The single most important tip is to ALWAYS run these completely dry! No gas in the tank and no gas in the float bowl (you should drain the float bowl completely by unscrewing the bottom bolt on the bowl). Gas sitting in the machine is the single biggest enemy of small engines. It absorbs water and turns into varnish. It rots the lines and can rust the gas tank. Also, they have a tendency to end up leaking gas into the carb up into the cylinder and into the oil! It's also not a bad idea to spray a light vegetable oil into the cylinder before storing. When you first start it for the season, take out the plug and squirt in a small amount of 2 stroke gas.
Your tip 5, is not a good tip for generators. You need to run the generator without a load for 5 minutes. (It even states that in the manual) but all generators need time to warm up and stabilize the generation of electricity before a load is put on it. Harbor Freight States 5 minutes in the manual. Also before you shut your generator off, you want to shut your load off, unplug your cord and let it run for a few minutes with no load to cool down before you shut it off. This is extremely important because there are fans in both the motor and in the generator. They are all air cooled. When under load, the generator itself gets really hot from generating electricity. It needs the fan to help cool itself off and can really only effectively cool itself to the point where it's safe to store while there's no load. Once the coils are sufficiently cooled, I would say 5 minutes then you can shut it off and put it away. If you don't do those two startups in cooldown procedures you will significantly shorten the life of the generator. FYI I'm an electrician by trade and install thousands of generators from the small 10kvw to big 20 cylinder 20MW (Mega Watt).
FYI EVERYONE WHO HAS HARD TIME RESTARTING THESE WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE... All you have you have to do is remove the gas cap and it will start right up. Just needs to vent. Somehow it took me almost two summers to finally figure this out lol
I’m having that problem all the time. Thank you for the tip👍 My 2 month old one can’t run with 10 gallon 1.5 hp air compressor 🤷🏻♂️ Do you guys know why?
Maaaaaattt! Why didn't I find you earlier! Just ran my brand new Champion inverter generator for 5 hours to break it in without a load! When I realized I should have worked the little guy, I immediately plugged the frig and washer and did a load of laundry. Then I changed the oil to synthetic, patted its little bum and put it in the garage. Oh, well... I'm learning and really appreciate your video.
Lol...I have been here for a few years now. Don't worry, a light load just helps it stabilize a little better but you do not really have to use a load during the break in. The important thing is to change the oil which you did, so you should be great!
Great products!! I've used the 2000 watt inverter to power my work van EVERY DAY for the past 5 years!!! typically 5-7 hr's per. Living in Michigan in the winter when its -10° to 25 it starts a bit rough but NEVER FAILES to fire. Now mine you this , i buy the 3 year replacement warranty and have had to replace this 3 x's Only because the rope rubs and eventually breaks, it's merely impossible to get into to fix. So I end up returning them for a new one. Be mindful of your Fuel, oil changes, keep both the spark arrestor and air filter clean and this little thing will run forever!
Thanks for the tips. I'm in the Orlando area, I bought this generator a week before Irma and ran it 100 hrs continuously to power a portable A/C, fan, lights, refrigerator and tv. No complaints.
FloridaBoy Survival is this heavy I also I need one because I'm thinking of getting a Ford F-350 XLT crew cab diesel 7.3L Power Stroke for plug in is this good also for travel
I'm in the process of buying rural land and the 40 acres I'm looking at doesn't have electric service anywhere near it. I've found several of these videos about how good the Predator is. Thanks so much for contributing with constructive criticism and useful tips!
Reorienting that RV plug is the smartest thing I have heard of in a long time. I would never have even thought it possible. I don't have a generator but this one is getting a lot of good reviews and I want one so maybe!
I just used mine for over 10 days, traveled everywhere from the beach to the mountains. Ran everything in my RV, AC, TV, lights ect at once. Never had a problem. Great product.
chad bailey it has a manual with all of the parts. You can also order direct from them. This is a great product, I added some fuel stabilizer and it starts right up every time, even after sitting in the garage for a long time. Now that mine has some hours on it, it runs better. I also added some 1" air vents to the oil door. Made it run even better on eco mode.
thank u for info, im going to get one, its hard to find a bad review on them. also is it quiet compard to a honda? if u know. and it runs at very low rpm with no load, turn a light or frig on it bumps up rpm a little, the more u turn on the more rpm gos up like the inverted Honda's?
chad bailey very quiet, I run mine on eco mode until I need the ac, tv, and or microwave. It has a nice quiet idle and as you need more power it revs up a bit. I have a fully outfitted Coleman travel trailer with a 40" tv, and game console. I can run all my lights, fridge, ac, tv, an console at once with no problems. I do turn off the ac if I need the microwave. Trust me, this is a top notch product. I run synthetic oil in mine and glad I bought one.
houseboat living on the st johns river I run my predator 3500 12hours per day. Love it. though i am on my third unit this year. all failed from high temps this summer. now i remove the side panel and keep it in the shade. always get the extended warranty at HF.
So you have had to get a replacement twice but you're still excited about the performance of the Predator? How many hours befoe it failed? I had a small generator and running after a hurricane it sounded off after a few hours and then quit. Since I wasn't doing anything I took it apart and the rocker arm broke in half. Wondering about China engines even though they have improved.
2000 hours on mine. Use 2 parallel every day for past year. No problems. I lifted it on a milk crate during the summer on hot pavement 5 hours a day. It just needs airflow. They have their quirks but maintenance and clean spark arrestors are key. They perform every bit as well as my Honda EU2200i and eu7000 at a fraction of the price. I expected them to last maybe 200 hours but they are still going
Bought one today. Got the three year warranty. Joined ITC and got it for $699 (plus warranty of course, well worth it). FYI- Harbor Freight manager in Las Cruces told me the only time these generators come back broken is when the customers ran them without oil. Customers then try to deny this but the cause is clear and it is NOT covered by any warranty.
Awesome! The warranty is a good idea. Remember that the break in is the most important thing on these, do it right and you have years of great use. Do it wrong and you will be returning it...
Update on my unit I purchased mine about 6 months ago Sorry to say mine gave out yesterday Couldn’t get it going again so I had to take it Back on the extended Warentee I got No hassle with harbor freight Until yesterday the only problem I had was it used oil not a lot but enough You also need to add a 6th tip Clean the spark arrest on the rear mine tended to plug My unit ran a lot I’m off grid the wife has pap Machine so when it is 20f outside it ran all night With apx 30% load This is the first inverter generator The other 2 are just the normal style Thanks for your videos
Great video, I bought one of these for my RV and recently did a review on it as well. I don’t generally worry about running ethanol free gas in my newer equipment unless it’s my 2 stroke saws, trimmers, etc...but I do run it in my older equipment such as classic John Deere and Cub Cadet tractors featured on my channel. The newer equipment is at least designed with E10 in mind unlike the old equipment.
Awesome. I say run the ethanol free stuff in case people store their generator it will help with reducing the varnish in the carb....otherwise I just run regular gas in it myself
Great video ! I bought one just a couple months ago for hurricane outages, I did a test run, and this genny will run a 6000 BTU AC window unit, my “newer” 25 cu ft fridge, and a couple lights and the TV at under 2500 watts and 18 amps on load. Like you said, the main thing if buying one is breaking it in, use non ethanol gas with “Stabil” if it might sit for over 30 days. Use a space heater or any 110 appliance that pulls some wattage and/or amps and run it for at least a couple hours. Then change the oil after 8 hours of use, then keep dealing with the “breaking in” period under a 3rd load until you at least have 15 hours. Mine ran a little rough even under load, but I found out that the more I broke it in under a few hours adding load, the better it ran. I thought about changing the spark plug but after 15 hours it’s running really smooth now. You’re right about running it level, I found mine ran better on a porch with a pitch if I put a half inch wood strip under the wheels to level it out. I’ve found that slowly increasing the load when breaking it in, (space heater, fridge, AC window shaker) over a few cycles, the genny smoothes out over time. Mine was a little rough at first when I bought it, (seemed like it wasn’t idling well) then after 15 hours it’s a smooth running genny.
I bought one 3500i last fall. Haven't used it yet its still in the box. I appreciate your tips & tricks and will apply them asap. One more thing: when I bought mine HF told me that they would be developing and selling a kit to link TWO 3500i to each other like they did for their 2000i (like Honda). I expect to buy another 3500i when they release that linking equipment. Thanks for a great video !!!
I used your tip #2 and rotated the 30 amp plug. Man I'm glad that I did. What I found once that I removed the face plate i.e. Instrument panel was that on the 30 amp plug was the three screws that hold the wires on the plug terminals were not tight at all. I could easily turn each screw a 1/4 turn too tight. I didn't see any evidence of arcing but I'm sure that due to vibration it could have eventually occurred. Thanks FloridaBoy Survival.
Great video and nice that you understand the need to keep the unit sealed up. ALL inverters look like that and are sealed up because cooler air must cool the electronic heat sink. Leaving panels off, door open or drilling holes makes people feel better but defeat what the designers knew had to be done. It's very well designed and doesn't need "Improving". Try modifying your car and get them to do warranty work. Mine is a new model with gas gauge to help prevent overfilling and 30 amp plug is rotated correctly. Only improvement needed is add a NAPA fuel filter # 23011 on the outlet side of shut off valve. Don't cut factory hose, just add 2" of gas line with Corbin clamps. Easy to access, keeps dirt/moisture out of carb and can be put back to original if wanted. People want to disable the charcoal filter because it can get gas in it and engine runs very rich. IF you look the vent goes to the extreme top of the tank at the gas cap threads. The charcoal cannister is designed to handle vapors only. Don't overfill the gas tank and you won't get liquid gas in the cannister. Forget the expensive Stabil that I never use. You can place it like draining the oil and easily drain the carb bowl & gas tank into a clean container. Just turn the knob to start or run position to drain ALL the gas out of it. You can also pump most of the gas out with the H.F. hand pump if you want. Great unit.
just a quick follow-up... If this machine blew up on me tonight catastrophically I would go buy another one tomorrow that's how much I love this thing. I leave messages on your Channel because I have tons of peeps in f l a . they are all going to buy one of these generators! for those people wanting these for emergency relief I can tell you that they run long ... long ... long hours without fail.
