Testing the Cheapest Harbor Freight Generator $99 Tailgator

Is a $99 generator worth the trouble? See what makes a generator really good or bad that you WONT find on any spec sheet. This little generator had surprising results and I even compared it to the top of the line Honda EU2200i costing 10x as much.
Specs:
TailGator
Max Starting Watts 900.
Certification EPA & CARB
Output: Continuous Watts 700
Engine displacement (cc) 63cc
Horsepower (hp) 2
Output voltage (volts) 120 VAC
Product Height 16-1/4 in.
Product Length 19-2/4 in.
Product Weight 38.50 lb.
Product Width 15-1/4 in.
Run Time 5 hours @ 50%
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/ silvercymbal
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. Silver Cymbal assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. Silver Cymbal recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of Silver Cymbal, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not Silver Cymbal.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thanks for watching. Please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE - Sadly HF has discontinued this one, the best deal on any small portable is: amzn.to/2UEsWzs

[@michaelpearce8661]

I bought their older model and had problems with the first one and the second one had a problem also. Ended up returning the second one. Had similar problems with the Preditor 2000.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

I think a person would be better off spending $125 more and buying something like a $225 800w inverter 4 stroke engine generator. The $225 800w inverter generator will most likely last twice as long (not 100% positive). The problem with buying a more expensive $375 Honda EU1000i ($150 more than the Sportsman) is that the generator head won't last any longer or only a bit longer than the Sportsman. Both have moving parts and the moving parts wear out no matter what.

[@edwardandrade4390]

Great testing with good results. Thanks

[@user-vl9xs5dl7q]

wait a second... cant you just buy an inverter. . . then use it with a laptop... use an inverter with the generator... it would still be cheaper than a Honda

[@rmatrix4777]

@@user-vl9xs5dl7q Did you ever get a resolution to your question about the inverter?

[@FatherOfTheParty]

Had one of these some years back when we had a flood that knocked out our power. Used it to run a deep freeze for over a month until our power came back. Saved many hundreds of dollars worth of food. If you use it for the right purpose, it's a great deal.

[@jamescc2010]

Good idea. Hope it will not happen to us :)

[@FatherOfTheParty]

@@jamesbowen5573 Hmm, sounds like you're no good at break-in and maintenance.

[@ninline2000]

@@jamesbowen5573What kind of idiot goes through 5 of a defective appliance? He might be full of it, but your story is even weaker.

[@ninline2000]

@@jamesbowen5573 If you really went through 5 defective units, you're the fool.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

@@jamesbowen5573 A 7.0 cu ft chest freezer compressor only uses around 100 watts when the compressor is running and the compressor doesn't run all the time just like a refrigerator compressor doesn't run all the time. When the compressor is not running it basically uses 0 watts. A 800w generator can easily run a chest freezer. When the freezer first starts (surge power) for a couple seconds it'll draw 300-400 watts to get up and running then drop back down to 100. Many newer freezers, AC's use a large capacitor so it doesn't need to pull a big load of power on start up.

[@jonus28]

I've never considered getting a generator. Heck, I don't even know why KZbin recommended this video, yet here I am now fascinated with these tools. Maybe I do want a generator now?

[@bigthoughts2644]

You should have a generator because sometimes the power goes out sometimes it floods, or the wind blows too hard. Or the country delves into civil war. You should have one

[@rayzor285]

A generator is something you should always have even if you don't think you'll ever need it. In case of a prolonged power outage. With growing populations and higher demand for electronics, blackouts are becoming more of an issue. Even in places where it was never an issue in the past.

[@baneverything5580]

@@rayzor285 I bought a lot of portable solar stuff and a tiny generator very similar to this for charging on cloudy days. I`m hoping it will power a tiny air conditioner. I got one with a soft start compressor. We got hit by two hurricanes last year then the big ice storm. Another hurricane barely missed us this year. I got tired of losing all my food. I got a dorm fridge and two half size freezers that I can power with solar if I have 4 hours of sun to recharge each day. If not I need a gallon of gas and hopefully the gas generator won`t damage my stuff by using it to charge.

[@sandasturner9529]

The power of suggestions/persuasion/advertisement.

[@wheel1775]

Same here. I have several solar kits for camping and my trailer. I found a Wen generator at Home Depot for $431. Based on these videos it seems like a pretty good deal. Plus side, the Wen isn’t made in China. It is made in Vietnam, which is not ideal, but it is more tolerable than China.

