Customer Reviews

Homelite HG6000 6,000 Watt 13 HP OHV Portable Generator

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Within two weeks of buying the product as backup power for my large saltwater system, my power went out for six hours. The generator fired up on the second pull and ran everything plus the home A/C with no issues. It is a bit on the loud side, but I think that just makes the neighbors jealous when they're sitting in the dark. I've also ordered a manual transfer switch so I can power 10 house circuits with the generator by simply flipping breakers. Very solid product, well made, easy to move around using the supplied wheel kit and pull bars. Engine start pull is not very difficult either as it seems to have some sort of internal assist.

I bought this generator at Home Depot, connected to the house breaker panel via two 30A breakers, and it works fine. The overall quality appears to be very good, and the engine started on the 1st pull. The generator is a bit noisy, but works well. My only complaint is that this product seems to be a lost soul, since I tried registering 1st at BajaMotorSports.com per the enclosed instructions (no info available on the site), then Homelite support, who told me "Baja no longer sells this for us." I was able to register on the Homelite site. When I called to get a minor replacement part from Homelite (a rubber bumper for one of the lift-up handles was missing) I was told that "the part needs to be manufactured, check back in 3 months." Let's hope no major breakdowns occur; I'm concerned about support. Overall, a very good value. It does what it's supposed to do for me.

Bought this unit at Home Depot for Hurricane Season 2008 in Louisiana for $599. Hurricane Gustav knocked power out a month later for a week and a half. Before I needed it, I ran it to test it out, and came across some assembly problems. The OHV cover leaked oil from the bottom, which dripped during and after running. Upon disassembly, I found that the gasket was cracked. Service parts for this model weren't easy to find so I used RTV gasket-maker and sealed on either side of the cracked gasket, put back together barely finger-tight, and the next day cinched everything up - leak GONE!!! The engine always started first pull, but would never idle smoothly unless the generator was loaded and even then, the voltage seemed to not be well regulated. After investigation of that problem, I discovered a vacuum hose from the carburetor looped around to the top of the pull-start cover and was supposed to return to part of the throttle-control mechanism and this hose seemed to be pulled off/cut from the factory. I replaced it with a piece of automotive vacuum hose and it purrs smooth as can be, no matter the load now.

It's rated to run 13 hours on 6 gallons of fuel, and I can attest that it will run at least 12 hours at the load I had on it.

This unit performs flawlessly if set up properly. It's just a shame that it was apparently assembled by ill-trained monkeys. It's no Brigs & Stratton or Tecumseh model, but it's also had at a cheaper price. I've seen the same generator in different brands, colors, vendors, and even electric start-capable for $550 elsewhere.

I found it odd after purchasing the generator that the HOMELITE website makes no mention of generators. The reeason I went to the site was to get support for the gas and oil leak that my 4 day old generator has. It works, and really saved our bacon (literally) when the power was out here for 72 hours. It started right up and worked flawlessly providing power, but I noticed a puddle of gasoline underneath, and traced it to a spot on the carburator where maybe a gasket had been breached by gasoline. Later, I found a spot of oil dripping off of the bottom, too. Well, who knows how long the thing sat at Home Depot before I ran in breathlessly to buy it! So now I am off to the nearest repair center, not so near, to get it fixed, and we shall see if HOMELITE does the right thing or not. In an interesting side note, the lady at HOME DEPOT, where I was first referred for repair, told me that she couldn't accept the generator with oil and gas on board. All I had to do, she said, was take the generator outside, beyond the Home Depot parking lot, and dump the gas and oil and she could take it. REALLY??!! I told her that would be illegal!! I can't believe that HD would recommend dumping hazardous waste right onto the ground. I hope its a matter of poor training, and not a corporate sponsored activity!