Just bought one a few days ago. no complaints. It seems to be a great generator. on a side note do not alter the oil door. Air is designed to come in the front AND PASS THROUGH the inverter to cool the electronics. The air flow is specifically designed. If you alter the oil door you are starving the inverter off air and may shorten the generators life. If it does not run right.. take it back. My brand new one runs perfectly from the factory.
I use one of these almost nightly to run my LG portable AC in my van. I'm an oversize escort. Loving this generator though it doesn't like to be in rain like my old Honda handled. Had a vinyl cover made for it that can be used when the unit is running. Back is open but everything else stays nice and dry.
I liked your channel as soon as I heard Tab Benoit... Just saw him at Skippers Smokehouse in Tampa. I live in Florida also. Turning the twist lock outlet 180 degrees was a great tip. My 3500 Predator puts out 20 VDC instead of 12 VDC. It is brand new...
Tip 6! Make sure to do the oil break in change! Alot of metal shavings in oil from the rings breaking in! If you don't do the break in oil change it will b a short life on the engine. I poured my oil in a glass jar after my break in oil change and a good bit of metal in oil, which is actually normal. Second oil change was hardly a trace!
Exactly! I changed my oil at 4hrs, then at 8hrs, then again at 25 hours. Maybe a little overkill but now there are no shavings at all in the oil and it is running like a champ....!!
I concur and am also a fan of overkill. Mine just arrived yesterday. I ran it once for 5+5 (no load+partial load), and then let it cool off, then did it again for 5+10. Total of 25 minutes, with 10 being no load and 15 with partial load of about 1,500 watts via space heater. I am using Mobil One 10W-30 full synthetic. There was quite a bit of visible metal in the oil. I intend to change the oil again after another 1 hour, again after 8 hours, and one more time after I complete the 30 hours break-in period. 30 hours is what my manual indicates. For sure this is overkill, but I bought a 5 quart jug of the Mobil One on sale at Wal-Mart. I think it was only $20. That is nothing compared to the cost of this generator, which I want to be very reliable and last a long time. I'll probably put Mobil One 10W30 Extended Service in at the end of the break-in, as we're going on a two week RV Travel Trailer trip and it will get used a lot. I have all the outlets covered. I never use ethanol gas in my small engines, and I always Stabil-ize my gas. I bought the stuff to install some venting into the oil service panel, and I will probably do that before I leave for the trip. I'll probably install 3 of the 1-inch vents. Very happy thus far! Thanks for the video amigo!
Read often of users switching to synthetic oil, which is recommended for modern vehicles with roller cams, etc. Also read where synthetic oil has no Zinc content. Zinc is lubricant and small engines with no roller cams last longer with Zinc containing oil.
Hello there! Thanks for a couple tips I never thought of, particularly rotating the 30 amp plug! Plus plug covers. I have a great tip for you to help quiet yours down. I found a section of HVAC ducting that looks like a foil covered box, that fits just right over my HF Predator 3500, with at least 1” around all the sides, plus I made a lid from the same material that has a 1” insulation on the inside walls. I cut a hole where the exhaust goes adding a nice high temp adapter that I can screw a lawn mower type of muffler as a last step after covering the whole thing with what looks like a miniature RV. I also had to add a thermostat controlled small computer fan that sucks in cool air if the temps get too high, plus a dedicated intake snorkel that looks like an exhaust stack in the RV. All together it takes about 5-10 minutes to fuel an set up the generator, get it running and plugged in, then fit my sound deadening cover fake RV over it that I also must plug in the temp control fan in. It may seem like a lot of work, but it really works great! Getting the dB down at full load of TV, A/C and refrigerator hot water heater of 67 dB uncovered to an incredible 53 dB!! To the point we cannot hear it at all over just the A/C running on low or high! With the generator set up at the end of the 25’ cord. The biggest issue I have are fellow campers stopping by to ask questions, especially when they happen to walk by and understand what it’s doing! I bet I could make a living making them for others, but mine was so inexpensive due to the fact I got most of the materials out of dumpsters in the community we live in for free! Plus it all takes up a lot of space in my truck bed.
FloridaBoy Survival but then you acknowledge just how loud the exhaust can be! Plus I will never leave the site without anyone there to keep an eye out for thieves. Or just some spiteful fool destroying my little creation just because they find the generator chained up to the nearest secure spot, like a steel pole set in concrete, or the rear bumper of the Trailer.
Thanks! Harbor Freight is what it is, some stuff is really good, some stuff is kinda good, some stuff is OK, and some stuff is complete garbage. Just gotta be careful what you buy there...
Just bought mine a couple of months ago for the RV at a great deal at $669.00. I have put about 45 minutes run time on it and like yours with no load it has a bit of a misfire with a load it smooths right out. I was a little skeptical because of the cheap price but we will see. It seems to be a pretty good Generator and is very quiet.
I have about 30 hours on mine so far with no hitch at all. I have changed the oil a couple of times and switched the plug but it is running like a champ. I got mine for $649 with an internet coupon...
TIP#6 - when camping, the generator is often placed directly on the ground - either on grass, or gravel, etc. this can block the airflow to the engine, and can also draw in dusty or dirty air. If possible, place the generator on top of a piece of plywood or some other such flat surface.
My 30 amp plug kept walking out and it was driving me crazy. But after watching your video I was able to fix it and be happy. Thank you very much for talking about that.
When I saw the fouled spark plug, the thought occurred that even though they put the cheapest plug available in the engine, probably any plug would get fouled during the break-in period. This would be due to oil getting by the rings because they haven't "seated" yet. That takes time and oil getting into the combustion chamber would foul any brand of spark plug. What say you? Enjoyed the review. I also am one of those worried Florida residents trying to maintain readiness in our unsteady environment.
Thanks! I agree with the fouled plug assessment, mine has since settled in quite nicely after the break in. Us Florida people know the drill in hurricane season...lol
I’ll tell you what, Harbor Freight Predator Generators are a very good underrated gen set. I have the Predator 8750/7,000 running watts and I had a coupon for 499.00 . Just looking after I bought mine I noticed Amazon wants 1,251.00 and Walmart wants 1,571.00. I can’t believe people are paying 3x the price. Anyway I am satisfied with my Predator 8750 and if I ever get another to have on hand I’ll by the Predator 3500 it’s half the price of a Honda but it works great!
I have had no problems at all. It is all about how you break them in and take care of them on an ongoing basis. Do the right things and it is just as good as any other...
In regards to tip #5, none of these small capacity engines ( sub 250cc) have much of a fly wheel mass, even if you include the generator rotor, pump etc Most of these engines are governed to 3600rpm - which is the same rpm the 60Hz countries have a lot of electric motors run at. So you use one air compressor/water pump, gearbox etc and use it with a small electric or petrol motor. So- at no load, the difference in throttle setting for cut off and 3600rpm is very small, typically around 1.5 to 2mm . The airblade governors are pretty crude and so they typically 'bounce' around with no load on the motor, and the low flywheel mass makes the rpm changes easily heard as they are fast changes. the misfire you hear is due to air starvation. As you point out, once a load is applied , the governor has to open the throttle a lot more to power the load and by doing so there is a lot more range of movement for the governor to work with, and more 'virtual mass' , so the engine smooths out because the governor never goes into the air starvation area of the carburettor range. The only engines that do not have this issue are the fuel injected ones ( there are few coming out now) , but they have major issues with water in fuel and fuel cleanliness that balance out the smoother running at no load. As long as you know why the engine is spluttering a bit at low load, and that it is normal, (4 stroke mowers are renowned for this issue being the basis of warranty claims) you can let it go knowing all is ok. In fact, I would be a bit worried if an unloaded small motor did not do it.
Great video and thanks for the great tips! I did the plug rotation and it is a great improvement. A side note for sharing with everyone.... for some reason my generator started bogging down and suddenly quit while hooked up to the RV. After calling harbor freight the technician told me to look at the spark arrester to see if it was carbon and up and it was. I took it off and the generator was up and running again. I’m not sure why that happened as I use a midgrade gas but just wanted to mention that so it might help someone else.
Awesome about the plug, it really makes a difference. Agree about the spark arrester, I should have mentioned it. I also took my whole arrester assembly off after about 3 hrs of runtime, figured that it would only block up the exhaust.
I never run oils with paraphin in them. I had a car once years ago. I bought it used. My family has always used Havoline Supreme or Valvoline. I changed the oil in the car and after a short time, the engine locked up. They mechanic told us he saw waxy sludge had blocked out some old journals and the oil had stopped circulating from this sludge clogging things up. It was the paraphin wax from Pennsoil and Quaker State the previous owner used. The high detergent formulation of Havoline made the paraphin break loose and clog everything. I know some people will say that should not have happened. I still try to use only Havoline oil. It has always had the highest detergent rating. I have 3 vehicles all with over 200,000 miles. The proof is in the pudding if you ask me!
@@mikecarter4572 Mechanic was the same. He had warned that these paraphin oils do sludge up. And especially with bad PCV, any coolant seepage into oil. I never, ever use paraphin wax oils. You can use what you like! I have 3 vehicles with over 200,000 mikes. None burn oil, no sludge in rockers or in oil change. I trust my experience. You do what pleases you!
I just used someone else's Briggs & Stratton 3000 watt generator. It didn't stutter at idle and was very quiet it was running my pig 1100 watt commercial popcorn machine. So I think for about the same price I'd rather have the Briggs & Stratton. I just had a 2200 w harbor freight generator die on me. Only after two years. So I won't be buying anything from harbor freight in the form of something to depend on the future. Nice review. Thanks for your time
as weird as this sounds, any inverter will parallel with another and sync. so if you have a honda inverter a harbor freight inverter of a different size will parallel with it. the smaller will run harder until you reach full load , but it works. there are vids about this. and i am doing it with the harbor freight parallel kit. or you can make your own kit.
