Firman generators

[Tractorat]

Costco is selling a Firman 7500 watt dual fuel generator. Is anyone familiar with this brand and have an opinion ?

 

[AEdelheit]

I have a dual fuel Firman and it has worked well for the few hours I have used it. The only issue with Costco is they often sell part numbers specific to them and repair parts can be harder to find or service centers wont be able to work on them but if the price is right I would buy it.

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks for the reply. Trying to research on the internet really isnt worth the skin I loose on my finger tips typing. But at least I have confidence in what I hear on the tdr.

 

[Tuesdak]

What are you using the generator for?

Go on the ads, like CL, and get an old quiet Onan 1800 RPM RV pull out generator 4K - 6500W that sell for $400 or $1000 all day long. Nearly 4 quarts of oil with an oil filter back when The USA made things to last. Add a shelter and gas tank and call it a day. The old Onan likely will outlast you. These old Onans will deliver at and slightly over the wattage rating without problems. (Make sure it runs and makes power before you buy used.)

Add a propane kit if you want dual fuel. May de-rate it some.

The Pacific Rim junk engines/gensets have earned their bad reputation of popping a rod when you need them the most. Some may last then the cheap gen end blows something and quits. The watt rating is a work of FICTION as some can't deliver even 80% of their rating with the surge rating a running joke from marketing.

If you must have new and shiny get a Honda Generator. Not just a "powered by Honda". Again be Frugal not cheap here.

 

[Tractorat]

It would be used as power backup for my house. Replaceing a 15 or 20 year old mitsubishi that still works fine, but you cant even get parts for it. And its old.

 

[NIsaacs]

I don't know anything about generators but I did some looking. Firman is this outfit:

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...Sinomach/RK=2/RS=CffD6I9rHgSNI0GpBZVrAUQVh1g-

You might check with Cat.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Cat-RP-Ser...-Generator-with-Caterpillar-Engine/1000266673

 

[Tractorat]

Thanks for the replies, decided against it. Not really in a hurry, my old gen still works well (just old). Is cat a good product ?

 

[jgillott]

Thanks for the replies, decided against it. Not really in a hurry, my old gen still works well (just old). Is cat a good product ?

According to this article, they are manufactured by Rato Power Manufacturing Co. in China.

https://dieselprogress.com/whats-behind-cats-new-portable-gen-sets-13274/#:~:text=The sets were designed by,in China.

It's not surprising, pretty much all of the "Branded" gen sets are made in China by 3rd party manufacturing companies. This is the case with Westinghouse, Duracell, etc. That doesn't mean that they are necessarily bad products. But, they aren't American made or have any long term track record.

 

[Tuesdak]

It would be used as power backup for my house. Replaceing a 15 or 20 year old mitsubishi that still works fine, but you cant even get parts for it. And its old.

What parts are you worried about? It is a 3600 RPM set? Hours on it if you know? Duration of power outages you have? (Hours/Days/Weeks)

The Onan in the picture is 21 years old with 2582 hours before the hour meter locked up. It's quality is better than any new stuff on the market today. As a backup it's flat head fuel economy doesn't matter so much vs. OHV. I also have a backup for it just because. And with the Onans as "Insurance" the usual 4 hour 4 times a year power outages are now a single 15 min only in the past year. Monsoon season didn't have any big storms for us this past year.

You can't get a warranty longer than 2000 hours on a new home backup unit including large liquid cooled 1800 RPM units. Due to CA's unreliable power grid and storms elsewhere Generac (Junk) stock is doing very well but there is a back order on home standby generators. Long outages 24 hours a day adds up quick on oil life, fuel supply, and that 2000 hours.

Cummins Onan makes their smaller gensets in China now. Some parts become obsolete and unobtainable in the optional 5 year extended warranty. Apparently when that happens you get a new one. (Max 2000 hours no matter the age and all warranty, including extended, is kaput.) So "New" may not solve your parts availability concerns.

So yeah for a new set: get a real Honda set. You know the one everyone tries to make a cheap corner cutting copy of the Honda engine.

