Sportsman GEN154 2,000 Watt 80cc 4-Stroke Portable Generator
by Buffalo Tools
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List Price: Our Price: $189.00 You Save: $30.99 (14%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Lawn & Patio See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Sportsman GEN154 2,000 Watt 80cc 4-Stroke Portable Generator
Customer Review: worked ok once I primed the carb
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this generator at Atwoods Farm supply store on June 1, 2007, I paid $177.00 on sale,(regularly $239.00) for it new. I had trouble getting it started initially. But once it was running it worked ok until I tried to run a 6 amp 4 inch handheld metal grinder, it would shut down under the starting load. I question it's ability to run a large icebox or other items that take a big initial surge load. It ran electric lights and things that you might need for camping just fine. From the name sportsman on it, I would hardly think it's meant for a worksite, but at a campsite it seems at home. I like the size of the generator (it fits in the trunk of my car) and the seperate battery charging feature. According to the schematic included in the owners manual the generator has a seperate 12volt winding that is not part of the 120 volt winding, that is good if you have a battery to charge and run 12 volt items from it. The 12 volt part doesn't tax the 120 volt part.
The generator did surprise me in one respect, it is much quieter than I expected it to be, it has a larger muffler than I've seen on other generators of it's size. The generator came with a tool kit that has a spark plug wrench and screwdriver tip and handle for it in a little grey plastic tool pouch. The spark plug wrench is useless unless you remove the gas tank. The wrench is too long to reach under the tank and fit down over the spark plug to remove it, I used a shorter spark plug socket and a short breaker bar to reach up under the tank, then loosen the plug and remove it by hand. I had to do this because the engine turned out wasn't getting fuel, I wanted to see if combustion had occured and to check to see if wet fuel was on the plug, the plug was clean and gapped according to specifications in the owners manual. Even though I followed the starting procedure in the owners manual with the choke and all, it would not start, I checked the plug and it had fire/spark. I ended up pouring some fuel into the carb directly the first time (only once) and then after the generator started repeatedly without many pulls. I think this generator needs a primer bulb like is on some 2 cycle and 4 cycle lawnmowers, that would help initial starting. According to the owners manual, the fuel petcock has a fuel filter, but mine ( I have the model GEN154 in Green paint) doesn't have the fuel petcock like the picture in the manual. I see no place for a filter there. I do like the screen/filter that is in the filler opening on the gas tank. It is removeable/cleanable and it does a good job catching particles that might be in the gasoline. I like the air filter design, I think it would be easy to get replacement foam filters.
In the manual it says that you don't want to pull the rope all the way out on starting it. From my experience with this generator I think what they mean is that you don't have to pull on this engine very hard or all the way to make it start, I found this generator to be more apt to start if you don't pull on the pull rope with such great force, if you pull it easy it tends to start alot easier.I think this is good since some people like the elderly or a woman could start this generator without having to have much strength. I think running the generator on a lightweight break-in with light loads for the first 20 hours or so would help, it just seemed that the more I ran it, the easier it got for me to start and use.
I think running it in a break-in mode is a good idea. I agree with some reviews that said the part covering the starter rope is plastic, it is, but I think that it breaking may have been a result of an over zealous owner pulling the rope like it was a 15 horse B&S engine. I saw no problem with the part as long as you pull it easy. Yes, I did have one bolt that holds the generator end off the frame with a spring that made a little noise initially, I tightened it to match the opposite one and it quit rattling. I think they need to pay more attention to QC at the factory. All in all, if the generator continues to work as it has, I think it was well worth the $177.00 I paid for it(I wouldn't pay over $200.00 for it), and if you are going to use it for camping or lightweight power needs. If you want something to run your house, icebox or air conditioner in a power outage, get something bigger. If you've got $500 to spend, get a coleman powermate at about 4 or 5 kw capacity. They are well made and easy enough to start.
Customer Review: Good generator, could have been assembled better.
