Info on generator?

I see a McCulloch Mite-E-Lite generator coming up at an auction. It doesn't look like it has been used in a while. Does anyone have any good or bad stories on one of these? It is a 3300 watt unit. I shy away from all of the newer gen sets as most come from the land of almost right. Thanks for any info you can give me! If you are unsure of this particular generator, click on the link!
Mite E Lite images
 
the generator hangs on the motor shaft and the shaft tends to break after a while, Seen a couple that did that
 
I was a Mc Culloch dealer in the 1960- 70's and only sold one of these units. It had poorly designed field coils. The slightest overload condition let the magic smoke out, The owner finally got tire of sending it back for warranty repair and abandoned it. If you keep the load under the rating and it might last.
 
In the early 90's an elderly neighbor had a smaller (1.5 kw?) Mite-E-Lite with a 3-1/2 HP B&S engine.

It ran pretty much non-stop for 8 or 9 days during an area-wide power outage (ice storm). It powered his sump pump, the boiler circ pump and a couple small lights.

Only problem is the generator's tank held only enough fuel for about 1-1/2 hours of operation. Otherwise it seemed like a decent unit.
 
I had a couple the problem was the thrust bearings would not stand the side load, and the flywheel (armature?)would rub the copper coils and short things out.
 
Any portable generator should not carry a sustained load of more than 75% of it's rated continuous capacity .
Watch the "name plate" capacity rating. It's often a peak or 2 minute intermittent duty rating. Not the continuous rating .
The brand Champion has an American head office with equipment built in China to spec. Champion appears to have high quality specs and they keep checking to make certain the Chinese don't start cheapening the manufacturing.
I know of several units and they work as well as any comparable Yamaha or Honda.
 
Not something you would want. Unless you like seeing smoke. Had four in my shop at one time.Bearing failure was common. Which let the rotor hit the stator and let the smoke out. Also parts no longer out there for the gen section
 
basically a collectors item , there is a fan club out there if you search the internet. I just picked up a 4 hp unit for $75 this winter. Runs and generates fine. Dont plan on using it for emergency power just think its cute looking. Got a second one that the carb and gas tank are gummed up . bill
 

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