Generator question.

JayinNY · Jan 1, 2014

I started my Honda genny today, I sit down and look threw the
mail from the other day and I see a harbor freight flyer. I'm
looking at it and see this genny for$459.00, 6500 watt ect. It
looks exactly like my Honda, so I'm guessing its a clone!
Anybody have a predator generator? A Honda is about
$2400? Vs $459 for one of these ones? But if it is any good
that's cheap insurance. Second pic is off the screen of my
phone, iPhones can take a pic of what's on there screen, so I
hope it looks good for u puker users.

NCWayne · Jan 1, 2014

As far as the engine end, I know quite a few of my customers that have bought them for one thing or another. To my knowledge none of them have had any problems out of the engines whether they were horizontal or vertical shaft. The longest one going, so far, is going on better than 6 years.

As far as the generator end I couldn't say.

T.R.K. · Jan 1, 2014

Back in the Fall I worked on a so-called 'honda' that turned out the really be a "Jing Dong" made in the great land of China.
It was a very close copy of a genuine Honda but no idea how to determine which Honda it was a copy of.
No carburetor parts were available, only the complete carburetor well over $100.
(From SearsParts.com If anyone wants to know.)

Geo-TH,In · Jan 1, 2014

The honda is the top of the line, also expensive.

Been doing some research, Champion is a honda clone. I have a champion RV 3500 w which you can buy for around $300 on sale. I love mine, easy on gas, quiet, easy to start, RV out is 110v/30amp.

I could buy many clones for the price of a honda. My clone could blow up today and I would be happy with the service I've gotten from it. Buy another one in a heart beat.

I'm shopping around to get the remote start champion RV 3500 watt. So far Home Depot has the best price $469.

I want remote start so I can turn it on and off without going outside.
George

DoubleR · Jan 1, 2014

You got the top of the line, as far as I'm concerned. I spent the last week shopping and researching generators. After a week with no power I decided to replace my 33 year old Coleman 4000 watt. I couldn't bring myself to spend over two grand for the Honda so I ordered a generac yesterday.
I do have a little Honda 2000 watt, which is a real sweetheart, for my RV. It Will run 8 hours on a gallon of gas at half load.

JayinNY · Jan 1, 2014

I dident mention, I got my Honda from
A dealer I worked for, used, 10 years ago for $300 bucks, lol he took it in on trade and i asked him what he wanted for it. it's been great to me.

JayinNY · Jan 1, 2014

I don't blame you, I wouldent either. I paid, or worked off $300 for my Honda, only thing I can say is 6 winters working at the dealer, not many Hondas came back for problems.

JD Seller · Jan 1, 2014

That Honda is a top of the line machine. The clones are just junk waiting to break down and not be able to repair them. I have had several of them brought to me to fix. Most of the time you can not find any parts for them. If you do they are not just repair kits it is a complete item. Like no carb repair kits just a whole new carb.

Got one now that just broke a switch on the front. None available. No wiring diagrams to be found. The old switch melted into a blob of plastic. You can't tell anything about it.

If you are only going to us it one every six months and do not have to depend on it that the cheap clones are fine. They would not be my choice for below zero in an ice storm to keep my family warm.

JayinNY · Jan 1, 2014

Lol, yep I hear you, my Honda has limited use, but I've never done a thing to it other than oil changes, in 10 years. I pulled it out today, I'm not $hitten u started on the first pull, I ran it for a 1/2 hour with a light plugged into it to "excercise" the generator windings.

Billy Shafer · Jan 1, 2014

I have one of those Harbor Freight gensets in my shop. Been looking for parts going on 4 years now.Only had about five hours on it. When the back end smoked with no load on it.

Billy Shafer · Jan 1, 2014

Champion is the only one I have heard good things about. They have a support system which the others do not

Bob Huntress · Jan 1, 2014

The Harbor Freight stuff may have an alright alternator, yet the engine is complete trash, and even the alternator often has trouble exciting.

davpal · Jan 1, 2014

I was just reading a consumer reports where they tested generators and that Predator actually scored very high in their overall tests of about 15 various generators. I have an Onan that looks pretty much like that and it's been pretty good so far. I think my Onan runs at about 68-72 decibals for noise. Predator should be about the same.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 2, 2014

Never had mine worked on. I bought it used for $150. Had very few hours on it.

MarkB_MI · Jan 2, 2014

Our Honda is now about four years old and completely trouble-free. If we have any problems, parts and service are less than ten miles away.