[@automobile4351]

I'm in Houston. I've had this brand new since Hurricane Harvey. And just got the chance to use it when we had this big freeze when they did the rolling black outs. It ran my 50 inch tv, firestick, 2 electric heaters. And multiple phone chargers at a decent rate. I then unplugged one heater and it was perfect. Definitely saved my sanity during this past freeze.

[@Avalon491]

I’m also in Houston, and this comment was what I needed to read.

[@Alvan81]

I felt silly buying a generator that I may or may not need. But it's nice to be reminded that when things go south, the forethought pays off!

[@Hilaire_Balrog]

@@Avalon491 same

[@ranakeen9884]

How many hours did it run while all that was plugged in?

[@Alvan81]

@Tiguar Jagger 👍

[@johncline3033]

I have a small farm and use mine all the time for power tolls and an electric pole saw. I would definitely recommend it to anyone needing something for small jobs. Also, before you start it pull the cord 2 or 3 times slow to get the gas to the unit. You also should run it for 5 minutes a month if it's going to be stored for a few weeks or more. Thanks for posting.

[@zillaman7674]

Power tolls New one

[@nodak81]

Just turn off the fuel valve and let it run until the carb is drained and the engine stalls. You can store it indefinitely like that.

[@Mr._Chievous]

@@zillaman7674 power troll. you are

[@johncline3033]

@@jsplasha I don't have an extension cord that will reach 3.5 acres.

[@cattman2012ify]

I've had one of these generators for over 2 years and it's ran my sump pump even my boiler pump for heating the house over a 6 day period from a massive ice storm to charging a golf cart and even using it to hook up a leaf blower to start wet leafs on fire 😂. I love this little thing and it's never let me down and when I need it and use it I smile the whole time. I run klots in mine and smells great plus it's a great mix for it. I've recommend to all my family and friends when you need something that you just need a lil power ran to finish a job in the middle of nowhere. This thing is it

[@beem289]

LIAR

[@aaronpowell4885]

Great little units for the$$ They also smell great when running 100ll ! Just may not be the healthiest fumes with the lead and such😂

[@mikeries8549]

I ran one for two duck seasons. Figure 100 x 8 hours. 800 hours. The unit fails when the head bolts stretch and you lose compression. You can tighten once and get another 100 hours and you are done. Buy a new one

[@nelsonx5326]

Thank you Kegan!

[@nelsonx5326]

@@mikeries8549 Thank you Mike!

[@stevenfranks3131]

Have watched several reviews/ breakdowns of this product. Your power quality analysis offers a great insight. Thanks!

[@SilverCymbal]

I really appreciate that! Thank you

[@karencollins9363]

@@SilverCymbal I have a question, How well would this generator work charging a solar battery bank when there is no sunlight? Would the generator damage the inverter or batteries?

[@mmpiforall5913]

@@karencollins9363 use it to power a battery charger to charge the batteries, that isolates it from the generator. I would not use the 12VDC output.

[@TheTruthO9]

​@SilverCymbal Could a stand up 8000 btu air conditioner run using this generator ?

[@stevenfranks3131]

@TheTruthO9 You need a generator with about 1500-2000 running watts (not surge/peak watts) for a window or portable/stand up ac. 2000-plus would bear the load best.

[@patrickbodine1300]

Mine works great for what I need it to do. For 3 years now. When you are finished using it, Always run it with the fuel shut off until it dies. Always use Sta-bil in the fuel mix.

[@nathanalexander9127]

Just completed the break-in period and so far the unit is operating perfectly kzbin.infoUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y . I was amazed by just how quiet this little guy is. I kept having to walk down the driveway to the generator to make sure it was still running. In fact, the most annoying noise coming from the set-up is a high-pitched chirping coming from the pressure regulator on the propane line. I suppose it's possible my other propane-powered generator's pressure regulator is making the same noise, but the generator itself is so loud I've never noticed it. Build quality so far is excellent. My only nit is the service panel is a little tricky to remove. I feel like I might break off one of the plastic tabs when bending it back. I probably just need to work out the technique, so will not hold it against Champion.Next week I intend to fully load the unit to charge a large battery pack and will update this review if there's any problem (3000W continuous load vs a rated 3100W capacity while using propane). Absent any trouble there, I'm 100% pleased with this purchase.

