Chinese gensets - good/bad experiences?

[Graycenphil]

What really bothers me is when a company like Honeywell, with great products and a long, solid reputation, puts their name on Chinese junk. I would have assumed that buying a Honeywell generator you were buying a high quality product. It has to hurt them in the long run.

[1936JDB]

I'm not a big fan of chinese crap either pal. But we can't all afford to buy what we NEED, at top dollar. I bought mine for a job that needed done, and needed an inverter generator to do. I couldn't afford the honda at the time. And isn;t it funny, that we have all accepted honda, even though it'd foreign, because of it's quality? I remember when "jap crap" had the same bad rep as "chinese junk" does today. I buy American when I can, and I make do when I NEED to. Get off your high horse. Btw, just for fun, flip the computer you posted that from and tell us all where he label says it was made.

[cornbinder89]

Most of the Japan based companys have plants here that produce their designs with american workers. Why is it possable for them to make their stuff here with american work force and send the profits back to Japan and not profitable for american companys to make it it here? Easy, the Japan companys don't pay their "top brass" 7 and 8 figuare incomes. If you buy a Honda or somethig made by Fugi heavy induistrys (or others) it is fairly likely it was produced in this country with american workforce.
If you are going to use something once, rent it, if you are going to use it a fair bit, buy quality. I can't see the reasoning for owning junk, no matter who or where it is made.

[John Ward]

My two BEST generators are 27 and 36 years old (Onan). My Northstar/Honda screamer will NEVER come close to the quality and longevity of these fine True American Made machines. Honda does make some very nice gensets for 3600 rpm screamers but they will never equal the original Onan quality.

People from all over the world seek out and covet these old Onan legends, says what is really important for a company.

[oldtractors]

The CEOs income could pay for 100 other good paying jobs. As bad as that is, that isn't going to turn the country around. Anyway, the real reason that they sent their manufacturing overseas is because the stockholders demanded it for more profits. Everyone thinks that they deserve a 20% return on their investment. The problem is that isn't sustainable.

[cornbinder89]

Don't get me wrong, I agree. The old american built stuff is 2nd to none. There is no reason it can't still be made to that std. Corp greed stops them from makeing them like that any more.

[MoRo]

If I lived in an area that is susceptible to long power outages, my standby unit would be something of quality. Nothing worse than a genny tossing a rod through the block during an ice storm. However, if I needed a 2000W, or so, unit to toss in the back of the pickup and haul to a worksite for a few hours, a cheap Chinese screamer's okay. Ya don't feel so bad if they get banged up.

My old Wisconsin powered military genny is tough as nails and will start (wrap-a-rope) anytime I want, usually on the first pull. Can't beat that!

[1936JDB]

I didn't use it once, I'm still useing it. With well over 100 hours. No smoke, no knocks, nothing. You try to rent an inverter generator out here where I live.

[MoRo]

I realize that I may have implied a one-time use of a generator. I meant that the Chinese "junker" would be fine for knock around use, as many times as it would last. Some of 'em might surprise us!
That said, I am not a bit happy with the idea of shipping all those jobs overseas either.

[1936JDB]

Not directed toward you, but Cornbinder.

[MoRo]

Originally Posted by 1936JDB

Not directed toward you, but Cornbinder.

Gotcha!

[richard.bessey]

Sorry this thread got off topic, the original intent was to find out from others if the Honda clone/Chinese engines and gensets work out for others as well as they have for me, or not.

I see some did put some input, and I really appreciate it. Its good to know I am not the only one happy with my honda clone.

For me, its fun to tinker with. I move my $100 harbor freight engine from my generator, to my rototiller, to my water pump, and have even rigged it up to an alternator to charge batteries.

[armandh]

its the good ideas adopted else where and forgotten here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming
the origins of Ford's "quality is job #1"
which I credit keeping Ford from the plight of GM and Chrysler

likely the difference between Honda Generators and Honeywell Junkerators

My most reliable is an 1800 rpm Kohler K-582 powered 7.2 KW Homelite
robust at almost 3Hp per rated KW [1.0 PF] from the early 1960s

[1936JDB]

I think that there are more than just good, and junk generators. There is the lowest of the low, the $99, 2 stroke "Sportsman" generators. Including most of the Harbor Freight offerings. Then there are things like my Honeywell. Definitly cheaper. In cost, and construction. But servicable. Then there is your typical big box store 3600 rpm screamer. I had a Briggs powered PowerMate that lasted for years, and never failed to start. Sold it for 80% of original cost. Then you start getting into the higher end consumer jobs. Hondas EU series, most 1800 rpm models. And finially the supremely reliable Onans and such. Around here, power is out frequently, but briefly. The longest we have ever been out was a few days. And that was quite rare. For us, most decent quality 3600's due just fine. But if I were in an area with more frequent, prolonged outages, I would be quick to purchase something more reliable.

[Fred M.]

I occasionally see the Honeywell 2K Inverter for sale on Craigslist. I understand it runs at a constant speed and does not idle-down like the Honda. Apparently it is somewhat louder than the Honda.

I read somewhere that the Honeywell inverter was a rebranded Generac ix2000. Even if it was made in China, Generac should be a source for parts. Does anyone have experience with either failing?

Fred

[1936JDB]

Not sure where you heard that. The honeywell has an eco setting, and idles down like the honda. It is louder, but still MUCH quieter than most generators. Not sure about the generac connection.

[jopeter]

I admire your determination to buy US made and I am the same here in Australia but to be realistic there is very little you can buy that is not Chinese made . I bought a 6.5 KVA generator, Chinese made exactly the same as a Honda . Powers up my house ,no problems ,starts first or second pull and does not eat up fuel . I have been told by a Honda man that these units are made in China under contract to Honda and undergo the same specs and inspection . I bought it mainly to power up a submersible bore pump in case of bush fire and power outage.

[Wayne 440]

Originally Posted by 1936JDB

Not sure where you heard that. The honeywell has an eco setting, and idles down like the honda. It is louder, but still MUCH quieter than most generators. Not sure about the generac connection.

The Honeywell and Generac portable inverter sets are virtually identical except for the decals and color of the plastic case. If you put them side by side the connection is obvious. There is another brand that is also the same, but I cannot recall it at the moment.

[armandh]

someone here once said a gen set longevity can be guessed at by its oil capacity

measured in fl oz [not long]
quarts and with good maintenance [a life time]
measured in gallons it could be the Methuselah of generators.

[midpw]

I was watching this thread last week and contained myself from commenting about the whole "china" thing.......

Yesterday morning a friend of mine stopped and asked for help. He had a little 1000W 2 stroke genset in his trunk that he had let sit and couldn't get running. I said leave it and I'll play around with it. After draining the syrup out of the carb and tank it came to life so I ran a half tank of fuel thru it and today I'm gonna tell him to come get it.

He had purchased it I think four years ago and bought that one specifically because it had a 120V AC and a 12V DC outlet that he thought would be handy. While I was running it the DC voltage wandered all over the place and never did settle down. I put 700W of load on the AC side and it seemed ok but the DC sucked.

Bottom line........in my two hours of working with this thing I can say that every single corner had been cut to save cost; quality be damned. I know that cost is an issue in most things we do, but the cost savings with this thing are not worth the benefit. I suspect that ten hours of honest run time is about the limit on this unit. Model No. 6ZHRS.0641NL MADE IN CHINA

Bruce