Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Travelover]

Watched the video. That sucker is way noisy.

You were watching it on YouTube? Turn down the volume. :laughing:

Seriously, though, I'm breaking in the replacement I got this AM with a 600 watt load. I can't hear it running inside. Standing next to it, it is about as loud as a lawnmower. It has a mellow purr tone due to a very large muffler.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Please tell us your tale of woe.

I had an awful with the ETQ 1,000 watt unit from Northern Tool. Everything broke, one thing after another. We could not get a hold of customer service, and we had to pay $40 to send it back for a replacement. Then after the replacement came we found out it was refurbished. Then that unit broke. I finally had to eat the $130 + $40 and chalk it up to experience...

 

[California]

I've never bought HF's warranty on anything. But after reading this, I would buy it for this generator.

 

[Travelover]

I had an awful with the ETQ 1,000 watt unit from Northern Tool. Everything broke, one thing after another. We could not get a hold of customer service, and we had to pay $40 to send it back for a replacement. Then after the replacement came we found out it was refurbished. Then that unit broke. I finally had to eat the $130 + $40 and chalk it up to experience...

Ouch - that would tick anyone off.

In my case, I've got 89 bucks and tax invested. On the website there are 150 reviews and only a couple of people that seem to have been stung, the rest seem pretty happy. So, I'll play the odds and if it craps out, I'm out a maximum of a little over 90 dollars. In the meantime, I'm running it with a load to break it in and if there are any immediate issues, they should surface.

When I returned the one with the bad starter this AM, the clerk did not even look in the box. I could have had a cinder block in there. :laughing:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Ouch - that would tick anyone off.

In my case, I've got 89 bucks and tax invested. On the website there are 150 reviews and only a couple of people that seem to have been stung, the rest seem pretty happy. So, I'll play the odds and if it craps out, I'm out a maximum of a little over 90 dollars. In the meantime, I'm running it with a load to break it in and if there are any immediate issues, they should surface.

When I returned the one with the bad starter this AM, the clerk did not even look in the box. I could have had a cinder block in there. :laughing:

I read the reviews at Northern Tool and almost all of them were 5 stars. Not only multiple components broke, but as soon as I got it the fuel tank leaked...:confused2:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I've never bought HF's warranty on anything. But after reading this, I would buy it for this generator.

Or just don't buy it altogether...

 

[crazyal]

If they would put a 4 stroke on their 800watt generator I think I would buy one. The 98cc engine is nice running. I think it would make for a nice match with a 1200w generator.

 

[Travelover]

If they would put a 4 stroke on their 800watt generator I think I would buy one. The 98cc engine is nice running. I think it would make for a nice match with a 1200w generator.

I agree. The Chonda 4 stroke engines seem to be pretty dependable. I'm leery of the electrical part on their bigger generators,though, and that's why I popped for the cheapy one - to limit my exposure.

I'm curious as to what they do with all the returned stuff. It seems like a lot of stuff only has a minor issue like a wire not hooked up.

 

[crazyal]

I agree. The Chonda 4 stroke engines seem to be pretty dependable. I'm leery of the electrical part on their bigger generators,though, and that's why I popped for the cheapy one - to limit my exposure.

I'm curious as to what they do with all the returned stuff. It seems like a lot of stuff only has a minor issue like a wire not hooked up.

I also limit myself to how much I spend on some things (like electronics). But I also have a larger one. It would be nice for around the $100ish to have something that is light and could power a circular saw.

 

[California]

I'm curious as to what they do with all the returned stuff.

I've seen some of it at their Sidewalk Sales.

If you search their brand names on Ebay, you can find the big liquidator who they wholesale the un-salable stuff to. I think he's in Nashville or at least that part of the country, so I haven't watched his auctions - due to shipping cost.