[@dfloyd888]

If used with a “disposable” rectifier, it can be useful to charge a battery bank. I have seen people make those models last for many years, with simple things like new spark plugs, a careful break in, etc.

[@electromech7335]

I plan to use it to charge a 100 amp hour agm battery then use a pure sine inverter which i already had kicking around.

[@robertmcdonald5277]

Use a battery charger, it will clean up the power. Don't plug in comp. Phone.tv. use you're battery and pur sin inverter.

[@spacecowboy3095]

Very impressive testing procedure. The maker of TailGator owes you big for this review. Good job!

[@ShioriWhitefeather]

From someone who knows absolutely nothing about generators, thank you. 🙏🏾

[@SilverCymbal]

I appreciate that, glad it was helpful

[@User-cc6cq]

I have an earlier version, painted blue. It does smooth out under load. Certainly worth what I paid for it. The OEM sparkplug on mine was questionable, but easily changed out. Good enough for what it is.

[@sprinterdiscovery]

That's a great video! Well made and love that $10,000 testing device. The generator is great for camping in the forest!

[@arloncaples]

mine has lasted through several outages. Great generator. doesn't power a bunch but comes in handy in a pinch.

[@dgriffin6074]

I considered it but the steady state power output was too low for my needs. It took me a long time to learn this lesson: you will never regret buying quality.

[@bayoubees9447]

I had an expensive high quality unit that locked up while in use. The low oil switch didn't shut the engine down after long day of use. I consider my Tailgater a disposable generator for the price but it just keeps on going. I use it to run a bee vac for removals.

[@ilovebohol]

You are primed with marketing from companies. This unit is for practical people. For $99, we can buy 5 vs 1 for some quality generator. But... now we get 5x the power and 5x the redundancy. You need to rhink outside the box.

[@wildman4642]

I used them for 5 years and they gave us lights and TV real cheap. They last about a 500-750 hours.

[@AJ-ds9xq]

Yes!! And coffee for me.

[@deannapatschke-mullally8400]

Yea, what happens?

[@wildman4642]

I've had great luck with some and poor with others. I had one freeze up and another stop putting out electricity. I guess we had about 5 of them. We abuse them running them 40 to 50 non stop even fueling then while running. For the price they are a good set and if you run the gas out they won't give fuel problems. Also, we did run good 2 cycle oil. Usually stihl....

[@g-money6760]

They run better on 89 octane had mine for 10years just stop putting out powere!

[@flowrob6861]

10 vacations ? Here we get 5 vacations for that price . Good to know about that as honda price isn't in my range .

[@DayofJudgement-ur5gp]

Not sure why anyone would dislike this video with all the work he put into it. Thank you.

[@SilverCymbal]

I appreciate that!

[@dennyroling6051]

Because you don't get a generator for $99 that's why

[@DayofJudgement-ur5gp]

@@dennyroling6051 why not? I’d love a great reason why someone who maybe can’t afford a 500 or 1000 one but maybe the 99$ one would get him by just fine for what he needed it for?

[@insonh21]

i've had mine for about 3 years and it makes coffee in my Keurig, i'd suggest changing out the spark plug with a brand name one and using the premixed fuel TruFuel 50:1 Pre-mixed Fuel, the gen is worth the $99 + tax

[@AldousHuxley7]

What kind of spark plug?

[@insonh21]

@@AldousHuxley7 just a good quality SP like Champion

[@paladain55]

@@insonh21 Also, would consider 40:1. Nothing special needed just regular gas and walmart marine 2 stroke oil. Cheap but they are low quality chyna generators that really need 40:1.

[@malcolmwright7440]

I purchased the Australian version from Bunnings, then later found two at the scrap yard for $5 each not working. Spoke to one of the owners and he said that he used aero-start to start it and ran for two seconds and then stopped. After a day of investigation I found the crank shaft bearing seal nearest the generator had blown out, causing no crank case pressure. Seems the bearings seal's are the crank case safety pressure valves, they pop out during a crank case explosion/detonation, and two-stroke engine's rely on crank case vacuum to make the fuel flow through the carburettor reed, and crank case pressure to charge the cylinder head. After putting the seals back in to the bearings I got both scrap yard generator's working great. So if it does not start then the plug is oiled up, clean it, and do not use ether starters like “start you bastard”, or “easy start”. Otherwise you will initiate a crank case explosion and blow out the seals, then it is a 2hr job to dismantle to put the seals back into the bearings. PS the crank vacuum and pressure is the result of the piston expanding and reducing the crank case volume as it goes up and down, if the bearing seals are “popped” then the crank case will “breath” through the bearings.

