Did I buy the wrong generator?

[MossflowerWoods]

Not that I have much of a choice, Generators are slim pickings hereabouts...


But Home Depot has TWO different Husky 5000w generators. One has a Subaru motor, one has a Brigs & Stratton.

Same price.


I drove 65 miles round trip to get the only one anywhere near me.

I got the Brigs and Stratton, I thought I was going to get the Subaru one (My FIL has one and loves it).

I'm not sure I can get it back in my truck without using the FEL and or a couple big guys becasue it is HEAVY and I'm still limited duty due to busted collar bone.

But, I just want to know if I goofed when I blindly said "I'll take it, Put my name on it!"

I'm a big boy and can take my lumps. Give it to me straight.
Thanks in advance.

Be well,
David

 

[om21braz]

But Home Depot has TWO different Husky 500w generators. One has a Subaru motor, one has a Brigs & Stratton.

We will assume you mean 5000 watt, not 500. I expect in using as most people do, you'll never know the difference. If it is to be heavily used, I would want something besides either one of the 2 choices.

 

[Egon]

The Retailer will load it for you.

B&S has different quality engines.

 

[TripleR]

Hard to tell, as mentioned B&S makes different quality engines. We bought a 7500 Black Max with a Honda Engine and also have a 5000 Troy Bilt with B&S. We wanted something with a little more power to run our sump pump, water punp as well as refrigerator, freezer. With the 5000, we had to sht some things off and stagger use.

 

[yooper1]

I spent 6 years running a test site that tested both of those generators in severe winter weather scenarios.


- 24 hours a day from November to April....(well actually about 23 hours a day. We needed to shut hem off once to refuel the tanks and slave tanks for them to run all day)
- drawing a full load
- temps down to 30 below weather

lets just say this

the B&S one would be my choice

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I spent 6 years running a test site that tested both of those generators in severe winter weather scenarios.


- 24 hours a day from November to April....(well actually about 23 hours a day. We needed to shut hem off once to refuel the tanks and slave tanks for them to run all day)
- drawing a full load
- temps down to 30 below weather

lets just say this

the B&S one would be my choice

WOW!

I FEEL MUCH BETTER!!!!!!!!!:thumbsup:

That is a STRONG endorsement Yooper1!

Thank You!

David

 

[yooper1]

but...if I had the money I would definitely go Honda

 

[MossflowerWoods]

but...if I had the money I would definitely go Honda

I hear that one!

I thought I had heard many glowing reviews of the new Subaru small engines here on TBNand that they were close to Honda quality, at a lower price point.

When I build a place up on the ridge, I'm going to put in a diesel standby generator.

Mostly I need this one for things like building my pasture fence, sheds, etc away from the house. Probably for some of the building prep for the house up on the ridge SOMEDAY I hope to build...

But it is nice to know that it will work as a back up in the caseof power loss. It will keep the essentials running (fridge, freezer, and well pump).

Thanks,
David

 

[yooper1]

and don't get me wrong here but each and every manufacturer may have it's problems but some have more and some have less

 

[rtimgray]

I have a similar sized generator with a 10 hp B&S engine and it has been essentially trouble-free for almost 10 years.

I had a go cart with a Subaru engine that lasted less than one year before I had major problems, eventually leading to the demise of the go cart.

Different applications, but I won't personally be looking for anything with a Subaru small engine again.

Good luck and take care.

 

[jinman]

I know there is a lot more to a generator than just the engine, but I'd think you could be sure to find parts and service in a lot more places for the B&S engine than the Subaru-Robin powerplant. It seems every small engine repair shop on the planet can work on B&S engines.

 

[yooper1]

Also...just hopefully a helpful note here...


Write down the engine numbers and keep in a safe place

On Briggs & Strattons (on that generator) you should find 3 numbers on the valve cover. (If not on the valve cover it will be on the (usually) silver / nickel plate on one side or the other of the engine.) The numbers can be hard to actually read as they are stamped into the metal but the stamper must have run outta ooomph on a lot of them because they ar lightly stamped.

It will have a model number, trim and code and look like

12A123
281011
1991 E1

The top number here is the model number or 12A123 (or just Model 12 for short)
the middle number is the date of mfg November 28, 2011
the bottom is actually the code that tells where it was made and the trim (options) it has.

As of this reply I am not 100% sure of the actual order on the valve cover, but the model number is always easy to spot with 2 digits then a letter then 3 or 4 digits after that


I also know that the numbers should be on the box / crate, but I never trust some factory employee getting the stickers right on the correct box for the correct machine. I always physically double check them

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Also...just hopefully a helpful note here...

Write down the engine numbers and keep in a safe place

I will do that later today when I put the wheels etc on it.

But what am I doing it for? Theft recovery?

Just curious...

But THANK YOU!!!

David

 

[yooper1]

Well that and just having a model number is handy if you need to change the spark plug or get an air filter etc.

Then there are people that would possibly do more mechanical type work if it should ever not work right and they may not want to bring it to a mechanic after the warranty expires.

And trust me, having the model number written down BEFORE you need it is a good thing.

No need to kneel down in snow or mud or be out in cold weather with your gloves off looking for the model number if and when the plug fouls. We all know it will never act up while it is in a dry heated garage

 

[TimberXX]

Are you in Ladysmith VA? Isn"t that a suburb of Richmond. I lived in both Charlottesville and Lorton.

Have you considered buying a generator online? Some offer free shipping, others have discounted shipping to a dock, or unload it yourself.

I don't know about running these generators for 23 hours per day for several months. Some of the lower end air cooled engines are toast in 800 hours, esspecially attached to a generator when they are running full RPM constantly.

 

[JD 4520]

I spent 6 years running a test site that tested both of those generators in severe winter weather scenarios.

- 24 hours a day from November to April....(well actually about 23 hours a day. We needed to shut hem off once to refuel the tanks and slave tanks for them to run all day)
- drawing a full load
- temps down to 30 below weather

lets just say this

the B&S one would be my choice

This is a strong endorsement that I would have bet against. TBN is a great source of info.
I have a Honda 6500 water cooled with more than 2500 trouble free hours and suspect many more to go. I change the oil every 50 hours as it only takes a quart and worth the small cost.

 

[TimberXX]

There is a big difference between a husky and a liquid cooled honda.

I have a briggs generator myself and love it. I must have 500 hours on it.

But the cheap or box store generators worry me. The quality is not there. A cheap genset head can damage your appliances.

 

[Pirate]

A cheap genset head can damage your appliances.

How does Winco stack up?

 

[TimberXX]

We use winco's at work commercially. I've seen ones with 2500 hours.

They also have a home line.

They are one of my favorite brands. Are you on electric generators direct?

 

[kenmac]

the B&S should serve you well. I have a 5500 watt with 10 hp B&S for several yrs now. No problems