Predator 2000w Generator Review | Air Filter | Oil Change

[@Isaiah5417GdLk]

Bought mine month ago in hurricane Laura, i was 12 days out of power, this little jewel saved me, i was able to have fans for a couple of nights, then a window unit. I had a big generator but couldn't find gas anywhere. No stations were open. So i had to conserve. Anyway i have a tip to make oil draining a no mess situation. Take a small square of aluminum foil for cooking, bend it under the oil hole then bend the two sides over the plastic thing, And have the end hanging over the edge. Perfect, ive changed my oil three times already. Zero mess. Love the video.

[@willsvariety4712]

I added an hour meter to monitor usage and change oil accordingly. If you turn the knob almost all the way to the "OFF" position, you can run it out of gas remaining in the carb bowl preventing it from gumming up while stored away. Also, it wouldn't hurt to add a bit of oil to the air filter and squish it around in your hand to distribute it evenly. This will catch the finest of particles from passing through and extending the life of the engine. I replaced the spark plug as well cause the factory one is crap and makes the engine sputter on occasion. A magnetic dipstick is a good upgrade as well. I have a few hundred hours on mine and it runs as good as new and fires right up when I need it. Thanks for sharing your tips! One more tip: Use a Gatorade bottle next oil change. You can catch every drop of oil and makes cleanup a breeze!

[@PoposWoodworks]

Will's Variety See this is why I like people commenting on these videos. You can always learn something new. Thanks for the ideas!!! 👍🏻

[@corydriver7634]

Will's Variety where do you find the magnetic dipsticks at?

[@normstoddard5393]

@@corydriver7634 I ordered mine online at Home Depot.

[@luckyguero1972]

@@corydriver7634 Amazon

[@ItsAlive111]

@@luckyguero1972 Is there a specific thread size? Could you share the link? Never mind, I found it: www.amazon.com/WEN-55201-Magnetic-Generators-compatible/dp/B07643J11X/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=magnetic+oil+dipstick+inverter+predator+2000&qid=1595394934&sr=8-2#

[@R50_J0]

The air filter is an oiled type. Predator ships the foam dry for some reason. A dirty filter needs to be cleaned in a sink with a few drops of Dawn dish soap, and thoroughly rinsed. (Do not wring it.) You can scrunch it several times in paper towels to get it almost bone dry, but allow to fully air dry preferably. Then put a couple of tablespoons of lightweight motor oil on it like 5W-20. Work the motor oil thoroughly throughout the foam. Then you need to get most of the excess oil back out. Put the filter in your fist and squeeze the crap out of it several times, wiping your hand off each time with a paper towel. Then wrap the filter in a sheet of paper towel and squeeze it hard again several times. (Remember, do not wring the foam.) Do the paper towel squeeze several times until very little oil comes out on the paper towel. Now the foam filter is ready to re-install in the filter box. Working in sawdust, you *really* need to use the oiled filter. The filter oiling is called for by Predator in the user manual on page 15, under the heading of Air Filter Element Maintenance. Why the filter doesn't come from the factory oiled, or why the manual doesn't tell you to oil it before the first run, I don't know.

[@richardfox3924]

Do recommand use gasoline because friend told to use diesel 2.0 something he own tons of commerical generator.

[@paulinejensen7968]

Thank u for making this. As a female I'm not used to dealing with air filters. I only just realized I need to add fuel stabilizer to it! I love my generator. I got it for only $350 5 yrs ago.

[@maehay4065]

Great job on this video for a complete review and how to change the oil and adding in the gas! 👍

[@ericstephenson9924]

Hey -- san francisco chiming in-- thanks for the lowdown in a great way.. some say they're glad you cut out the boring parts.. I got some friends that just bought this and they are new to all of this and need all the detail they can get.. so maybe consider making a second vid with all the laborious little details for those who have never picked up a wrench before.. it would be amazingly helpful to them. plus your excellent work here.. thanks again!!!

[@robbynoname8778]

Outstanding video! Anticipated every question I would have had. Appreciate you editing out the long parts. I have the same generator for more than 3 years of power outages caused by 2 hurricanes 2 near tornadoes. Can run all night (10+ hrs) on tank of gas. Good comment about draining out gas, but don't forget fuel stabilizer if you want to keep some gas in the tank (2.5 gal tank I think). Again, outstanding video.

[@davidtallent4230]

Thanks for the video ,,funny how they sound louder on video than they really are , truly super quite.

[@short21yang]

Great vid! I like how your generator looks all beat up, it shows how much you've used it. Really thinking about getting this one compared to the A-iPower generator powered by Yamaha

[@blackriflemensorganization6139]

Excellent demo on the air filter! Thanks for posting. I'm gonna be servicing mine in the morning. Happy 4th of July to ya!!

