Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

After hurricane Irene nearly flooded my basement I need to buy a generator, I have been putting this off for years.......If it wasnt for my shop vac and sump pump I would really be in trouble as they were the only two things that saved my ass.

I never lost power in a storm only one time we had a blackout and I forget what happened but it wasnt cause of a storm. My point is this is not going to be used often so I cannot justify spending several thousand dollars.

I want something kinda big as I have to run two refrigerators, stand up freezer, shop vac, sump pump at a minimum. I would like to have some lights on, maybe a TV and a fan?? Nevermind my boiler if the power went out during a storm.

I see Ebay and Sams club is selling Snap On generators 5750 continous, 6500 peak watts for under 500.00, Yes 500 dollars, Ebay has another snap on generator with a yamaha engine for a few hundred more. Are they any good?

How else makes a decent unit? Briggs & Stratton Storm Chaser 7000watts uits are 799.99. Any good? I hear they are super loud! IDK

I appreciate any help!

Anything with a Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Kubota, Fuji etc. would be my preference.  Japanese engines are the best.  Period.

Depending on your budget, a small Kubota, Yamaha, Honda, Yanmar diesel would be a nice machine too. 

I agree with Borat.  the Japanese engines are the better engines...  I suggest that you get something simple to operate   that will not require a masters degree to service or keep riunning.  If all you want is emergency power for bad times -  noise is not a issue.  The Briggs stuff has got better over the years and is easy to operate if simply kept up.  The parts are cheaper, the same engines that power lawn tractors power the generators.  You will get more power for your buck compared to the Japanese motors...

---But, if you want to put a generator in a campground, mountains or on a house boat ... you want a Honda Generator,   Not just a Honda Engine.... Honda makes great motors for all kinds of things.  You can buy a great generator made by "Maker A' with a  great Honda motor, but it will not be quiet...  (think construction site air compressors or generators)....  If you want a Quiet unit, buy a Honda Generator,  but you will pay for every thing you get..

Hope it helps,

Friiy 

The fact that you don't want to spend several thousands of dollars makes your selection process easier by eliminating anything made by a Japanese manufacturer.  Frankly I don't blame you...I had my emergency generator for years before I finally needed it.  Figure out what you need to run and get an appropriately sized generator.  That Snap On may be enough but you have to do the calculations.  An inverter is comforting if you want to run televisions or computers.  You might consider getting the Snap On plus a small portable inverter generator (always nice to have a back-up anyway).  The hardest thing for me is to make sure that my generator is maintained, because when you need it, it has to start and run properly.  Tough to do when years go by and you forget that you even have one.