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Has anyone had experience with "Preditor" generators from Harbor Freight?

Posted on 5/2/19 at 12:47 pm
Posted by damnstrongfan
St. George, Louisiana
Member since Dec 2009
2089 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 12:47 pm
(no message)
Posted by OnePercent
Member since Sep 2016
188 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 1:28 pm to
The engine itself is EXTREMELY similar to the Honda. Specifically the 212cc gx200, some call it a clone others don't due to slight variations. I have the 6.5 on a tiller and it's been reliable as well as a 13hp on a pressure washer with no problems.

All I know about the power generation part is that a buddy had one and he/we ran the crap out of it building a shop and running a camper really not expecting it to last. It's still kicking
Posted by Boudreaux35
BR
Member since Sep 2007
21578 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 2:05 pm to
quote:

really not expecting it to last. It's still kicking


Freakin' Harbor Freight!

Seems like every time I buy something from them that I expect to be a "disposable" item, it lasts forever, but I buy a damn flathead screwdriver and it breaks.

Why is it that there can be 3 cars in their parking lot, but there is always a line 20 deep trying to check out?
Posted by bamarep
Member since Nov 2013
51811 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 2:20 pm to
I put one of those engines on a tiller about 5 years ago and you can't kill that damn thing.
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
16247 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 2:24 pm to
Guy at work bout a 3500 watt last year and hasn't had any issues with it.

I have a little 900 watt 2 stroke that's still kicking after 10 years. We use it to run lights at the deer camp every weekend during the season.
Posted by bodsworth
Pelham AL
Member since May 2015
122 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 2:26 pm to
I totally regret buying my Honda, could have saved a ton of money with a Predator.

My buddy I was with used one to power a camper for 5 days and it worked just as good as my Honda. I would not spend the extra money.
Posted by tigers84
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Member since Jun 2008
2740 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 2:55 pm to
Bought one for the camp last year. Used 1 hunting season so far without any issues
Posted by cdaniel76
Covington, LA
Member since Feb 2008
19699 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 3:45 pm to
I don't have any personal experience with one but I've been told my many that they're extremely reliable and last forever with proper maintenance.
Posted by Lakefront-Tiger
Da Lakefront
Member since Nov 2004
5921 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 4:06 pm to
I just swapped out a Honda lawnmower engine with the "clone" Predator since my son bent the crank, and it runs great.
Posted by El Segundo Guy
SE OK
Member since Aug 2014
9649 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 4:55 pm to
I have 2 2000s. I run them in parallel for my camper. I also use one of them to throw in the bed of my truck to power a cheap electric pole saw around the farm.

They both work very well and zero issues.
Posted by Cracker
in a box
Member since Nov 2009
17750 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 5:13 pm to
For a place full of negativity this is impressive
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
14323 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 5:35 pm to
I saw a legit company using them this past weekend to run blowers for their inflatable slides etc. They ran all day.
Posted by REB BEER
Laffy Yet
Member since Dec 2010
16247 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 5:57 pm to
My uncle and cousin sell firewood and use the predator engines on the splitters. They say they’re every bit as good as a Honda.
Posted by LaRougarou
East of the Mississippi
Member since Aug 2016
94 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 6:45 pm to
Do they run as quite as a Honda?
Posted by GATORGAR247
Member since Aug 2017
993 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 6:51 pm to
I run a 2000 on my gig boat.. I've never had a problem with it . It's 3 years old.. not much louder than the honda..
Posted by Chuker
St George, Louisiana
Member since Nov 2015
7544 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 7:27 pm to
sounds like the engines are solid but what about the electronics for the generators vs actual Honda? I know Hondas are great for putting out "clean" power but I wonder about the preditor. Would suck to hook one up during a outage and it take out your tv, modems, refrigerator display.... anything with sensitive electronics.
Posted by weadjust
Member since Aug 2012
15155 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 7:53 pm to
Consumer Reports Predator vs Honda Review

Honda wins by a narrow margin, largely because of its ability to deliver power constantly and reliably—it works without tripping its own internal circuit breaker as we added to its load, right up to the generator’s claimed capacity. But the Predator is the clear winner on price. Were the warranties identical, we’d certainly crown the Predator as the better buy.

LINK
Posted by Bigbee Hills
Member since Feb 2019
1531 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 8:29 pm to
I've got the 6500 watt starting/5500 watt running HF generator. My guys have run the absolute hell out of it and it's still going strong.

Like I've said before on here about harbor freight, just look at the reviews if you're contemplating a purchase, and do everybody else a favor if you buy a HF product and leave a review. It's best for all of us if we do that.

They sell a ton of stuff that's pretty dadgum good for the price, and some of it is an absolute steal.
Posted by TimeOutdoors
AK
Member since Sep 2014
12123 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 9:23 pm to
Had great success with them. The breakin is extremely important so don’t skip it. I have one of the motors on an old tiller that gets used and abused. Starts on 2nd pull every time.
Posted by Jaben
Bham
Member since Dec 2017
35 posts
Posted on 5/2/19 at 9:29 pm to
I have 3500 watt (I think) inverter. Got the lady at the counter to match the price on a sale flyer. Less than 700 dollars with battery start. Works everytime. Super quiet.if they ever make the parallel for the larger ones I will buy another.
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