[@harrothepilot]

Thanks for the great vid. The engine is an MZ80 Yamaha, built under licence in China, kinda like the newer Honda's are, not a Chonda or Chamaha. They go forever with good maintenance. The electrics vary, depending on the country, mine's a 240V50Hz for Australia. They are generally made as a generic unit by a company called 'Senci' and big companies buy container load's of them and bolt their own stickers on them and sell them as such. Like yours, mine has done around 150 - 160 hours and is running as good as the day I bought it. The only thing I have done is to ream the main jet out to .068" from a standard .065", only a bee's dick worth, but it stopped the slight ' fluffiness ' at high RPM's with no load. I'd buy another one without hesitation if I needed it. Cheers

[@camposvazquez]

Still have the generator

[@harrothepilot]

@@camposvazquez Yeah, still running well and has seen us through a few power outages.

[@td7390]

Thanks for the heads up from Mb.Canada. I'm lookin into buying a small converter soon so I appreciate your info. Good Luck man.

[@timwright297]

Use a short price of plastic or metal pipe threaded into the oil fill/drain. Buy a baby bottle at the dollar store and measure out the ounces of oil to refill. Makes the job easy and mess free. Don't forget to oil the air filter.

[@Belizianboi13]

Tim Wright what you mean oil the filter?

[@EmperorSeneca]

Solid review. Thanks man. Fellow Virginian

[@tubemember21]

These instructions will work for any of the 25 other Generators that have the identical Ducar 79CC engine.

[@imandoce4246]

Muy buena demostración. Gracias desde Puerto Rico.

[@wheelsophie]

really good, thorough informative video. Do you or anyone have any idea on how and where to purchase another air filter for this generator. Thank You

[@PoposWoodworks]

William Avery I’m not really sure. You may can call harbor freight and ask them how to get another air filter. Or you may possibly be able to use a Honda generator filter since they are almost built the same.

[@timsmith3594]

Ebay has just about everything for this generator. www.ebay.com/itm/Harbor-Freight-Predator-Inverter-Generator-2000W-2000-watt-air-filter/142826785381?epid=18020254523&hash=item214123ca65:g:zIMAAOSwtN5bGtNG

[@teter129]

Great video, you did really well. Can you answer me this, How many hours do you have on it?

[@PoposWoodworks]

IRQVET It doesn’t count the hours so if I had to guess I’d say around 150 hrs so far. I use it every time we go camping and I’ve had to use it during two power outages at my house.

[@BobbyFigliola]

good video , A guy thinks a lot of people that buy these don’t run em til they need em...

[@ronandsheri10]

Very good tutorial! Thanks!

[@tolonicks1]

Great video !!!! Thank you 👍👍

[@carvalhonj]

Nice video...helpfull, thanks!

[@fd4340]

I snapped the plastic tab off the cover the second time I tried to pit the cover back on.. Had the generator a week.

[@stickyone1734]

Me to

[@cijomlcijomlovic4974]

you did not mention to penetrate air filter with oil which help it to catch dust

[@jakecollins1973]

Great end to the video lol thanks for the tips

[@MrChris-bx7ss]

So this unit has no petcock that you can turn off to use all the gas between the tank and the carb upon shutdown.

[@PoposWoodworks]

Ammo Man no it doesn’t have one. At least I haven’t seen one yet lol

[@oozamalakmi5880]

I saw a video that showed the owner turning the start/on/off knob halfway between the off and start location. The generator ran for a few minutes and then shut down because the gas ran out. The question I have is why you can’t just shut the vent off and let it burn the available gas? Hope this helps.

[@triplec3804]

Great video. Thank you

[@pencilgun4934]

Also not to correct you but you are supposed to turn the knob from start to run really slowly that is why it died on you :-) You dont flip it fast.

[@vegetar7886]

Great video! But you make a mess spilling oil and the gas 🤣

[@PoposWoodworks]

vegeta R Yeah I did haha

[@jamesshippIII]

Greetings...its advertised as have a low oil indicator or some kind of low oil warning alert... does anyone you know where or what that is? 🤔

[@PoposWoodworks]

It’s a little red led light that will light up on the front control panel.

[@speedfreak8200]

@@PoposWoodworks there is a sensor

[@Djbuck58]

I bought one and my predator 2000w Generator shakes when I tried to started it. It keeps cutting off and I think that it is the gas. Can I put gas treatment in the gas tank area to clean the carburetor?

[@PoposWoodworks]

Douglas Morrissette I don’t see why you couldn’t. I’m not a mechanic by no means. I hear of a lot of people using sea foam that you can get at auto parts store to clean carbs.