Summary: 4 Stars
I have had an oil leak ever since the first day of operation of this generator. The engine leaks oil from the hole that was drilled in the crankcase wall for the low oil sensor's wire. I took mine apart and used some RTV silicone to seal it up, no more oil leak. The manufacturer used a cheap rubber washer/grommet attached to a nut and bolt compression mechanism to seal it off, but it failed miserably shortly after I tried tightening the nut. The crankcase/engine block should have been sealed up more professionally at the factory in China, but oh well, I guess that would take all the fun out of disassembling the engine here at home in the USA - where we know a well built engine when we see one running. I'll guarantee you that if these engines were assembled by American workers, there would be no oil leaks. Maybe if the Chinese workers didn't have guns pointed at their heads by communists, you might actually see engines that don't leak oil. God bless em'! A great and reliable engine after its been patched up with some RTV. You might also have to adjust the idler screw to get a good baseline voltage. I also recommend that you filter the power from this generator with an Uninterrupted Power Supply system from APC, which will keep power moving smoothly and safely to all your connected appliances (this helps protect sensitive electronics like computers that may be connected to the generator).
This generator comes with a high quality Chinese spark plug (made by SINO Spark Plugs), I found a cross reference after a bit of work, The E6TC Plug is equivalent to a Champion L87YC (These plugs are not very common, so you'll have to get them from an auto parts store or buy them online. The cost of these plugs are around the same as the more common plugs(around $2 each). I'm using Autolite Plug #4123). Enjoy.
Customer Review: What do you mean piece of junk?
Summary: 4 Stars
I read a lot of reviews that said no good but when I got this thing the only thing that kept it from starting was me forgetting to switch it on. I followed instructions I found on the web about how to break it in. The only thing I did wrong was after the four hour break in 15%,25%,50%,75%, I ran it another hour before changing the oil. Well right about five hours I noticed a little tap, there were enough break-in particulates in the oil I think to cause this. I haven't adjusted the valve, it's barely noticeable, but I should have changed the oil right after break-in. I've run skill saws, chop saws, I even got my welder to run for a few seconds, but it did throw the breaker so I haven't tried that again. I tried my 6000 window unit and ran just fine although I could hear it working. I guess those other people must have got lemons because for 199.00 this thing is great. Compare running a large generator at 4 gal. per 8 hr. vs this at 1.3 gal. per 8 hr. That's just for lights, tv or to keep a fridge cold, it won't run a-lot at the same time but why waste all that gas if your not running everything in your house. It sits in the garage without turning off the gas and I start it at least every three months.Customer Review: satisfied buyer
Summary: 4 Stars
I had some reservations about purchasing this item after reading some of the negative reviews but the very competive price convinced me to give it a try. When it arrived I tightened all the bolts first, however none of them seemed too loose. After filling it was fuel, I attempted to start it. After about 30 pulls on the starter I removed the spark plug to see if the fuel was gettint that far, which it was. I replaced the plug and after about another 5 pulls it started. It seemed to take forever to warm up and I had to gradually make choke adjustments to keep it running until it finally ran without the choke assist. I tested it on my RV and it ran everything I needed while charging the battery. It did not run the A/C but that is not a problem for me. Since the initial start up difficulties it has started everytime for me with one or two pulls, and I have not needed to make the choke adjustments as I did the first time. I have also used it for several power tools and it worked great. I do not know how it will work over several years but I am very satisfied with my initial experience.Customer Review: 2000 watt generator review
Summary: 4 Stars
Having bought 3 generators I must remark that the original
model was modified to include additional features and a slightly
more powerful engine. The Only problem I had with the 1st model was that it would shut off at times (on 2 different units) when there was no load. This did not occur in the improved model and in addition the newer model is equipped with a low oil level shut off sensor,2 oil ports,a built in fuel gauge and a better frame/vibration mount design. Also the improved model has different style controls and power sockets. The only problem I observed with the improved model is that the battery charging cable gauge is cheaper in quality and gauge. The new improved model seems to run slightly more quietly. All in All I am pleased with the performance although the peak wattage is less than desirable for heavy starup applications..
BOB