The HF generator is disposable, since you'll never find parts for it, let alone find someone willing to service it. Of course, as you point out, you can buy FIVE Harbor Freight generators for the price of a single Honda!

sms · Jan 2, 2014

We put a larger (7200?) in our carpentry trailer about 10 years ago. Got it from Northern I think its their brand, Still starts first pull never even had the plug out. When we are building new houses it runs 8 hours a day for couple months depending on building. Has electric start but battery died and starts so easy even at single digit temps we don"t worry about it. Also have a 4k-5k Honda that is older that works great also.

buickanddeere · Jan 2, 2014

(quoted from post at 22:58:44 01/01/14) I started my Honda genny today, I sit down and look threw the
mail from the other day and I see a harbor freight flyer. I'm
looking at it and see this genny for$459.00, 6500 watt ect. It
looks exactly like my Honda, so I'm guessing its a clone!
Anybody have a predator generator? A Honda is about
$2400? Vs $459 for one of these ones? But if it is any good
that's cheap insurance. Second pic is off the screen of my
phone, iPhones can take a pic of what's on there screen, so I
hope it looks good for u puker users.

I wonder if there has ever been a Chinese clone Predator , Champion or what ever that had a Honda label stuck on it?

mkirsch · Jan 2, 2014

I wonder if there has ever been a Chinese clone Predator , Champion or what ever that had a Honda label stuck on it?

Yes, the genuine Hondas all fit that description.

There's a reason the clones look identical. They're made on the same assembly line using the same tooling. One shift builds the "genuine" Hondas, the next two build the clones.

buickanddeere · Jan 2, 2014

(quoted from post at 10:31:59 01/02/14)

I wonder if there has ever been a Chinese clone Predator , Champion or what ever that had a Honda label stuck on it?

Click to expand...

Yes, the genuine Hondas all fit that description.

There's a reason the clones look identical. They're made on the same assembly line using the same tooling. One shift builds the "genuine" Hondas, the next two build the clones.

There are Chinese factories producing all clones and no real Hondas.

Texasmark1 · Jan 2, 2014

I have 2 HF generators. A 5kw normal load and 6.5 kw normal. The are the house "Chicago Electric" brand. Have had the 5kw since the last ice storm back in late 1990s and the 6.5 for about 3 years.

I used both this year with our ice storm and 4 days without power. I use them in the summer to keep the necessary things running when we have electrical storms that knock out power. Seems the local utility insists on putting the hot wire on top of the poles and the ground on the side rather than the ground on top to protecting the hot wire; but it's easier and cheaper for them when installing new lines.

I have had zero problems with mine and have used both to power my stick welder when I am out in the field building or repairing fence.

Like others have said, if it breaks and you can't "farmer brown" fix it, buy another. Cheaper than the name brands.

Mark

dr sportster · Jan 2, 2014

Without knowing any more info I'm calling BS on that. Honda --Japan,,, Harbor Freight-- China . So how do they move the assembly line from one country to another between shifts? Why would Honda build a cheap clone of their own product? What you talkin' about Willis ?

Anonymous-0 · Jan 2, 2014

Repeat what I wrote earlier. Have two Honda generators, one 13,000 W and the other 1000 W. Both very expensive but always start and have been great. Wanted something for lights in the new shed rather then continue moving one of the Hondas. Couldn't justify another Honda. Bought the HF 4000 W unit for a little less than $250 and it works great! Starts easy and fuel usage is good. Voltage and frequency are dead-on. Only negative was that the foam air filter was in upside down and backwards which exposed a small opening that unfiltered air could go thru. Easily turned the filter around. Perhaps if one was willing to do the increased maintenance and a working generator absolutely needed to be available, the most cost effective solution is a couple inexpensive HF generators rather than pony up for a Honda.

Rick Kr · Jan 2, 2014

I have the roughly the same era Honda as you do except its a 3500w, think its an early 1990s. Also have a Honda 2000 that is 8 years old. Both of them start on the first pull almost every time. We use both of them a lot. Rarely does it take two pulls.

Me personally, my next portable generator will be a Honda, that is if these two ever wear out.

I don't know anyone that has a HF generator so I only know what I have read on here.

Rick

Hanky · Jan 4, 2014

Some are good, some are junk, I picked up a Defang generator on the island of Cebu in the Philippines almost a month ago, have SAE-40 in it, temps close to 90, and so far as good as the Honda in my back porch in Minnesota, didn"t have a lot of choices, on the west coast of Leyte, in Ormoc city, after the big typhoon don"t expect to see the power restored for a while.
Spent the last few days hooking up transformers in open delta to get a few extra trasnsformers, most were smashed to pieces when the poles went down, I think there are some places that won"t see power for a year, everything is gone, not enough line trucks to set poles, even if there are poles to set, we have had everyone in the area charging lights and phones at our place, was in Tacloban City a couple days ago, bet there were a thousand body bags still laying in the streets, sure makes you appreciate home.
Won"t head for home until the end of January, hope to at least get most of the 13,800 up before I head out, that"s the easy part, all the secondary busses are on the ground, lots of faults to clear.
Enjoy the weather guys, first time in decades I missed most of the bad winter weather, off to have a cold San Miguel Ice before bed.

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