any thoughts on this unit? Looking for something reliable with manual start.

Too much THD for my purposes with modern electronics. If you are using this for non-sensitive loads, then fine. I would recommend a dual or tri-fuel gen unless you can safely store large amounts of gasoline.

Big gens (beyond 5000W) that are not electric start are not as common as those that are. This WEN is electric start, but still reasonably priced for its output wattage and being dual-fuel. Not low THD though.

This newly released GenMax is quite interesting. Open frame inverter gen that is tri-fuel and has a two-wire remote start. Very impressive specs. Not what you are asking about, but still something to consider.

I have had a lot of Briggs and Stratton powered equipment in the past and found them solid. Just wondering how much they have changed with most stuff coming from China.

The old B&S stuff was a LOT better than the new Chinese sourced units.

 

Thank you for the information and input. The GenMax you mentioned is an interesting unit. My main interest is something simple and reliable. Hard to find with all the Chinese clones out there.

Thanks again,

Frank

 

Just be aware….all/most of the new generators have CO sensors now a days. Just another headache to deal with, especially due to their finite life expectancy?!
Figure out what wattage is necessary and then come back with that number and you’ll get some good info from folks with a similar load.
I hate clones….so I go right to the source and run a couple of Hondas. One EM6500 generator, along with one EU3000 inverter for the light loads…
Can’t go wrong with the Red or the Blue ones 😉

 

The newer Honda's are built in china and Taiwan, you will be lucky if
you find a Taiwan made one.
It has got to the stage now that it is near impossible to get anything not
made in china.
I would still buy the Honda though as parts are readily available.

Honda in their non inverter range still use a variety of well made generator
ends from the likes of Meccalte and NSM which again you will get parts for
and are more reliable if you want a brushless alternator.

Some manufacturers use the Honda engine and as such you can get them
coupled to a Linz or Markon alternator which are also very good.

 

Thank you for the advice. Appreciated.

Frank v

 

I bet the modern Briggs is just a China model like most of the portable Generacs. These are not the same as in the days of old. I did look to see if I could find a country of origin on this unit and I could not BUT many similar models were all made in China. These are not bad units for the money but don't pay extra for any name when it is just the same as another obvious China brand that is just as good. Keep in mind that many of the Generac portables are just rebranded Pulsars which are certainly not bad but I wouldn't pay a premium for one just because of the name.

Sure, the Hondas and Yamahas are better. Are you going to use this on a daily basis or for backup? If just for backup, do not be scared of the Chinese clones. They are not a Honda but certainly not a bad deal for the money. Keep in mind you could buy TWO to have a spare or extra for paralleling and still have money left over vs. buying a Honda. Maintenace and storage is alsokey when not used weekly or so.

I would look at some mentioned in this thread and buy the ones WITHOUT the CO sensor! I have overall had lots of issues with them and it is great that some without it are still being sold. There are at least two in this thread that are the same size as what you are wanting. Inverter is the way to go with modern electronics in everything from lights to appliances to HVAC.

https://www.powerequipmentforum.com/threads/champion-100520-8750-watt-inverter-generator-co-sensor.28571/?post_id=127434#post-127434

I do have an older USA mde Briggs that was actually made in the town where I live. The engine was made in Japan but the rest of the unit was made here. My parents have one as well. That factory closed and went to China. The unit still runs well but doesn't provide the clean power of an inverter that I need.

Conor

 

The Brigs is the worst china made engine on the market.
A Loncin or any other clone will be better by a long run.
Some of them Brigs have a plastic cam.
It will wear, and it will twist causing it to run bad, if it lasts
that long.
I have old Briggs, no comparison to the new china stuff.

 

Thanks very much for all the information.

Frank

 

Where Are Briggs and Stratton Generators Made? - AllAmerican.org

We did the research to find out where Briggs & Stratton is actually made. Are they made in the USA? Here is our verdict.

allamerican.org

 

Very interesting website. Would be nice if some of that stuff came back to the US, but not holding my breath.

Thanks

Frank

 

If it is a modern Briggs, do not buy it unless you want a very unreliable
engine. Plastic cam shaft will not cut it.
No doubt about it a Loncin will be much superior than a modern Briggs.

I have old Briggs, they were a great engine. I have old Kohler, they were
a great engine, the modern Kohler is to be avoided too.
Google Kohler engine problems.

 

The commercial Kohlers are great or at least used to be. The Courage is the cheap consumer grade engine and must be designed to fail. All I have ever owned have let go somehow.

The Briggs Vanguard is a commercial line as well. They are either made in Japan or the US now.

Conor

 

Am looking to buy a setup for power outages too.
You make some good points there regarding buying two units to
have redundancy.

I intend to buy a Honda powered old school generator, unfortunately I can
not find one with brushes in the small size I need, which I prefer owing to the
simplicity of replacement and no capacitor to crap out when you least want it to.

To this end I will also buy a brushed unit in order to have a backup when the
capacitor or even worse diodes that spin around on the shaft decides to die.

I posted regarding how a brushless capacitor type generator actually works,
as I like to know what am dealing with but no one has answered yet, must be
a tough one.

 

I have an old 2 cylinder OHV Briggs powered generator that is about 30 years old. It has never failed me. Afraid of any of the new generators. Had a Westinghouse and a Champion, both died within 2 years.

Frank

 

We are getting scrap now compared to the old machines that lasted, things now are designed to not even be repaired, they use cost to ensure this happens, if it is too costly to repair then they can sell us another, and another, never ending cycle of waste.

 

I’m not sure what the last few comments are alluding to. I’ve had several EU and EM Hondas over the years. I currently have an EU3000 and an EM6500, 2018 and 2019, and they are phenomenal. Both in function and reliability. You couldn’t pry them from my dying fingers….😉

 

My dad has had one for about 25 years. Runs like a top. Starts on second pull every time.

 

The B&S model from 25 years ago, isn’t going to be anywhere near similar to the model today….even if it has the same model number. 🥴
If reliability is what you want….Honda is hard to beat!

 

That's fair. There are plenty of reliable generators out there without having to pay the premium on a Honda.

 

Maybe…..🤣

 

Today's Honda generators are not necessarily the reliable gens previously made in Japan. Take the popular EU7000is as an example. They are now made at the Honda India Power Products Limited facility located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Honda does manufacture some gens in the U.S. at the Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing, Inc., located in Swepsonville, North Carolina, but the EU7000is is not one of them. So, for today's Honda generator, one might want to look deeper into it before plopping down a pile of cash.

 

Just for info my Pulsar GP12000B was made in Viet Nam. The engine is a Ducar, which seem to be clones of some Honda engines. I have never had any problem with this unit on gasoline or LPG.