Picked up a HF Predator 3500 Inverter Generator
- Thread starter 930dreamer
- Start date
I have two friends who bought the 3500 model to run the AC in there Rv’s during the summer months, at around 250 hours both of them started having mechanical problems, heavy doses of metal flake in the oil. Consequently, Both of them cut there teeth on 2000 watt predator models and haven’t had any issues to date, one of them bought another 2k unit and runs them in parallel to power the AC. The other purchased a Atima Yamaha powered unit for about the same price as the Predator 3500.
Keep tabs on those Oil changes, especially during the break in period.
Keep tabs on those Oil changes, especially during the break in period.
OP
Will do, thank you.
kctyphoon
Banned
There's so many people that have HF generators running around - and most have good reviews to give them. Im sure with basic maintenance (if you treated it like you paid $3,000 for it) it will be just fine.
Not buying or believing those reviews............and it’s very likely a 50/50 it won’t be fine sometime in the future.
kctyphoon
Banned
Not buying or believing those reviews............and it’s very likely a 50/50 it won’t be fine sometime in the future.
Why ? Based on what evidence? U realize almost every generator sold uses clone engines. Fouled fuel and pull strings break on expensive generators just the same.
Just another rehash of every other HF thread:
Based on I did not drink the HF cool aid.........next time your at HF........peek in the “back room”........get an education on what’s being returned. If you ask, maybe a friend that works there might give you some insight.......or even a tour.
Get a clue.......Clone means they ( tried to) copy the design........not the materials, metallurgy, vendor parts or build quality. When you sell cheap they have to cut corners.
Second issue.........Emergency generators need to work in an emergency.
OP
If it works on the vendor trailer for a year I'll be happy.
kctyphoon
Banned
So i take it you have no evidence to back up your statement, and the people that actually own the products and give good reports are all idiots.. what type of engines are installed in most small portable generators? Most of whats being sold in todays lawn and garden sections at home centers? Oh - thats right.. clones..
I mean the internal combustion engine has only been around a few years now.. not nearly enough time to make cheap one reliable..
I guess all those guys into cart racing, and making their clone 5hp engines into 18 and 20hp engines are all clueless. how on earth would those things ever hold up??
OP - video review of a guy that has 1500 hours on his. YMMV
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Bretny
Well-known member
I think 250hrs is alot more time than alot of these generators will see. Either way metal flakes in the oil is bad news. This is why i wont buy a generator that dosnt have a oil filter...unless its cheap enough.
Alot of reviews are like un boxing videos. They open the box and start the thing up...5 STARS.
Alot of reviews are like un boxing videos. They open the box and start the thing up...5 STARS.
txvwnut
Well-known member
My brother bought one of these to use as a backup to the Onan that’s in his travel trailer. It’s actually pretty quiet and runs the trailer quite well, versus the Onan which doesn’t like to run in the summer heat. His is two years old now and still runs like when he un-boxed it.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I disagree ! I would have to drive at least 50 miles round trip for E00 and the price is crazy.
Run your carb dry after every use. Once a year, drain the tank. Inspect the inside with a flash light for any debris. Fill with fresh gas. The "rubber" parts in the fuel system are synthetic rubber and E10 has no affect on them
kctyphoon
Banned
Exactly the reason it makes no sense for most people to run out and buy Hondas.
I hate the reasoning given in here by some people;
“I live in Alaska and my life depends on a generator” - buy a honda.
“I live in the middle of NJ and wanna buy a generator for the 10yr storm” - buy a honda
“My craftsman lawn mower will see 100x more use then my generator” - buy a honda generator..
Friend of mine just started his own small fiber splicing business, bought a small predator for his lab trailer. He asked if it was a good choice. My answer was absolutely. They have good reviews, everyone uses clone engines these days, and if it gets stolen, breaks, things just dont work out for the business, - your out basically nothing. For the amount of use that thing will ACTUALLY see, it makes no sense.. 3 months later now he’s already looking to buy a splicing van with a boom on it - that will no doubt have its own generator or inverter inside.. did he loose money? No. Is it worth even selling over keeping it around as a spare? No. If that generator was used FOR ONE JOB at night, he already paid for it, and MADE money.
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Farmall450
Well-known member
I suspect Most people that buy them are using them in the RV world where the inverter technology and DB's that come with it are highly sought after, Nobody wants to be that guy with the screaming loud generator. In that world, 250 hours isn't really that much for a few weeks a year.
If you visit the RV forums or YouTube, there are countless threads concerning excessive metal in the Oil changes. I always run my generators thru a break in period with early and often oil changes, Even my Champion 3400 unit had "some" Metal in the first oil change, which is acceptable to a point, but some of those predator videos are crazy in regards to what the oil looked like even after a few oil changes.
I'm not trying to bash the predator lineup, I've seen lots of them in the wild and as I stated my buddies are more than happy with there 2k units. If I was going to leave a 2k watt generator strapped to the outside of my enclosed trailer, it would probably be a atima with the Yamaha power plant. Its cheaper than the Yamaha/Honda counterparts not to mention, something that it's the elements, subject to sticky fingers etc.
