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Generators

G

Greenman

Lifer
Looking to buy my third generator in as many years (might be the fourth). The last two have been Subaru engines, which are complete garbage. Dead in 100 hours. I've never owned anything with a Briggs engine that didn't require an hour of screwing with to get it to start, so those are out. Anything from China is out, I don't care who's name is on it. The Chinese are incapable of producing a quality engine.
Honda is my first choice, and probably my second choice, should there be a third? Is there any other small engine that's close to Honda quality? I've seen a couple generators that claim to be from an American company, but the engines are clearly Chinese. I can't afford anymore "inexpensive" generators.

Opinions?
 
I've got 2 Yamaha's and 2 of the Honda whisper generators. The Yamaha's are a bit more powerful, which is nice if you hook it up to your RV(can start the AC). I haven't had any issues started the yamaha in any situation either.
 
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Looks like I found a used Multiquip with an 11 horse Honda motor for a good price. I'm going to cross my fingers and buy it.
 
What size do you need?
Several of the RV guys I talk to are totally sold on one of those chinese units, the Boliy.
They use the heck out of them, and they are inverter, honda-quiet units at less than half the price.
http://store.boliygenerator.com/index.html

They can run the 13,500 BTU roof AC units, so they would start a decent sized table saw.
 
I need 4000 watts.
There is no way I'll buy a Chinese made engine, for anything.
I found a used 6000 watt Multiquip with an 11 horse Honda engine, the price is right, I'm picking it up in the morning.

The only thing I don't like is that it weighs 200 pounds, but it's two hundred pounds of quality equipment. I'll learn to live with the weight.
 
NetWareHead said:
Get a diesel generator. Diesel will spin at 1800 vs 3600 for a gas.
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Hard to find. I needed a generator Monday morning at 8:00 am.

I picked up a 6000 watt Multiquip with an 11 horse Honda engine for $550. Used of course, but in very good condition. The owner claimed very low hours, may or may not be true.
 
Greenman said:
I've never owned anything with a Briggs engine that didn't require an hour of screwing with to get it to start, so those are out.
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60mph winds came through Sunday after midnight knocking out our power. I've been powering the house with a 7000W generator with a Briggs twin cylinder Vanguard engine in it. I've had it for almost 15 years and it starts right up when needed.

You asked for opinions...
 
boomhower said:
Very true, and it's even harder to find off road diesel. But if you can it's a significant savings over the on road stuff.
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If a generator is such an important tool to the OP and with the power he needs (4000-6000 watts), it would be advantageous to him to research a diesel genset. Diesels offer better longevity, lower noise levels, better fuel economy and if you can get off-road diesel (if its cheaper than gasoline, then this is a no-brainer).

Re: diesel availability, while it is not universally available as gasoline, it is definitely out there. I made a diesel Jetta TDI as my daily driver and you eventually learn where the diesel stations are. If you go the off-road diesel route, you can fill up the genset back at home with diesel fuel you get delivered.

It sounds like OP uses a generator frequently and possibly depends on it to make a living or run something important and often. In this scenario, it costs more to keep buying replacement gasoline generators year after year and to run a gasoline genset (diesels can idle all day long on a sip of fuel, at least compared to gas engines). Only con about diesel is the initial investment cost and the damn things are heavy.
 
Diesel generator are more efficient and for the most part, last longer. But, diesel fuel is not as universally available as gasoline.

I also need a generator for a mountain cabin and lugging jugs of diesel in the car up a mountain is not always convenient. I normally fill my Suburban 31 gallons and I have a tap from my fuel tank. Should I get snowed in or need to stay extra days I’ll have enough in my Suburbans fuel tank to last the entire time. If I’m not traveling with the whole family, I don’t mind putting two 5 gallon gas cans in the Suburban. So for me, a gas generator works best. I need the gasoline also for the chain saw, mower, air compressor, and other power equipment. Have two fuels, would be more difficult for me.
 
boomerang said:
60mph winds came through Sunday after midnight knocking out our power. I've been powering the house with a 7000W generator with a Briggs twin cylinder Vanguard engine in it. I've had it for almost 15 years and it starts right up when needed.

You asked for opinions...
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I did indeed. I've never had a good experience with a Briggs engine. Maybe I've just been unlucky, but at this point owning one would be a last resort for me.

The diesel generator is a good idea, something I'll be looking into in the future.
 
There are several concerns regarding generators that primarily are composed of the following:

What is your base load?
Are any of your loads inductive that might require high starting power?
Is your equipment sensitive where the added cost of an inverter generator is either advisable or mandatory?

I don't want to sound like a broken record so I'll just link to this old thread. There might be some thoughts worth reading into 🙂
 
thecoolnessrune said:
There are several concerns regarding generators that primarily are composed of the following:

What is your base load?
Are any of your loads inductive that might require high starting power?
Is your equipment sensitive where the added cost of an inverter generator is either advisable or mandatory?

I don't want to sound like a broken record so I'll just link to this old thread. There might be some thoughts worth reading into 🙂
Click to expand...

It's a job site generator. I could survive on 3000 watts if I had to, biggest draw is an electric breaker that needs 20 amps. The Multiquip I picked up puts out twice the amperage I need, with a claimed 3% distortion.
 
SparkyJJO said:
Hm, not really ever had an issue with Briggs. Oil, gas, check spark plug, pull and go.
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Perhaps I've just been unlucky, but I've never owned a dependable Briggs.
It appears I was mistaken about the Subaru engines, it looks like it's around 400 hours when they die, at least that's what I got out of the last two. The issue with both of them appears to be the carburetor, though a complete cleaning didn't help at all. I wasn't able to find a new carb locally.
 
My snowblower has a Briggs on it and it starts right up. Usually 2nd pull. Mower is a Briggs too. Are you draining the gas out of them when you're done using them or at least running some stabilizer through it?
 
Always had good luck with B&S generators. Never took any real futzing to get them started. Even ran a TIG welder off of an old ~4kW B&S without much issue.

I've heard good things about Generac too. Made in the US (I think, can't verify), always highly rated, and have models that run on propane. I liked the propane option because it's commonly available, doesn't go bad like gasoline, and I can use it for my grill, garage heater, blow torch, etc. I think that's what I'm going to get when I finally pony up for a generator now that I own a house.
 
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Unless it's diesel, don't bother.

Most gas generators run at high rpms and are not very efficient AT ALL.

Also, keep in mind you can power most Diesel generators with Propane/Gas.
 
JCH13 said:
Always had good luck with B&S generators. Never took any real futzing to get them started. Even ran a TIG welder off of an old ~4kW B&S without much issue.

I've heard good things about Generac too. Made in the US (I think, can't verify), always highly rated, and have models that run on propane. I liked the propane option because it's commonly available, doesn't go bad like gasoline, and I can use it for my grill, garage heater, blow torch, etc. I think that's what I'm going to get when I finally pony up for a generator now that I own a house.
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I think Generac is a Chinese engine.
 
Yup, I've seen the Whitewater, WI plant and the XP and XG series are really well-made, great generators for contractors, construction, and industries where sensitive power deliver isn't a concern 🙂 Their other generators though? Typical Chinese generator stuff with typical Chinese generator issues..
 
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