[@rtyhgfplmkoi4784]

Thanks for info, I use start ya b so I won't buy one

[@rodprater8395]

P

[@zacksrandomprojects9698]

Is it possible to put an emergency pop off valve in the crankcase like on an air compressor tank? One that is rated to pop open at a lower pressure than the crank seals blow out at, but still strong enough to stay closed so the engine runs correctly? Just curious.

[@leohorton747]

M

[@memowilliam9889]

That’s probably what happened to my first one. I hadn’t run it but twice for a total of 1 hour. 3rd time it wouldn’t start. It seemed like a fuel problem.

[@harveyjones1324]

I lived for almost one year only using this generator for my power. It never caused issues for any of my electronics. I ran phones, dvd players, TV, and even a small heater on it.

[@JohnnyC10071959]

I use a UPS to protect my electronics from cheap power sourced from open-frame generators. Seems the same would work on this little guy. For a tailgate running a blender and/or pair of subwoofers, it seems ideal. And $99 - wow. BTW, the power quality analysis you include is above and beyond most reviews I have viewed. Nice work.

[@kens97sto171]

I've had the predecessor to this tailgater model for almost 7 years now. It doesn't have a huge amount of hours on it but it starts reliably puts out the power it should and is relatively quiet. The thing that I like about it is that it's extremely lightweight. I also have a 2500 watt inverter generator from harbor freight that also has been very good but it's close to 75 lb and is a lot more difficult to pick up and put on the tailgate of a truck or to move around. I ended up putting it on a cart so I could pull it around to places I needed on the property. The little two stroker is light enough to easily move around. The key to these things and any gasoline power equipment is to take the load off of it then turn the fuel off and let it run the carburetor dry. That's the best thing you can do to make it easy to start the next time.

[@Nilafila76]

Hey thanks for the tip, not sure why something like thats not just common knowledge, but hey thanks anyway @kens97sto171

[@shawnlister2730]

This generator saved my bacon by powering my battery tender and allowing me to run my laptop from my truck during a long Socal black out due to wildfire. Great review by the way.

[@imhappyandyou.4003]

Great little generators!. I've got two and they've never let me down in the four years I've had them!. And the price is nice lol.

[@n0xctbob401]

I have the old Stormcat version of this genset. It still works great after 3yrs.I like the test you did with the metering, I always wondered about how dirty the power is from one of these,I mainly use it for powering tools.

[@edwardroche2480]

I've had three or four of these generators and they are great! It'll run a Makita saw. I've had them last four or five years and I always saved the old one for spare parts. It lives outdoors and I throw a plastic cover over it. A friend of mine always put gas in them while they're running and this Burns Out a electric relay. When he throws them out every couple of months I pick them up and usually can fix them in about 30 minutes. But if you don't do anything wrong you can use it daily for a year to run a battery charger or small refrigerator and I'm going to try an air conditioner on one today. Because my $500 Ryobi generator keeps breaking down. The Ryobi generators in their plastic cases are a bad design for many reasons. I won't buy another one. But the Predator generator is a great standby, or Off the Grid.

[@mattiniskanen4620]

I am from Finland. I had the same 2-stroke generator (220 V in here). It worked quite well almoust two summer to charge my boat barreries. After that I changed to 4-strokes. First cheap ones. One worked almoust two years with only one major repair. Then two local hardware store chinese models. One last a week. Another two days. You can imagine that my brains was smoking in that phase. I had 60 miles from my summer cottage (working remotely there) to nearest hardware store. Drive ones a week to get a new generator or bye a good one. Expensive was Yamaha inverter but now I do not have any problems. "If you are a poor one like me you cannot afford to by a cheap one generator."

[@thediplomasta5891]

I remember when those things were on sale for $86! Gotta be a record low generator price.

[@edic2619]

I HAVE HAD THIS GENERATOR FOR 2 YEARS... When I bought, I thought I would get junk. Wrong... This gen is extremely great for $99. It is a little cheap, but I have used it 100s of times. It always start in about the 4th pull . For $99. It is great for me.

