Piece Of [censored] Harbor Freight Generator

[DNVDMAX]

IMO it's a crrap shoot you win some you lose some at their prices. I've been lucky with their gennys. I've had my 4k and 800w gennys for 3+ years with no problems. I did the spark plug swap on both with some anti-sieze compound. Been lucky thus far, must have rolled a 7 and 11.

OTOH, I previously posted some pics of a Tecumseh clone that grenaded on my nephews minibike likely due to bad QA/QC metallurgy. This was a Tractor Supply Company item though.

 

[RF Overlord]

As other suggested, it's prolly a Chonda, so try the plug recommended for that size real Honda.

A quick perusal of several Honda owner's manuals for portable generators between 5000 and 7000 watts all show the same plug number: NGK BPR5ES.

 

[fdcg27]

Match the plug up with the appropriate NGK and your troubles will cease.
That Chinese OEM plugs are junk is common knowledge.
Your real concerns are thread size, which is obvious and heat range, which is only a little less so.
Gap is not a big deal as long as you come within a reasonable range of what's specified.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

So, because you don't know which size spark plug to use, the generator is a POS as is all tools from HF? Sounds fair to me ...

I know quite a few people that run Predator generators and love them. And, of course, I use a lot of their tools with excellent results.

3/4'' breaker bar - not POS
1/2'' drive ratchet - not pos
Numerous impact socket sets - not POS
Axle nut Socket set (incredibly useful)- not POS
Balljoint Press - not POS

 

[javacontour]

Don't know about the predator engines and generators. I do know I've had years of good service from my Greyhound rated 5.5 HP lawn mower engine I bought for $80 years ago. Other than the end of the plastic dipstick breaking off, it's been pretty good for what I've paid for it.

Probably spent more on gas and oil for it than the engine cost by now.

Still on the factory plug

Thread on my saga, currently on it's 5th season: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/1726659/1

 

[johnachak]

Is there no website or phone # listed on the site? I bought a Chonda ( Chinese Honda Clone) generator. I just googled the equivalents to the POS plug that was in there and I got the equivalent NGK which BTW, ran much better. Good luck.

 

[andyd]

I'm all ears and close to buying a gen-set. I bought a 212 cc horizontal shaft from HF. It runs great, so I don't feel compelled to "fix" it. Even after the tour of the Chinese spark plug factory.

 

[JustinH]

When I buy stuff from HF, I usually buy 2 of the same item.

So that when the part breaks, I have another one right in my other hand to finish up the job.

The last deal was spark plug boot pliars. I bent and broke 1 set before getting all 8 boots off.

 

[JTK]

Like Bubba mentioned above, just cross-ref what ever numbers are on the factory plug.

That, or knowing the CC's of this engine and a few minutes of internet searching and you'll have a replacement plug in minutes. Real easy.

In fact, it took me 10sec to search that this 420cc engine uses a Torch F6TC plug. Just x-ref that.

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/68000-68999/68306.pdf

*EDIT. Here you go: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2488328

Or to make it REAL simple and quick, NGK BP6ES is the replacement spark plug for your Preditor gen.

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Like Bubba mentioned above, just cross-ref what ever numbers are on the factory plug.

That, or knowing the CC's of this engine and a few minutes of internet searching and you'll have a replacement plug in minutes. Real easy.

In fact, it took me 10sec to search that this 420cc engine uses a Torch F6TC plug. Just x-ref that.

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/68000-68999/68306.pdf

*EDIT. Here you go: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2488328

Or to make it REAL simple and quick, NGK BP6ES is the replacement spark plug for your Preditor gen.


This- or you can just remove it to see the number on it.. and cross reference at any auto parts store or online.

I'd call the OP's gripe invalid.

 

[bubbatime]

YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE PLUG to see what the part number is. They did a mid model change. On one of my engines, they completely redesigned the cylinder head and the new one uses a long thread spark plug while the older one used a short thread spark plug. Of course, Harbor Freight didn't update their literature.

 

[eljefino]

NGK has a PDF on their website that explains plug numbering.

My chondas use my old discarded Saturn 1.9 plugs.

Should be 14mm diameter (use a 14mm open end wrench to verify), 3/4 inch (19mm) reach. Your choice of 5/8 or 13/16 hex, then decide if you want resistor or non-resistor. Resistor is probably better. You can use an ohmmeter between the connector and center tip on your old plug to see.

 

[Donald]

HF has come along and some of their stuff is good. Especially the Professional line of tools. But they are not Snap-On.

You bought a low cost occasional use generator and if its taken care of it should be fine.

However if you have a iron lung for polio and it needs electric power or you die, I would get something better.

In reality no gasoline generator that runs at 3600 RPM is a super long lasting generator. The best ones are diesel or propane/natural gas and run at 1800 RPM.

 

[ironman_gq]

Those predator engines are actually pretty good, lots and lots of them in the kart racing world. Just get the plug listed for the equivalent sized Honda and move on. Change the oil once in a while and keep the fuel fresh and it should last quite a while.

 

[accent2012]

Harbor Freight is the "occasional use" specialty tool store, including equipment such as generators...

Keep in mind that even the non-Honda generator you buy elsewhere may in fact be made in the same factory the predator generators are made...

 

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: Donald
HF has come along and some of their stuff is good. Especially the Professional line of tools. But they are not Snap-On.

You bought a low cost occasional use generator and if its taken care of it should be fine.

However if you have a iron lung for polio and it needs electric power or you die, I would get something better.

In reality no gasoline generator that runs at 3600 RPM is a super long lasting generator. The best ones are diesel or propane/natural gas and run at 1800 RPM.


There are many gas gens that are used daily on the job with hundreds of hours.

If I lived in an area where power loss was often, I would buy a 10KW diesel gen. As it is I get by with my 5KW Coleman Powermate with the Subaru Robin.

 

[dlundblad]

As mentioned, how can you blame Harbor Freight or the product for you being unable to find a spark plug? Also x2 on you getting what you paid for.

Too bad the OEM plug didn't work, but it was your duty as a consumer to research the product before purchasing. IIRC, it was mentioned here last winter the plugs can be a bit finicky.. at least with their $100 2 cycle thing. Replace that and you will be good to go.

If you plan on using it for periodic emergency situations, I think it will fit your needs just fine.

 

[Bullet]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Like Bubba mentioned above, just cross-ref what ever numbers are on the factory plug.

That, or knowing the CC's of this engine and a few minutes of internet searching and you'll have a replacement plug in minutes. Real easy.

In fact, it took me 10sec to search that this 420cc engine uses a Torch F6TC plug. Just x-ref that.

http://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/68000-68999/68306.pdf

*EDIT. Here you go: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2488328

Or to make it REAL simple and quick, NGK BP6ES is the replacement spark plug for your Preditor gen.


I have the same generator and the first thing I did was find a replacement plug, but I bought an Autolite plat plug.