our factory is because of a possible restriction caused by the swelling of a gasket when contacted with E10 ( the unsustainable fuel additive promoted by EPA - this is poison for ALL small engines and EQPA is now promoting E15)
5) Costco and Sams consider the 2000 W Inverter to be a Spring/Summer item. They will drop them for Fall Winter. Of course they are wrong, but I don't have the pencil.
6). My customer service team still loves ton take care of any issues with our product and they especially love to learn from you. Give them a call with any issues or questions you may have.
Denise,
I mean this with all due respect...
Is it remotely possible that this call was made and not reported properly? I don't know the size of your operation and it is certainly a serious claim. I believe you about your claim that it is not your gasket.
I had made a couple of phone calls a few months ago to question the overload situation which was a random thing. In an attempt to feather triggers on similar equipment to the professors and run a pancake compressor, they would run with the Little Champ and on occasion overload on start up.
If my memory serves me, I spoke with Adam. He was to forward my information to Paul Cole who was away. Next call I left a message on Mr. Coles VM.
No contact back.
I have since picked up a second Inverter Gennie to complete my set. Running the twins has been an absolute pleasure. I like how they work and would recommend them.
I was interested in upgrading the modules in hopes of elliminating the intermittant overload conditions on a single unit when running similar equipment.
However, for one reason or another, I was not called back. And let it be known that I have been assisted in the past without issue.
I am sure that if it was a fuel leak with potential of fire things would have been handled differently.
โJul-19-2011 09:10 PM
avantidave wrote:
On Saturday I spotted the yellow and black version of these generators for sale at our local Sam's Club for $399 each. I will return to see if I can determine the build date somehow on the outside of the package.
I own a 5-year-old Honda eu2000i, but it seems to live mostly at my son's house where they have frequent power outages. It alternately powers the gas furnace blower motor, the kitchen refrigerator/freezer, the microwave, selected house lights and a 50" DLP HDTV. A generator-input AC circuit-switching panel is used to control which circuits are using generator power.
I am considering a pair of these CPE inverter generators, either for my RV use or for my son so I can have my Honda back.
โJul-19-2011 09:05 PM
DennisCPE wrote:
Hi all. I am currently vacationing at Bass Lake, CA and decided to catch up on this forum. I can say there is a lot of misinformation being posted here. I have listed below a few facts that you might be interested in:
1). The only report of a leaky petcock is the one posted here by #40C. ( by the way, we have no record of #40c calling into Champion.). I would like to speak to him personally if he will call into Champion. The picture he posted shows a misaligned petcock. I would guess it was cross threaded. It is possible this could have happened during assembly but every one of our units is run for 10 to 15 minutes so it is certainly strange that it was not caught by QC.
2). In over one year of production of this inverter we have no records of any leaky petcocks and never even replaced one. Of course we would issue a recall and notify the CPSC if ther was any leak problem.
3) The picture of the O-ring postednby #40C is not from a Champion inverter. So, with respect, his post is suspect. No phone call to Champion, which he indicates he did, and a fabricated photo. Please call me.
4) The petcock replacement that we are now conducting with two guys from our factory is because of a possible restriction caused by the swelling of a gasket when contacted with E10 ( the unsustainable fuel additive promoted by EPA - this is poison for ALL small engines and EQPA is now promoting E15)
5) Costco and Sams consider the 2000 W Inverter to be a Spring/Summer item. They will drop them for Fall Winter. Of course they are wrong, but I don't have the pencil.
6). My customer service team still loves ton take care of any issues with our product and they especially love to learn from you. Give them a call with any issues or questions you may have.
โJul-19-2011 08:59 PM
โJul-19-2011 08:48 PM
DennisCPE wrote:
Hi all. I am currently vacationing at Bass Lake, CA and decided to catch up on this forum. I can say there is a lot of misinformation being posted here. I have listed below a few facts that you might be interested in:
1). The only report of a leaky petcock is the one posted here by #40C. ( by the way, we have no record of #40c calling into Champion.). I would like to speak to him personally if he will call into Champion. The picture he posted shows a misaligned petcock. I would guess it was cross threaded. It is possible this could have happened during assembly but every one of our units is run for 10 to 15 minutes so it is certainly strange that it was not caught by QC.
2). In over one year of production of this inverter we have no records of any leaky petcocks and never even replaced one. Of course we would issue a recall and notify the CPSC if ther was any leak problem.
3) The picture of the O-ring postednby #40C is not from a Champion inverter. So, with respect, his post is suspect. No phone call to Champion, which he indicates he did, and a fabricated photo. Please call me.
4) The petcock replacement that we are now conducting with two guys from our factory is because of a possible restriction caused by the swelling of a gasket when contacted with E10 ( the unsustainable fuel additive promoted by EPA - this is poison for ALL small engines and EQPA is now promoting E15)
5) Costco and Sams consider the 2000 W Inverter to be a Spring/Summer item. They will drop them for Fall Winter. Of course they are wrong, but I don't have the pencil.
6). My customer service team still loves ton take care of any issues with our product and they especially love to learn from you. Give them a call with any issues or questions you may have.
โJul-19-2011 08:19 PM
โJul-18-2011 01:22 PM
byates wrote:professor95 wrote:byates wrote:
If so, CPE should be congratulated in securing the temporary work visas for those Chinese factory workers. Requirements for entry into the US are pretty stringent. Prior to this, it appears CPE has only filed for the temporary work program twice, 2006 and 2008.
Not everyone at the factory in China needs a temporary work visa. Some of the engineers and techs are from our country and can come here any time they want or are needed.
If that's the case, then that would explain why I was unable to confirm any CPE filings for temporary work visas in 2011. I can only imagine the enormity of the task of replacing these petcocks.
What percent of the several thousand units were tested after replacement of the petcocks? Will CPE release the serial numbers and dates of manufacture of the affected units?
โJul-18-2011 10:12 AM
PrivatePilot wrote:
There are lots of companies out there that do these sort of refurb/rework jobs. It's very doubtful Champion did this job themselves.
โJul-18-2011 07:22 AM
โJul-18-2011 06:59 AM
professor95 wrote:byates wrote:
If so, CPE should be congratulated in securing the temporary work visas for those Chinese factory workers. Requirements for entry into the US are pretty stringent. Prior to this, it appears CPE has only filed for the temporary work program twice, 2006 and 2008.
Not everyone at the factory in China needs a temporary work visa. Some of the engineers and techs are from our country and can come here any time they want or are needed.
โJul-18-2011 03:42 AM
#40Fan wrote:
I know of three units purchased from this store in the last week. Two by me, and one other by my boss. Boss is out using his this weekend, and my first purchase was OK.
Knowing that this was a problem, I'll give them a call Monday.
BTW, all three gens had a birthday of 12/2010.
Scary part of this, is that the fuel drips down on the wiring coming from the front panel, travels down the wiring and drips on the main board. What falls from the petcock drips onto a relay. Could lead to an easy fire situation in a hurry.