Sparky-(Admin) 19,563 #1 Posted December 12, 2015 Hey guys....all this talk about getting our tractors and snowchuckers ready for winter and no one has mentioned their generators. You don't want to discover that your alternative power source is "busted" when the lights go out and its "0" degrees outside. Ran mine about 2 months ago just to exercise it, and this morning the power went out so although I don't really need it I fired up the genny (starts instantly!) and have my house all powered up. Don't just fire up your generator, power up something to exercise the generator head....just because the motor runs doesn't mean the generator head is putting out. By the way....I'm making this post while on generator power !! Keeping your generator in top shape ensures you will be able to "cruise" Red Square while the rest of your neighborhood is in the dark ! Mike......... 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nylyon-(Admin) 7,121 #2 Posted December 12, 2015 I agree with you. Last month I took mine (the exact same model as yours) out and replaced all of the fuel with fresh gas + Stabil. Quick oil change with synthetic, powered it up. I didn't put a load on it though, but wanted to be sure that the battery was fully charged (even though it starts with 1 pull) and the fuel was fresh in the system. It's always run completely out of gas and stored in a shed which I bought just for the generator which houses the gen and 2 6-gallon cans of gas, just in case! I have it hooked up to the house as well, and as long as we don't try to run the dryer, bake cookies and vacuum, it has no problem keeping us warm, running water and TV 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC 1965 1,528 #3 Posted December 12, 2015 Thanks for the reminder Mike. I'll get mine out today and fire it up for exercise. I had it out about a month ago and changed the oil put in new ethanol free gas and a new spark plug. It's going to be 68 degrees here today so that will give me something to do outside. Might even take a ride on my snow duty . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,947 #4 Posted December 12, 2015 My Genny is in the back shop. To use it I need to unhook the blade from Skonk and attach the genny. If I'm going to "Cruise RS on genny power I might as well power it with a WH! If I had a self powered unit, Instead of gas and Sta-bil I'd have some of that 4 Cycle Tru-Fuel in the tank. The stuff is amazing. I would fill the tank with regular fuel if I needed it to run a while but for storage it's Tru Fuel for me. I've seen Stabil crystalize in fuel bowls before. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHnoob 21 #5 Posted December 12, 2015 It took close to an hour to drain ~2 gallons of fuel out of my Harbor Freight 3000 watt through the 3/16" petcock. But even with years-old ethanol gas it still starts in 1-2 pulls (2 only because I usually forget to turn the choke on the first time :-). Maybe generators should also be included in "Winter Team" pictures! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougC 2,641 #6 Posted December 12, 2015 I bought the Honda clone Harbor Freight 3,200/4,000 watt Predator about a year ago and have never needed to use it for a power outage yet. I do start it and run it for a half an hour once a month at least and always use sta-bil when I add fuel. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-101plowerpower 1,605 #7 Posted December 12, 2015 i have this little one for when the lights go out i don't have i good picture of it all back in running order but i do have a vid of it running 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,563 #8 Posted December 12, 2015 1 hour ago, C-101plowerpower said: i have this little one for when the lights go out Whats the voltage and amperage output? Looks huge! Mike........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-101plowerpower 1,605 #9 Posted December 12, 2015 Just now, Sparky said: What the voltage and amperage output? Looks huge! Mike........ it is huge, yes. it only puts out 3500watts at 220 volts, only way you can tell the generator has to work is by the amount of smoke bellowing out of the garage 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rjg854 10,747 #10 Posted December 12, 2015 Mine's ready should I need it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,947 #11 Posted December 12, 2015 Tractor is gone but the Genny lives on! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,563 #12 Posted December 12, 2015 Just now, squonk said: Tractor is gone but the Genny lives on! Is it a 5K or a 3K ? Mike........ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 38,947 #13 Posted December 13, 2015 3K with the custom mount and belt guard! Enough to run the fridge and I-pad. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 46,809 #14 Posted December 13, 2015 Are you guys telling me the one I got connected to the Mrs excercise bike ain't gonna cut it?? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marv 845 #15 Posted December 13, 2015 Have had a Generac portable for over 20 years. Most always starts on 1st or 2nd pull (Briggs 9hp). Was getting to be a bit of a strain for me (old) in cold weather so I got this "Wheel Horse" generator. Works real good when needed. Marvin 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 19,563 #16 Posted December 13, 2015 16,000 watts Marv... ...hmmm, so that's 133 amps at 120 volt!!....guess there's nothing you cant use in an outage! Nice setup. Mike........ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Molon_Labe 731 #17 Posted December 14, 2015 Power was out here for over a week in '92 when an ice storm took out a lot of the big transmission towers. Had a generator serviced and ready ever since as well as at least one backup. 5500 Porter-Cable and a 5500 Wheel House share the duties. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadapples 6,981 #18 Posted December 14, 2015 Did a double take there. Thought it said 5500 Wheel HoRse. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Molon_Labe 731 #19 Posted December 14, 2015 5 hours ago, roadapples said: Did a double take there. Thought it said 5500 Wheel HoRse. So did the previous owner, He had it listed as a Wheel Horse in his CL ad. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
