Amazon's algorithm will raise the price on this product in the next 24-48 hours based on data it buys from Google/TH-cam and the hits on this video *AND* clicks generated by watchers checking the product out after seeing this video (artificial demand spike). It's a mathematical certainty. Check back in a couple days and I'll gladly eat crow(metaphorically) if I am wrong. There are currently 2 listings on Amazon. One for $99 with 1 item remaining in stock. A second listing for $111 with 6 remaining in stock.
I noticed that you changed your tune, you were so critical in the past but now you're open to accept that anything can be good. It's nice to see the change, keep the good work.
I've had one for years now and still running strong! $89 out the door at Harbor Freight. Well worth every penny. Easy to move and start up when you just don't need the bigger generator.
Just run really good oil and premium gas,they run forever,being a Yamaha chinesium clone.. I ran mine @40to1 ,for the last 11 seasons, pretty much 4-6 hours a day. Flawless so far,again,Yamaha engineering helps..
The harbor freight version of this saved our fridge after a week with no power after a hurricane. Running 24/7 it ran our fridge and my fish tank for a week. Still works years later
Looks like a great unit! The reason they supplied a 20 amp plug is so you can use a heavy 12 or even 10 gauge extension cord on it. The longer the run, the heaver your cord should be to keep the resistance low.
@Soup Can while a bigger gauge does waste more power than a fine gauge, its electrical efficiency is better because it can dissipate heat faster with more copper giving you a longer run time
@@XTripleJaxX I'm confused by what you mean by bigger gauge is less efficient than finer gauge, if you're talking about the numbers being bigger wasting more power yes because gauges are inversely proportional to wire size, if you're talking about the wire being bigger wasting more power that is false, what wastes power is resistance and the bigger the wires the lower the resistance
I never even thought of adding oil before starting to small engine power equipment after purchase. Thats a super good idea and definitely something you get one chance at
That's a very cool thing to do. I wanna thank you, because selfish actions are so prevalent these days, it gets discouraging.. So thanks for neutralizing some of that negative shite. Even if its just used for a kids video game, lol, its still progenerative and kind 💝
I bought a version of this many years ago for $99, crazy that they're still $99. I only have a few hours on it, it mostly sits in the garage for emergencies. About a week ago I discovered that the fuel valve seals had gone bad, but other than that it's been a great little unit.
Looks EXACTLY like my Harbor Freight “Tailgator”. I paid like $79 for it two years ago. Use it all the time for my small plumbing business when power isn’t an option. Charge my batteries, run corded power tools, lights etc. Used it for a weekend to charge my batteries while hunting deep in woods in my camper. Ain’t died yet!
@@Playtrack I wouldn't recommend this type. Its loud, and uses modified sine wave which causes noise and can damage sensitive equipment. I would get the 4 stroke quiet kind with a pure sine wave inverter. Quiet, easy to use (no mixing) and your equipment will be safe.
Good review. I bought the same generator, with different branding a few years ago. It is loud, but still worked as an emergency generator until last summer. I was attempting to run my fridge during an extended outage from a summer storm. Couldn't get the fridge to run, eventually tried a neighbor's generator with no luck. Started troubleshooting and found the cheap voltage regulator failed and the generator was putting out 220V, frying the board on my new fridge. It was an expensive lesson, and I've now got a Honda.
I got the Harbor Freight version and have been blown away with the value and performance! Don't operate it on the forest soil near foliage, as we almost had a fire from the hot exhaust blowing on woodchips and green brush undergrowth. Also, the rubber feet crack from vibration after a while. We built an off-grid cabin with that little generator! Just amazing.
We had a “Speedway Series” version from a parts store-forget which one-that we beat the snot out of and it never quit. I essentially gave it away when I finally had money to buy a proper generator. - Mine was identical, despite being almost 20 years older (different brand, obv) - Never lit any grass on fire (came close, just set it on a 3’x3’ plywood square) - It surprisingly sipped gas, despite using power tools (circular saws, drivers, drills) all day at our cabin (tank a day) and Dad’s CPAP at night - Bring extension cords-it makes noise (tho not worse than non-inverter four-stroke models), especially if using overnight
It usually runs two hours with me using a ton of halogen lights. It is definitely not a good camping generator because it is loud as heck. It is a copy of the 80’s Yamaha two stroke generators so it is a good design just is cheapified a bit. I’ve had it for 3 years and have used the hell out of it and didn’t do anything to it as far as maintenance goes.
it is pretty much the same as the Harbor Freight, "tailgating generator", just the harbor freight 1 is rated for only 6amps (I've ran 20 amps easy and ran fine)
Great video & tip on eliminating dry starts! That applies for all 2 & 4 stroke small engines. Example: When I take my mower out of winter storage and start it for the first time, I will give it 3 pulls to lube the piston before I add gas to start.
One thing I would love to see is follow up videos, like come back a year later or whatever period of time after using a product and talk about how it's held up, or how long it actually lasted, etc.
I have the same one, but it's branded different. I've abused it. I've had it plugged in to my camper and ran it right to the max. It's suprised me at how well its performed.
6:05 gotta love the ol two-smoke engine. I've been using mine for years. Keeps the cabin lights on and solar batteries charged in the wintertime. Pro tips: use fresh no - E gas and Husqvarna low-smoke oil. To kill it for the day, shut the gas off and let it run out. It starts even in Sub-Zero temperatures, ask me how I know. Keep an extra plug. Peel off all the silly stickers. btw, Mine doesnt have a 12VDC output. Just 120VAC.
Had been using one of those chinese generators for years now, about 100 hours on use and only problem was stuck exhaust pipe at long time use.. Cleaned it and works again with no problem ! Cost here in Finland 39 €uros which is about same on $.. 220 volts btw
Question: Some generators say inverter too; WATT is the difference? Oh, is that a full sine wave and not a modified sine wave (like the Dewalt 1800 Watt Power Station)? I heard that modified sine wave is NOT good for Digital equipment.
Square and modified sine isn't good for motors like fridge compressor motors but it is so small you probably could not run anything anyway. Not sure why it would have an inverter unless an efficient way to convert to 12VDC. Usually inverters go from low voltage DC to high voltage AC. Maybe the generator is actually low voltage DC and an inverter is used to make the high voltage AC. A good generator should actually be an engine on an alternator which would be a pure sine wave at 120VAC.
Modified sine waves are mostly an issue for inductive loads like electric motors (AC compressor, fans, drills, etc...). Most digital devices (laptops, tablets, etc) should be fine on modified/square wave...but pure sine wave is always preferred (also more expensive).
........for now I'll just say this :-- modified sine wave is really modified square wave. It sounded better for marketing reasons to say modified sine wave . It caught on and today everyone says modified sine wave .
I think those Torch sparkplugs are actually great. I've got this old Ross lawn mower and after watching this I assume the Torch plug in it is the original. Its probably run 1000+ hours over more than 10 years and is still going strong now even with multiple cracks & a bit missing from the porcelain. At least 2 times I've given it a good soak & clean out after it totally gunked up & with sandpaper too and works a treat again after.
I got one of the harbor Freight versions five or six years ago and have used it at an off grid cabin. Still runs fine with probably a couple hundred hours on it. Very convenient if I only want enough power for a few lights and fans. Not too loud but even a very basic vented plywood box will baffle the noise down considerably.
I have a harbor freight one I use for overlanding and its awesome. Saved my life 3 times and has always worked. Put a pull cord in it once but its 4 years old. Never had to do much to it either. Put a spark plug into it once but thags about it. Can't beat that!
