Generator - In Storage

[Bolster]

My april fool's joke on myself today was to purchase a small Honda generator.

(YES I know it's more expensive than the competition. I wanted the clean waveform for potentially running computer and radio.) Question is this: If I plan to not use it for months at a time, what's the best way to store? I see some people saying you have to keep gas and oil in them and start and run them monthly...but...if you just run it dry on gas, so it's bone dry empty, won't that be good enough for storage? Is it necessary to start it monthly? I was going to store it in an out-of-the way place...

 

[mdbeck1]

I store mine in the garage and run it three or four times a year. Of course mine's a little bit larger. I try to remember to put fuel stabilizer in it then run in and turn the fuel cutoff off.

You should probably read the manual and see if there is a recommendation.

 

[diesel research]

Some will argue carb gaskets dry out faster with no fuel.

If I was going to spend the time to "exercise" a generator like that, I would buy one of those small 1500watt space heaters to use as a load bank. That's all a "real" load bank is anyways, just a resistive grid heater.

 

[petee_c]

it`s likely a 4 stroke, so leave the oil in.

It`s small enough that u can pour the gas out.

On all Honda Power Equipment stuff I`ve owned, it`s pretty easy to drain the carbs.

Cover it.

How often do you have power outs where u liveÉ

Peter

 

[SpeedCoach]

I have 2 EU2k's.....first off - GREAT! decision on the generator.

I"ve only had mine for 2 years....prior to storage I change the oil (I use Mobil 1 synthetic), and I make sure that I pour in fresh gas treated with stabil. I run it to make sure any old gas is through the system, I then drain the carb (via the screw located on it's drain hose) and top off with more stabil treated gas. so far it's worked like a charm and they both fire up after a few pulls. If I get a decent stretch of weather mid winter I'll fire them up and run a space heater in the shop - mostly to exercise them...but i'm not convinced that is necessary. Enjoy the generator - they're well worth it.

 

[Az Scooter]

They are one of the nicest little generators out there. We use it for our RV, and I use it about once a month for my business. I don't worry about any storage, of course, i did not worry about storage on my big generator, either. It always started right up, until I let an employee use it...

 

[mrb]

good move on getting the real honda and not one of the cheap knockoffs.

 

[Bolster]

I have 2 EU2k's......

Boffo, Coach! Am saving your recommendations to file, will print and keep with the generator.

Yeah...talking the wife into this purchase has taken me only ....ohhh, let's see...I think about 7 years. It was the Japan quake that finally provided the motivation.

Me: "Honey, you'll be able to run your hair dryer while we're without power for a month, while we have no water, and while gangs of marauders with AK-47s are roming the streets."

Her: "I can dry my hair?"

YEAH, that's what it's for...earthquake preparedness...yes, that's the ticket. We be livin' in da So Cal on da fault line. Power goes out with or without earthquake several times a year, but is usually back on in a few hours.

 

[diesel research]

If you ever do get a 2nd one, add the parallel cable.

We used 2 EU2000i's inside of school buses/on top of bulldozers for testing. Got pretty hot in the back of the bus driving around with those things running full bore.

 

[SpeedCoach]

Boffo, Coach! Am saving your recommendations to file, will print and keep with the generator.

Yeah...talking the wife into this purchase has taken me only ....ohhh, let's see...I think about 7 years. It was the Japan quake that finally provided the motivation.

Me: "Honey, you'll be able to run your hair dryer while we're without power for a month, while we have no water, and while gangs of marauders with AK-47s are roming the streets."

Her: "I can dry my hair?"

YEAH, that's what it's for...earthquake preparedness...yes, that's the ticket. We be livin' in da So Cal on da fault line. Power goes out with or without earthquake several times a year, but is usually back on in a few hours.

LOL - my sales pitch was power outages at the house as well!!! I use "the twins" for my travel trailer - mostly during racing duty (both my own and some "paid-pro's" I attend throughout the year). I actually have the "companion" version in addition the the normal EU-2000....obviously for the RV. The parallel capacity is the selling point. If you do your homework you can have 4000 watts of power for nearly the same price as the EU-3000 (which in and of itself is a very fine machine).

Depending on your usage - also do your homework on an extended run fuel tank....a worthwhile endeavor.

 

[BajaBound]

Ok I have a question as I have been thinking about a generator. How do I feed this into my house besides running extension cords?

 

[SpeedCoach]

The correct method is to install (or have installed) a proper transfer switch - there are many out there. This modification is on my to-do list (though we rarely lose power here...knock on wood).

 

[mrholeshot]

I put stabil in both of mine and run them every few weeks. I always make sure to cut the fuel petcocks off after each use.

 

[mrb]

the problem with those (even paralleled) is that you only get 120v out of them, not ideal for supplying your house unless you can move individual circuits onto a 120v transfer arrangement (or you want to shell out for a transformer)

 

[Stuart in MN]

I agree that the best thing is to run them periodically, every few weeks or so. That way they're always ready to go, and you never know when you're going to need them.

