Review: Ryobi 2300 Bluetooth Electric Start Inverter Generator - Unsponsored, Unbiased, Unvarnished

I've owned this generator for about 6 months and used it heavily. Here's an unbiased review of it positives and negatives. Unsponsored, unbiased, unvarnished, and obviously unpolished...
Update: I'm using this generator in the summer and it started, although poorly due to the lack of a choke. Now, at just over 1500 hours, the starter spins but doesn't engage the engine. So, no more electric start. I bought a Champion to cover during repair.
Update 2: Ryobi replaced the generator under warranty. Service shop tried to fix it, but they couldn't get a good Bluetooth card from Ryobi. They rebuilt the carb and replaced the starter first, which made it start and run, but Bluetooth was unreliable without a new board.
Update 3: A few months after they replaced it, the generator has gone insane! The display says it is updating software (it's not). And the app shows it shutting down due to carbon monoxide despite it being outside not running. So, I'm running on the
I've published a follow up to this with a review of the Champion that I'm using now.

[@cameronwashington7650]

I have two of the models that came out before the electric start. to address the tough start issue, I upgraded to a better spark plug and fuel filter. I have had no problems after making those changes. Chances are, I will be getting two of these as well.

[@shawn11207]

I might agree, I don't know about the auto carbeater. I don't think anyone does.

[@timwright7938]

How long could this unit run on a full tank of fuel and what kind of maintenance issues did you run into with this unit

[@thechannel8x]

We need more content like this on KZbin. Yes, a bit rough on the editing and content, but at least honest

[@HonorPrideRespect]

Best video out here. Thank you. I think I made up my mind now... I'm going for the eu2200i honda. It also has bluetooth, only not remote or electric start.

[@whitewater-video]

Glad it helped

[@noneyareally5765]

Like the reference to the Honda 1K and how long it lasted. Still runs but smokes too much.

[@markbtw7987]

Thanks, I run my cabin off a generator/battery bank too so I'm glad to see a review from someone similar before purchasing. Seems like an awesome setup, and my generator is stationary so I was thinking about getting a 20 gal extension tank so I could refill the gas and change the oil every 100 hours or so of runtime. So would reduce maintenance to one short chore each month, all I'd need to do is turn it on/off as needed from the app (ideally speaking lol).

[@whitewater-video]

I still have the Ryobi, but I bought a Champion with remote start. So far it's worked great. It's louder and it isn't an inverter, but it has started every time in all weather.

[@jasonwagner9575]

Great, detailed review!

[@thesaintnr1]

Newer Honda Bluetooth generators can be stopped via the app. The big ones started via Bluetooth also.

[@FranciscoLopez-io2jm]

Great review! Thank you!

[@tammyhill3275]

If I put a piece of wood under the front for better starting, what would you recommend? 4” or?

[@ValleyMustang]

Great video! But just wanted to let you know that the amp hours (Ah) has nothing to do with it starting whatsoever. Ah is just the amount of capacity that the battery has. You can look at capacity the same way you look at a gas tank the bigger the gas tank the more gas it can store. Same with amp hours the bigger the amp hours the more gas (electricity) it can store. Not sure if you noticed but when you swapped to the bigger battery the engine still turned over the same.

[@whitewater-video]

Thanks for the comment, but we'll have to disagree. The higher AmpHour batteries have lower internal resistance and do, indeed, spin the starter faster. The difference is noticeable between the smallest, medium and largest incrementally.

[@ValleyMustang]

@@whitewater-video I'm going to buy this generator so I'm going to have to test that.

[@ValleyMustang]

@@whitewater-video I have a question also, the battery for the starter do you have to charge that yourself or does it charge by itself inside the generator?

[@beals6631]

All of my dewalt stuff runs stronger with higher AH

[@whitewater-video]

It does not charge when in the generator, which I find infuriating. They give you a cheap little charger to plug into the generator once it's running. Who would design an electric start generator that won't charge the starter battery?

[@joeystratner1902]

Damn good review

[@shawn11207]

Thank you, I just got one and it's not starting.

[@kddcc]

how many hours do you have on yours so far? I just got mine @ 15 hours in, seeing the struggle at starting like yours to but once running its great! very happy with mine and especially at the price point

[@whitewater-video]

544.1 as of right now. I am generally happy, but I am bothered by the astoundingly poor decision to not charge the starter battery when the generator runs. I like that, most of the time, I don't have to go out in the cold to start it. But it happens often enough to be irritating.

[@kddcc]

@@whitewater-video thats a good slug of hours on this little generator. Im shocked about that to, it would only make sense to have it recharge the starter battery. I got mine with the pull start

[@welcome2myworld1.o89]

@@whitewater-video wow that is disappointed.. I hope they think about that in future updates

[@californiaman8885]

Wonder change the original spark plug to NGK or same the one Honda uses brand make easier to start.

[@camposvazquez]

Thank you for this review... Does the Ryobi app allow to turn ECO mode OFF and ON? That's a tip most RV 'ers miss... Just before using the microwave... Turn ECO mode off on the genset .... Being off to toggle between the 2 within the app is clutch..

[@whitewater-video]

AFAICT, there is no eco mode. I suppose it is always in eco mode, unlike my Honda that preceded this. There is definitely no setting in the app.