When you put your two stroke oil in you should have pulled the starter cord and turned the motor over a few times before you reinstalled the spark plug and allowed it to lubricate the motor.
as a cheap "disposable" generator that looks decent.. something i can loan out, have one laying around as a backup / backup, something to leave up at the mountain cabin and not overly worry about it "walking off".
the fact that this is a 2 cycle engine, it's perfect for everything you just said, because it never needs oil changes, it can never run out of oil, and it never needs valves adjusted. Just gas it and go! I would, however, give them a can full of 50:1 gas/oil mix, so they don't accidentally put unmixed fuel in it, which would destroy it in minutes.
I watched this demonstration a few months ago and based on what I saw, I bought one. Works fine. I am an old man but I can handle it easily, It runs fine and produces enough power to run either my refrigerator or my freezer. So I have to keep mixed gas on hand, big deal. I use Sta-Bil double strength and If I don't use the gas after a couple of years I'll just run it through my mower.
I bought the 900 watt tailgator generator from harbor freight a little over two years ago and have put probably 200-300 hours on it problem free until recently until the plastic pulley in the cap broke. I have one on the way in the mail now. For $98 it works great as it will power (at once) 4-5 grow lights (with led bulbs) and a standard box fan. It'll pull a full side refrigerator by itself but that's all it'll pull at once. I was impressed and would buy another one if mine gave out without question
Ive had the harbor freight version for 3 years, lived through a winter on top of my car, still starts in 1-3 pulls every time. Cleaned the carb out once, and has continued to run fine over many eyeballed gas/oil mixes. Paid $90
I've had one of those generators for 16 years. It runs about 6 - 61/2 hours on a tank full. It has about 800 hundred hours on it. Now here's my expertise, I'm a certified Outdoor Power Equipment Mechanic, with 30 years of experience. Do not run this type of generator using both the DC and AC circuits at the same time. You will damage its circuitry. 12 volts is drawn directly from the generator, were as the AC voltage is run through a rectifier with bridge diodes. Next, if your going to use this to run or charge any electronic devices use a surge protector, they do not develop a clean sinusoidal wave and can damage your devices. An inverter generator is much more stable, and has a cleaner sinusoidal wave which is more compatible to electronics. Comparing this generator to a Honda EU generator, is comparing apples to oranges. Its not even in the same league. But beyond that, the one that I have has been totally reliable.
@@rhulse8904, you could but it's not ideal. I would use the generator to charge a deep cycle gel battery and draw the power for the inverter from the battery. The battery will act as a buffer against the voltage irregularities produced by this type of generator.
I owned one of these generators for almost eight years, it was bought exclusively to power the converter on my small Rv, and it worked relatively well for that application. Now what you are not aware of, is how dirty the voltage is, coming off this unit, the sine waves were the worst I have ever seen, I tried running simple electrical items with it, and it destroyed my cell phone charger, an Led rechargeable lantern, and my portable 12 volt battery charger ....NOTE: The 12 volt charger that is built into the generator has an extremely weak rectifier board and no regulator, so after about 3 mins of charging a dead 12 volt battery, it trips the over load breaker, it's not going to work unless you sit there all day and manually unplug the twelve volt supply every two minutes for about 20 seconds to cool the diodes in the board😩, typical Chinese engineering, leave out a complete component, to bring the cost of an item down... The day I pluged in my small deep freeze, during a power outage, it ran for a while and then made some strange noises, and thankfully shut it self down, as it could not receive the proper hertz frequency from the unit under load to cycle the compressor, the voltage spike of the freezer's compressor was more than the voltage output of the genset, although the freezer was only rated at less than 600 watts... This little generator has its limitations, it's great for basic electrical items like an electric drill, simple kitchen appliances, a small eletric space heater, house hold lights ect. it will even run an old school tube TV with a robust high voltage regulator, but certainly not a flat screen TV, or any sensitive electronics. I have even tried running a high quality voltage surge protector in loop with this generator and it would go into limp mode after only 1 minute of operation, with a flashing code sequence that denoted poorly regulated out put voltage, too dirty to filter by the surge protector.... Decide carfully on your needs, if this generator is going to work for your application before buying it.
Noted, and thanks for it, no rectifier equals cheep. But if you have a rectifier (like for your vehicle that plugs in the old cig lighter) you can protect the finer electronics.
Have you tried a UPS? They are better than regular surge protectors. Need something for a hunting cabin and don't want to be spendy as it will only be needed for short periods of time.
@@kenkinniph2327 No I haven't tried a UPS back-up, but it sounds like a good idea, I did however buy a more powerful, better quality generator, it's 1800 watts, and has a relatively clean sinewave, so I've had no complaints with powering electrical devices.
I gave mine to a family member who needed it,... That was the only good part about giving it away. These units are awesome & mine ran things that it technically should not have.
Hey! You could easily be "The Man" to host a QVC/Amazon show! LOL Seriously, you did a great job demonstrating this pup. I'm actually gonna order one! Be Well..
We bought the earlier 950W model about 15 years ago, and it was second hand even then. The only complaint we had was that one of its rubber feet was missing! We don't use it excessively, but it seems to do all it's asked to do. It can be reluctant to start if left unused for a longish period, say, 2 months or more, but is fine once it's up and going. The only thing to watch out for, is never be tempted to exceed the generator's design limits. These machines rely on a pair of high current blocking diodes built into the rotor. These diodes take the full brunt of the reflux current every half revolution. The reflux current is what drives the magnetic flux in the rotor, which in turn energises the stator and produces the output current. The reflux current is directly proportional to the load applied to the output, and the diodes are at best conservatively rated. You may get away with overloading once or twice, or maybe a hundred times, but it will eventually destroy the diodes over time. Small Hondas did it the same way, and suffered the same fate - we know, it's how our little Honda expired. It's also why we have a 1kW, and a 4kW Honda, and a 3.5kW Briggs, so that we can choose the machine best suited to the job in hand. Noise wise, the little Chinese "blue-smoke" is surprisingly quiet, and runs surprisingly smooth, once loaded. Its also very handy for charging the tractor batteries when the tractors are off site - 8A charge for 20 minutes is usually enough to get all but the most reluctant tractor started. Often maligned by some, and almost certainly not worth repairing if they breakdown, but if you use common sense, and look after it, even one of these 'Chinesium' generators will give decent service if you don't overtax it. Always handy to have in the back of the van, or pick-up!
I've got a few of these generators, you do get the odd dud straight out of the box, and I've had one of those, but there are plenty of good ones. They are based on an old Yamaha design, its two stroke engine has a carb and reed valve mounted at the back of the Alluminium alloy crankcases, with a detachable cast Iron cylinder barrell and Alluminium alloy cylinder head at the front. The cylinder also has a sort of triangular shaped exhaust port, probably in an attempt to soften the exhaust note a little. They usually run quite smoke free with the recommended 50/1 petroil mixture, after any excess oil has cleared. They sell for around £60 from cut price supermarkets here in the UK, so they are just about cheap enough to risk getting stolen if you are forced to leave them running unattended outside.
i have the same unit from harbor tools i ran a tank of fuel 7 days a week for 2 years and its still runs. tank only holds like 1.1 gal. of gas i mix my fuel at 40 to 1 for the money they are good little units
@@stevel1475 I use the stihl 2cycle oil that I run in my chain saw and weed water. The generator recommended a 50-1 ratio for the mix I ran mine around 40-1 had to clean the spark plug a few times and replaced it 3 times. Generator ran 6 to 7 days a week for just short of 2 years . I didn't put much of a load on it. Mainly ran cordless tool charges and a couple of led work lights. That extra oil in the fuel I'm sure helped it last. I still have it but the circuit breaker kicks all the time now
My Neighbor give me a Colman generator 4000 something should I put fogging oil in cylinder to store it through winter. Thank you for all your videos. Love all your video work.
