Harbor Freight drops a new genny

Just bought one with a 25% off coupon. I believe I bought the 3500 when it first came out on special for $650 or so. Given the scandemic and inflation, $100 more, 7 years later, for a 5000 watt genny...not shabby. Plan to break it in at Summit in a few weeks and bring with me for the PittRace endurance round.

 

You coming to gratten this year?

 

So looking at the newest WEN 56477i (4800 W), is only $512 + tax, free shipping.
It's not dual fuel or electric start but for that price, dayum....Like I said, i've had 3 WEN gennies and no issues over the years. Just looking at something bigger.

https://wenproducts.com/products/we...eady-quiet-and-lightweight-with-fuel-shut-off

 

So, interestingly HF has removed all evidence of this unit from the website?

 

Hard to beat a propane/NG setup for emergency home power. Both of those only have two shortcomings.

1. NG relies on someone pumping it out to you.
2. Propane relies on you having a tank and having enough to get you through an event.

Gas or Diesel would be my last choice for a whole house setup. If you are going diesel that's likely best if it's PTO drive off a tractor that regularly consumes its diesel, so it is always fairly fresh.

 

The manufacturer Senci doesn't have it either. Interesting

 

From Redditt:

Just got off the phone with customer service regarding this (Predator 5000w dual fuel) generator.

According to them, prolonged use of 70 hours or more on propane causes the key fob and electric start to stop working. He stated there was not a safety concern, just a functional issue. He also said that the generator can still be used with the pull start.

Also stated that they can be returned with a rain check to get another when they re-release them around December. Affected serial numbers range from 230615-230628. That’s not the whole serial but if you’re falls within the last two digits of those numbers, it can be returned and when they come back out, the price originally purchased at will be honored. In my case, I used a 25% off no exclusions coupon to purchase.

 

Since my original battery crapped out (~2 yrs) Ive been pull starting my 3500. Its so easy to pull start never bothered to get a new battery.

 

Now how in the hell does running on propane instead of gas impact the electric start and key fob?!

 

Likely has something to do with the electronics on the generator itself, not the fob. Overheating, overloaded, something...

 

Freezing up ?

 

It's not the fob that stops. It's the electric start. The fob operates that, so it's like the fob stops working.

I could see the starter still spinning, but the generator not starting. Maybe the loss of power from running propane, causes the generator to not charge the battery, it cuts that circuit? Then the starter doesn't work.

 

If you flip back to gas for a tank or so, will it work properly again?

 

Many of these are having overload issues. including the one i bought and thats why they pulled them all from the shelves and website.

quickly remember why i always paid a little more for honda or yamaha....

 

A little more? LOL, if it was a little more nobody would buy these.

 

Was about to say the same thing. When I was shopping a few years ago a predator 3500 was like $800 and an Honda Inverter 3,000W was $2k+

 

Looks like they are back on the website now..

https://www.harborfreight.com/5000-...ote-start-and-co-secure-technology-70143.html

 

In theory you should be able to. I think the propane option is probably a real benefit for the preppers more so than folks here that will just use regular gas.

 

Pump gas? Ethanol free? Has to be 93 octane, right?

 

MR12