[@JohnSmith-ns6dp]

What do you use it on? Did it damage anything?

[@Thomas-px6ni]

I've had the older blue model for 12 years. It still works great and never any issues. Used perhaps 4 or 5 times a year during power outages which occur more frequently now. It serves it's purpose. Just keep fresh fuel around.

[@visamedic]

I bought it when it was $72 about 6 years ago. Had to run a little seafoam in it recently, because it was surging....cleared it right up and it’s still running. Great for just keeping the batteries topped off on the trailer.

[@joshuawilson7023]

I use mine to charge my deep cycle when we boondock. It's handy and efficient, I really can't complain. And when you have 750amp/he battery you can run everything else on an inverter and then only need the generator to recharge. I'd go solar but we live in WA and it rains too much for that.

[@jaminova_1969]

Great idea! I hadn't thought of that!

[@yuk-erkmckirk9277]

I've got the Aldi one for the same reason, when the panels don't keep up on rainy days at camp the battery charger is used to top up my deepcycle set-up. Not sure if these tailgater ones have a charger as i didn't see a 12v plug on it at all. Also good for running a string of party lights with compact flouros for good camp lighting around the perimeter. 8yrs and never missed a beat so far.

[@truebluethecat]

I've had a couple different versions of these. The one I currently have also has a 12v out with clips for charging car batteries. Used it alot for doing mobile preventive maintenance on semi trucks to run flood lights. And great to take camping if your batteries go dead in the woods you can jump yourself with it

[@gianttodd1]

I love mine.it hasn’t let me down.

[@SilverCymbal]

Thats great to hear. This one was a nice surprise especially for the price

[@mckrackin5324]

I carry one in the toolbox in my truck. I have a similarly size air compressor in there too. Handy little combo.

[@rolleone4me]

This little guy kept my Sum Pump,Fridge and a lamp going for 14 hours after we experienced a very unexpected power outage few years back. The 8 hours full tank capacity was incredibly helpful. The Negative: Too loud . Good to have it for emergencies...

[@jrt77339]

I bought one for a trip to Alaska from Texas. It was used mainly to charge or RV trailer batteries and run the furnace at night. We stopped at pull offs for the night so no one was around that it would bother. It is now my third in line as my last resort and loaner. It has earned its way of the years. Change the oil every few hours has kept it running.

[@waynesimpson2040]

Here's the scoop guys... I have one of these and it's very reliable. Biggest problem with small generators is people overload them when they use them or leave them set not being used. What's the gas goes bad in them there's the other problem. In general they are a good little generater.

[@SilverCymbal]

100% couldn't agree more. Many seem to think these can just be left alone for years and then they don't work. With a little maintenance and care even a cheap unit like this can have a lifespan. Maybe not as long as a Honda but such a low cost it doesn't need to.

[@jimbobaggans1564]

Yes, if you leave an engine sit for a long period of time the gas turns to varnish. Make sure you always drain the gas if it is going to not be used for months at a time.

[@DonaldAJr]

Goodness Gracious. I love this video. The one I have been tempted to buy for multiple years is one that has 9000 Watt / 7250 Watt electric start because I'm paralyzed and in a wheelchair. I'm told an electrician can hard wire it to a house for about the same amount it costs and the parts or less. Please do a workup for me on that because that's the one people should be looking at.

[@John-yf4ie]

I've had mine for over 6 years. We actually had a new house built and had flooding in the basement as there was now plumbing or electrical connections. We got this from Harbor Freight in the morning and also bought a pump. I bought 3 cans of fuel mix and the generator started after 2-3 pulls. It ran 4-5 hours non stop on one fill up. Later that night we came back and it was still running strong.We decided to give it a break and shut it down. Next morning we refilled the tank and it started on the first try and ran it again for 3-4 hours. We finally got all the water out of the basement. We keep this little generator for when the electricity goes out. as it light weight and easy to use. We bought a very large generator when we get a heavy snow storm and both together keeps out loghts on and supplies us heat!!! If this little generator ever gives up, I'd buy the same for a spare!!!

[@catares2000]

I was given one of these. I ran my fridge and one light from it during a power failure. It saved at least a hundred bucks worth of food! Never had a bit of trouble starting it so far.