Thanks! These are basic tips that really help the performance of the generator. If you use the proper maintenance schedule and care for this machine it should last just as long as the more expensive models. Next up is my 25 hour service video with a plug change...
As long as it won't inhale a lot of dust, I would recommend leaving the outlets un-capped. This way air can cool off the inside of the outlet box. Most electrical connections under any load will give off a bit of heat. Allowing a bit of air in there is a good thing, unless there is a lot of dust around. I do like the idea of rotating the twist lock so the RV cord works right. I have to watch the same thing when installing dryer or range outlets in a wall. You want the cord to hang down, not point up and bend down.
As a small engine repair tech, i agree with tip 1 ethanol free. Especial in 2 cycle engines (Trimmers and Chainsaws) . Or any equipment that may be used occasionally like a pressure washer, tiller or generator. Leaving equipment unused with ethanol gas sitting in the fuel system WILL cause problems the next time you want to start that equipment. That being said, running ethanol fuel in a generator or any 4 cycle engine equipment that is used often will do no harm as long as the fuel is fresh and not over 30 days old. or allowed to sit up. Getting to my point, in a emergency like a hurricane or events of periods of no power, you are going to go through a lot of gas. If you can find any at all. You will be burning through fuel instead of letting it sit around in a can or fuel tank. When its over drain the fuel system and carb bowl. I put it in my car and use it up. Otherwise #1 is a wise tip.
Agreed. That is the purpose of PLANNING and not waiting until the last minute to get your hurricane preps done. Last year with Irma, my wife and I started prepping a full week before it hit and there was plenty of everything available...gas, batteries, food, water...you name it. But two days before it was a mad house, and we were all set for at least a week with no power.
Good point Joseph! I do the exact same thing. As long as ethanol gas is moving through the fuel system you will not experience any issues. non-Ethanol is a good bit more expensive in my area so during last years hurricane we were without power for 5 days and I only had around 16 gallons of non ethanol which I went through fairly quick (before I owned this fuel sipping predator). Fortunately, of the five trucks in my family 4 of them were gassers that we had filled up before the hurricane (and before there was no gas to be found). I had to get out the ole 'criminals credit card' (siphon hose) and away I went burning ethanol in my generators lol
Thanks for your reply. I'm on a limited income so that was a big part of why I purchased the Chinese generator. Now it has been 11 months since I and I'm sorry very sorry that I did. You & I and most people know that you get what you pay for. It is an accurate saying in this case. The one that I have had for these last 4 month's has now taken a DUMP on me. The GFI outlets will not reset which the 220 outlet is somehow connected all together and at 1:30 am I'm having to run my Chevy Blazer at fast idle to charge the batteries in my motorhome to keep the food inside my fridge from spoiling. I'm not pleased at all !!! This is the 3rd generator since last Nov. 2017 to fail for that same reason. I had called harbor freight product support a few days ago and they recconmended that we / I wait the 10 weeks for delivery of the replacement outlets. 10 weeks !!!!!! 😴
Not to sound argumentative, but three generators fail for the same reason in that short of a time period and hundreds of thousands of them work perfectly some with over 1200 hours on them...I don't think the common denominator is the generator in your situation. Is there something else going on maybe? What % load were they under when they failed? This is just strange. I mean, I guess you could have got into a bad batch of them or something.
We don't always get what we pay for. We do however, pay for what we get. Just a play on words, friend. Thanks for sharing your story as I naively pondered the possibility of buying garbage and having it work like a Honda.
Thank you for the tips and tricks . There are a few things I would like to comment on. I worked in an industry where compatibility concerns were paramount to everything we did and one tiny o-ring mistake with chemicals that were not compatible could cost us literally millions of dollars. That being said... the reason ethanol is bad for SOME engines is a compatibility issue with the types of o-rings and gaskets being used. Ethanol can cause them to deteriorate and then you lose your seals, which means combustion suffers or your engine can stop running altogether. Running 10% ethanol vs. regular gas without ethanol has only a tiny effect on combustion other than that. So little that 98% of folks never notice the difference. Only the real performance people notice that difference. So... don't say your engine will run so much better with 100% ethanol free gasoline. It just isn't true on an engine with compatible o-rings and gaskets. Another is.... get rid of the awful music and just state your case. People like myself come here to learn something. Being forced to listen to your music when we are looking for information is annoying. If you were a singer and a dancer, then music is entirely appropriate since we would be here for a different reason.
Newbie question here. Can I use a 30amp to 50 amp dog bone and power my RV. I know that I’ll be limited on what I can run at the same time, AC is what I’m really looking for.
I do exactly that as my rig is 50a also. It runs the a/c just fine as well as the TV, Refrigerator, lights, etc. all at the same time. I have a video on "What Will It Run" that you may want to watch czcams.com/video/0RLujDP18Jg/video.html
I been using mine on my toy hauler when I need AC living off grid in TN. 143 hrs so far no issues. I use Valvoline VR1 racing oil high zinc oil in generators & my HD evo I only use non Ethanol gas, I also have there older 2500 watt invert gen. Going on 3 years also no issues.
I really like this generator. I am nearing the 25 hour mark, and will be reporting on the performance then. I plan on using high zinc oil after the break in and changing the plug!
It does need a little more air. Sometimes I run it with the oil door off and it runs a lot smoother. It also runs better after i changed the plug to an NGK...
Very , very good video. Just one minor suggestion. Could please do a summary of this video for someone like myself who is a novice with operating generator
I am a Ham radio operator and a couple of years ago a fellow ham brought his new harbor freight inverter generator to our winter field day operation. While it did provide power, it was very noisy, I don't mean audio noise, I mean radio noise. We literally could not hear anyone talking to us on the radio. Every radio in camp had S9 noise on the receivers. The signal these cheaper inverter generators are giant radio interference creators. So if you are looking for a generator to power your radio equipment, this is not it. We did have a fellow ham bring his Honda inverter generator to summer field day the year before and it was quiet running as well as being quiet on the radio frequencies.
That is why I waited a couple of years for them to put out a few generations of this generator. While I do not have testing equipment to test the power output on this one, in my cursory testing it seems that they may have "cleaned it up" some...
Could it be because an inverter needs to put out a pure sine wave for clean output to run sensitive equipment, and this unit isn't pure sine wave? Honda inverters output pure sine wave, so it's good for computers, audio equipment, etc.
If a power source is not a pure clean source providing a pure sine wave then it's also harder on electric motors such as ones powering fans or other devices as well as computers. For instance I have used UPS uninteruptable power supplies as a backup to power computers when the power goes down and then they allow you to shut your computer down after you save your work. They run on batteries as a back up and monitor line voltage and instantly switch to battery power to power diveces. Most of these UPS have a not so pure sine wave inverter built in to power equipment and the computer doesn't make much of a fuss but if you plug in an electric fan into one and cut the power then there is a noticable lag from the signal and there is no noticable interference issues from them on the radio. I suspect that nothing was done to clean up the output of those HF generators. I bet it would cost too much. In HF's advertisement they compare their generator to a Honda EU2000i and there is no comparison in the realm of radio noise or RF noise that the HF generator makes. My friend that brought his generator thought the HF generator would be RF quiet like the Honda, but it wasn't. That means shortcuts were taken. So if you want a quiet, noise free sounding (ears) generator and don't plan on using it for running radios then the HF generator is ok, but if you are a Ham or want to power radio communication equipment from it, then it's not going to work.
Yep, as mentioned in another post, Spark Arrest filter gets clogged , get a spare filter , or remove it completely if in an area where it is not required.
I just discovered that this generator gets starved for air at elevations above 6500 ft . In temps above 90 degrees. Open oil fill door for more airflow.
Decided to buy one. I put in Castrol GTX 10W-30, Non-ethanol gas with SeaFoam added and ran it 3 hours alternating back and forth with no load up to a 750 watt load. It stuttered, missed and struggled a little while ramping up when a load was applied. Changed the oil and pulled the spark plug. The spark plug was totally black. Decided to check the spark arrestor it too was nasty black and plugged a little. It was obvious it was running too rich. Went on line and ordered a BANTAM vented oil cover door. Changed the spark plug to a NGK (5534) BPR7ES. Ran it for 11 hours this time alternating the loads up to 1500 watts. Actually ran pretty good but not like I felt it should. I changed the oil again and pulled the spark plug. The NGK 5534 had some black fouling but not a lot. Decided to replace the NGK (5534) BPR7ES with a NGK Iridium (4055) BPR7EIX. I now have 23 hours on it and it's running fantastic. Running the loads up to 2300 watts. I'm still holding my breath hoping this HF Predator wasn't a mistake... time will tell.
One thing with this door that I'm going to change. The foam rubber that comes with this door is a fairly high density foam rubber IMO. I'm going to get some filter foam that should allow more air flow.
Nice video great info, after running the generator what do you have to do to store it away for about a year or two. Would you just run it dry with non ethanol? I’m thinking about buying this one.
I would use non ethanol gas. If you can't get non e gas use regular and stabilizer. Before you store it drain the gas from the carb bowl. when you go back in a year it should fire right up...
Gotta say that running a 3500 W Generator even at idle for 16 hours on 1 gallon of gas is impressive. I can't compete with that kind of economy. I will have to continue to pack up my extra two or three five gallon fuel cans or add a chassis mounted fuel tank to my bus/coach.
Thanks for some great ideas and helpful information. I tried reading a few of these folks post here but have a question for any of yall,, I like camping on the beach in Port A and was wondering if that generator would run 8 to 9 hours on tank of fuel while running AC ? That yall in advance.