There certainly seems to be some great generators out there. I bought a cheap inverter generator a couple of years ago, and it's never let me down. Starts on the first pull each time, and runs for hours at a time when I use it never missing a beat. What's more, it was less than £200. It's branded as Impax, but I've seen it branded as Clarke, Sportsman and Earthquake. Well worth a look if you need a cheap inverter and haven't looked already.
the recoil starter is always the first to go.othes than that,they seem to keep running.i bring mine camping to light up the night and charge cell phones or laptop.going on 5yrs now
I bought one that was a return at a local auto parts store for something like $25~$30 and used it for years on the farm. It sat in a cart to run my reciprocating saw for cutting brush when the chain saw wasn't quite the right tool or not readily available. It did the job well enough.
I bought this for 89 bucks back in 2012 from Harbor Freight it's been not running perfectly since then in a box in my basement. Glad to see is worth it for a Backup backup generator.
Some great tips, thanks. I also run the first tank of fuel with a 40:1 mix instead of 50:1. I own various 2-stroke appliances and some came with this advice in the manual.
I bought one the other week. I too am very impressed with it as a base cost unit, though I am more used to far larger models. The plug cover is fragile unfortunately I. Mine cost more than that, but it was mostly the extra carriage to my location . It came in a neat nailed small crate.
whenever i saw these 2 stroke generators i just assumed they would sound like a WOT chainsaw and be shaking around like a chihuahua. Definitely a good value
When you plug a 1,500 watt load into a 900 watt generator and it doesn't trip the overload, that is a huge problem, not a feature. A thing like this has its place, but I'd be seriously wary of plugging my fridge or frankly anything I cared about into that thing. What you are giving up with this versus a Honda is reliability, both that it will work long-term, and also the quality of the power coming out of it. If you want to run a few lights or charge up a battery, fine. More than that, and you really should be spending more.
Great review! This seems like the perfect secondary backup generator. I have a 7500 watt westinghouse which is what I normally use for power failures. However during the last ice storm I had serious issues starting it up. I'm not mechanically inclined at all, but after searching youtube / forums I was able to change the spark plug and do a few other things in a real panic to get it going. 2am in freezing rain when your phone is at 10% is not the time to be learning about small engines. That being said it made me very aware having a second backup is a good idea. I have very expensive and dear to me saltwater aquariums. While the 7500watts powers most of the house this little guy would be more then enough to power the aquarium pumps / charge things in a real emergency where the main generator doesn't work. For a little over $100 I'd be happy to leave this in the box and never have to use it.
investigae a power conditioner so your pricelss fish dont suffocate when the derty unmatched frequency of the power fries your pumps. A pwer conditioner is a large transformer looking thing, heavy, that evens out the voltage fluctuations, brown outs and surges. They are about 60-100 bux for 500 w.
Drain the float bowl, after each use. Even just turn off fuel petcock, and run it outta gas. MODERN ETHANOL gas, dries and gums up, ALL carburetors ! Mowers, etc etc.
I have a Chicago Tools brand unit and I'm rather happy with it, however...I'm gonna install a Voltage Regulator in my POP-UP Camper so I can charge the Leisure Battery. My unit fluctuates between 17-11vdc and I'd rather have that be a little more Stable than it currently is.
i'd get this just for the battery charging ability . it's small enough that you could toss it in you're vehicle and then you'd have a way to charge you're battery on the go without having to rely on some random to boost you.
@@thefistofshadow7392 some people! Only knows the brand name and has no idea what the product actually is! Probably has no idea what a vacuum cleaner is but knows what a Hoover is! 🤣🤣
> Excellent! It gives me the fizz so I'm hopping over to Amazon to get one now. Also, Mr. Wrangler Star, you do superior work on-camera, with your video editing and production, and of course with your product reviews.
I bought one of these generators a few years back and I had to use it at a place I was living because my roommates never paid the hydro bill for months, anyway I mixed it at 40 to 1 and run this baby 6 to 12 hours a day for 4 months in the summer, it still works great but the recoil is broke, its a damn good little generator
This will most likely not run a fridge. I imagine a fridges surge watts are higher than 1000w. Surge watts are a huge consideration for generators, it is the initial watts require to start it up when the motor runs. Same as a microwave uses a lot of watts on startup and then drop known as continuous watts.
Ive hard a few of these for years and years. I use them to power tools and other items when i cant get power otherwise. I have several hundred hours on a few of them. Couple tips- Replace the spark plug for an ngk or autolite. Much smoother running Pull every bolt you can get easy access to and put some sort of thread locker on them. Run the premix a little heavier on your first tank. Use smokeless 2t oil. Ive been using the marine stuff for a few years now with no issues Get a little 6 outlet power strip and a few L brackets and mount it to the side of the fuel tank using existing bolts. The stock outlet is pretty weak and not a standard size so its a pain to replace when it falls apart which it will. Keep the power strip plugged in and plug everything into that. Bonus if your power strip has an on/off switch. Use some fuel stabiler to every tank if you know you wont be using it in the near term.
Eric: thanks for the tips on the 2 stroke generator. Do you think it provides clean enough power to run a most warehouse type fans without damaging their 1/2 or more electric motors? I know I need to make sure within operating specs, but my issue is the quality of the power itself coming out of these cheap gen sets.
@@horacesawyer2487 these little guys have shockingly clean power. It should be fine for fans. I use one of mine to run servers from time to time and they havent been effected by the power output either.
I used this generator throughout the entire week i was without power after the derecho hit Iowa and I am not disapointed with my $100 purchase, it was a life saver
I've got a similar model, minus the 12 volt outlet. Ran a freezer after hurricane Michael for 5 hours a day for 3 months. Before that ran a 5000 BTU window unit for a week at night till power came back on at my house. Since then, I've used it camping for the pop up, a d frankly, for 100, I love it.
Great review. One thing of note is the manual states "This Generator is equipped with a 12V DC receptacle. The 12V DC receptacle is not intended for use to charge automotive batteries. The receptacle permits the use of any electrical device designed for use in a 12V DC."
It is amazing that this is even possible. I think I would have a hard time shipping a box full of rocks the same size and weight as this for across the US for just $99. Its insane that someone did that and is somehow making a profit on this.
