Who's running the little 800w HF generators?

[Chris142]

I've got one for emergencies. Mainly to run my mom's oxygen generator. Figured some of those in the hurricane areas may have bought them.

The stock sparkplug is junk. The replacement crosses over to an Autolite #64 in case anybody needs the #.

 

[tom slick]

At 800w you aren't going to run much, a few light bulbs and a small appliance is it.

 

[Chris142]

Ya but they are cheap

Like I said I have one to run moms oxygen machine and battery chargers out in the yard where an extension cord wont reach.

 

[eljefino]

It's not my only generator but I'm considering putting it into service. It'll match up well to my 1/3 hp sump pump.

I run autolite 64s in my motorcycle so I have some spares around but haven't noticed a difference between it and the stock "torch" or whatever.

 

[crazyoildude]

i use two inverters a 2000 watt and a small 200 watt for the basement i use car batteries to power the inverters so far so good
i also have a gas powered generator just in case

 

[The motor guy]

Man if your moms life depends on it i'd buy something better than some chinese harbor freight junk. But then again if you have more than one then I guess that's better than one good one.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Man if your moms life depends on it i'd buy something better than some chinese harbor freight junk. But then again if you have more than one then I guess that's better than one good one.
Mom's got the bottles if we need them but they are pretty expensive. She is ok w/o the oxygen as long as she's not doing anything stressfull.

(Another reason to not smoke but thats another thread)

My original plan for the generator wasn't for the oxygen machine but when the power went out I thought I would give it a try and it had no problem running 4 hrs untill the power came on.

I have a 4K Generac that I hate. That piece of junk would wake the dead.

 

[eljefino]

If you read the reviews on the website there are lots of people using them for CPAP breathing machines. "Oh it was great, ran half the night, slept soundly"

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Man if your moms life depends on it i'd buy something better than some chinese harbor freight junk. But then again if you have more than one then I guess that's better than one good one.


Actually these machines are quite realible. I realize the concept of a HF generator being nothing but junk is easy to have, but these little machines are very good from all accounts.

 

[Cujet]

There are a few "off gridder" types who have used the HF generators with acceptable results. One writeup said the genset lasted 400 hours of off grid battery charging, before the death rattle started.

That's not bad at all. Considering he was using crummy 2 stroke oil and it was running heavily loaded.

 

[Texan4Life]

I have put about 100hrs on mine so far no probs. It does have that rattle knock noise. I'm thinking about buying another in case that rattle turns into a clunk, BANG. still running the stock spark plug. Don't forget to oil the foam air filter.

 

[dakota99]

I'm thinking about getting one of these. The stock mixing spec is 50:1, does anyone here think running 40:1 would help it last longer? Or would it just be so insignificant of a change to not bother?

 

[Jjones]

Harbor freight has a bunch of $89 coupons out for that generator right now.I purchased an ALL POWER generator from Autozone it is 1000w/800w and I love it.it is on sale for $79.It also has a 12v output.I figure it is comparable to the one from HF.

 

[eljefino]

HF lost the 12v out so yours is even better.

 

[Cujet]

In test after test, 32 to 1 will result in longer engine life. As will quality oils.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Cujet

Considering he was using crummy 2 stroke oil
I only use decient oil EGD-L spec or something along that line. Stihl oil, Echo, Maxima ETC. Mine should last a long time I hope.

 

[grcmptrnrd]

We ran one for charging batteries (2 group 27 deep cycle) and running laptops/tv's in our trailer-in-the-woods. ETQ Branded. 1st one lasted a month or two before the generator-side crank seal came out of the case. Warrantied, and the replacement has lasted ~5 years and probably has ~300 hours on it now with no maintenance whatsoever--not even a new spark plug.

 

[Texan4Life]

Originally Posted By: dakota99
I'm thinking about getting one of these. The stock mixing spec is 50:1, does anyone here think running 40:1 would help it last longer? Or would it just be so insignificant of a change to not bother?


I have run 40:1 in mine since it was new since that what my other OPEs use. No problem with smoke or plug fouling.

 

[amr40509]

I just updated the post I made in this forum when I bought one a year ago also - but to recap.

I bought one on sale last fall for about $65 out the door (new from HF) and have used it for remote power when we tailgate for football games and also a few other events.

Last year I ran it an average of about 8 hours per game, for 7 games. Mix in some other events I used it at, and the break-in run time at home, and I have right in the ballpark of 100 hours on it. Probably a little more.

The whole time it's been running Shell 93 gas (might have had a little Marathon 93, but I think it has all been Shell) and Stihl HP Ultra at 50:1 (same gas/mix I run in my Stihl MS361 saw, Stihl trimmer, and Echo blower). Also been using an AL64 plug.

It does, and has always had, a little knock to it - but has worked fine in temps from 20F to 100F.

It sat from winter until last nigh in my garage, totally neglected. Fired right up and ran fine last night, but has developed a leak in the gas line. I'm going to pick up one today to replace it and it should be good-to-go for this weekend's game.