See my next video on it. I ran it with a 30% load (6.9amps at 850 watts) continuous during the break in and I got 10 hours of run time from 2.5 gallons of gas if that helps.
I have had great luck with this gen! Use on the semi to run a 13500 a/c rooftop. It runs for about 8.5 /9.5 hours on a tank of gas. I did have to open the oil door to get air as i have been 95+ heat in the south, which helped. Also mine is in a homemade metal box so it can't be stolen! But prolly why it would get to hot. I know this i got well over 100 hours of use out of it and it still has almost 1 and 1/2 years warranty left on it ! The extended tank is next for me. The last semi i had also had a HF generator on it and went over 3 years on it and still started on 2 or 3 pull. The guy wanted it that bought my semi...i was cool with that cause i never changed the oil once! lol
Great video but always remember to have a ground rod driven into ground and connect the ground screw of the generator to this ground rod. Look on page 7 of the manual. if you don't have a manual email harbor freight to get one. Generators will kill if there is a fault in the generator and you complete the path to ground with your body. :(
You only ground (to a ground rod) a generator when it is a separately derived system aka you switched the neutral in the transfer switch. Electricity does not go to ground it returns to the source on all paths. We ground electrical systems to stabilize voltage and rearching faults, not to trip breakers.
Great tips! Thanks! Is the reason to cover the outlets is to keep the engine clean? Also, what is the difference between a generator unit and a generator/inverter unit?
Yes. Without the covers you can feel it pulling air through the outlets, just another way for dirt and stuff to clog them up. An inverter unit will produce pure sine power whereas a regular generator will not.
Number one tip is to never, ever leave gas in these things. When you're done using it, run it completely dry. If you can get to the float bowl, drain it. All gas, even non-ethanol gas will turn to varnish and clog the jets. It also tends to get water in it. The tanks are not sealed and the humidity in the air gets into the gas and causes all kinds of damage. Many thousands of these things get thrown away with very little hours on them because they were stored with gas in them.
FloridaBoy Survival Isn't it just the opposite? Most inverters are modified sine wave. Be nice if you knew someone with an oscilloscope to show the output waveform.
Kind of. Regular contractor generators are modified sine. The new "inverter" gens as they are called are supposed to be pure sine. You are right, we are taking their word for it and it would be nice for someone to test one....
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival thanks for the info. I went to buy oil today and the guy was like I've never heard of anyone breaking in an engine with synthetic oil he recommended a regular oil then switch to synthetic but I'm breaking her in just how you did synthetic then a high zinc oil. Thanks and I subbed
Thanks! Not preparing for a hurricane but preparing for the govt to shut off power like Texas. This baby will run my house ac or all freezers and fridges.
Come on man, I am not a rookie when it comes to small engine operation....check out 6:58 the unit was already warm so I did not need to switch it to "Start" to start it, I just moved it to "Run".
Mine wasn't able to run my ac after about 25hrs found my spark arrester was clogged up wasn't letting motor to get up to proper rpm pulled off cleaned with carb cleaner reinstalled runs like a champ I am gonna try running non ethanol fuel.
Oh sorry, i misunderstood your comment. Yes, it would be A LOT more convenient if they just included the 30a plug so you could just plug in. It would not be a big deal to do this from the factory, maybe they will get a clue and do it on later models.
FloridaBoy Survival When I have been in Harbor Freight and seen people purchasing the larger generators, they have been with a construction crew of some type.
Aloha Florida Survivor... Just an update real quick I will upload some videos soon when I leave off grid and get to Wi-Fi to upload video. just a quick update still running 3000w now 8 hours a day 25 more days of that changing oil every 80 hours 10 days for me it comes out pretty clean and I never go low on oil in 80 hours not enough to add oil anyway. this little girl is a ruler!!! One of your followers had a great tip about placing generator on dirt ground or grass it's not a good idea always should at be at Max height of wheel bottom hard surface definitely makes a difference so for all you people out there when you're camping Place generator on a sheet of three-quarter inch plywood or something of that nature it definitely makes a difference! I'm going to convert mine to propane next week I hope to shoot a video about the conversion
Aloha my friend! yes, that was a very good suggestion about not putting the generator on dirt or grass. It needs that air flow to operate. Glad yours is running well, so is mine. I am working on an updated what "what will it run" video soon...
PLEASE LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE BELOW. I answer all comments...
The single most important tip is to ALWAYS run these completely dry! No gas in the tank and no gas in the float bowl (you should drain the float bowl completely by unscrewing the bottom bolt on the bowl). Gas sitting in the machine is the single biggest enemy of small engines. It absorbs water and turns into varnish. It rots the lines and can rust the gas tank. Also, they have a tendency to end up leaking gas into the carb up into the cylinder and into the oil!
It's also not a bad idea to spray a light vegetable oil into the cylinder before storing. When you first start it for the season, take out the plug and squirt in a small amount of 2 stroke gas.
Agree 100%. It is not as bad with non eth gas but it is still a good idea to either run it dry or drain the carb.
I am pretty sure that with a reasonable amount of care and routine maintenance that this unit will last as long as any of them....
+Flori... I agree that the engine will last, it's the actual generator I would think would fail first.
Your tip 5, is not a good tip for generators. You need to run the generator without a load for 5 minutes. (It even states that in the manual) but all generators need time to warm up and stabilize the generation of electricity before a load is put on it. Harbor Freight States 5 minutes in the manual. Also before you shut your generator off, you want to shut your load off, unplug your cord and let it run for a few minutes with no load to cool down before you shut it off. This is extremely important because there are fans in both the motor and in the generator. They are all air cooled. When under load, the generator itself gets really hot from generating electricity. It needs the fan to help cool itself off and can really only effectively cool itself to the point where it's safe to store while there's no load. Once the coils are sufficiently cooled, I would say 5 minutes then you can shut it off and put it away. If you don't do those two startups in cooldown procedures you will significantly shorten the life of the generator. FYI I'm an electrician by trade and install thousands of generators from the small 10kvw to big 20 cylinder 20MW (Mega Watt).
FYI EVERYONE WHO HAS HARD TIME RESTARTING THESE WHEN ITS HOT OUTSIDE... All you have you have to do is remove the gas cap and it will start right up. Just needs to vent. Somehow it took me almost two summers to finally figure this out lol
Exactly!
Thanks for the tip
Wow awesome tip
I’m having that problem all the time. Thank you for the tip👍
My 2 month old one can’t run with 10 gallon 1.5 hp air compressor 🤷🏻♂️
Do you guys know why?
Thnx for the tip. I Had this issue one year camping and it was in the 90's
They at least finally listened to everyone about the plug. Mine had the correct orientation out of the box
Thanks god! It is easy enough to flip it yourself but if you don't have to that is just another plus for this unit...
mine too
Just picked mine up last week and the plug isn’t right lol
Maaaaaattt! Why didn't I find you earlier! Just ran my brand new Champion inverter generator for 5 hours to break it in without a load! When I realized I should have worked the little guy, I immediately plugged the frig and washer and did a load of laundry. Then I changed the oil to synthetic, patted its little bum and put it in the garage. Oh, well... I'm learning and really appreciate your video.
Lol...I have been here for a few years now. Don't worry, a light load just helps it stabilize a little better but you do not really have to use a load during the break in. The important thing is to change the oil which you did, so you should be great!
Great products!!
I've used the 2000 watt inverter to power my work van
EVERY DAY for the past 5 years!!!
typically 5-7 hr's per.
Living in Michigan in the winter when its -10° to 25 it starts a bit rough but NEVER FAILES to fire.
Now mine you this , i buy the 3 year replacement warranty and have had to replace this 3 x's
Only because the rope rubs and eventually breaks, it's merely impossible to get into to fix.
So I end up returning them for a new one.
Be mindful of your Fuel, oil changes, keep both the spark arrestor and air filter clean and this little thing will run forever!
Thanks! Mine is purring along like a kitten
Thanks for the tips. I'm in the Orlando area, I bought this generator a week before Irma and ran it 100 hrs continuously to power a portable A/C, fan, lights, refrigerator and tv. No complaints.
Thanks! Remember to change the oil and use good gas and you are set with this one!
FloridaBoy Survival is this heavy I also I need one because I'm thinking of getting a Ford F-350 XLT crew cab diesel 7.3L Power Stroke for plug in is this good also for travel
I’ve been looking into buying a generator because I just bought a travel trailer. After seeing your videos I am sold on this generator. Thank you.
Good choice! Mine has been great so far...
I'm in the process of buying rural land and the 40 acres I'm looking at doesn't have electric service anywhere near it. I've found several of these videos about how good the Predator is. Thanks so much for contributing with constructive criticism and useful tips!
No problem. The important part is the break in, do it right and this unit will not let you down....
Add a modest solar/wind/battery setup
Reorienting that RV plug is the smartest thing I have heard of in a long time. I would never have even thought it possible. I don't have a generator but this one is getting a lot of good reviews and I want one so maybe!
Thanks! it is really an easy thing to do, but I have heard that they are reversing it at the factory now...
Hey florida… I DRILLED A 3/16 VENT HOLE IN MY GAS CAP AND MY 3500 NOW IDLES SMOOTH, ALWAYS!
I thought about doing that....but mine is still purring like a kitten so I see no reason to do it right now but will keep it in mind
I just used mine for over 10 days, traveled everywhere from the beach to the mountains. Ran everything in my RV, AC, TV, lights ect at once. Never had a problem. Great product.