I had one of the Harbor Freight versions about 8 years ago. (Mine was blue) I took it camping ( at a state park campsite) to avoid paying the extra money for an electrified site. I took the genny about 60 feet over a hill, and set it into a snall, level depression in the ground. (I had checked it out prior to lugging the genny down there) and set up a V-shaped wall made out of foam insulation around it for sound dampening. From the campsite you could barely make out the hum of it over the sounds of the crickets and frogs. I ran a 10ga cord up to the campsite, running several CFL lights and phone chargers, as well as a coffee-pot in the mornings. We had little kids with us, freaking out about sleeping in the dark, so I filled the genny up as they were going to bed, then topped off once more before I went to bed. It ran 2 CFL lights all night long and then the coffee pot in the morning. 6-to 7 hours on one tank of fuel. A Park ranger even asked how we got the power. I told him about the genny over the hill and he remarked about how quiet it was and said "Carry on" I gave it away to my brother, unfortunately. Now I have a 1500 watt "Champion" 4-stroke that is very loud. Too loud to take to camp without building an elaborate "Doghouse" lined with carpet scraps around the thing to deaden the sound. (while allowing ventilation) I need to get another one of these again..
something about this video gives me the fizz. ive already seen it about a dozen times but i just keep coming back to it i might have to pick up that generator for myself at this point
I was told by the owner of a small engine shop (junk yard style buy & sell) to never go down to 50:1 no matter what the manufacture says. He said that manufacturers are pushed to keep emissions down so they have to say 50:1, which is basically the bare minimum that a machine will tolerate, but it won't tolerate it for long. A simple miss calc can cause major engine scoring. he said at 40:1 you get very little smoke and your saws and boat motors and weed wackers will live for decades.
This seems to be a nice generator for the money. I had a snowblower and a lawnmower with Torch brand sparkplugs that worked great. I changed the plugs after 4 or 5 years just due to age, but they were working OK. Both of these items had Powermore engines that worked perfectly. My lawnmower is at least 6 years old and starts first pull. I am very pleased with these little engines.
The problem with cheap generator is they are not pure sign wave output, and the voltage usually varies. So be careful using them for running computers and other electronic components.
David F oh don’t think I wouldn’t be threatened by my apartment company. Even though I deliver the materials to build the apartments. Throughout my area.
I have the HF version that I bought strictly to power a sump pump if the power goes out. In the 8 years or so I've had it, I needed it exactly once for about 3 hours. it also powered some incandescent bulbs in our family room so we could sit and play cards and while the time away. I accumulated more time getting it running and ready for winter than I ever have using it for what I bought it for. Worth EVERY penny of $100 and if/when it gives up, i will buy another.
I've got 2 two-stroke generators, both Homelites. Ones an XL-12 A115 (yes based on the sixties XL-12 chainsaw platform) and a larger 9A115-1 that used to be owned by a local fire department that i just bought today at an engine show. Seller had a matching water pump, but sadly I didn't have enough cash on hand to buy it as well for the $40/each the seller wanted for them.
I bought one of these about 12 years ago (Coleman brand). Mostly, I used to run my photography flood lights (2- 500w lights). When the power was off at the house it really helped running as a second generator. When my 5000w quit I used this one all the time/everyday during the summer for 12-14 hours a day. With proper maintenance it will last a long time and the only problem I ever had was the stater rusted and wouldn't crank after sitting up for two years while I was in China. After cleaning, it cranked up with less than a 1/4 pull. Let it idle for a couple minutes before plugging in anything and a couple minutes after unplugging. I paid $100 for mine. Yes, it still runs and is used it often.
Get Your $99 Generator Here: amzn.to/2PAmBmy (link will direct you to my affiliate page)
already 111 in oregon here for me
Receipts! I hear you lie about cheap China prices. (sarcasm)
Amazon's algorithm will raise the price on this product in the next 24-48 hours based on data it buys from Google/TH-cam and the hits on this video *AND* clicks generated by watchers checking the product out after seeing this video (artificial demand spike). It's a mathematical certainty. Check back in a couple days and I'll gladly eat crow(metaphorically) if I am wrong.
There are currently 2 listings on Amazon. One for $99 with 1 item remaining in stock. A second listing for $111 with 6 remaining in stock.
@Benaiah Ahmadinejad oh my goodness! It's a conspiracy! I'm fittinta impeach a couple more American ales, than go tease sumoe sensitive warriors
@Benaiah Ahmadinejad ok, how's about you educate me?
I noticed that you changed your tune, you were so critical in the past but now you're open to accept that anything can be good. It's nice to see the change, keep the good work.
I've had one for years now and still running strong! $89 out the door at Harbor Freight. Well worth every penny. Easy to move and start up when you just don't need the bigger generator.
Hey was this good to use
Just run really good oil and premium gas,they run forever,being a Yamaha chinesium clone.. I ran mine @40to1 ,for the last 11 seasons, pretty much 4-6 hours a day. Flawless so far,again,Yamaha engineering helps..
The harbor freight version of this saved our fridge after a week with no power after a hurricane. Running 24/7 it ran our fridge and my fish tank for a week. Still works years later
Same here. We were without power for 3 days. The Tailgator ran and saved us from having to throw away hundreds of dollars of food.
I bought the same one from harbor freight and the pull cord broke first pull lol
@@AustinHerrig don't pull so hard haha
PalealYah Bayn Yisrael tailgater
@PalealYah Bayn Yisrael tail gator is the harbor freight one
Looks like a great unit! The reason they supplied a 20 amp plug is so you can use a heavy 12 or even 10 gauge extension cord on it. The longer the run, the heaver your cord should be to keep the resistance low.
@Soup Can while a bigger gauge does waste more power than a fine gauge, its electrical efficiency is better because it can dissipate heat faster with more copper giving you a longer run time
Do not listen to this man
he does not know what he is on about and also does not make any sense@@XTripleJaxX
@@XTripleJaxX I'm confused by what you mean by bigger gauge is less efficient than finer gauge, if you're talking about the numbers being bigger wasting more power yes because gauges are inversely proportional to wire size, if you're talking about the wire being bigger wasting more power that is false, what wastes power is resistance and the bigger the wires the lower the resistance
I never even thought of adding oil before starting to small engine power equipment after purchase. Thats a super good idea and definitely something you get one chance at
I paid 79.00 for mine ten years ago it works great still.
Have 2 of these I bought 5-6 years ago and they are still going. great little backup generator for the toyo stove.
I sent four of them to the Bahamas for hurricane relief.
I hope they helped
Yup, I'm sure 4 kids charged up their game boy.
They burned them shits up cause they didn’t do the oil stuff, bet .
@@Krispyy2k lmfao
@@Krispyy2k rofl
That's a very cool thing to do. I wanna thank you, because selfish actions are so prevalent these days, it gets discouraging.. So thanks for neutralizing some of that negative shite. Even if its just used for a kids video game, lol, its still progenerative and kind 💝
I bought a version of this many years ago for $99, crazy that they're still $99. I only have a few hours on it, it mostly sits in the garage for emergencies. About a week ago I discovered that the fuel valve seals had gone bad, but other than that it's been a great little unit.
Looks EXACTLY like my Harbor Freight “Tailgator”. I paid like $79 for it two years ago. Use it all the time for my small plumbing business when power isn’t an option. Charge my batteries, run corded power tools, lights etc. Used it for a weekend to charge my batteries while hunting deep in woods in my camper. Ain’t died yet!
130 bucks now, add another 8 bucks for sales tax.
@@NickDe39 it does go on sale.
Yea, I'm an electrician and I need it for the same reasons. I really don't wanna break the bank for a generator I'll barely use.
Do you think it could run a small dj system
@@Playtrack I wouldn't recommend this type. Its loud, and uses modified sine wave which causes noise and can damage sensitive equipment. I would get the 4 stroke quiet kind with a pure sine wave inverter. Quiet, easy to use (no mixing) and your equipment will be safe.
I love When you test stuff on Amazon it is the best category you do in my opinion thanks for your videos keep up the great work
“cause I’m a petulant child” lol
3:10
Well, I'm glad HE said it.
