Generac Generators

[SYE]

I was going to go camping at a park that has no electricity. I was going to take my almost 20 yr old Generac Wheelhouse 5500 and useb but I read the rules on generators and mine did not meet the requirements, so I decided to but something else. I looked at Coleman, Champion, Yamaha, Ryobi, Honda, and Generac. I decided to go with the Generac because they are quieter than the Honda's and they were $350.00 less than the Hondas. I have not tried them yet, does anyone else have the Generac IQ2000's running in Parallel and can give me some pointers on them. I really trust the Generac name, my Generac that is almost 20 years stil started on the 3rd pull, and I have not started it in 2 years. Thanks in advance

[DustyRoads]

Originally Posted by SYE

I was going to go camping at a park that has no electricity. I was going to take my almost 20 yr old Generac Wheelhouse 5500 and useb but I read the rules on generators and mine did not meet the requirements, so I decided to but something else. I looked at Coleman, Champion, Yamaha, Ryobi, Honda, and Generac. I decided to go with the Generac because they are quieter than the Honda's and they were $350.00 less than the Hondas. I have not tried them yet, does anyone else have the Generac IQ2000's running in Parallel and can give me some pointers on them. I really trust the Generac name, my Generac that is almost 20 years stil started on the 3rd pull, and I have not started it in 2 years. Thanks in advance

I bought and used the IQ2000 last year. My use was limited to keeping my batteries charged while dry camping at NYS DEC park in the Adirondacks. I would run for about 2hrs each day.
Low dB was great didn't bother neighbors. I love the monitoring it provided and gas usage was low. I am happy with decision, $300 to $400 less than Honda.

[SYE]

Thanks, hopefully I will be Happy, my parallel kit is supposed to arrive some time today, I didn't know the USPS delivered on Sundays with stuff from Amazon

[325BH]

Interesting discussion on the Generac:

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/ind...?topic=99033.0

[SYE]

Well I finally got to use them. I am real happy with them so far.

[merlinhomeauto]

I love mine have not used the parallel kit yet as bought a new 5er with generator onboard (wife wanted to up grade while parallel kit was on backorder ).

[DandT-EVO]

I have been reading the different posts about the Generac iQ2000 portable generator. Mine is about two years old. I only use it a few of times a year but every time I get it out again I struggle to fire it up. This weekend, have been boondocking and the Generac isn’t cooperating. I took the case off, checked spark plug, cleaned air filter, shot cleaner into the carburetor and drained and replaced the fuel. Zilch. No start. Frustrating. The Generac people have been nice enough by phone but now it looks like I’m headed for a service center. I don’t want to have to pay more than the unit cost to get it running, sigh. Maybe I shoulda bought the Honda but wasn’t ready to drop a grand on a generator I use maybe 40 hours a year in total.

[Bluepill]

I have a GP2200i Generac. Like the IQ2000, it has the choke/run/stop control that only allows you to turn off the fuel by setting it to STOP, which also shuts off the ignition and leaves gas in the carburator. That is always bad for storage, and is the single biggest problem with power products.

Before I store the genny, I run it until it runs out of fuel. That way there is no damage caused by ethanol or gumming as the fuel breaks down.

[cavie]

Originally Posted by DandT-EVO

I have been reading the different posts about the Generac iQ2000 portable generator. Mine is about two years old. I only use it a few of times a year but every time I get it out again I struggle to fire it up. This weekend, have been boondocking and the Generac isn’t cooperating. I took the case off, checked spark plug, cleaned air filter, shot cleaner into the carburetor and drained and replaced the fuel. Zilch. No start. Frustrating. The Generac people have been nice enough by phone but now it looks like I’m headed for a service center. I don’t want to have to pay more than the unit cost to get it running, sigh. Maybe I shoulda bought the Honda but wasn’t ready to drop a grand on a generator I use maybe 40 hours a year in total.

Stop using Ethanol fuel. At the very least drain and run out any remaining fuel before storage. Honda won't fare any better. In Florida, we have Recreation fuel and avoid these problems but I still drain the fuel.

[NMWildcat]

You night have to keep cleaning the carb if you didn't use any product like StaBil in the fuel. Or your Generac might have other problems. They definitely are not the best generators. Our friends went through one a year until they bought better.

If you use StaBil in the fuel (even ethanol), you won't have any fuel gum problems and won't have to drain the carb each time. My Honda's are going on 12 years and I have never drained the fuel, but I use seafoam or stabil religiously.

[DandT-EVO]

Originally Posted by cavie

Stop using Ethanol fuel. At the very least drain and run out any remaining fuel before storage. Honda won't fare any better. In Florida, we have Recreation fuel and avoid these problems but I still drain the fuel.

I was using regular gas with Stabil, not ethanol. I will, in the future, run it “dry” before storage...

Thanks -

[DandT-EVO]

I was using Stabil and regular gas - in the future I will just run it dry before storing...

[xgarys]

Originally Posted by Bluepill

I have a GP2200i Generac. Like the IQ2000, it has the choke/run/stop control that only allows you to turn off the fuel by setting it to STOP, which also shuts off the ignition and leaves gas in the carburator. That is always bad for storage, and is the single biggest problem with power products.

Before I store the genny, I run it until it runs out of fuel. That way there is no damage caused by ethanol or gumming as the fuel breaks down.

I have a pretty old Honda EM800 with the same kind of control. I’m able to move the lever almost to the point of killing the ignition but not quite. That’s enough to turn off the gas supply but allow it to keep running and drain the carburetor. I’ve used it three or four times a year for 20 years and have never had a problem with it.

I also treat every can of gas that I bring home with Sta-Bil.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by DandT-EVO

I was using regular gas with Stabil, not ethanol. I will, in the future, run it “dry” before storage...

Thanks -

Just wanting to be sure you know...

Even 'regular' fuel has a percentage of Ethanol. (10-15%) Yes there are full Ethanol pumps but if you look at almost every typical fuel pump in the US it states... "contains xx% of Ethanol"

You need to find a retailer that sells 100% non-Ethanol fuel to get fuel that doesn't at least have 'some' Ethanol in it.

[merlinhomeauto]

Originally Posted by Bluepill

I have a GP2200i Generac. Like the IQ2000, it has the choke/run/stop control that only allows you to turn off the fuel by setting it to STOP, which also shuts off the ignition and leaves gas in the carburator. That is always bad for storage, and is the single biggest problem with power products.

Before I store the genny, I run it until it runs out of fuel. That way there is no damage caused by ethanol or gumming as the fuel breaks down.

Learned this the hard way and had to but a $50 carb for one of the Generacs.

[NJKris]

You need to find a retailer that sells 100% non-Ethanol fuel to get fuel that doesn't at least have 'some' Ethanol in it.

You guys are lucky to have ethanol-free in PA. I have to drive into PA if I want to buy any, closest is Allentown Airport Sunoco.

[DustyRoads]

Stewart stores in upstate NY sell premium unleaded that is ethanol free. We have a Stewart's almost every couple miles in the Albany area.

[NJKris]

I can only imagine what the price per gallon of premium ethanol free is in NY. Might be cheaper to just buy a new generator now and then!

[NMWildcat]

Just use Sta-Bil, either color works with ethanol and then you don't have to drain anything. Has worked for me for 12 years in my Honda's; generators and lawn mowers.

[Jay2504]

100% agree with NMWildcat. I put Stabil in everything I own that will sit for any length of time. Even my TV which doesn’t get used much in the winter. No carb problems at all and I don’t drain anything. Jay