Not sure how to feel about this. Last January we had our big ice storm. Checked the 27 year old Homelite 4400 Watt generator in December with new gas and oil and checked oil and stuff and cleaned the air filter, replaced the gas filter. It always started on second or third pull. Okay..... check that off and add some stabilizer to the gas. So we get this ice storm. Utilities said it will be a week or more to restore. No utility power for 8 days. Wife was really mad about the situation. Damn generator would not start, ..... pulled and pulled, had spark, and cleaned the carb in the cold. And made sure it had oil and was level. Made an attempt to start and work on it everyday to no avail. But I didn't have any Starter Fluid. We stayed out of power for eight days till utility came back on. We figured its time to get a new one, so we are looking these up online.
Just for laughs, I pull the gen out, this week, late August, for one last try before replacing it. Maybe I can get $50 for it as non-running. Starts on second pull and purrs like a cat. WTF....
Good points, in folk's responses to this Murphy 201 example ^
90's point on a damper (vibe) I like.... big stuff is sometimes isolated for that reason, and worn tires are everywhere. A few examples should be found on Ytube, of acoustic panels people have used to direct sound Up...... IIRC one, just the junk panels a guy had lying around showed showed some effect on his db meter.
Fuel.... I'll use my Mom's expression about me planning to spend beer-money (that I don't use) on VP Racing fuel for my small stuff..... me, and my Scottish ancestors both, would never expect me to type that.
Stock up on the Quik Start - I don't like to use it, and don't like seeing it over-used, but it has it's place. Backup, depending on ambient - just a propane torch (unlit); I bought one of those foldable silicone funnels @ the dollar store just for this purpose - sits in the garage beside the torch - emergency manifold, to get propane up to a carb.
Two is One, One is None..... I like to keep old equipment running (it's great to see what has been fixed in this thread), but esp. with a Generator, a backup is prudent.
I do like Honda, but these days I'd vote for propane - I suspect that "they" still aren't finished de-functioning gasoline. In smaller stuff, I'm attracted to what many people tag-team for RV's - small, light inverter generators, that are designed to be paralleled to double power capacity. Even if you don't buy two off the hop, you may want to buy the second later. Multiple sources for these ^, I don't own one, but from the feedback on here and elsewhere, I'd spend time reviewing Champion options - not hating on anything else, just a comment on perceived price/performance/reliability of Champion. Don't own this one either, but the reviews I've read on Harbor Freight's line seemed good - I've followed their Predator engines, so that ties together well, at least as a story !
Rgds, D.
