Homelite Generator?

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Rock_Hudstone

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After losing power for 5 days last week thanks to Hurricane Sandy I'm shopping for a generator, (some people in my area are still out after 9, going on 10 days).

How about this Homelite unit?:
http://www.homelite.com/catalog/generators/HG5700

Price is right, Yamaha engine and wattage is decent for my needs: Oil furnace with baseboard hot water, well pump, fridge, misc. lights and such.

I don't want to spend too much money as we've never lost power for more than 10 hrs in the last 40 years and probably never will again. However, I'd feel more comfortable having one and not needing it.
 
This has been discussed in a number of other threads.

Personally, with no well pump, I can run my home on an ultra stowable, quiet and compact 1700W robin Subaru unit.

You're exactly right - never lost power for more than 10 hours and probably won't again in 40 years. And if it does, look at the gas lines and rationing - do you really want a fuel pig?

If I had oil heat id try to get one of those small spark assisted diesels personally.
 
Homelite = TTI junk. The Yamaha engine is fine, and will be the highest quality component on it. The gen head itself, totally hit or miss. I have ordered replacement gen heads for Homelites before...comes in a nice flimsy box with lots of Chinese characters and newspaper packing, and usually damaged in shipment.
 
Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
A used diesel generator that can run on you fuel for the furnace would be a great choice.

Where I'm going to find a used diesel generator?

Also, my fuel tank is in-ground so not really an easily tapped fuel source.
 
Originally Posted By: Rock_Hudstone
Originally Posted By: JimPghPA
A used diesel generator that can run on you fuel for the furnace would be a great choice.

Where I'm going to find a used diesel generator?

Also, my fuel tank is in-ground so not really an easily tapped fuel source.


I would try rental houses and equipment auctions. Rental equipment isn't always a bad buy or even abused...it gets maintained regularly, used regularly, gets fresh gas regularly, and rental houses typically buy equipment that can stand up to more demanding use. I know Sunbelt uses Multiquip generators which seem to be pretty stout...these are hand push gassers, so they aren't any more of a PITA than a Homelite, just more durable since they are designed for commercial/rental use.

Multiquip sells used equipment too...
http://www.multiquip.com/multiquip/usedequipment.htm

On the consumer/retail level, I'd look for Powermate/Pramac equipment. As far as non-commercial gens go, theirs seem to be pretty reliable without the sticker shock of a Honda (actual Honda gen, not just a Honda powered gen).
 
I'd stay away from Homelite if you can.

Interestingly, Northern Tool sells "NorthStar" (a house brand) generators that have commercial Honda engines and commercial generator heads. They are priced properly and very reliable.
 
Originally Posted By: Cujet
I'd stay away from Homelite if you can.

Interestingly, Northern Tool sells "NorthStar" (a house brand) generators that have commercial Honda engines and commercial generator heads. They are priced properly and very reliable.



Yeah, I have to say Northern Tool actually has decent products. They are no Harbor Freight. Their pressure washers are great too...usually they have CAT or General pumps and a name brand engine.
 
I have the same engine on a Rigid genset with slightly more rated output.

It burns about 0.5-.75 gallon/hr with a 8 gallon tank. Obviously load dependent. It runs full house (well, boiler, fridge, lights, wife's 1800 hair watt dryer!!!!!) except electric oven.
 
Get it, they works fine, will be loud though,
Any cheap genset works, the ones with solid state voltage regulation is better.
 
Originally Posted By: Cujet
I'd stay away from Homelite if you can.
Interestingly, Northern Tool sells "NorthStar" (a house brand) generators that have commercial Honda engines and commercial generator heads. They are priced properly and very reliable.

Okay, the Northstar generators definetly look decent, albeit pricey, but I don't like to buy junk and regret it later.

I need to run a 280 ft. deep well pump, fridge and oil fired furnace with a new Beckett burner and two circulator pumps (larger older models, not the small Taco style) but not necessarily at the same time.

Can this 4000/5000 watt unit handle all that? http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200513591_200513591
 
I have a Troy-Bilt 5550 watt generator. I add up the watts that each item I want to use and go from there. We get storms here (ice or high wind) and I lose power anywhere from a few hour to 2 weeks. I usually keep 8 to 12 gallons of gas on hand. I try to remember to start it once a month and plug in a small heater so it will have a load on it. Add the watts you need and then you can get the correct size. You can unplug one item for a while to be able to use something else. My generator is 8 to 10 years old.
 
Probably be OK, but you will be busy managing what goes on when. Just as I will be, should I need to use my 25 yr old Coleman 5 Kw. I put it to bed, after adding stabilizer to a full tank and running the carb out. Ideal for me would a 15 hoss diesel to run a 7-10 Kw gen. and run it on heating oil. Yah thats about a 15 K$ installation.
 
Originally Posted By: andyd
Probably be OK, but you will be busy managing what goes on when.
I don't mind shutting down certain items selectively.

Fuel economy is more the priority with a Sandy type situation. I have no desire to be standing on Soviet style gas lines with a jug in my hand.

With a 14.5hr run time @50% I could easily go three days on a few 5 gallon fuel cans before having to buy more or siphon from one of the cars.
 
I keep 20 gallons on hand now after watching post-Sandy. Before sand 5-9 gallons. I have a snowblower that slowly dents it down in the winter. Finally in the spring-summer I have lawn tractor that drinks 1-2 gallons per yard mow. Just hard tracking the "oldest can".
 
The Northstar units are about 1/2 the price of a Honda unit of similar size, from a Honda distributor. Yet, they use the very same engine, and a very high quality generator head.

I have a Honda 390 powered "Northstar" pressure washer with industrial CAT pump. It's incredibly good, commercial quality and was half the price of a commercial unit with the very same parts.
 
Briggs has moved quite a bit of the small engine production to China. In fact, only the V-Twin is going to be American made.

I'd stay away from anything Briggs right now.
 
Originally Posted By: Cujet
Briggs has moved quite a bit of the small engine production to China. In fact, only the V-Twin is going to be American made.

I'd stay away from anything Briggs right now.

Great.. One day soon there is going to be little of substance manufactured in this country anymore.
Then as the dollar continues its decline prices for formerly cheap imports will march higher, the worst of both worlds.
 
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