[@thomaseck4867]

Thank You! Excellent job!!

[@pencilgun4934]

It doesn't have an oil filter that you have to change with the oil does it? Thank you :-) Also is it 1030 or 1040?

[@PoposWoodworks]

No it doesn’t have a filter, and I use 10w 30 in mine and it does fine.

[@pencilgun4934]

@@PoposWoodworks TY

[@Mr71chevyvan]

the crankcase on these engines hold less than the pint bottle of oil. there are smaller content oil bottles that have the exact amount you need for refill. i bought only one bottle and refill it from pint bottle after use for the next time.

[@vegetar7886]

I see this video is a year old now. How's your Predator doing? is it still up and running? any problems? any updates? I just bought one coming in as I type. Again great video thanks.

[@PoposWoodworks]

vegeta R Yes, it’s still running like it did when it was new. There’s no telling how many hours I’ve put on it because I use it at least 5-8 times a year when we go camping and riding. I let it run the entire time we are there. The one thing I do is, when I get it back home....I poor the rest of the gas out and let it run till it runs completely out of gas and turns off. Then I store it. That way the next time I need to use it, I add gas, pull it 3-4 times and she fires right up ready to go. This way the carburetor never gums up.

[@vegetar7886]

@@PoposWoodworks thank you for your update 👍👍

[@ItsAlive111]

@@PoposWoodworks that's quite useful advice. The Honda generator has a fuel cutoff switch to starve the carburetor when it's time to store it for a long time. Emptying this Harbor Freight generator's tank and letting it run until it dies is a good workaround!

[@ricardobarrera5867]

I got one the same I did a oil change but still won’t start it’s been setting one year

[@sojourn1544]

Cool video!!

[@JohnThompson-wn9km]

How long has the generator lasted you?

[@PoposWoodworks]

John Thompson I cant remember when I bought it but it was around the time of this video. I pour the gas out every time Im done with it and let it run until it turns itself off. This generator is still running like the day I bought it. I will put gas in it and pull around 3 times and she will fire right up. Knock on wood...I’ve had zero issues with it and I have ran the crap out of this thing since I bought it. 90% of the use of this has been in dusty areas while I’m tent camping also. I have definitely got my monies worth out of this so far.

[@JohnThompson-wn9km]

Popo's Woodworks Nice! Thank you and thanks for the video. Very helpful!

[@loktom4068]

Well, not everyone is going to wait until they save enough or break their budget just to get a brand name called HONDA .

[@InternetGoldMiner]

Thanks but you should try to be a bit cleaner on that job.

[@Belizianboi13]

Can I run it with the cover off?

[@PoposWoodworks]

Andre Villanueva I guess you could, it’s just a plastic cover. Not sure about the other side cuz the pull handle goes through that side

[@georgep8361]

I would not run these without the covers on. These little motors are air cooled, and rely on an internal fan to be blowing air over the motor head and through fins. The covers work as shrouds which help pull in air and direct it to the hot parts of the motor for cooling. You may loose cooling air pressure and have the motor run hotter than normal!

[@carlosarce6352]

Thanks !!!😄

[@troyperez76]

Thank You

[@speedfreak8200]

I just drain the carb when not in use because of ethanol in gas. Air filter is best cleaned with warm soapy water 💧

[@kennethsalter9998]

Can Ya Run it in the rain? Anybody know?

[@PoposWoodworks]

I’m not sure on that. When we camp I always place it under something like my trailer to keep it dry.

[@kennethsalter9998]

@@PoposWoodworks Looks like I will be tarping it! I got one hoping I can just run my fridge if power goes! Put it on my back deck!

[@jimdent351]

@@kennethsalter9998 Why don't you just build a small doghouse type structure to put it in? Make sure it exhausts to the outside of the structure. I plan on building a doghouse structure for mine where the roof hinges open to give easy access to the generator.

[@Alex320014]

@@kennethsalter9998 I bought a cheap wood dog house and cut the back out to let the exhaust fumes out. I keep it outside in the rain and snow. You may want to make it bottom heavy in case of high winds. The other day we had a nor’easter and it blew the house over with the generator inside. Thankfully generator and the little house was fine.

[@kennethsalter9998]

@@Alex320014 Hey brother that is a good idea! Thanks for the tip! Really appreciate that !

[@myronmartin630]

Why does it start for a few seconds and dies

[@speedfreak8200]

Bad low oil sensor... it can be disabled by unplugging a wire

[@mckensleywoods6641]

This seems to be a pain or am I reaching...

[@PoposWoodworks]

It’s not too bad once you do it a few times.

[@theoriginaldashriprock]

Changing the oil on a small inverter generator is incredibly simple. He just made it much more difficult looking than it needs to be.