[@hyperman717]

I have the 2013 version of this and it has been running great!

[@TEAST23]

Harmonica player: “am I a joke to you?”

[@waughontheworld6530]

After using one for 7years constantly supporting my off grid home I’ve modified a bite, drill a 5 hole in the bottom of the silencer to drain unburnt oil, don’t use cheap oil, I always use Sthil 2 stroke oil, I also have reduced the oil mix by 20%, and finally I’ve done some work on the intake and exhaust ports , runs cleaner and smoother . I’m Now ready for a new one and will do my modifications to that as well

[@georgelowles5077]

I live in a rural area and a truck took out our power cables. I bought one of these generators from a local tool shop to get some lights. It was £35 and it’s still going strong and powered the lighting and the fridge for a week till the power line was replaced. A friend saw it and next day he turned up with another near identical but with a twelve volt battery charging port.

[@darrylmarcus2523]

I learned so much from you in such a short period of time. Great review standards. I'll be back

[@SilverCymbal]

Very nice of you to say, glad it was helpful

[@michele7944]

Since it’s a “tailgator” please test it with a blender , as they will be used to make margaritas

[@SilverCymbal]

That probably is the most popular use!

[@gabrielmartinez3171]

Handles blenders just fine

[@gabrielmartinez3171]

Hooked up a 10 amp circular saw bogged down on startup then picked up speed used to cut a couple 2x6 without stalling. I don't think it'll handle stalling/sticking while cutting due to wood being tight on the blade.

[@allaboutroofing2]

@@gabrielmartinez3171 not smart when it says in bold letters on top not to exceed 6.5 amps. Will ruin the saw in short order.

[@allaboutroofing2]

It depends upon the power consumption of the blender since they range from 200 to 1200 watts. Be careful of who you take advice from tho since the same guy that's said will run it just fine also says he powered a 10amp saw when it's rated at 6.5 amps max. Underpowering a device will cause problems for the device you plugged in or overload and blow fuses in the generator. You'd be better off buying a 1000W inverter and running off your battery IMO. Also the smell from a two stroke like this isn't a great mix when tailgating with people in close proximity and they can smoke. That's why they call 2 strokes, 2 smokes.

[@TalasDS]

Third world country here. We have had one of those for over 7 years now and works like a charm. Powers a fridge, a TV and the lights in the house no problem. Never had any electronic going kaboom for it. The thing always starts at the second pull and works until the tank runs dry, basically. A full tank at about 500w will last for over 9 hours. And if you don't find two stroke oil in stores, 20w-50 at 45:1 ratio works just fine. Only two things may be a problem: The pullstarter uses a washer that keeps it from coming too loose. When that fails, the return spring will lose tension and the rope won't return. The other thing is common of two stroke engines, and that's carbon buildup, eventually, you'll need to pull out the muffler and cylinder to clean them. Some brands of these are better than others, but if you get lucky, these'll last you forever, basically.

[@bubbie3533]

You and Project Farm need to do a testing video together.

[@sebastian3004]

Test each youtube tester to see which one is more useful? lol

[@pooljunki1]

project farm does a way better job on reviews

[@bubbie3533]

@@pooljunki1 Nooice

[@Mastermindyoung14]

@@pooljunki1 we're gonna test that!

[@3fitzgrld]

Appreciate the honest review. Next 10 vacations LOL!

[@beerhammer1881]

I bought mine a few years ago from Harbor Freight but it was red and had a different name. Once in awhile when the power goes out I will use it to save our food, we have two refrigerators and a chest freezer, I can run one on it at a time to keep food from spoiling. Awesome little generator!

[@SilverCymbal]

Its great to hear from folks that have owned this for a while. That's the one thing I can't really test is longevity, nice to see a lot of people happy with these.

[@jamesbowen5573]

Doubtful. I've tried it once on a small Coleman camping refrigerator and it messed up the generator and won't generate electricity anymore.