 

[Halligan]

I have the same one and run it once a month during the winter (use it to power shop vac when cleaning cars). In the summer it is used every weekend on my boat.

 

[DHS]

Does Honda offer propane conversion?

 

[diesel research]

the problem with those (even paralleled) is that you only get 120v out of them, not ideal for supplying your house unless you can move individual circuits onto a 120v transfer arrangement (or you want to shell out for a transformer)

You aren't going to supply a house in a warm climate with ANY generator that you can pick up by hand. Of course you can supply critical power to the fridge or a few lights and plenty of chargers.

 

[SpeedCoach]

Does Honda offer propane conversion?

I know there are folks who have made a "tri-fuel" conversion to propane. I'm not one of them....there is a yahoo group dedicated to these generators, and many of those folks have made a conversion to propane...look it up and they can probably answer your questions. there are also a few folks on rv.net who have done it as well.

 

[willysrule]

Those Hondas are awesome, quite reliable and fuel efficient…I have seen a few people post the company below when the topic of propane comes up….

http://www.propane-generators.com/

I try to run mine with some sort of a load at least once every two months and have fuel stabilizer in it...I learned the hard way about not having it "ready" when needed...On a cold winter night I had to tear down and clean the carb on my old one using a flashlight held by my very pregnant wife who wanted to know why we have a generator if I have to work on it before using it… Usually she is great when it comes to helping or doing anything mechanical but with all those hormones running thru her and a tired back it’s wasn’t a fun experience…

I have a transfer switch but haven’t gotten around to wiring it in yet…when the power goes out I run extension cords and if we need heat I will hotwire the boiler…The only approved way to run one around me is by extension cords or transfer switch…you’re not allowed to back feed to the box even if you have a “lock out” devise for the main…

 

[Bolster]

If you do your homework you can have 4000 watts of power for nearly the same price as the EU-3000 (which in and of itself is a very fine machine).

Cool rig, SC. Very cool indeed. And, it's much easier to lift two fiddy pound generators one at a time, than the bigger 3000.

Did I tell you how crazy I went on this purchase? You know in California they sell a special CARB compliant model (+$100). I do NOT want a CARB compliant ANYTHING. So mine's a non-CA version shipping to a friend in AZ, and I'll be making the long drive to pick it up. So the price goes way up for the gas for my car, and the time spent to get it, but at least it's not CARB COMPLIANT.

California. What a strange place. Including our re-tread governor.

 

[mrb]

You aren't going to supply a house in a warm climate with ANY generator that you can pick up by hand. Of course you can supply critical power to the fridge or a few lights and plenty of chargers.

not talking about being able to supply the entire house, but being able to supply loads that are on both phases without major rewiring. for example my fridge is on a MWBC with something else, so i cant really move the fridge circuit over to a transfer setup

 

[willysrule]

Cool rig, SC. Very cool indeed. And, it's much easier to lift two fiddy pound generators one at a time, than the bigger 3000.

Did I tell you how crazy I went on this purchase? You know in California they sell a special CARB compliant model (+$100). I do NOT want a CARB compliant ANYTHING. So mine's a non-CA version shipping to a friend in AZ, and I'll be making the long drive to pick it up. So the price goes way up for the gas for my car, and the time spent to get it, but at least it's not CARB COMPLIANT.

California. What a strange place. Including our re-tread governor.

that is wild....never understood the CARB stuff...also the labels on everything that say "known to the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity" sooooo it's only toxic in CA????

couldn't your AZ buddy just ship it back out to you?

 

[ibedayank]

Bolster use stabil and ONLY use 100% gas none of that ethanol ****.
Run em out of gas then fill tank back up so its ready to go when you need it.

 

[Bolster]

Hi guys, an update regarding long term storage on these...there was in fact a detailed procedure in the manual. For anyone interested, here it is:


Pump out gas or run dry.
Remove Maintenance Cover.
Loosen Carb Drain Screw, drain.
Pull the Spark Plug Cap.
Turn Engine Switch to ON.
Pull Starter Grip 4 times.
Turn Engine Switch OFF.
Retighten Carb Drain Screw.
Remove Spark Plug.
Pour 1t (5-10cc) clean oil into cyl.
Crank engine 4 times.
Reinstall spark plug, cap.
(1/8-1/4 turn after seating).
Pull starter grip slowly until
resistance is felt, then stop.
Cover with porous dust cover.
If months before use, then new oil.

BY THE WAY, I love love love this machine so far. It is amazingly quiet. I was using my electric string trimmer on a far corner of my acreage yesterday and the little generator could not be heard over the noise of the (relatively quiet) string trimmer!

This seals it for me, my next chainsaw will be the electric Makita. I was debating electric or gas but this little generator makes the choice easy: electric!