Replies

1. 
   Al_Hargis | Sep 26, 1999 04:19am | #1

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   As a Project Mgr. for an electrical contractor, I have more exposure to generators than I care for. We have used many different brands of gererators in the hardest of outdoor construction environments. There are several features which are necessary, 1) The motor must have at least cast iorn sleeves for the cylinders, (an overhead cam is good too, 2) There must be a low oil shutdown, 3) A demand governor (allows the engine to idle when there is no power demand) and 4) Wheels. Beyond this, regular oil changes, routine air filter changes and keeping the plug clean will make just about all of them last about the same. The motor will fail given time and a replacement will cost about 75% installed of what you paid for the set. I have never had the generator part of the set fail.

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   Guest_ | Sep 26, 1999 05:02am | #2

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   There will be alot of them for sale (pretty cheap I bet) on January 2nd.

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   Guest_ | Sep 26, 1999 08:11am | #3

   *rbwood,We just finished a large project here in Dallas at an old established funeral home and cemetary. We put up miles of trellis work as well as a pavillion. The general contractor supplied a gas powered Makita generator. Through all the abuse and the 105+ temperatures here in Dallas a few months ago, The generator never failed. Now that's a real field test. I don't know the model number, but it held true.Ed. Williams

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   Guest_ | Sep 27, 1999 07:16am | #4

   *Al's points are sage advice. Stay with cast iron, auto idle and make sure you can change the oil. Use top grade synthetic oils and stay away from too many fancy but never-used features. Cheaper than photvoltaics. KISS, so you can do field maintenance. Wait till after Y2K fizzles out.By the way, a generator and batteries is a good combo for off-grid electical system.

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   Guest_ | Sep 28, 1999 05:47am | #5

   *Ditto previous posts. I've been working on small engines part time while going to school. The owner likes Honda engines and I'd have to agree. Nothing but routine service for all of them except one...... spark plug and oil changes .......the one tear down was for carbon build up (it was knocking). The GX engine series is the one to get. The GC series is a homeowner type engine. Northern Tool (used to be Nothern Hydraulics) has Honda powered generators that I believe are less expensive than even the Makita. Whatever brand you buy, make sure you can get it serviced. If the generator will sit for long periods of time, use a fuel stabilizer- it will save you a lot of aggravation.

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   Guest_ | Sep 28, 1999 06:27am | #6

   *Say more about fuel stabalizers. How long will they preserve gas ? Are there different types and any rules for what containers to keep fuel in for long life ?

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   Guest_ | Sep 29, 1999 05:39am | #7

   *Ted, I couldn't say for sure. I do know that Echo recomends using fuel no older than 30 days unless a fuel stabilizer has added in which case it is 60 days. My equipment usually sits from November thru March .... with a fuel stabilizer I've have not had any problems. There are several brands- Briggs and Stratton makes one and Stabil is another ......there are others. I've had good luck with both. As far as fuel cans, steel or plastic, I don't see much of a difference. Steel can rust and plastic degrades. It's more important to store cans out of the weather. Buy a can size appropiate to your use .......you don't need to have gas sitting around for a year.

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   Guest_ | Sep 29, 1999 06:00am | #8

   *Any good suggestions as to what to do with the gallon or two of oil and unleaded gas that I usually have sitting around at the end of the season (50:1 for the Echo and 32:1 for the Homelight)? I don't have an outboard anymore, don't want to gum up the carb in my old Suburban, don't want to poison the soil, am on a septic tank, and I don't want it to go BOOM...

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   Guest_ | Sep 30, 1999 02:51am | #10

   *I don't know where you are at but you might check with your state or local Dept. of Environmental Protection. If they are of no help, I'd dump it in the Suburban while filling it up. I don't know how many cans you have but I'd spread it out over several fillups so it is diluted enough. The two cycle gas/ oil mix isn't great for the catalytic converter but it will be diluted enough and should'nt do any harm to the cat or the carb. Some two strokes are now equipped with a catalytic converter (Huskqvarna has one). Under NO circumstances would I dump it in a septic or sewer system or on the ground. The environmental damage would be enormous.

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   rbwood | Sep 30, 1999 02:51am | #9

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   I'm in need of a good 5000 watt generator. Honda gets great reviews but costs biggest money. Has anyone got experience with the Makita generators?