 

[Tractorat]

What parts are you worried about? It is a 3600 RPM set? Hours on it if you know? Duration of power outages you have? (Hours/Days/Weeks)

Nothing really wild. I cant get an air filter for it anymore. I just make one. The feature that lets it power down with no load doesnt work anymore. When I flip the switch, it kills the engine. The longest Ive been without power is about 2 1/2 weeks. Dont know how many hours on the gen. Other than that, it still does the job. Probably wont replace it. But something with a fold down handle would be nice. Where I have to fit the gen in the garage I had to remove the handles or it pokes you when walking by. So, when I get it out, I just pick up the end and muscle it out.

 

[Blu-meanie]

I have what Tuesdak says is junk...A Generac XT8000EFI that I use for the PG&E power games. Bought it last year when we were warned about shut offs and after about a month I had to use it for 10 hours or so. Worked great and only used 2.5 gallons of fuel. I run the higher octane gas, as the Generac book says, with Sta-Bil. I also run it every month with a load or without and replaced most of the gas after a year. The crappy battery was replace too. It has 30 hours on it now.

 

[Tractorat]

Well, I ended up getting a generac from costco. Not as sexy as the firman, but I have more of a warm and fuzzy feeling that it will last quite a while and be reliable (even though it is made in china) ( I think I saw on the internet that it is made in Wisconsin, but who believes the internet for anything anymore)

Oh, and it cost me about $300 more than the firman.

 

[jgillott]

Well, I ended up getting a generac from costco. Not as sexy as the firman, but I have more of a warm and fuzzy feeling that it will last quite a while and be reliable (even though it is made in china) ( I think I saw on the internet that it is made in Wisconsin, but who believes the internet for anything anymore)

Oh, and it cost me about $300 more than the firman.

I have a small Generac (GP2200i) and have been very pleased with it so far. Best of luck with yours.

 

[Tuesdak]

I would run a 5 hour break in at 1/2 load then change the oil.

Generac: Hopefully it's better than Champion...

Deathmatch start...
https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/death-match-betting-opens.158819/

Something blows up at hour 25. (45 total run hours on the set...)

https://www.smokstak.com/forum/threads/death-match-betting-opens.158819/page-14

 

[Tractorat]

What is the point of pull start if it wont start the gen if the batt is dead ?

 

[NIsaacs]

What is the point of pull start if it wont start the gen if the batt is dead ?

Small engines typically use a magneto for ignition, no battery required.

 

[Tractorat]

According to the manual, the generac requires the battery to pull start. Im guessing because of fuel injection.

 

[Blu-meanie]

You got it.

 

[Timd32]

Sounds good, we picked up 2 small inverter Champions that you can Parallel with a small box, they work pretty well.

Got at Cabellas followed the reccomended break in period, boy was the oil pretty dark.

Think it was like a variable load for so many hours rinse and repeat then dump the oil, now running 5w30 mobil 1. I used some old fashion 500W and 1000W lights that I could vary between the units and monitored with a Fluke Amp clamp.

I know what we have and what $ we have into them and what to expect out of them, I have already have a nice 6500w Honda that runs the house just fine, these Champions are just to use for a flip this house deal to run some lights maybe miter saw and shop vac, the dual set up will also run the nailer compressor from 0psi and restart when at the 90psi, so were happy with them.

I already tried out all the tools and was able to run the saw with the compressor and some LED lights, one struggled with the large shop vac but the parallel one it ran just fine.

They are super light and easy to get out of the truck.

Like you time will tell, but so far only issue I did not think of these are only 120VAC, would have been nice to have a 240VAC, but no big deal.

I think you will be fine, just read the manual for the engine and do what needs to be done. I actually use one of those plastic paint cups with the measurements on the side to fill these up, makes oil changes very easy, I get the large bottles then measure it out and drain and fill is really easy.

Good luck.

 

[NIsaacs]

Well, I ended up getting a generac from costco. Not as sexy as the firman, but I have more of a warm and fuzzy feeling that it will last quite a while and be reliable (even though it is made in china) ( I think I saw on the internet that it is made in Wisconsin, but who believes the internet for anything anymore)

Oh, and it cost me about $300 more than the firman.

Well, I bought the Firman. I guess time will tell if it was a good choice or not. With biden as president, there shouldnt be any problem getting parts if I need them But if it holds up like my mitsubishi, it should be OK. I think I read it has a Kohler engine. Anyone ever hear of that before ?

So now you have two?