It really is. I think that as long as you treat it right, use good gas and change the oil regularly, that this will run just as long as a Honda.
im thinking about getting one, can u get parts for it if it broke?, where?
chad bailey it has a manual with all of the parts. You can also order direct from them. This is a great product, I added some fuel stabilizer and it starts right up every time, even after sitting in the garage for a long time. Now that mine has some hours on it, it runs better. I also added some 1" air vents to the oil door. Made it run even better on eco mode.
thank u for info, im going to get one, its hard to find a bad review on them. also is it quiet compard to a honda? if u know. and it runs at very low rpm with no load, turn a light or frig on it bumps up rpm a little, the more u turn on the more rpm gos up like the inverted Honda's?
chad bailey very quiet, I run mine on eco mode until I need the ac, tv, and or microwave. It has a nice quiet idle and as you need more power it revs up a bit. I have a fully outfitted Coleman travel trailer with a 40" tv, and game console. I can run all my lights, fridge, ac, tv, an console at once with no problems. I do turn off the ac if I need the microwave. Trust me, this is a top notch product. I run synthetic oil in mine and glad I bought one.
houseboat living on the st johns river I run my predator 3500 12hours per day. Love it. though i am on my third unit this year. all failed from high temps this summer. now i remove the side panel and keep it in the shade. always get the extended warranty at HF.
Agreed. High temps will cause the inverter to fail before the engine...
So you have had to get a replacement twice but you're still excited about the performance of the Predator? How many hours befoe it failed? I had a small generator and running after a hurricane it sounded off after a few hours and then quit. Since I wasn't doing anything I took it apart and the rocker arm broke in half. Wondering about China engines even though they have improved.
2000 hours on mine. Use 2 parallel every day for past year. No problems. I lifted it on a milk crate during the summer on hot pavement 5 hours a day. It just needs airflow. They have their quirks but maintenance and clean spark arrestors are key. They perform every bit as well as my Honda EU2200i and eu7000 at a fraction of the price. I expected them to last maybe 200 hours but they are still going
How long this think run on a tank of gas with an ac running?
Chilidog depends on how big your A/C is and how much electricity it requires.
Bought one today. Got the three year warranty. Joined ITC and got it for $699 (plus warranty of course, well worth it). FYI- Harbor Freight manager in Las Cruces told me the only time these generators come back broken is when the customers ran them without oil. Customers then try to deny this but the cause is clear and it is NOT covered by any warranty.
Awesome! The warranty is a good idea. Remember that the break in is the most important thing on these, do it right and you have years of great use. Do it wrong and you will be returning it...
Currently I’m looking at purchasing a new generator, I found your video to be very helpful....thanks!
Glad I could help...
Update on my unit
I purchased mine about 6 months ago
Sorry to say mine gave out yesterday
Couldn’t get it going again so I had to take it
Back on the extended Warentee I got
No hassle with harbor freight
Until yesterday the only problem I had was it used oil not a lot but enough
You also need to add a 6th tip
Clean the spark arrest on the rear mine tended to plug
My unit ran a lot I’m off grid the wife has pap Machine so when it is 20f outside it ran all night With apx 30% load
This is the first inverter generator
The other 2 are just the normal style
Thanks for your videos
Thanks. I think that could have happened with any unit also...
Great video, I bought one of these for my RV and recently did a review on it as well. I don’t generally worry about running ethanol free gas in my newer equipment unless it’s my 2 stroke saws, trimmers, etc...but I do run it in my older equipment such as classic John Deere and Cub Cadet tractors featured on my channel. The newer equipment is at least designed with E10 in mind unlike the old equipment.
Awesome. I say run the ethanol free stuff in case people store their generator it will help with reducing the varnish in the carb....otherwise I just run regular gas in it myself
Checking in from St Augustine FL. Used this generator last year for Irma. Runs like a champ. Great info about air being sucked into the plugs. 👍
I love St. Aug! This generator should work just fine for my RV, I wish I had it last year for Irma.
FloridaBoy Survival czcams.com/video/-dWwvW7bBV0/video.html
Great video !
I bought one just a couple months ago for hurricane outages, I did a test run, and this genny will run a 6000 BTU AC window unit, my “newer” 25 cu ft fridge, and a couple lights and the TV at under 2500 watts and 18 amps on load.
Like you said, the main thing if buying one is breaking it in, use non ethanol gas with “Stabil” if it might sit for over 30 days. Use a space heater or any 110 appliance that pulls some wattage and/or amps and run it for at least a couple hours. Then change the oil after 8 hours of use, then keep dealing with the “breaking in” period under a 3rd load until you at least have 15 hours.
Mine ran a little rough even under load, but I found out that the more I broke it in under a few hours adding load, the better it ran. I thought about changing the spark plug but after 15 hours it’s running really smooth now. You’re right about running it level, I found mine ran better on a porch with a pitch if I put a half inch wood strip under the wheels to level it out.
I’ve found that slowly increasing the load when breaking it in, (space heater, fridge, AC window shaker) over a few cycles, the genny smoothes out over time. Mine was a little rough at first when I bought it, (seemed like it wasn’t idling well) then after 15 hours it’s a smooth running genny.
You just about covered it. A good break in and regular maintenance should make this unit very dependable...
I bought one 3500i last fall. Haven't used it yet its still in the box. I appreciate your tips & tricks and will apply them asap. One more thing: when I bought mine HF told me that they would be developing and selling a kit to link TWO 3500i to each other like they did for their 2000i (like Honda). I expect to buy another 3500i when they release that linking equipment. Thanks for a great video !!!
That's cool. I am continuing to use and love the 3500, time will tell if it has longevity but so far it is working 100%.
Great tip for rotating 30amp plug. Thank you very much. Great video!!
Thanks! it makes it a LOT easier to use the RV plug. I have heard that HF is correcting that at the factory now...
I used your tip #2 and rotated the 30 amp plug. Man I'm glad that I did. What I found once that I removed the face plate i.e. Instrument panel was that on the 30 amp plug was the three screws that hold the wires on the plug terminals were not tight at all. I could easily turn each screw a 1/4 turn too tight. I didn't see any evidence of arcing but I'm sure that due to vibration it could have eventually occurred. Thanks FloridaBoy Survival.
Great video and nice that you understand the need to keep the unit sealed up. ALL inverters look like that and are sealed up because cooler air must cool the electronic heat sink. Leaving panels off, door open or drilling holes makes people feel better but defeat what the designers knew had to be done. It's very well designed and doesn't need "Improving". Try modifying your car and get them to do warranty work. Mine is a new model with gas gauge to help prevent overfilling and 30 amp plug is rotated correctly. Only improvement needed is add a NAPA fuel filter # 23011 on the outlet side of shut off valve. Don't cut factory hose, just add 2" of gas line with Corbin clamps. Easy to access, keeps dirt/moisture out of carb and can be put back to original if wanted. People want to disable the charcoal filter because it can get gas in it and engine runs very rich. IF you look the vent goes to the extreme top of the tank at the gas cap threads. The charcoal cannister is designed to handle vapors only. Don't overfill the gas tank and you won't get liquid gas in the cannister. Forget the expensive Stabil that I never use. You can place it like draining the oil and easily drain the carb bowl & gas tank into a clean container. Just turn the knob to start or run position to drain ALL the gas out of it. You can also pump most of the gas out with the H.F. hand pump if you want. Great unit.
Thanks! You said it all...
just a quick follow-up... If this machine blew up on me tonight catastrophically I would go buy another one tomorrow that's how much I love this thing. I leave messages on your Channel because I have tons of peeps in f l a . they are all going to buy one of these generators! for those people wanting these for emergency relief I can tell you that they run long ... long ... long hours without fail.
Oh dude, I would totally buy another one. I think if you treat it right it will last just as long as any other...
Just bought one a few days ago. no complaints. It seems to be a great generator. on a side note do not alter the oil door. Air is designed to come in the front AND PASS THROUGH the inverter to cool the electronics. The air flow is specifically designed. If you alter the oil door you are starving the inverter off air and may shorten the generators life. If it does not run right.. take it back. My brand new one runs perfectly from the factory.
I agree. Totally...I have not altered my oil door at all.
Thank you very much. Seems like the harbor freight predator is the way to go. Thanks for your tips. I never thought about the fuel.
Thanks! If you break it in right and use good fuel you will not have a problem. Mine is going strong...
Great tips! Be unboxing my new Predator 3500 tomorrow, and your tips will be used while giving you the credit! Thank you, sir!
No problem 👍 just remember to change the oil very often during break in and you should be good
Great video. You do a good job on your reviews. Easy to understand and good editing. No over the top introductions. Thank you. Your video helped.
Glad it was helpful!
I use one of these almost nightly to run my LG portable AC in my van. I'm an oversize escort. Loving this generator though it doesn't like to be in rain like my old Honda handled. Had a vinyl cover made for it that can be used when the unit is running. Back is open but everything else stays nice and dry.
I wait until the storm passes to put mine out...
Great info. I use Amsoil synthetic motor oil. It makes the motor run cooler and smoother.
Yep, synthetic makes it purr like a kitten...
I liked your channel as soon as I heard Tab Benoit... Just saw him at Skippers Smokehouse in Tampa. I live in Florida also. Turning the twist lock outlet 180 degrees was a great tip. My 3500 Predator puts out 20 VDC instead of 12 VDC. It is brand new...
Tab is one of my favorites, have seen him at Skippers also....this is a good generator
Tip 6! Make sure to do the oil break in change! Alot of metal shavings in oil from the rings breaking in! If you don't do the break in oil change it will b a short life on the engine. I poured my oil in a glass jar after my break in oil change and a good bit of metal in oil, which is actually normal. Second oil change was hardly a trace!
Exactly! I changed my oil at 4hrs, then at 8hrs, then again at 25 hours. Maybe a little overkill but now there are no shavings at all in the oil and it is running like a champ....!!
FloridaBoy Survival Yep, oil is cheap compared to...........
Lol...exactly!
I concur and am also a fan of overkill. Mine just arrived yesterday. I ran it once for 5+5 (no load+partial load), and then let it cool off, then did it again for 5+10. Total of 25 minutes, with 10 being no load and 15 with partial load of about 1,500 watts via space heater. I am using Mobil One 10W-30 full synthetic. There was quite a bit of visible metal in the oil. I intend to change the oil again after another 1 hour, again after 8 hours, and one more time after I complete the 30 hours break-in period. 30 hours is what my manual indicates.