@OP I would also grab magnetic dipstick, it's good preventive maintenance.
Farmall450
Well-known member
Or magnetize his, if it's not plastic. Won't do much good for all the al floating around, though
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Interesting... My generator, with a 13hp honda doesn't have an oil filter. Must be junk... Huh, had no idea. Wish i bought something with a higher quality motor.
kctyphoon
Banned
I dont think any of the smaller portable generators, even the Honda’s we have at work, have oil filters.. and the fuel goes bad in a honda just like it will in a cheap model. I just dont see a reason for the average person to spend so much money on these things. Thats not to say there aren’t exceptions of course.
garandman
Well-known member
It’s 2019. Building a Chonda is not rocket science. I know a lot of motorcycle racers who have been using these to run tire warmers and trailer AC’s every weekend for two or three seasons, pretty much since they came out. Some of them are racing on Hondas, ironically. Use in the hundreds of hours. The Predator is $800, an EU3000i is $2,000. There is a similar Champion that is also holding up well.
Have Hondas myself but they seem to be a great value. My EU3000iS got stolen.
50 miles to the nearest Home Depot? They have “True Fuel” in cans. Some people don’t have any problem with stabilized Ethanol fuel but it’s a simple precaution.
That said, most generators including the Pred 3500 have a carb drain built in.
Have Hondas myself but they seem to be a great value. My EU3000iS got stolen.
50 miles to the nearest Home Depot? They have “True Fuel” in cans. Some people don’t have any problem with stabilized Ethanol fuel but it’s a simple precaution.
That said, most generators including the Pred 3500 have a carb drain built in.
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kctyphoon
Banned
One of these days I'm gonna pick up something smaller like a Predator myself. After a big hurricane I talked myself out of a standby generator for the house - which I probably would have bought almost 8 years ago or more by now, and still would never have used for more than a few minutes. Instead I bought this bigger 7250 watt unit my dad also bought from Costco, but it's so big it's a task to even move around (no garage so stored in basement, w/ramps going up the bulkhead door stair case). So one of these days, I'd like to get something a little smaller, even if it never comes out of the box to be used. It'll probably come from home Depot or HF when that day comes.
I have a spare carb I bought online for the big one if it ever needs it. I think that was a $35 investment to make sure the big one will always be able to work should anything bad happen in the summer time and I wanna power up the central air in the house
I have a spare carb I bought online for the big one if it ever needs it. I think that was a $35 investment to make sure the big one will always be able to work should anything bad happen in the summer time and I wanna power up the central air in the house
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anndel
Well-known member
I was looking at those while stateside and visiting a HF near my hotel. I bought a Honda instead.
kctyphoon
Banned
Sometimes they say "I haven't even used it yet but am already impressed."
Eh- same things people do with a lot of tools.. if it comes out of the box with the look and feel of something “not ******”, they are just giving their impression. Typically companies dont spend the money to wrap up a really ****** product in a good case. If it seems substantial out of the box - i mean - you expect the thing is gonna run decent at least.
Alpine4x4
Well-known member
I'll be getting one this week. Lots of threads online on RV forums about them. Lots of metal in the first and second oil changes, fine after that. Change oil early during break in. Some people have had a rough idle problem and HF exchanged the unit for a new one and the new ones are working fine. I have yet to read of any of them dying except on the HF reviews. Seem like solid units for the price.
I am in the 250 hour club also.
Recently bought a Champion Dual Fuel of a similar size. I doubt if I would ever get close to 250 hours on it - but one of the main reasons I bought this particular one is because of Costco. If I ever did get close to 250 hours on it and saw metal flakes in the oil - it's going back to Costco for a full refund, I don't care how long I have had it
Recently bought a Champion Dual Fuel of a similar size. I doubt if I would ever get close to 250 hours on it - but one of the main reasons I bought this particular one is because of Costco. If I ever did get close to 250 hours on it and saw metal flakes in the oil - it's going back to Costco for a full refund, I don't care how long I have had it
aussiek2000
Well-known member
Hopefully the motor mount bolts don't fall out like my ryobi. Otherwise it runs great and plenty of power for what I use it for.
https://scontent-ort2-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/56659830_10161827762190232_3403496982029795328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.**&oh=e58ecbb21dd8c154f94a78c525ab2f6e&oe=5D4A9140
https://scontent-ort2-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/56659830_10161827762190232_3403496982029795328_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-ort2-1.**&oh=e58ecbb21dd8c154f94a78c525ab2f6e&oe=5D4A9140
kctyphoon
Banned
I have a mattress laying against my bedroom wall for months waiting for me to call costco and return it.. I slept on the thing for a month, if that, and i couldnt do it anymore.. i only made that Costco purchase because you can do that. i just finally threw out a 60” tv that was sitting in my living room for 4 years. I’m good at buying stuff, not so much with returning..
Farmall450
Well-known member
We're talking about reviews in general.
It's unfitting to think a nice box = a nice tool, especially something powered.
kctyphoon
Banned
We're talking about reviews in general.
