I always did like fishing, just knew I'd get you're attention............:wave:
Portable Generator/Black Friday Deal
- Thread starter RSKY
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I always did like fishing, just knew I'd get you're attention............:wave:
buickanddeere
Super Member
The best quality clone of a Honda is Champion?
I've heard lots of good things about Champion. Only negative (not actually) story I know - Piloon (IIRC) had a non-running one that he bought from a friend for next to nothing. He went through it before pulling the gen head off (what he bought it for) - turns out the only issue was that after running up high hours on construction sites, it needed nothing more than the valves adjusted. Ran fine after that, it was just lack of maintenance that had sidelined that one.....
If I lived south of the 49'th (or, for the right price, was traveling there), I'd checkout Harborfreight's Predator line. It seems to have accumulated a good rep/following too.
Not saying other clones are bad; I don't know enough about them to comment.....
Rgds, D.
I seriously considered the Harbor Freight Predator generator but after comparing decided to go with the larger, cheaper unit. Differences are as follows.
The Sam's generator cost $594 plus tax with no shipping charges. It is 10,000 starting and 8,000 running watts. The Harbor Freight Predator is 8750 starting and 7,000 running watts and cost $670 with the wheel kit and battery both which come standard from Sam's. They both have a 420cc engine which appears the same in pictures and specs in everything except horsepower. The Predator is 13-hp and I saw somewhere that the GenCorp is 14-hp. Only difference I can find is specs is that the Predator requires 87 octane, GenCorp 90 octane. I will burn ethanol free gas in any generator I own so that doesn't matter to me. The GenCorp unit is 37 pounds heavier but that may be because it comes with wheel kit and battery. The Predator is 76db while the GenCorp is 77db. Run time on the Predator is 12 hours at 1/2 load on 6 gallons. On GenCorp run time is 11 hours at 1/2 load on 8 gallons. THAT is a huge difference in fuel usage. Especially with the octane difference. I do like the larger fuel tank, burn it down to slightly less than a third and dump in an entire five gallons.
Both look to be good units for emergency use but not what I would get for using every day. If I intended to use the generator on a daily basis I would get a Honda or Yamaha.
They are still on sale and my unit should be here on the 20th of December.
RSKY
The Sam's generator cost $594 plus tax with no shipping charges. It is 10,000 starting and 8,000 running watts. The Harbor Freight Predator is 8750 starting and 7,000 running watts and cost $670 with the wheel kit and battery both which come standard from Sam's. They both have a 420cc engine which appears the same in pictures and specs in everything except horsepower. The Predator is 13-hp and I saw somewhere that the GenCorp is 14-hp. Only difference I can find is specs is that the Predator requires 87 octane, GenCorp 90 octane. I will burn ethanol free gas in any generator I own so that doesn't matter to me. The GenCorp unit is 37 pounds heavier but that may be because it comes with wheel kit and battery. The Predator is 76db while the GenCorp is 77db. Run time on the Predator is 12 hours at 1/2 load on 6 gallons. On GenCorp run time is 11 hours at 1/2 load on 8 gallons. THAT is a huge difference in fuel usage. Especially with the octane difference. I do like the larger fuel tank, burn it down to slightly less than a third and dump in an entire five gallons.
Both look to be good units for emergency use but not what I would get for using every day. If I intended to use the generator on a daily basis I would get a Honda or Yamaha.
They are still on sale and my unit should be here on the 20th of December.
RSKY
Industrial Toys
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Not a fan of anything GAS myself. But I offered to get a Champion splitter going for a neighbor. Must say how impressed I was with Champion customer service and parts price/availability.
You can't say that for many of the Chinese Portable generators. Often parts simply aren't available at any price. A bunch are made, some name is put on them, and they are shipped over and sold by various means. And that's the END of the process!
Some places like Princess Auto will sell such stuff, but gladly refund your money if you come back (even) years later and can't get service or parts. It's the only place that I would buy Chinese equipment, because you really can't loose, except that the thing might not work when you need it the most.
You can't say that for many of the Chinese Portable generators. Often parts simply aren't available at any price. A bunch are made, some name is put on them, and they are shipped over and sold by various means. And that's the END of the process!
Some places like Princess Auto will sell such stuff, but gladly refund your money if you come back (even) years later and can't get service or parts. It's the only place that I would buy Chinese equipment, because you really can't loose, except that the thing might not work when you need it the most.
George2615
Super Member
Just an FYI for other potential generator buyers that may opt for the Predator. the Predator 8750 was on sale the entire month of Nov. and is still on sale the month of Dec. for $529.99 plus the battery and wheel kit which puts it right around $600.00
kenmac
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if my power were out for several days. I would want something a little better than a Chinese generator and motor. Not so sure it would hold up to continuous running without coming apart.
Good luck with your purchase... If it last running continuous for several days, let us know
Good luck with your purchase... If it last running continuous for several days, let us know
The last Chinese generator I owned ran for a little more than two weeks solid. It ran day and night and was shut off only to change the oil and fill it with gas. It ran reliably and powered a home with up to twelve people living in it. And it was a small 4000 watt unit. I ruined it a couple years later, my fault, not the generator's.
I have an American made Briggs and Stratton generator now. It is a 5500 watt and my wife cannot pull start it. She couldn't start the little 2000 watt one my daughter had during the 2009 ice storm. So the issue is electric start. I did not need a generator for the first 55 years of my life. So it would be stupid to spend $2-3000 for a Honda/Yamaha/Briggs that I may never need the next 55 years.
And up yours with the condescending attitude of your post. You sound like some of the people around here who ran out after the 2009 storm and spent $10-20,000 on whole house automatic units that have sat unused for the past eight years. Real smart use of your resources. My goal is not to be able to brag and say I have the most popular highest priced brand. It is to have a tool for emergency use when the need arises, if that need ever arises.
RSKY
Streetcar
Veteran Member
I bought generator from Sam’s a couple of years ago for work. It was Chinese clone that ranks great from 6 to 8 hours a day for a couple of months. I could not get parts when carburetor cracked. I eventually was given new machine under warranty. Machine was sent to another job and I have not seen it since
TheMan419
Veteran Member
Yes the Honda's are nice. But I agree unless my power was out all the time I would not spend the money on it.
I have a gen set powered by a Honda but not as quiet. However it was a fraction of the cost so I am all good with it.
I have a gen set powered by a Honda but not as quiet. However it was a fraction of the cost so I am all good with it.