Cody, I just cashed in all my points and "BAM", I just bought the cheapest generator on Amazon, 50 bucks! Thanks for the video and Merry Christmas!
I see these generators for sale on line for $49! But most places are "out of stock". Great video!
Good review. I bought the same generator, with different branding a few years ago. It is loud, but still worked as an emergency generator until last summer. I was attempting to run my fridge during an extended outage from a summer storm. Couldn't get the fridge to run, eventually tried a neighbor's generator with no luck. Started troubleshooting and found the cheap voltage regulator failed and the generator was putting out 220V, frying the board on my new fridge. It was an expensive lesson, and I've now got a Honda.
I got the Harbor Freight version and have been blown away with the value and performance!
Don't operate it on the forest soil near foliage, as we almost had a fire from the hot exhaust blowing on woodchips and green brush undergrowth. Also, the rubber feet crack from vibration after a while.
We built an off-grid cabin with that little generator! Just amazing.
We had a “Speedway Series” version from a parts store-forget which one-that we beat the snot out of and it never quit. I essentially gave it away when I finally had money to buy a proper generator.
- Mine was identical, despite being almost 20 years older (different brand, obv)
- Never lit any grass on fire (came close, just set it on a 3’x3’ plywood square)
- It surprisingly sipped gas, despite using power tools (circular saws, drivers, drills) all day at our cabin (tank a day) and Dad’s CPAP at night
- Bring extension cords-it makes noise (tho not worse than non-inverter four-stroke models), especially if using overnight
I have the Harbour freight version of this. They are actually decent generators.
No every thing is junk they do have a lot of stuff that worth having
@Slim Tinskin Friend of mine has dog grooming business. She has big Predator mounted on trailer tongue, uses it every day.
how long can you run it on a tank of fuel?
Sacrilege!!!
It usually runs two hours with me using a ton of halogen lights. It is definitely not a good camping generator because it is loud as heck. It is a copy of the 80’s Yamaha two stroke generators so it is a good design just is cheapified a bit. I’ve had it for 3 years and have used the hell out of it and didn’t do anything to it as far as maintenance goes.
it is pretty much the same as the Harbor Freight, "tailgating generator", just the harbor freight 1 is rated for only 6amps (I've ran 20 amps easy and ran fine)
Just curious, what's the run time on a tank of fuel on yours?
@@familylandscapecompanyinc.7355 be honest I haven't used it in months I don't remember
@@familylandscapecompanyinc.7355 on mine iv run around 3-5hrs under a load if i remember right
I gotta say, we’ve got an ancient one of those at my work and it’s honestly pretty great as just a simple, portable electric source
Great video & tip on eliminating dry starts! That applies for all 2 & 4 stroke small engines.
Example: When I take my mower out of winter storage and start it for the first time, I will
give it 3 pulls to lube the piston before I add gas to start.
Theres nothing like watching a wranglerstar video after a hard day.
Colin Gomez I just came home from cutting down tons of trees today and I saw his new video it’s was good to watch it
13 hours of driving a gas truck and this is what I look forward to while i eat dinner.
Just like a sore peter......Can't beat that.......
A good old fashioned joe blob might be a tad better.
Been driving and installing coolers for 16 hours, and here i am watching this before bed haha.
Hello THE FIZ sounds like a cool shirt to be made and sold.
troy roe I can picture it now. An old time soda jerk holding a bubbly glass under the phrase “Give me the Fizz”.
One thing I would love to see is follow up videos, like come back a year later or whatever period of time after using a product and talk about how it's held up, or how long it actually lasted, etc.
I have the same one, but it's branded different. I've abused it. I've had it plugged in to my camper and ran it right to the max. It's suprised me at how well its performed.
6:05 gotta love the ol two-smoke engine. I've been using mine for years. Keeps the cabin lights on and solar batteries charged in the wintertime. Pro tips: use fresh no - E gas and Husqvarna low-smoke oil. To kill it for the day, shut the gas off and let it run out. It starts even in Sub-Zero temperatures, ask me how I know. Keep an extra plug. Peel off all the silly stickers. btw, Mine doesnt have a 12VDC output. Just 120VAC.
Had been using one of those chinese generators for years now, about 100 hours on use and only problem was stuck exhaust pipe at long time use.. Cleaned it and works again with no problem ! Cost here in Finland 39 €uros which is about same on $.. 220 volts btw
Question: Some generators say inverter too; WATT is the difference? Oh, is that a full sine wave and not a modified sine wave (like the Dewalt 1800 Watt Power Station)? I heard that modified sine wave is NOT good for Digital equipment.
Square and modified sine isn't good for motors like fridge compressor motors but it is so small you probably could not run anything anyway. Not sure why it would have an inverter unless an efficient way to convert to 12VDC. Usually inverters go from low voltage DC to high voltage AC. Maybe the generator is actually low voltage DC and an inverter is used to make the high voltage AC. A good generator should actually be an engine on an alternator which would be a pure sine wave at 120VAC.
Modified sine waves are mostly an issue for inductive loads like electric motors (AC compressor, fans, drills, etc...). Most digital devices (laptops, tablets, etc) should be fine on modified/square wave...but pure sine wave is always preferred (also more expensive).
........for now I'll just say this :-- modified sine wave is really modified square wave. It sounded better for marketing reasons to say modified sine wave . It caught on and today everyone says modified sine wave .
I think those Torch sparkplugs are actually great. I've got this old Ross lawn mower and after watching this I assume the Torch plug in it is the original. Its probably run 1000+ hours over more than 10 years and is still going strong now even with multiple cracks & a bit missing from the porcelain. At least 2 times I've given it a good soak & clean out after it totally gunked up & with sandpaper too and works a treat again after.
I got one of the harbor Freight versions five or six years ago and have used it at an off grid cabin. Still runs fine with probably a couple hundred hours on it. Very convenient if I only want enough power for a few lights and fans. Not too loud but even a very basic vented plywood box will baffle the noise down considerably.
I have a harbor freight one I use for overlanding and its awesome. Saved my life 3 times and has always worked. Put a pull cord in it once but its 4 years old. Never had to do much to it either. Put a spark plug into it once but thags about it. Can't beat that!
When you put your two stroke oil in you should have pulled the starter cord and turned the motor over a few times before you reinstalled the spark plug and allowed it to lubricate the motor.
Excellent idea! I'll remember
@Am Fil What is the name of the oil you put in a engine?
Am Fil I work on motors and engines and I still call engines motors
@Am Fil Oh do tell.. LMAO here you go www.castrol.com/en_us/united-states/home/motor-oil-and-fluids.html
@Am Fil motor vehicle? Motorcycle? Motor oil? Electric motors are just that, electric versions of motors.
Could you expand your 50 most important tools a man should own to 100 tools? It was an awesome series...
Larry Croft I would love to see more of those videos too!
#51 a $99 generator!
Hands brain and pipe wrench u don't need nothing else.
#52.. a funnel haha 😆
as a cheap "disposable" generator that looks decent.. something i can loan out, have one laying around as a backup / backup, something to leave up at the mountain cabin and not overly worry about it "walking off".
the fact that this is a 2 cycle engine, it's perfect for everything you just said, because it never needs oil changes, it can never run out of oil, and it never needs valves adjusted. Just gas it and go! I would, however, give them a can full of 50:1 gas/oil mix, so they don't accidentally put unmixed fuel in it, which would destroy it in minutes.
I wonder how well it will work to power a trailer over a weekend?