[@jamesbowen5573]

@@SilverCymbal don't believe these ya-hoos. They are outright lying to sound big. I have had five of these things all together. I work on the pipeline and I needed them to charge my computer and run my printer because I did not want to use a power converter in my truck. And for that they actually work. They will also run small power tools. I tried to run a small Coleman camping refrigerator and it completely ruined the generator I hooked it up to within 2 minutes. It won't even generate electricity at all anymore. I even tried to use it on the smallest air conditioner I could find and it could barely just turn the fan and the compressor would not even work. All the amps matched up and it should have worked. This was on a different unit. I still have three of them two of them got stolen out of my truck luckily they were junk ones that quit working. You have to use high octane fuel in them if you read the instructions that's what it tells you to do and I will tell you they don't really run without it. Also you have to start it up a lot or it quits working within a month. And you have to use ethanol free fuel. Sometimes you can get it to work if you dump out all the gas out of the tank and use completely fresh gas. But it will always be harder to start. The reason I have so many as every job I would get one and then when I was off they would go bad. I was usually off about a month sometimes too. And I would have to buy another one eventually I bit the bullet and bought an expensive generator that did everything I wanted and it still runs. But I can tell you these people trying to tell you that they're running refrigerators or deep freezes probably have never even seen one of these things before. The old ones used to have AC and DC power and you could charge batteries from it and it works really good like that. The new ones do not have DC. Which is most unfortunate. These things are great in a pinch if you don't need much power. If you're camping out of a car and don't need to run an air conditioner or big heater. Maybe it would run a camping refrigerator if I use a power inverter and a deep cycle battery. But other than that I doubt seriously if anyone who has ever owned one has actually you've been on a deep freeze or even full size refrigerator. Those things require a lot of power. A lot more than this little thing is capable of. Have you actually taken it apart and seen how small the wires are? They're not extremely well insulated either and I'm pretty sure the generator is not made of quality components.

[@RM_VFX]

If you use Sta-Bil it basically keeps you from needing non-ethanol fuel. I used one of these to power 2 full sized refrigerators, chargers and lights during a 4 day outage. Can be hard to start, so I eventually upgraded to the 8750w Predator on sale with a starter battery.

[@davidfoster5787]

I have owned one of the early ones. Used a few times during hurricane power loss. It did okay, no complaints. Worth the money.

[@vinyltapelover]

Nice little generator. Thanks for uploading.

[@garage9845]

小型で良いですね👍 It's small and very good.

[@SilverCymbal]

Yes and for the good price its very hard to not buy one

[@larryw5429]

I've ran 32 tv, dish network satellite, computer, phone charger and couple of lights for hours and hours and its always worked great. Just start stuff up one thing at a time and no problems!

[@idcray8572]

I have the red one 89.00 just pulled out of the barn , have not started it in 4 years are so . Started on 1 st pull … this thing is amazing for small camping

[@TheAllMightyGodofCod]

First time I ever heard the term "clean energy" and not referring to renewable energy 😂 Great video!

[@TheHolyGhost777]

For MONTHS straight 24/7, I ran this generator with a computer, tv, fridge, and coffee pot... The only thing that was rough was that lights flicker when there's no load on it, so older bulbs will blow but led bulbs work. For $100, this is a TERRIFIC generator, and it's even great on gas... Only takes about 3 gallons to run ALL day with full load.

[@jamesbowen5573]

All at the same time? I doubt that. The last time I tried to use one to power just a small camping refrigerator it screwed up the generator and it no longer makes electricity. It still runs great... no power.

[@Alexander_l322]

How much is a gallon for you?

[@jamesbowen5573]

@@Alexander_l322 you know he's lying. One tank would literally have to last 12 hrs. It does last a good while. But not that good.

[@jamesbowen5573]

@Don Rosengouldschmidsteinbaumbergman 1500watts is why. These have a max of 1000? I don't remember. Maybe 900. With a 800 continuous . I read the manual years ago. I remember the box was misleading. Don't get me wrong. This isn't total junk if you understand it's capabilities and limitations. It is much lighter than the next step up in power. And by far the cheapest in it's class. A drawback is it's cheaper to just buy a new one than to have it worked on. Someone who works on them all the time maybe able to fix the carburetors. If it works for you great. I just can't stand people bragging and making wild claims. Part of the problem was ethanol being in the gas. Maybe they changed the carburetor to work better... who knows.

[@r1nger81]

I get about 5 hours on a tank. If you overloaded the generator, it wont last, but that's to be expected.

[@jefflaymon5674]

I have one. It works great. Starts every time on the second pull. It runs at 65 cycles but that’s close enough. I’ve have used it almost every day all summer

[@briangardner7664]

Worked great for about 5 years, ran it 24rs straight for weeks on end during summer running a pump for a pool i had out in the woods, amazing!!!!

