My Champion 5500 Running Watts has been running just fine since 9/10/2018 just before Hurricane Florence hit South Carolina. It ran for 36 hours straight. I've used it 3 times since then for Tropical Storms and a scheduled power outage for line maintenance by the Power Company. And the once a month operation for 20-30 minutes per the maintenance schedule. Oil was changed once after break-in and I will change it again this Summer. It is NOT an Inverter, it is a straight 120/240 VAC Generator. You DO have to use fuel stabilizer every 6 months with fresh fuel if you keep the tank filled.
You said the Westinghouse was "great on fuel" and then you mentioned that the valves were suspect. Sounds like it fried the valves because of a lean condition...hence the great fuel claim. Air cooled engines hate lean conditions.
That is a possibility but I haven't checked. It was good on fuel but I'm not sure it was that lean. After having to relash the other one I just decided to deal with it later. It may work fine again but I just didn't have the right tools on hand. I do intend to look it over again in the spring.
I live off grid and i've gone through more generators than this guy. They ALL will crap out at some point. Brushes, regulator, carb, etc. Those are things you can fix if you have the parts.
I’ve got 2 predators the 4500 kw there a pretty good generators the only thing that happened to one was the gas shutoff valve broke I ordered another one for 12 bucks I keep one up at my cabin and one here at home
I have a neighbor that has 2 of those as well. After he pretty well tested every single model he said those are his favorite for all around fuel/performance.
I don't even remember what kind mine is but it is 6500 watts and somehow they mispriced it. I got it for $200 brand new. Runs like a champ. I ALWAYS empty the fuel from the carb by letting it run out of gas after shutting off fuel supply to the carb. Had it like 8 years.
Yeah that is probably the most common error that people make aside from putting regular pump gas/ethanol blend in these things. If it's not drained it gums them up. I usually run them dry or put an additive in. I've been trying to make it more of a habit to just shut the gas off and let it run out.
@whitetailridge1 All the predator engines are honda clones, I believe honda sells the engine with the proper taper to bolt right in, but I think honda parts will also fit in the predator engine. The block is fine, it is the parts in it that cause failure.
@@fundreamer1I was cruising the Net and I heard something similar. Also so many parts are made in grades and a person figures it out got us by the Nads.
Roughly 100 maybe. I know it wasnt much because we hardly ran the thing. Company basically went through the entire manual with me over the phone. Checking fuel, adjusting valves, you name it we went over it. No dice. Even added race fuel to it just as an over the top check. And honestly I think 100 hours is being extremely generous. Id say 50 or less
I have 2 of the same models , except one is dual fuel, got them at a good deal, I've always been skeptical of inverter generators, especially Chinese clones. I guess time will tell, best regards!@@whitetailridgehomestead
Are you doing the proper break in and subsequent oil changes? Your luck with motors scream that you aren't?
One is electrical issue. The other is yet to be determined.
My Champion 5500 Running Watts has been running just fine since 9/10/2018 just before Hurricane Florence hit South Carolina. It ran for 36 hours straight.
I've used it 3 times since then for Tropical Storms and a scheduled power outage for line maintenance by the Power Company.
And the once a month operation for 20-30 minutes per the maintenance schedule. Oil was changed once after break-in and I will change it again this Summer.
It is NOT an Inverter, it is a straight 120/240 VAC Generator. You DO have to use fuel stabilizer every 6 months with fresh fuel if you keep the tank filled.
I have a predator 3500 inverter generator that I bought over two years ago and I have a zero problem with it still working great 👍
You said the Westinghouse was "great on fuel" and then you mentioned that the valves were suspect. Sounds like it fried the valves because of a lean condition...hence the great fuel claim. Air cooled engines hate lean conditions.
That is a possibility but I haven't checked. It was good on fuel but I'm not sure it was that lean. After having to relash the other one I just decided to deal with it later. It may work fine again but I just didn't have the right tools on hand. I do intend to look it over again in the spring.
I don't know anything about Westinghouse generators but it sounds like it might just need a valve adjustment. If so, it's like a 15 minute job.
Clickbait....
I live off grid and i've gone through more generators than this guy. They ALL will crap out at some point. Brushes, regulator, carb, etc. Those are things you can fix if you have the parts.
I’ve got 2 predators the 4500 kw there a pretty good generators the only thing that happened to one was the gas shutoff valve broke I ordered another one for 12 bucks I keep one up at my cabin and one here at home
I have a neighbor that has 2 of those as well. After he pretty well tested every single model he said those are his favorite for all around fuel/performance.
Sounds like you never adjusted lash on the Westinghouse...the manual even says adjust lash for first time after 50 hours.
I don't even remember what kind mine is but it is 6500 watts and somehow they mispriced it. I got it for $200 brand new. Runs like a champ. I ALWAYS empty the fuel from the carb by letting it run out of gas after shutting off fuel supply to the carb. Had it like 8 years.
Yeah that is probably the most common error that people make aside from putting regular pump gas/ethanol blend in these things. If it's not drained it gums them up. I usually run them dry or put an additive in. I've been trying to make it more of a habit to just shut the gas off and let it run out.
I’m Honda guy. Hands down
I wouldn't say Predator's suck I have a Predator 4000 that I bought new in 2018 onsale for 279$ and it starts and runs every time.
Ran it for a month and it blew up.....was there any cool down periods or oil changes?
I've had the predator 9,000 watt generators, just wait, the engine will quit.
Just curious if you know if the 420cc engine they sell is compatible to be swapped onto the generator? I know sometimes they can have tapered shafts.
@whitetailridge1
All the predator engines are honda clones, I believe honda sells the engine with the proper taper to bolt right in, but I think honda parts will also fit in the predator engine. The block is fine, it is the parts in it that cause failure.
@@fundreamer1 good to know. I appreciate the input.
@@fundreamer1I was cruising the Net and I heard something similar.
Also so many parts are made in grades and a person figures it out got us by the Nads.
Get a Honda generator. Buy once cry once.
i have a honda 15 years old say no more runs like new
I have an old Honda ew171 welder/generator. Runs great but I seldom use it. Saving it for welding or backup to an old Coleman for power.
How many hours did the champion inverter have on it before it tapped out.
Roughly 100 maybe. I know it wasnt much because we hardly ran the thing. Company basically went through the entire manual with me over the phone. Checking fuel, adjusting valves, you name it we went over it. No dice. Even added race fuel to it just as an over the top check. And honestly I think 100 hours is being extremely generous. Id say 50 or less
I have 2 of the same models , except one is dual fuel, got them at a good deal, I've always been skeptical of inverter generators, especially Chinese clones. I guess time will tell, best regards!@@whitetailridgehomestead
I went through 3 champion generators in one year absolute junk.
Keep going!!
Sounds like you need a Generac.
😂 starting to think you just don’t take care of your generators. That’s so many that have failed you
@@mrRoverkane well I mean that is an opinion... however untrue. But thanks for the interaction.