I too have owned items made so badly a theif returned it!
@@robertl.fallin7062 Apparently the thief kept your dictionary however...sorry, couldn't resist, just messing with ya' :)
I watched this demonstration a few months ago and based on what I saw, I bought one. Works fine. I am an old man but I can handle it easily, It runs fine and produces enough power to run either my refrigerator or my freezer. So I have to keep mixed gas on hand, big deal. I use Sta-Bil double strength and If I don't use the gas after a couple of years I'll just run it through my mower.
I bought the 900 watt tailgator generator from harbor freight a little over two years ago and have put probably 200-300 hours on it problem free until recently until the plastic pulley in the cap broke. I have one on the way in the mail now. For $98 it works great as it will power (at once) 4-5 grow lights (with led bulbs) and a standard box fan. It'll pull a full side refrigerator by itself but that's all it'll pull at once. I was impressed and would buy another one if mine gave out without question
When this video came out, I ordered one to leave at my off-grid cabin. Can you do a video of your little upgrades such as replacing the fuel lines?
Ive had the harbor freight version for 3 years, lived through a winter on top of my car, still starts in 1-3 pulls every time. Cleaned the carb out once, and has continued to run fine over many eyeballed gas/oil mixes. Paid $90
Same here, she's a beast for the money, and very portable also.
Winter in what state?
Winter in what state?
Did you disassemble your carb for a full clean or did you just spray a carb cleaner into the running generator?
I've had one of those generators for 16 years. It runs about 6 - 61/2 hours on a tank full. It has about 800 hundred hours on it.
Now here's my expertise, I'm a certified Outdoor Power Equipment Mechanic, with 30 years of experience.
Do not run this type of generator using both the DC and AC circuits at the same time. You will damage its circuitry. 12 volts is drawn directly from the generator, were as the AC voltage is run through a rectifier with bridge diodes.
Next, if your going to use this to run or charge any electronic devices use a surge protector, they do not develop a clean sinusoidal wave and can damage your devices. An inverter generator is much more stable, and has a cleaner sinusoidal wave which is more compatible to electronics.
Comparing this generator to a Honda EU generator, is comparing apples to oranges. Its not even in the same league.
But beyond that, the one that I have has been totally reliable.
Could you use the 12 volt output on this generator to power a 12v DC in / 110v AC out pure sine wave inverter?
Thanks friend, I didn't know that ..
You may of just saved my generator ?
@@rhulse8904, you could but it's not ideal. I would use the generator to charge a deep cycle gel battery and draw the power for the inverter from the battery. The battery will act as a buffer against the voltage irregularities produced by this type of generator.
@@tedsamuels3203, your welcome.
I owned one of these generators for almost eight years, it was bought exclusively to power the converter on my small Rv, and it worked relatively well for that application. Now what you are not aware of, is how dirty the voltage is, coming off this unit, the sine waves were the worst I have ever seen, I tried running simple electrical items with it, and it destroyed my cell phone charger, an Led rechargeable lantern, and my portable 12 volt battery charger ....NOTE: The 12 volt charger that is built into the generator has an extremely weak rectifier board and no regulator, so after about 3 mins of charging a dead 12 volt battery, it trips the over load breaker, it's not going to work unless you sit there all day and manually unplug the twelve volt supply every two minutes for about 20 seconds to cool the diodes in the board😩, typical Chinese engineering, leave out a complete component, to bring the cost of an item down...
The day I pluged in my small deep freeze, during a power outage, it ran for a while and then made some strange noises, and thankfully shut it self down, as it could not receive the proper hertz frequency from the unit under load to cycle the compressor, the voltage spike of the freezer's compressor was more than the voltage output of the genset, although the freezer was only rated at less than 600 watts... This little generator has its limitations, it's great for basic electrical items like an electric drill, simple kitchen appliances, a small eletric space heater, house hold lights ect. it will even run an old school tube TV with a robust high voltage regulator, but certainly not a flat screen TV, or any sensitive electronics. I have even tried running a high quality voltage surge protector in loop with this generator and it would go into limp mode after only 1 minute of operation, with a flashing code sequence that denoted poorly regulated out put voltage, too dirty to filter by the surge protector.... Decide carfully on your needs, if this generator is going to work for your application before buying it.
Noted, and thanks for it, no rectifier equals cheep. But if you have a rectifier (like for your vehicle that plugs in the old cig lighter) you can protect the finer electronics.
The powershart
Have you tried a UPS? They are better than regular surge protectors. Need something for a hunting cabin and don't want to be spendy as it will only be needed for short periods of time.
@@kenkinniph2327 No I haven't tried a UPS back-up, but it sounds like a good idea, I did however buy a more powerful, better quality generator, it's 1800 watts, and has a relatively clean sinewave, so I've had no complaints with powering electrical devices.
@@kenkinniph2327 my thought exactly... I have one of each but no O scope anymore. Will be worth a little experimenting. I'll call Shelton.
I gave mine to a family member who needed it,... That was the only good part about giving it away.
These units are awesome & mine ran things that it technically should not have.
Hey! You could easily be "The Man" to host a QVC/Amazon show! LOL Seriously, you did a great job demonstrating this pup. I'm actually gonna order one! Be Well..
We bought the earlier 950W model about 15 years ago, and it was second hand even then. The only complaint we had was that one of its rubber feet was missing! We don't use it excessively, but it seems to do all it's asked to do. It can be reluctant to start if left unused for a longish period, say, 2 months or more, but is fine once it's up and going.
The only thing to watch out for, is never be tempted to exceed the generator's design limits. These machines rely on a pair of high current blocking diodes built into the rotor. These diodes take the full brunt of the reflux current every half revolution. The reflux current is what drives the magnetic flux in the rotor, which in turn energises the stator and produces the output current. The reflux current is directly proportional to the load applied to the output, and the diodes are at best conservatively rated. You may get away with overloading once or twice, or maybe a hundred times, but it will eventually destroy the diodes over time. Small Hondas did it the same way, and suffered the same fate - we know, it's how our little Honda expired. It's also why we have a 1kW, and a 4kW Honda, and a 3.5kW Briggs, so that we can choose the machine best suited to the job in hand.
Noise wise, the little Chinese "blue-smoke" is surprisingly quiet, and runs surprisingly smooth, once loaded. Its also very handy for charging the tractor batteries when the tractors are off site - 8A charge for 20 minutes is usually enough to get all but the most reluctant tractor started.
Often maligned by some, and almost certainly not worth repairing if they breakdown, but if you use common sense, and look after it, even one of these 'Chinesium' generators will give decent service if you don't overtax it.
Always handy to have in the back of the van, or pick-up!
I love these 'testing the cheapest' videos. Keep them up!
I've got a few of these generators, you do get the odd dud straight out of the box, and I've had one of those, but there are plenty of good ones.
They are based on an old Yamaha design, its two stroke engine has a carb and reed valve mounted at the back of the Alluminium alloy crankcases, with a detachable cast Iron cylinder barrell and Alluminium alloy cylinder head at the front. The cylinder also has a sort of triangular shaped exhaust port, probably in an attempt to soften the exhaust note a little.
They usually run quite smoke free with the recommended 50/1 petroil mixture, after any excess oil has cleared. They sell for around £60 from cut price supermarkets here in the UK, so they are just about cheap enough to risk getting stolen if you are forced to leave them running unattended outside.
i have the same unit from harbor tools i ran a tank of fuel 7 days a week for 2 years and its still runs. tank only holds like 1.1 gal. of gas i mix my fuel at 40 to 1 for the money they are good little units
What 2 stroke oil did you use?
