Homelite 4400 generator
 

Found what seems to be a good deal on one of these........

Any reviews or advice on this generator?

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

Homelite= junk.
yes, it may well function out of the box, will probably run your furnace and freezer for a couple weeks while the power is out.
The Homelite generators are cheap consumer grade 3600 rpm machines, they are LOUD. VERY LOUD, and use as much fuel as mechanically possible at all times. Until they break, and then you search everywhere for parts, and every repair shop you take it to will tell you...." those are disposable, Buy it, Run it, and Throw it away."

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

Good for a single construction project......then take it camping.....with a backup.

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

Even being low-end, it was still a good deal. But cash is tight, so I'll pass on it.

Thanks! Greatly appreciate the advice.

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

Avoid it if it has a Tecumseh engine, because they are not in the engine business now. Some parts are still available from other sources, but factory support is no more.

Other than that-
1) don't run it at more than perhaps 3/4 the electrical load limit.
2) don't store it with gasoline in the carb.

These two tips will avoid most problems that cheap generators have.

-------

It is a cheap brand, but then, most portables are (-at least, all the ones that you can carry or drag around one-handed).


-end-

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

They are now known as LAWSON, the Tecumseh is the better of the engines, the parts are generic and found under Lawson.

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

most generators you buy are only going to be limited use. If you want long something that will work long time you need to go with a brush type generator with a diesel engine.
These types are throwaway.
spend some time on google and research how to build a gen set
start here http://lerch.no-ip.com/ChangFa_Gen/Disp.htm
you can build a generator with one of the ChangFA engines because they are indirect injection which means that you can run them on almost any type of oil, so in a real situation you could drain oil from any source and make this baby run.
occasionally you will find them on ebay or other locations. the generator ehads are on ebay all the time.
I would love to have a listoroid(http://www.listeroid.com/) engine and a generator head, but alas I do not.

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

The idea of a portable 1800 RPM diesel generator is nice, but it's only a dream.

About the only small diesel gens I've found were on the generatorjoe site--(go be stunned at the prices). They are small enough to be portable (though quite a bit to carry up a flight of stairs!!)--but even they are all 3600-rpm engines.

-end-

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

If tsht fan how much fuel are you really going to have?
Dont get to carried away with expensive generators.
A small honda or yamaha will burn all the fuel you'll have on hand.

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

Bought a chinamart[Meijers]1000 watt 2 cycle 2 hp generator about a year ago at steep discount for $80. Runs fine and will even do the job for my large refrigerator with ice maker, hooked it up to my computor and "no problemo", runs 7-8 hours on a gallon of gas and at 40 pounds I could even think about backpacking it in if needed. The darn things went on sale again this week and with a couple additional instore coupons my new in the box "back-up" cost me $75.50


Actually these are pretty quiet too at 58 db at 23 feet

Re: Homelite 4400 generator
 

Get an old Onan CCK if portability isn't an issue - it'll outlive you and probably your children as well. Or a diesel model if you want to be able to run it on pretty much anything. Have an ask here - http://www.smokstak.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=1 , they are a friendly and extremely knowledgeable bunch of people. Always welcome newcomers, and half of them are ex-onan/cummins techs.
The parts are expensive - but the chances of you needing more than basic stuff is tiny. Often found in old RVs for the taking...