For sure this is overkill, but I bought a 5 quart jug of the Mobil One on sale at Wal-Mart. I think it was only $20. That is nothing compared to the cost of this generator, which I want to be very reliable and last a long time. I'll probably put Mobil One 10W30 Extended Service in at the end of the break-in, as we're going on a two week RV Travel Trailer trip and it will get used a lot.
I have all the outlets covered.
I never use ethanol gas in my small engines, and I always Stabil-ize my gas.
I bought the stuff to install some venting into the oil service panel, and I will probably do that before I leave for the trip. I'll probably install 3 of the 1-inch vents.
Very happy thus far! Thanks for the video amigo!
Read often of users switching to synthetic oil, which is recommended for modern vehicles with roller cams, etc. Also read where synthetic oil has no Zinc content. Zinc is lubricant and small engines with no roller cams last longer with Zinc containing oil.
My tip is to buy it on sale. I paid $649. Great unit & my favorite HF toy.
+woof bark growl Exactly! I got mine for 649 also with an internet coupon...
Hello there! Thanks for a couple tips I never thought of, particularly rotating the 30 amp plug! Plus plug covers. I have a great tip for you to help quiet yours down. I found a section of HVAC ducting that looks like a foil covered box, that fits just right over my HF Predator 3500, with at least 1” around all the sides, plus I made a lid from the same material that has a 1” insulation on the inside walls. I cut a hole where the exhaust goes adding a nice high temp adapter that I can screw a lawn mower type of muffler as a last step after covering the whole thing with what looks like a miniature RV. I also had to add a thermostat controlled small computer fan that sucks in cool air if the temps get too high, plus a dedicated intake snorkel that looks like an exhaust stack in the RV. All together it takes about 5-10 minutes to fuel an set up the generator, get it running and plugged in, then fit my sound deadening cover fake RV over it that I also must plug in the temp control fan in. It may seem like a lot of work, but it really works great! Getting the dB down at full load of TV, A/C and refrigerator hot water heater of 67 dB uncovered to an incredible 53 dB!! To the point we cannot hear it at all over just the A/C running on low or high! With the generator set up at the end of the 25’ cord. The biggest issue I have are fellow campers stopping by to ask questions, especially when they happen to walk by and understand what it’s doing! I bet I could make a living making them for others, but mine was so inexpensive due to the fact I got most of the materials out of dumpsters in the community we live in for free! Plus it all takes up a lot of space in my truck bed.
I bet you cant even tell it is running it must be so quiet...
FloridaBoy Survival but then you acknowledge just how loud the exhaust can be! Plus I will never leave the site without anyone there to keep an eye out for thieves. Or just some spiteful fool destroying my little creation just because they find the generator chained up to the nearest secure spot, like a steel pole set in concrete, or the rear bumper of the Trailer.
This is genius
How about some pictures of your mods?
Thanks for these tips...we were just looking at different options and was looking at this very generator at harbor Freight.. this helps a lot
Glad I could help!
New to you channel. Thanks for the great video/advice. Still not completely sold on Harbor Freight products.
Thanks! Harbor Freight is what it is, some stuff is really good, some stuff is kinda good, some stuff is OK, and some stuff is complete garbage. Just gotta be careful what you buy there...
I use my 3500 on my camper, and at festivals I do. Quiet and I love it..
Just bought mine a couple of months ago for the RV at a great deal at $669.00. I have put about 45 minutes run time on it and like yours with no load it has a bit of a misfire with a load it smooths right out. I was a little skeptical because of the cheap price but we will see. It seems to be a pretty good Generator and is very quiet.
I have about 30 hours on mine so far with no hitch at all. I have changed the oil a couple of times and switched the plug but it is running like a champ. I got mine for $649 with an internet coupon...
TIP#6 - when camping, the generator is often placed directly on the ground - either on grass, or gravel, etc. this can block the airflow to the engine, and can also draw in dusty or dirty air. If possible, place the generator on top of a piece of plywood or some other such flat surface.
I agree 100%
Good call
My 30 amp plug kept walking out and it was driving me crazy. But after watching your video I was able to fix it and be happy. Thank you very much for talking about that.
Glad it helped
When I saw the fouled spark plug, the thought occurred that even though they put the cheapest plug available in the engine, probably any plug would get fouled during the break-in period. This would be due to oil getting by the rings because they haven't "seated" yet. That takes time and oil getting into the combustion chamber would foul any brand of spark plug. What say you?
Enjoyed the review. I also am one of those worried Florida residents trying to maintain readiness in our unsteady environment.
Thanks! I agree with the fouled plug assessment, mine has since settled in quite nicely after the break in. Us Florida people know the drill in hurricane season...lol
I’ll tell you what, Harbor Freight Predator Generators are a very good underrated gen set. I have the Predator 8750/7,000 running watts and I had a coupon for 499.00 . Just looking after I bought mine I noticed Amazon wants 1,251.00 and Walmart wants 1,571.00. I can’t believe people are paying 3x the price. Anyway I am satisfied with my Predator 8750 and if I ever get another to have on hand I’ll by the Predator 3500 it’s half the price of a Honda but it works great!
I have had no problems at all. It is all about how you break them in and take care of them on an ongoing basis. Do the right things and it is just as good as any other...
You got that right! You buy a well put together generator and take care of it properly and they last a long time.
In regards to tip #5, none of these small capacity engines ( sub 250cc) have much of a fly wheel mass, even if you include the generator rotor, pump etc Most of these engines are governed to 3600rpm - which is the same rpm the 60Hz countries have a lot of electric motors run at. So you use one air compressor/water pump, gearbox etc and use it with a small electric or petrol motor. So- at no load, the difference in throttle setting for cut off and 3600rpm is very small, typically around 1.5 to 2mm . The airblade governors are pretty crude and so they typically 'bounce' around with no load on the motor, and the low flywheel mass makes the rpm changes easily heard as they are fast changes. the misfire you hear is due to air starvation. As you point out, once a load is applied , the governor has to open the throttle a lot more to power the load and by doing so there is a lot more range of movement for the governor to work with, and more 'virtual mass' , so the engine smooths out because the governor never goes into the air starvation area of the carburettor range. The only engines that do not have this issue are the fuel injected ones ( there are few coming out now) , but they have major issues with water in fuel and fuel cleanliness that balance out the smoother running at no load. As long as you know why the engine is spluttering a bit at low load, and that it is normal, (4 stroke mowers are renowned for this issue being the basis of warranty claims) you can let it go knowing all is ok. In fact, I would be a bit worried if an unloaded small motor did not do it.
Great explanation and thanks. After a good break in and plug change mine runs perfectly.
🥱
We rent travel trailers and have 3 of these. They have been solid over many hours of use.
Awesome. With a little care these are just as good as a Honda in my opinion...
This guy is classic
Thanks!
Your great, thank you very helpful information. I'm buying one today im gonna need it for this weekend for a softball tournament.
Glad it was helpful! Break it in right and it will treat you right
Great video and thanks for the great tips! I did the plug rotation and it is a great improvement. A side note for sharing with everyone.... for some reason my generator started bogging down and suddenly quit while hooked up to the RV. After calling harbor freight the technician told me to look at the spark arrester to see if it was carbon and up and it was. I took it off and the generator was up and running again. I’m not sure why that happened as I use a midgrade gas but just wanted to mention that so it might help someone else.
Awesome about the plug, it really makes a difference. Agree about the spark arrester, I should have mentioned it. I also took my whole arrester assembly off after about 3 hrs of runtime, figured that it would only block up the exhaust.
I never run oils with paraphin in them. I had a car once years ago. I bought it used. My family has always used Havoline Supreme or Valvoline. I changed the oil in the car and after a short time, the engine locked up. They mechanic told us he saw waxy sludge had blocked out some old journals and the oil had stopped circulating from this sludge clogging things up. It was the paraphin wax from Pennsoil and Quaker State the previous owner used. The high detergent formulation of Havoline made the paraphin break loose and clog everything. I know some people will say that should not have happened. I still try to use only Havoline oil. It has always had the highest detergent rating. I have 3 vehicles all with over 200,000 miles. The proof is in the pudding if you ask me!
theonly roson for the slugs is from not changing theoil on time not the brand. How did he know what was used before😮
@@mikecarter4572 Mechanic was the same. He had warned that these paraphin oils do sludge up. And especially with bad PCV, any coolant seepage into oil. I never, ever use paraphin wax oils. You can use what you like! I have 3 vehicles with over 200,000 mikes. None burn oil, no sludge in rockers or in oil change. I trust my experience. You do what pleases you!
I just purchased one last weekend, have 3 hrs on it and absolutely no sputtering and ran perfect. I did use full synthetic oil though .
Great to hear! It is a great unit
Your info was very interesting brother.thanks for putting it out I'm hooked on your vidios
Thanks! I am working on another generator video also...
I just used someone else's Briggs & Stratton 3000 watt generator. It didn't stutter at idle and was very quiet it was running my pig 1100 watt commercial popcorn machine. So I think for about the same price I'd rather have the Briggs & Stratton. I just had a 2200 w harbor freight generator die on me. Only after two years. So I won't be buying anything from harbor freight in the form of something to depend on the future. Nice review. Thanks for your time
To each his own. thanks...
Thanks FloridaBoy for the information, looking to add to my Honda 2000 with a bigger unit and HF looks like a good buy. Very worth while tips
Thanks! I have been VERY happy with mine
as weird as this sounds, any inverter will parallel with another and sync. so if you have a honda inverter a harbor freight inverter of a different size will parallel with it. the smaller will run harder until you reach full load , but it works. there are vids about this. and i am doing it with the harbor freight parallel kit. or you can make your own kit.
Good news, I just bought this generator and the RV plug now comes facing the right direction. No more flipping the outlet over.
That is good news. They must listen to customer complaints lol
Great video...gonna use the tips u gave...we need more like this!