Also what brand and octane of gas?
Awesome story! 👍
@@stevel1475 I use the stihl 2cycle oil that I run in my chain saw and weed water.
The generator recommended a 50-1 ratio for the mix I ran mine around 40-1 had to clean the spark plug a few times and replaced it 3 times.
Generator ran 6 to 7 days a week for just short of 2 years .
I didn't put much of a load on it. Mainly ran cordless tool charges and a couple of led work lights.
That extra oil in the fuel I'm sure helped it last. I still have it but the circuit breaker kicks all the time now
@@stevel1475 91 octane premium pump gas. Mainly Texaco other than that conoco.
But never arco/ ampm gas
its a better outlet probably to insulate from thermal over draw.
also in case you have an appliance that uses the bigger 20 amp plug while not using that much power
My Neighbor give me a Colman generator 4000 something should I put fogging oil in cylinder to store it through winter. Thank you for all your videos. Love all your video work.
How does it have overhead valves if it’s a two stroke. If I’m not mistaken that’s only on 4 strokes.
It is cheap but it sounds better than my Honda generator and my wife's snoring...
@Pete Coventry thats not a good thing...
boomer humor. it could grow on me :D
Wanna trade ?
Hai Tran why don’t boomers like their wifes??
@@25566 why isn't that good to have that ability on occasion?
There certainly seems to be some great generators out there. I bought a cheap inverter generator a couple of years ago, and it's never let me down. Starts on the first pull each time, and runs for hours at a time when I use it never missing a beat. What's more, it was less than £200. It's branded as Impax, but I've seen it branded as Clarke, Sportsman and Earthquake. Well worth a look if you need a cheap inverter and haven't looked already.
So this is the first video I've watched of yours in a few years, your production value has gone up very nicely. Good to see improvements happen!
Yea cause he has almost 2 mil subs and is making 50-100k a month compared to the 0 he was making.
Literally spilled more oil than he got in that spark plug hole! Lmao 😂
the recoil starter is always the first to go.othes than that,they seem to keep running.i bring mine camping to light up the night and charge cell phones or laptop.going on 5yrs now
I bought one that was a return at a local auto parts store for something like $25~$30 and used it for years on the farm. It sat in a cart to run my reciprocating saw for cutting brush when the chain saw wasn't quite the right tool or not readily available. It did the job well enough.
I bought this for 89 bucks back in 2012 from Harbor Freight it's been not running perfectly since then in a box in my basement. Glad to see is worth it for a Backup backup generator.
I would be super interested in seeing how to make the can into an external fuel source.
I've had one for about 3 years running my camper, no issues so far!
Glad to hear 👍
When you ran the heater outside of the shop i heard my grandpa in my head, "shut the door, you trying to heat the outdoors? You born in a barn?"
😂👍
Some great tips, thanks. I also run the first tank of fuel with a 40:1 mix instead of 50:1. I own various 2-stroke appliances and some came with this advice in the manual.
Roland 🤨🤓
I bought one the other week. I too am very impressed with it as a base cost unit, though I am more used to far larger models. The plug cover is fragile unfortunately I. Mine cost more than that, but it was mostly the extra carriage to my location . It came in a neat nailed small crate.
whenever i saw these 2 stroke generators i just assumed they would sound like a WOT chainsaw and be shaking around like a chihuahua. Definitely a good value
When you plug a 1,500 watt load into a 900 watt generator and it doesn't trip the overload, that is a huge problem, not a feature. A thing like this has its place, but I'd be seriously wary of plugging my fridge or frankly anything I cared about into that thing. What you are giving up with this versus a Honda is reliability, both that it will work long-term, and also the quality of the power coming out of it. If you want to run a few lights or charge up a battery, fine. More than that, and you really should be spending more.
trustbuster23 lmfao rotfflmfao 🤣 😂 lmfao 😆
I've had one of these since 2012, it still works. Can be difficult to start at times, but I've done zero maintenance on it.
same here! i got one from wal mart years ago has 100's of hours on it still works great!
Appreciate the advice on how to properly set it up. I have the harbor frieght one. I didn't know you need to oil the filter. Thanks for the advice.
Great review! This seems like the perfect secondary backup generator. I have a 7500 watt westinghouse which is what I normally use for power failures. However during the last ice storm I had serious issues starting it up. I'm not mechanically inclined at all, but after searching youtube / forums I was able to change the spark plug and do a few other things in a real panic to get it going. 2am in freezing rain when your phone is at 10% is not the time to be learning about small engines. That being said it made me very aware having a second backup is a good idea. I have very expensive and dear to me saltwater aquariums. While the 7500watts powers most of the house this little guy would be more then enough to power the aquarium pumps / charge things in a real emergency where the main generator doesn't work. For a little over $100 I'd be happy to leave this in the box and never have to use it.
investigae a power conditioner so your pricelss fish dont suffocate when the derty unmatched frequency of the power fries your pumps. A pwer conditioner is a large transformer looking thing, heavy, that evens out the voltage fluctuations, brown outs and surges. They are about 60-100 bux for 500 w.
Drain the float bowl, after each use. Even just turn off fuel petcock, and run it outta gas. MODERN ETHANOL gas, dries and gums up, ALL carburetors ! Mowers, etc etc.
You should check the sine wave output on it.
Probably not the smoothest waveform. Looking like square saw tooth.
Sounds like MSW then.
yeah the inverter on this thing must be hot garbage, but for such a low price...
@@25566 Unit in that price range won't have an inverter at all. Just straight wires off the generator windings, like old style generators.
I have a Chicago Tools brand unit and I'm rather happy with it, however...I'm gonna install a Voltage Regulator in my POP-UP Camper so I can charge the Leisure Battery. My unit fluctuates between 17-11vdc and I'd rather have that be a little more Stable than it currently is.
i'd get this just for the battery charging ability .
it's small enough that you could toss it in you're vehicle and then you'd have a way to charge you're battery on the go without having to rely on some random to boost you.
Pro-tip: throw a Kill-O-Watt on there so we can see the power
thats calld a "wattmeter"
TheFistOfShadow - sorry bud but Jesse W is right. I own one!
@@mattwaters6987 Whats your point ? Your Kill-O-Watt is nothing else than a plug-in wattmeter.
@@thefistofshadow7392 some people! Only knows the brand name and has no idea what the product actually is! Probably has no idea what a vacuum cleaner is but knows what a Hoover is! 🤣🤣
@@whatyousaidbud ikr
> Excellent! It gives me the fizz so I'm hopping over to Amazon to get one now.
Also, Mr. Wrangler Star, you do superior work on-camera, with your video editing and production, and of course with your product reviews.
I bought one of these generators a few years back and I had to use it at a place I was living because my roommates never paid the hydro bill for months, anyway I mixed it at 40 to 1 and run this baby 6 to 12 hours a day for 4 months in the summer, it still works great but the recoil is broke, its a damn good little generator
This thing saves your basement from flooding once and you really feel good about these $99.
I love how everyone and their mom has a version of this little genset.
