Portable Generators

mellow wrote:
I guess I'll be the cheapo, is anyone using the Harbor Freight Inverter Generator? I buy a lot from there because I can get a 2 year no questions asked warranty, take it back and get another one and their store footprint is growing, giving me more places to take return it to while on the road.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators/2500-peak2200-running-watts-47-hp-125cc-portable-inverter-generator-61169.html

I've got the HF2500 watt inverter job, and I can tell you it won't run my dometic 13,500 BTU a/c, but it will run everything else, including my microwave, if the fridge is on propane. I never run my fridge on anything but shore power or propane, but I have a hunch the HF2500 won't run the micro/inverter/fridge at the same time. just my .02 cents.

As other's have said, I also use it around the house for convenience with the garden/lawn stuff.

mellow wrote:
I guess I'll be the cheapo, is anyone using the Harbor Freight Inverter Generator? I buy a lot from there because I can get a 2 year no questions asked warranty, take it back and get another one and their store footprint is growing, giving me more places to take return it to while on the road.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators/2500-peak2200-running-watts-47-hp-125cc-portable-inverter-generator-61169.html

Read the review. One well qualified customer measure the actual ratings to be much lower than written ones. (I think you will find similar issue on high end generators as well)
I am using HF small generator and like it.
But with coupon I paid 80-some bucks and if that thing fails, no regrets to put it in garbage can (after draining the fuel).

mellow wrote:
I guess I'll be the cheapo, is anyone using the Harbor Freight Inverter Generator? I buy a lot from there because I can get a 2 year no questions asked warranty, take it back and get another one and their store footprint is growing, giving me more places to take return it to while on the road.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators/2500-peak2200-running-watts-47-hp-125cc-portable-inverter-generator-61169.html

I know these generators use the top end off of a GY6 scooter engine. Parts are easy to find and they are easy to work on.

RedRocket204 wrote:

Ajones42 wrote:
I had two Yamaha EF2000 generators. One failed at ~1600 hours with an excessive engine oil leak. Back to the shop for 4 (!!) months for warranty repair. Still leaks. Second failed at ~1800 hrs with the same problem and currently in the shop for repair.

When I asked the Yamaha service rep he said that he normally does not see such high hours on the units. Sorry! I bought a premium quality generator and paid the price because I intended to use it. I thought the excuse for the failure was POOR! I went as far as writing a registered letter to Yamaha Motorsports voicing my disappointment. It was received but never acknowledged.

ADIOS YAMAHA!

Kind of shocked to read this of a Yamaha product since they have always been known for quality products. Even my 2007 Yamaha Grizzly 700 is still running very strong but I do know that was a Yamaha produced product. I understand that previous Yamaha small CC quad engines weren't build by Yamaha... curious if this may be the case with Yamaha's generator line too.

2 identical Yamaha generators fail at basically the identical age (usage hours) with the identical mechanical problem. I am not real smart but that is more than mere coincidence in my book.

Add additional insult when repair is attempted through an authorized dealer and it takes 4 months and the unit is still leaking oil. Pile some more indignation on when I make a sincere attempt to contact the Yamaha Corporate Bosses and I get ignored.

No more Yamaha products for me.

I guess I'll be the cheapo, is anyone using the Harbor Freight Inverter Generator? I buy a lot from there because I can get a 2 year no questions asked warranty, take it back and get another one and their store footprint is growing, giving me more places to take return it to while on the road.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engines-generators/gas-engine-generators/2500-peak2200-running-watts-47-hp-125cc-portable-inverter-generator-61169.html

ops thought i was googling

Reddog1 wrote:

smooth1 wrote:
... Only switched because my buddy accidently bought 2 Honda's so I thought I would give it a try.

Just curious, but how would you accidentally buy two Honda's?

Wayne

His wife bought him one for Christmas while he was researching one for himself. She didn't think he would buy one until after the holidays were over. He ordered before Santa showed up and ended up with two.

The question I asked myself was, "Am I really going to need this Honda i2K generator?"
Eight years ago, the answer was, "Yes" but I subsequently sold my rock crawler and don't spend a week camping at a trailhead. I used it once to start my bro John's truck camper after it sat for a week at Means Dry Lake (aka: The Hammers).
We tried to use it one time @ 10K feet and it would hardly run. Got some altitude jets that we've never used. We've used it when we were at a camp for more than 3 days. This was pre-Solar. That's when I needed to charge the batteries. For our use it was almost over kill, every time, but an insurance policy if the truck would not start. I took it to the shop as it finally would not start. The reason? Lack of use and old gas .
However, I still use it but not for the original purposes. I drag it around in a small metal mesh garden wagon with a 50 foot, 12 GA cord to run my 1500W leaf blower to blow off our 125 foot driveway. Just today, I used our 10Amp, corded Weed Whacker for an hour around the back of the property using the same power set up with the wagon. On some extremely cold winter nights when the power has gone off (and the 7KW backup generator is running) we use it to power a 150W incandescent bulb in the pump house. Again, way overkill. The well head has frozen on us a couple times frying the electronic board. We now have an insulated pump house. None of these uses were even in my lexicon when I bought the Honda 2K. With the addition of 200W solar there is only one reason to take it along in the TC: truck won't start. We don't have AC. We don't use a microwave.
So, the long and short is:
1. Write down every conceivable reason for a generator.
2. Slowly, and don't hurry this process, whittle the reasons down.
3. If you've whittled it down to no reasons you don't need a generator.
jefe

smooth1 wrote:
... Only switched because my buddy accidently bought 2 Honda's so I thought I would give it a try.

Just curious, but how would you accidentally buy two Honda's?

Wayne

Had a Yamaha 2000 and now have a Honda 2000. Same camper. Really miss the fuel gauge on the Yamaha. Can't get a fuel gauge on the Honda. Honda doesn't seem to need to rev as high running the 9200 polar cub AC unit when you put it on eco. Only switched because my buddy accidently bought 2 Honda's so I thought I would give it a try.