Thanks! These are basic tips that really help the performance of the generator. If you use the proper maintenance schedule and care for this machine it should last just as long as the more expensive models. Next up is my 25 hour service video with a plug change...
As long as it won't inhale a lot of dust, I would recommend leaving the outlets un-capped. This way air can cool off the inside of the outlet box. Most electrical connections under any load will give off a bit of heat. Allowing a bit of air in there is a good thing, unless there is a lot of dust around. I do like the idea of rotating the twist lock so the RV cord works right. I have to watch the same thing when installing dryer or range outlets in a wall. You want the cord to hang down, not point up and bend down.
I agree. There is a time and a place for capping the vents...
Great tips like the outlet cover idea never thought about it
Thanks! Air is really drawn in from the outlets, covering will keep a lot of dirt and junk out of the outlets....
Don't chance hoovering the warranty, use a bungee card on the handle. That takes stress off the plug!
Matt, thanks man I’m buying the 3500 next month. Tips are right on time.
Thanks! It is a great unit
As a small engine repair tech, i agree with tip 1 ethanol free. Especial in 2 cycle engines (Trimmers and Chainsaws) . Or any equipment that may be used occasionally like a pressure washer, tiller or generator. Leaving equipment unused with ethanol gas sitting in the fuel system WILL cause problems the next time you want to start that equipment.
That being said, running ethanol fuel in a generator or any 4 cycle engine equipment that is used often will do no harm as long as the fuel is fresh and not over 30 days old. or allowed to sit up.
Getting to my point, in a emergency like a hurricane or events of periods of no power, you are going to go through a lot of gas. If you can find any at all. You will be burning through fuel instead of letting it sit around in a can or fuel tank. When its over drain the fuel system and carb bowl. I put it in my car and use it up.
Otherwise #1 is a wise tip.
Agreed. That is the purpose of PLANNING and not waiting until the last minute to get your hurricane preps done. Last year with Irma, my wife and I started prepping a full week before it hit and there was plenty of everything available...gas, batteries, food, water...you name it. But two days before it was a mad house, and we were all set for at least a week with no power.
Good point Joseph! I do the exact same thing. As long as ethanol gas is moving through the fuel system you will not experience any issues. non-Ethanol is a good bit more expensive in my area so during last years hurricane we were without power for 5 days and I only had around 16 gallons of non ethanol which I went through fairly quick (before I owned this fuel sipping predator). Fortunately, of the five trucks in my family 4 of them were gassers that we had filled up before the hurricane (and before there was no gas to be found). I had to get out the ole 'criminals credit card' (siphon hose) and away I went burning ethanol in my generators lol
@@bransonred1 One thing about running non ethanol fuel, just like your car, the generator will get better "mileage".
thanks for the info going to harbor freight tomorrow and buy one
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival Why?
My error, I thought he was commenting on a different video lol. You would not need a grommet kit with a generator lol....
Thanks for your reply. I'm on a limited income so that was a big part of why I purchased the Chinese generator. Now it has been 11 months since I and I'm sorry very sorry that I did. You & I and most people know that you get what you pay for. It is an accurate saying in this case. The one that I have had for these last 4 month's has now taken a DUMP on me. The GFI outlets will not reset which the 220 outlet is somehow connected all together and at 1:30 am I'm having to run my Chevy Blazer at fast idle to charge the batteries in my motorhome to keep the food inside my fridge from spoiling. I'm not pleased at all !!! This is the 3rd generator since last Nov. 2017 to fail for that same reason. I had called harbor freight product support a few days ago and they recconmended that we / I wait the 10 weeks for delivery of the replacement outlets. 10 weeks !!!!!! 😴
Sorry you have had a bad experience. I have had nothing but success with mine...
Not to sound argumentative, but three generators fail for the same reason in that short of a time period and hundreds of thousands of them work perfectly some with over 1200 hours on them...I don't think the common denominator is the generator in your situation. Is there something else going on maybe? What % load were they under when they failed? This is just strange. I mean, I guess you could have got into a bad batch of them or something.
We don't always get what we pay for. We do however, pay for what we get. Just a play on words, friend. Thanks for sharing your story as I naively pondered the possibility of buying garbage and having it work like a Honda.
220 outlet?
Just bought ours, thank you for the tips Matt!!
Hope you enjoy it!
just an fyi, my HB Pred 3500 came with the 30a plug in that position already, maybe they start? I bought mine in march 2018.
Mine was manuf in 12/17 so they must have made the change. Good thing they did, it was an easy fix but much better done from the factory...
Great tip on the plug hack. Or rather, fix.
Thanks!
Thank you for the tips and tricks . There are a few things I would like to comment on. I worked in an industry where compatibility concerns were paramount to everything we did and one tiny o-ring mistake with chemicals that were not compatible could cost us literally millions of dollars. That being said... the reason ethanol is bad for SOME engines is a compatibility issue with the types of o-rings and gaskets being used. Ethanol can cause them to deteriorate and then you lose your seals, which means combustion suffers or your engine can stop running altogether. Running 10% ethanol vs. regular gas without ethanol has only a tiny effect on combustion other than that. So little that 98% of folks never notice the difference. Only the real performance people notice that difference. So... don't say your engine will run so much better with 100% ethanol free gasoline. It just isn't true on an engine with compatible o-rings and gaskets. Another is.... get rid of the awful music and just state your case. People like myself come here to learn something. Being forced to listen to your music when we are looking for information is annoying. If you were a singer and a dancer, then music is entirely appropriate since we would be here for a different reason.
Thanks for the input. I have since removed the intro from my videos.....
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival I remember now why I haven't made any of these videos. Tough crowd!
@@mso4433 Lol...some viewers are tougher than others....
Great vid, not wanting to buy a cart so I intend to replace wheels with solid rubber, OEM are junk. But over all a great genset.
It is I really like it so far...
Newbie question here. Can I use a 30amp to 50 amp dog bone and power my RV. I know that I’ll be limited on what I can run at the same time, AC is what I’m really looking for.
I do exactly that as my rig is 50a also. It runs the a/c just fine as well as the TV, Refrigerator, lights, etc. all at the same time. I have a video on "What Will It Run" that you may want to watch czcams.com/video/0RLujDP18Jg/video.html
I have a vented oil fill door and it does help a lot.
It does. I just remove the stock oil door if needed when I run it. I may upgrade to the vented door though...
Maybe a video of how to clean the dismantled carburetor in all its parts.
I may do that later on...
I been using mine on my toy hauler when I need AC living off grid in TN. 143 hrs so far no issues. I use Valvoline VR1 racing oil high zinc oil in generators & my HD evo
I only use non Ethanol gas, I also have there older 2500 watt invert gen. Going on 3 years also no issues.
I really like this generator. I am nearing the 25 hour mark, and will be reporting on the performance then. I plan on using high zinc oil after the break in and changing the plug!
TheKilog69
this unit starves for air remove oil cover and machine runs much smoother also change crappie spark plug it makes a very big difference
It does need a little more air. Sometimes I run it with the oil door off and it runs a lot smoother. It also runs better after i changed the plug to an NGK...
Which Part number NGK Plug did you go with?
Very , very good video. Just one minor suggestion. Could please do a summary of this video for someone like myself who is a novice with operating generator
I am working on just that...
I am a Ham radio operator and a couple of years ago a fellow ham brought his new harbor freight inverter generator to our winter field day operation. While it did provide power, it was very noisy, I don't mean audio noise, I mean radio noise. We literally could not hear anyone talking to us on the radio. Every radio in camp had S9 noise on the receivers. The signal these cheaper inverter generators are giant radio interference creators. So if you are looking for a generator to power your radio equipment, this is not it. We did have a fellow ham bring his Honda inverter generator to summer field day the year before and it was quiet running as well as being quiet on the radio frequencies.
That is why I waited a couple of years for them to put out a few generations of this generator. While I do not have testing equipment to test the power output on this one, in my cursory testing it seems that they may have "cleaned it up" some...
Could it be because an inverter needs to put out a pure sine wave for clean output to run sensitive equipment, and this unit isn't pure sine wave? Honda inverters output pure sine wave, so it's good for computers, audio equipment, etc.
If a power source is not a pure clean source providing a pure sine wave then it's also harder on electric motors such as ones powering fans or other devices as well as computers. For instance I have used UPS uninteruptable power supplies as a backup to power computers when the power goes down and then they allow you to shut your computer down after you save your work. They run on batteries as a back up and monitor line voltage and instantly switch to battery power to power diveces. Most of these UPS have a not so pure sine wave inverter built in to power equipment and the computer doesn't make much of a fuss but if you plug in an electric fan into one and cut the power then there is a noticable lag from the signal and there is no noticable interference issues from them on the radio. I suspect that nothing was done to clean up the output of those HF generators. I bet it would cost too much. In HF's advertisement they compare their generator to a Honda EU2000i and there is no comparison in the realm of radio noise or RF noise that the HF generator makes. My friend that brought his generator thought the HF generator would be RF quiet like the Honda, but it wasn't. That means shortcuts were taken. So if you want a quiet, noise free sounding (ears) generator and don't plan on using it for running radios then the HF generator is ok, but if you are a Ham or want to power radio communication equipment from it, then it's not going to work.
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival to test it, all you need is a rudimentary basic oscilloscope. It will show the signal coming from the generator
czcams.com/video/NCWyZ8LT_54/video.html starts at 6:23. Not the same generator but the smaller model.
Yep, as mentioned in another post, Spark Arrest filter gets clogged , get a spare filter , or remove it completely if in an area where it is not required.
Absolutely. I just removed mine and kept it handy in case I have to re install
I just discovered that this generator gets starved for air at elevations above 6500 ft . In temps above 90 degrees. Open oil fill door for more airflow.
I usually have mine off also...