I believe everyone needs this never know when you need to run a fridge or freezer if you don’t have anything else this is it
I was thinking the same, you never know when the fridge will quit(mine makes a whole bunch of odd sounds and she is about 14-15 now)
This will most likely not run a fridge. I imagine a fridges surge watts are higher than 1000w. Surge watts are a huge consideration for generators, it is the initial watts require to start it up when the motor runs. Same as a microwave uses a lot of watts on startup and then drop known as continuous watts.
mixwell1983 larger models of home fridges run around 750 watts while smaller ones run 350watts
brian70Cuda A generator will not a busted refrigerator. ?
@@_JMiahW ?
Ive hard a few of these for years and years. I use them to power tools and other items when i cant get power otherwise. I have several hundred hours on a few of them.
Couple tips-
Replace the spark plug for an ngk or autolite. Much smoother running
Pull every bolt you can get easy access to and put some sort of thread locker on them.
Run the premix a little heavier on your first tank.
Use smokeless 2t oil. Ive been using the marine stuff for a few years now with no issues
Get a little 6 outlet power strip and a few L brackets and mount it to the side of the fuel tank using existing bolts. The stock outlet is pretty weak and not a standard size so its a pain to replace when it falls apart which it will. Keep the power strip plugged in and plug everything into that. Bonus if your power strip has an on/off switch.
Use some fuel stabiler to every tank if you know you wont be using it in the near term.
What model numbers for spark plugs?
Eric: thanks for the tips on the 2 stroke generator. Do you think it provides clean enough power to run a most warehouse type fans without damaging their 1/2 or more electric motors? I know I need to make sure within operating specs, but my issue is the quality of the power itself coming out of these cheap gen sets.
@@horacesawyer2487 these little guys have shockingly clean power. It should be fine for fans. I use one of mine to run servers from time to time and they havent been effected by the power output either.
@@ericeven4090 : Thanks Eric ! Love the information exchange and comradery here.
I used this generator throughout the entire week i was without power after the derecho hit Iowa and I am not disapointed with my $100 purchase, it was a life saver
Need a word for almost the fizz, I was impressed with it.
Key to longevity in a 2-stroke is don't run it to lean if it says 50 to 1 use 40 to 1
I bought a little Harbor Freight tailgator, which is about the same thing. It's great...for the money.
I've got a similar model, minus the 12 volt outlet. Ran a freezer after hurricane Michael for 5 hours a day for 3 months. Before that ran a 5000 BTU window unit for a week at night till power came back on at my house. Since then, I've used it camping for the pop up, a d frankly, for 100, I love it.
Great review. One thing of note is the manual states "This Generator is equipped with a 12V DC receptacle. The 12V DC
receptacle is not intended for use to charge automotive batteries.
The receptacle permits the use of any electrical device designed for use in
a 12V DC."
once it breaks strap the motor to a bicycle and have some fun
Didnt even know 2stroke generators where a thing
I got my first similar gennie about 20 years ago, had a few over the years.
I've got one never got her to run yet though 😂
I got a chicago one taint' bad it'll run a grinder no prob.
My dad has a 2 stroke 12volt battery charger. It is strictly a charger and about 1/4 the size of this one.
I didn't even know 4 stroke generators were a thing.
It is amazing that this is even possible. I think I would have a hard time shipping a box full of rocks the same size and weight as this for across the US for just $99. Its insane that someone did that and is somehow making a profit on this.
It's $200 now.
I had one of the Harbor Freight versions about 8 years ago. (Mine was blue) I took it camping ( at a state park campsite) to avoid paying the extra money for an electrified site. I took the genny about 60 feet over a hill, and set it into a snall, level depression in the ground. (I had checked it out prior to lugging the genny down there) and set up a V-shaped wall made out of foam insulation around it for sound dampening. From the campsite you could barely make out the hum of it over the sounds of the crickets and frogs. I ran a 10ga cord up to the campsite, running several CFL lights and phone chargers, as well as a coffee-pot in the mornings. We had little kids with us, freaking out about sleeping in the dark, so I filled the genny up as they were going to bed, then topped off once more before I went to bed. It ran 2 CFL lights all night long and then the coffee pot in the morning. 6-to 7 hours on one tank of fuel. A Park ranger even asked how we got the power. I told him about the genny over the hill and he remarked about how quiet it was and said "Carry on" I gave it away to my brother, unfortunately. Now I have a 1500 watt "Champion" 4-stroke that is very loud. Too loud to take to camp without building an elaborate "Doghouse" lined with carpet scraps around the thing to deaden the sound. (while allowing ventilation) I need to get another one of these again..
Hey Wrangler , my trick for external fuel tanks is to use outboard motor fuel tanks
They have a quick connect fitting and a hand primer
This is the tailgator from. Harbor freight tools. Got mine for 89 bucks. Works awesome
something about this video gives me the fizz. ive already seen it about a dozen times but i just keep coming back to it i might have to pick up that generator for myself at this point
Read brents comment.
Same here
Maintenance is spelled wrong on the air filter cover
I was told by the owner of a small engine shop (junk yard style buy & sell) to never go down to 50:1 no matter what the manufacture says.
He said that manufacturers are pushed to keep emissions down so they have to say 50:1, which is basically the bare minimum that a machine will tolerate, but it won't tolerate it for long. A simple miss calc can cause major engine scoring. he said at 40:1 you get very little smoke and your saws and boat motors and weed wackers will live for decades.
This seems to be a nice generator for the money. I had a snowblower and a lawnmower with Torch brand sparkplugs that worked great. I changed the plugs after 4 or 5 years just due to age, but they were working OK. Both of these items had Powermore engines that worked perfectly. My lawnmower is at least 6 years old and starts first pull. I am very pleased with these little engines.
The problem with cheap generator is they are not pure sign wave output, and the voltage usually varies. So be careful using them for running computers and other electronic components.
SINE wave
Might have to look into this as an apartment dweller
David F oh don’t think I wouldn’t be threatened by my apartment company. Even though I deliver the materials to build the apartments. Throughout my area.
Your neighbors will love that. Be sure to throw a party and invite everyone before you crank up this generator. Serve lots of booze.
Screw them I have an fmf shorty pipe on mine.
I have the HF version that I bought strictly to power a sump pump if the power goes out. In the 8 years or so I've had it, I needed it exactly once for about 3 hours. it also powered some incandescent bulbs in our family room so we could sit and play cards and while the time away. I accumulated more time getting it running and ready for winter than I ever have using it for what I bought it for. Worth EVERY penny of $100 and if/when it gives up, i will buy another.
I've got 2 two-stroke generators, both Homelites. Ones an XL-12 A115 (yes based on the sixties XL-12 chainsaw platform) and a larger 9A115-1 that used to be owned by a local fire department that i just bought today at an engine show. Seller had a matching water pump, but sadly I didn't have enough cash on hand to buy it as well for the $40/each the seller wanted for them.
It would be cool to get an update after using it all winter!
This guy is very intelligent. I like him. Very cool.
These videos are what make TH-cam great, informative. God bless you.
I bought one of these about 12 years ago (Coleman brand). Mostly, I used to run my photography flood lights (2- 500w lights). When the power was off at the house it really helped running as a second generator. When my 5000w quit I used this one all the time/everyday during the summer for 12-14 hours a day. With proper maintenance it will last a long time and the only problem I ever had was the stater rusted and wouldn't crank after sitting up for two years while I was in China. After cleaning, it cranked up with less than a 1/4 pull. Let it idle for a couple minutes before plugging in anything and a couple minutes after unplugging. I paid $100 for mine. Yes, it still runs and is used it often.
Amazing little unit! With regards to running the unit for 25 hours straight, does this unit support that kind of duty cycle though?