It's unfitting to think a nice box = a nice tool, especially something powered.
I disagree, to an extent. You dont find many gems where the fit and finish of things is completely horrible either. The expense put into making the outside case, the look and feel of the product - something that can rival and compete with a much more expensive tool - is usually SOME indication that some degree of effort was also placed inside.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
I DO read a couple of RV forums and Honda generators are definitely the "preferred" brand. The flip side is, the few people who have bought HF Predator or Champion generators have not had any complaints (or ones that they posted).
Metal in the oil, is likely either left over from manufacturing (will be flushed out after the first oil change) or low oil level (over heating). Not likely from poor tolerances.
The new "dark horse" in the race is Westinghouse. I don't know who currently owns them (the name has been bought and sold a couple of time in the past 10-15 years), but they have nothing to do with the Westinghouse that makes giant steam turbine generators.
kctyphoon
Banned
A lot of places are putting out “honda like” small generators.. Generac, Westinghouse,Wen,.. there was another cheaper brand i remember reading about that guys were trying to grab a while back. Something small like the carry style Honda’s - it was a dark blue color and was getting decent reviews.. it might have been the Westinghouse, for only a few hundred..
Anyway - if anyone has the Predator this thread is about - there’s a cover for it on amazon for $32 - GCD Predator 3500 watt Generator Cover Custom Fit (Black) in Stock https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9PHDXB/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Check out this little Wen for $289 shipped.. bunch of reviews from people using it in Puerto Rico.
WEN 56125i Super Quiet 1250-Watt Portable Inverter Generator, CARB Compliant https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074H5HGSX/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I’m betting the 2000 watt predators, and 2000 watt Wen (not 1250 above) units are basically twins.. look at the comparison.
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I’m not a Small engine expert, I just know there is enough online chatter with Videos showing the contaminated oil with Live oil changes that I’m not going down that road. It doesn’t make sense to ”Me” to go with the predator units at the current price point. The Champion 2000 watt stackable/3100 watt models have been in the marketplace for much longer than the Predator inverter units and Have a proven track record in the RV world. The Small inverter generator sector is booming, I suspect there are a lot of shared components amongst the flavor of the month. I’ve been around the Predator 2k units, I couldn’t tell you how many hours on are on my buddies, but they have been solid as far as I know, Maybe not as quiet as the Honda/Yamaha counterparts but are fairly close. The beauty of The Predator units is you can put hands on the product prior to buying, and if you have problems early on you can speak face to face to a store associate.
Alpine4x4
Well-known member
I bought one tonight. Also paid for the 2yr plan on it. First generator for us. Need it to power a camper with fridge, heater or a/c as well as a 4 bank battery charger in our boat when we are camping out. Didnt get a chance to put a load on it and run it tonight, but after fiddling with the one in the store it seems like quite the quality product for the price. Time will tell.
I work at HF, do i see these come back? Yes, but its very rare. If I had to guess why they failed is that it was not broken in properly or old crappy fuel that has gummed things up.
For the most part they seem very reliable from those that have boughten them and i check in with when i see them next have nothing but great things to see.
If your worried, get the esp on it and your still under the price of the honda equivalant.
For the most part they seem very reliable from those that have boughten them and i check in with when i see them next have nothing but great things to see.
If your worried, get the esp on it and your still under the price of the honda equivalant.
kctyphoon
Banned
Basic economics will account for some generators to be returned. If a much cheaper competitive alternative is available - obviously more of those units will get sold. There’s bound to be a some duds, and I’m betting a fair amount of returns come from the people just being dumb. More than half of these people would not own a genertor if Honda and Yamaha were the only model models available.
I think its obvious that the better you take care of it, the longer it will last. How much does it cost to change the oil? How easy is it? If your camper is going to rely on something like this model, or the 2000 watt model, I’d definitely run the thing for an hour and change the oil. Run it some more and change the oil. The first few hours will obviously be the most destructive as it breaks in. You can get a hand pump oil extractor for like $30 i think. I’d find room for one on the camper.
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garandman
Well-known member
Really? The EU2000i won’t run the AC in most zrV’s and the EU3000iS is pretty heavy.
The dial tone for RV AC: https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/generator/models/ef2400ishc
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
It is kind of a **** shoot if an EU2000i will start an RV AC. Using a Micro Air EasyStart helps but is still no guarantee.
The latest version of the Honda has an extra 200W, not that that is going to make a huge difference starting an AC, but it helps.
You are also correct about the EU3000iS. I sure would have a hard time putting it in the bed of a pickup.
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
The open frame EF2800i actually weighs LESS than the EF2400iSHC ! It is rated at 120V@20A continuous, 23A peak. It also holds 1 gallon more fuel, but it is 8 dbA (60 dbA vs 68 dbA) louder.
It also weights less than the Predator 3500 which cost less than 50% of the EF2800i ! Buy TWO Predator 2000 and you would still have almost $700 left over.
guy48065
Well-known member
I'm skeptical. How come inverter generators sell way cheaper than a quality inverter alone? Ever price a good 3000W inverter? Seems like there might be some corners getting cut.