Very true! Mine couldn’t keep my a/c running when it was 100 out even with cover off and in the shade. Also at 4500 ft
Hi John I saw you say it doesn't run well over 6500 ft. I spend the summer in Leadville CO at 10,000. Will I regret buying this?
Thank you for sharing. Excellent presentation.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great tips! Thank you.
No problem. This is a great unit...
Decided to buy one. I put in Castrol GTX 10W-30, Non-ethanol gas with SeaFoam added and ran it 3 hours alternating back and forth with no load up to a 750 watt load. It stuttered, missed and struggled a little while ramping up when a load was applied. Changed the oil and pulled the spark plug. The spark plug was totally black. Decided to check the spark arrestor it too was nasty black and plugged a little. It was obvious it was running too rich. Went on line and ordered a BANTAM vented oil cover door. Changed the spark plug to a NGK (5534) BPR7ES. Ran it for 11 hours this time alternating the loads up to 1500 watts. Actually ran pretty good but not like I felt it should. I changed the oil again and pulled the spark plug. The NGK 5534 had some black fouling but not a lot. Decided to replace the NGK (5534) BPR7ES with a NGK Iridium (4055) BPR7EIX. I now have 23 hours on it and it's running fantastic. Running the loads up to 2300 watts. I'm still holding my breath hoping this HF Predator wasn't a mistake... time will tell.
Sometimes they take a little tweaking. I usually run mine with the oil door removed just to get more airflow. I hope that yours keeps running well...
Where did you get the vented door
@@jrgt628I got it here:
www.etsy.com/listing/582007070/improved-design-predator-3500-watt
One thing with this door that I'm going to change. The foam rubber that comes with this door is a fairly high density foam rubber IMO. I'm going to get some filter foam that should allow more air flow.
Nice video great info, after running the generator what do you have to do to store it away for about a year or two. Would you just run it dry with non ethanol? I’m thinking about buying this one.
I would use non ethanol gas. If you can't get non e gas use regular and stabilizer. Before you store it drain the gas from the carb bowl. when you go back in a year it should fire right up...
Gotta say that running a 3500 W Generator even at idle for 16 hours on 1 gallon of gas is impressive. I can't compete with that kind of economy. I will have to continue to pack up my extra two or three five gallon fuel cans or add a chassis mounted fuel tank to my bus/coach.
I was surprised at the fuel economy. It only has a 2.5 gallon tank and I got about 10 hours at a 30% load...
Thanks for some great ideas and helpful information.
I tried reading a few of these folks post here but have a question for any of yall,,
I like camping on the beach in Port A and was wondering if that generator would run 8 to 9 hours on tank of fuel while running AC ?
That yall in advance.
See my next video on it. I ran it with a 30% load (6.9amps at 850 watts) continuous during the break in and I got 10 hours of run time from 2.5 gallons of gas if that helps.
Jerbear P. I get about 5-6 hours of run time on about 80% load.
I have had great luck with this gen! Use on the semi to run a 13500 a/c rooftop. It runs for about 8.5 /9.5 hours on a tank of gas. I did have to open the oil door to get air as i have been 95+ heat in the south, which helped. Also mine is in a homemade metal box so it can't be stolen! But prolly why it would get to hot. I know this i got well over 100 hours of use out of it and it still has almost 1 and 1/2 years warranty left on it ! The extended tank is next for me. The last semi i had also had a HF generator on it and went over 3 years on it and still started on 2 or 3 pull. The guy wanted it that bought my semi...i was cool with that cause i never changed the oil once! lol
That is awesome. I think with a moderate amount of care this unit will last just as long as any of them out there...
Great video but always remember to have a ground rod driven into ground and connect the ground screw of the generator to this ground rod. Look on page 7 of the manual. if you don't have a manual email harbor freight to get one. Generators will kill if there is a fault in the generator and you complete the path to ground with your body. :(
Great advice!
That's is completely wrong.
You only ground (to a ground rod) a generator when it is a separately derived system aka you switched the neutral in the transfer switch. Electricity does not go to ground it returns to the source on all paths. We ground electrical systems to stabilize voltage and rearching faults, not to trip breakers.
Nice info, I’m getting one today!
Thanks! Mine is running and performing top notch
Great tips! Thanks! Is the reason to cover the outlets is to keep the engine clean? Also, what is the difference between a generator unit and a generator/inverter unit?
Yes. Without the covers you can feel it pulling air through the outlets, just another way for dirt and stuff to clog them up. An inverter unit will produce pure sine power whereas a regular generator will not.
Number one tip is to never, ever leave gas in these things. When you're done using it, run it completely dry. If you can get to the float bowl, drain it. All gas, even non-ethanol gas will turn to varnish and clog the jets. It also tends to get water in it. The tanks are not sealed and the humidity in the air gets into the gas and causes all kinds of damage. Many thousands of these things get thrown away with very little hours on them because they were stored with gas in them.
Exactly...
FloridaBoy Survival Isn't it just the opposite? Most inverters are modified sine wave.
Be nice if you knew someone with an oscilloscope to show the output waveform.
Kind of. Regular contractor generators are modified sine. The new "inverter" gens as they are called are supposed to be pure sine. You are right, we are taking their word for it and it would be nice for someone to test one....
Have you thought about putting the 9500 handle system on the 3500 predator generator? Great video. Thanks
I have not but will look into it...
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival Thanks for the reply. I would be very interested to see if that will work. Thanks
Thanks for the video! How many hours? How many oil changes?
I am not up to the 100 hour mark yet and have changed the oil only once more. running like a champ.
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival did you change the oil after only 8 hours? I just bought one and want to follow exactly what your doing. Thanks !
@@MrDannyboyFL I changed the oil at 4, 8, and 20 hours. It is very clean now...
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival thanks for the info. I went to buy oil today and the guy was like I've never heard of anyone breaking in an engine with synthetic oil he recommended a regular oil then switch to synthetic but I'm breaking her in just how you did synthetic then a high zinc oil. Thanks and I subbed
@@MrDannyboyFL you could do it that way too, mine suffered no damage from synthetic...
Thanks! Not preparing for a hurricane but preparing for the govt to shut off power like Texas. This baby will run my house ac or all freezers and fridges.
Glad to help. It is really an all purpose unit that will save your ass when you need it
Thank you for sharing. For 'Tip 5', though, you should have had a Decibel Meter, to show the sound level..
I could have but I do not have a meter. It is pretty quiet though...
Thanks for those super tips.....
Thanks for watching!
You have to switch it back to run versus leaving on start. I didn't see you turn it back.
Come on man, I am not a rookie when it comes to small engine operation....check out 6:58 the unit was already warm so I did not need to switch it to "Start" to start it, I just moved it to "Run".
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival LOL...just bustin ya Chops...Great Video
Lol...just bustin back a little bit also. No worries
Thanks man, all the way from Australia
No problems. Stay safe from all of the fires that you guys are having...
FloridaBoy Survival Yeh been a bad summer 🔥🔥🔥
Mine wasn't able to run my ac after about 25hrs found my spark arrester was clogged up wasn't letting motor to get up to proper rpm pulled off cleaned with carb cleaner reinstalled runs like a champ I am gonna try running non ethanol fuel.
I pulled the spark arrestor totally off of mine so it can't clog up. That will definitely slow it down. The non eth gas makes a BIG difference.
I did to temporally finish my camping trip, but it was a bit louder
Really? I did not really notice a difference.....
Great idea.
Thanks!
When I got mine the plug was already correct I didn’t haft to rotate it😎
Cool, maybe HF is getting a clue about it and changing it at the factory. At any rate, if you had to rotate it, it would have been very easy to do...
+snackman it does come with a 30a plug and adapter. However it is not oriented in the proper position. I rotated mine 180 degrees and now it is great.
Oh sorry, i misunderstood your comment. Yes, it would be A LOT more convenient if they just included the 30a plug so you could just plug in. It would not be a big deal to do this from the factory, maybe they will get a clue and do it on later models.
FloridaBoy Survival When I have been in Harbor Freight and seen people purchasing the larger generators, they have been with a construction crew of some type.
Harbor Freight has really stepped up their generators....
Very nice thanks for the information
Most welcome
When I start the a.c. of the RV the generetor turnoff what happens?
Overloaded? Or..you have to wait a few minutes. My green light comes on, then I plug in.
Let the generator warm up for a minute or two, then plug in and try it. Which generator do you have and what kind of a/c?
Aloha Florida Survivor... Just an update real quick I will upload some videos soon when I leave off grid and get to Wi-Fi to upload video. just a quick update still running 3000w now 8 hours a day 25 more days of that changing oil every 80 hours 10 days for me it comes out pretty clean and I never go low on oil in 80 hours not enough to add oil anyway. this little girl is a ruler!!! One of your followers had a great tip about placing generator on dirt ground or grass it's not a good idea always should at be at Max height of wheel bottom hard surface definitely makes a difference so for all you people out there when you're camping Place generator on a sheet of three-quarter inch plywood or something of that nature it definitely makes a difference! I'm going to convert mine to propane next week I hope to shoot a video about the conversion
Aloha my friend! yes, that was a very good suggestion about not putting the generator on dirt or grass. It needs that air flow to operate. Glad yours is running well, so is mine. I am working on an updated what "what will it run" video soon...
Great tips!
Thanks!
good tips man. im getting tired of burning gas tho.... so stuck between keeping the RV or not :/
It is not the best on gas use. I am thinking about rigging up an extended tank for mine....
Just wanted to chime in that my 120 outlet came installed like how you changed yours, so they must of changed production.
I think they did, I have heard that the 30a outlet has been rotated...
Just bought one. Heard good things about them
Mine is still working great...
Ethanol seemed like a good idea, too bad the GOVT can't change.
Non e gas is certainly better in small engines...
@@FloridaBoyBushcraftSurvival Now I know why I see gas stations on the road to camping areas that sell non-ethanol gasoline!
Very good tips
Thanks!
I can see he's a Florida boy, he's bare foot lol
You got that right...lol