[@jondavidmcnabb]

I would be will to bet the carb float bowl has a tiny amount of water in it. This is why the level change works. I highly recommend you use only gasoline with zero ethanol. I can't tell you how many small engines I repair that just had water in the carb. Super easy fix but infuriating.

[@whitewater-video]

Well, I do use standard gas, which has ethanol. I haven't found a station near me that has pure gasoline. But this generator behaved the same way right out of the box. So, I don't think it's water in the float bowl. But it won't hurt to check & clean.

[@whitewater-video]

I tried real gas without ethanol. Didn't help.

[@foam27]

That's because the ethanol gas already did it's damage. It accumulates on the carb jets, and who knows where else.@@whitewater-video

[@whitewater-video]

Well, Winter is here and this generator is letting me down again... It really doesn't like starting in the cold and the Bluetooth quits working below 30F. A squirt of ether helps the starting, but only if you're outside by the generator. The Bluetooth gets intermittent as the temp drops into the 30's and gives up entirely in the 20's. The engine must cool itself well, because hours of running do not warm up the circuitry to work. I'm going to find another generator. I can't handle going out in the cold cold night to turn on or off the genset. Maybe I'll review its replacement.

[@winmancaboose]

The problem with this model is that it does not have a choke, that's why it has trouble with cold starts. My experience is the 1.5ah battery that it comes with will start it no problem but in standby mode it quickly drains the 1.5ah battery.

[@locusts_and_wildhoney]

Will this run a small window AC

[@ValleyMustang]

Yes it will

[@timcraven3543]

Very well done. Thank you!

[@jasony724]

So no seem to actually show anything about if you started with the pull start(god forbid you run out of battery or don’t have a battery) is there a choke? And does it charges the battery while running?

[@whitewater-video]

It will start (after many pulls on the cord) without a battery. It does not charge the battery when running, which I find ridiculous.

[@oceanabc5169]

Is this on your phone with the App?

[@whitewater-video]

Yes

[@12345678989814]

I have one of these generators right now that is just pull start style it's got over 7,000 hours on it that I have run it I find most of the time even when it is cold the harder I pull the cord the less it wants to start if I pull it slower it cranks over a lot easier fixing to get the battery start one in a few days also the fuel switch on mine is been bypassed because they do not allow adequate gas flow which makes a big difference

[@whitewater-video]

It appears that the starting problem is caused by a lack of choke. The engine starts much better in warm weather. I can't find the choke on it either. Also the bluetooth doesn't work in cold weather, which is exactly when you want it.

[@YoshiYamamoto]

I think the stickers are made for display advertising. First thing I do is remove all the stickers off my generator except the legal ones. The unit looks much better without all the advertising stickers. An embossed RYOBI would have been nice. The battery AH doesn't really matter for starting, it's still 18v whether it's 1.5 AH or 9AH. The AH is the capacity of the battery not the voltage it can provide. I would have liked to see WiFi connectivity like the Goal Zero Yeti "X" series for longer range. Bluetooth is too short of a range when using on a large home property. WiFi would reach farther and would be able to connect when you are not home as well to check the condition of the fuel and load, etc.

[@whitewater-video]

I agree with most of what you said, except the battery. The AH does matter. A high AH battery has a lower internal resistance and can handle a higher load. This is demonstrably visible when you try the different sized batteries. The small one spins slow and each successive bigger battery spins the starter faster. Thanks for the comment.

[@YoshiYamamoto]

@@whitewater-video I did not know that, thank you for educating me. I have some 6AH batteries, maybe it's time I got at least 1 9AH! LOL

[@whitewater-video]

Maybe the designers of this generator were also unaware.....

[@YoshiYamamoto]

@@whitewater-video is there a difference between the regular battery and “High Performance” in terms of delivering more amps? I have 2 of the high performance 2 ah batteries that came with a drill set. Would that perform better at starting the generator?

[@whitewater-video]

High Performance should deliver more current at the rated voltage. If you have normal and high 2 ah batteries, I would expect the high to spin it faster. Test & let us know.

[@IDirtbike]

New Honda 2200i has remote shut off.

[@whitewater-video]

It needs remote start to avoid getting out i the cold in the early morning.

[@IDirtbike]

@@whitewater-video yeah unfortunately they don’t have that! I wish more companies would have remote start. I live in van full time so it would be awesome to have!

[@CCWSig]

Adjust the autochoke and it'll start everytime.

[@whitewater-video]

The electric start doesn't appear to have an adjustable choke.

[@CCWSig]

@@whitewater-video there is a automatic choke attached to the carburetor, its temp controlled. There's plenty of KZbin videos on how to adjust it, its a pretty simple process. Mine had the same issue, after adjusting to get the play out of the linkage it starts first time everytime.

[@whitewater-video]

The electric start appears to have a servo controlled stepper motor on the choke and another on the throttle. The only adjustment I find would be idle speed - a screw on the throttle.

[@foam27]

Check the choke linkage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGmklXePfZxngtk

[@whitewater-video]

I did. But the electric start version doesn't have a choke position. I think that would have helped. But no... Another weak design issue.

[@validatedcustomer604]

Its a piece of shit dont buy!!! Ive had 3 and they all fuck up