[@DK85]

I wonder if a fairly cheap power conditioner would clean that up. I know nothing about them. Loved the review - enjoy the snow!

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you very much. You could have something that would clean up the power from the outlet onward. But the good conditioners can be very expensive. The Generac I reviewed last year is much better than it gets credit for. They also raised the price since my review but it is still a good deal. I hope to check out more HF ones too. Video on that one here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4nYgWmqhqZ2l5o

[@zman221]

Another great video. I love your content .. especially the lawn stuff. Please do a review of the Big boy from Harbor freight predator 9000. :)

[@SilverCymbal]

@@zman221 Thank you so much. I get a ton of requests for the HF stuff. I will keep working on buying different models like that one.

[@vinyltapelover]

Dick Kennedy I was going to offer my 2 cents worth, until I saw that Silver Cymbal covered it. I'm a non techie, non mechanical old dude. I bought a new Duro Max 5300, for $800, last December during blackouts. After inquiring how it would work with my computers, and smart equipment and appliances, I was told, by one the sales personnel, that the output power was not "clean" and that I could get a "power converter" from a well known big box store for about $150. Well it turned out that they only had one, model, for over $500. Anyway, instead of buying the conditioner,right then and there, I called the company's toll free number to find out if they, in fact, had a less expensive but effective line conditioner. I was advised that their line conditioners only stabilize the power but they do not provide conditioned clean power for electronic devices. After the fact, the Duro Max sales rep did not give me accurate input, but I turned lemons into lemonade. I, later, bought an A-iPower 2300, inverter generator for under $400, I can safely power all my tvs, pcs, floor lamp and large frost free refrigerator with no problem. I can still use the Duro Max for non smart appliances such as a second refrigerator, microwave, electric heater, coffee maker and washer. Although I don't have one, you may additionally want to look into UPS, so you don't lose data if your pc is on at the time of a blackout. Just my long dog gone thoughts, lol.

[@DK85]

@@vinyltapelover Thank you for that response! I do need to buy a UPS. I have an inverter generator I bought in a blackout panic 4 years ago from Harbor Freight. My sump pump was working nonstop and HF had one generator left so I bought it. Power was back on when I got home. Never used it. 🤣

[@omar_padilla]

You paid 10,000 dollars for that tool sir?!!. Wow thank you for the dedication,lol I could only imagen how the wife reacted hope it didn't cost a couple of nights on the couch lol. Great video

[@SilverClouds2]

No Regular Pruce is $109.00. Sale price every 3 months is $88. To $98. USA 🇺🇸 dollars.

[@civilianwilly]

He was referring to the cost of the power quality analyzer used in the testing of the video

[@jdisdetermined]

Hopefully he bought it as a business expense and a tax write off.

[@fortunateson2]

No wife, happy life.

[@1Cruzer4u]

I bought a 1000 watt generator at Xmas Tree Shop. 10 years ago I used it 3 or 4 times a week. Back in 2011, during the Ice Storm Blizzard in CT. No power for 10 days I ran this little guy 15 hrs a day. $99.00 Still runs great. ☆☆☆☆☆

[@angieandretti]

That's interesting because I had a 2-stroke generator that looked almost identical to the TailGator but the engine was 49cc and IT DID HAVE AN INVERTER. It also had a 12v output receptacle that tapped in directly before the inverter in the circuit. It cost about $120 in 2007 if I recall. I also know it used an inverter because when the gas engine quit I harvested the 800w inverter and put it in my car.

[@DIYDad1]

Ok now you have me wondering if inverter generators are inherently less reliable than traditional style just due to the fact of having. Another point of failure, newer technology, more electronics. We do know that inverters deliver cleaner power and gens using them are usually quieter and more efficient. Man, I’ve never seen such extensive power analysis that thing is an awesome tool to have, sine wave, THD, good stuff! Now go back and test all the previous generators and see which ones deliver the best quality power lol. I’m sure it doesn’t make a huge difference but that has me curious now if some generators just aren’t very efficient at what they do so maybe one brand has it nailed down better who knows. Good video! Thanks for all the technical info I love it!

[@SilverCymbal]

Thank you very much. Inverter generators are really great but if the inverter fails the price is insane to change then. I think the Honda inverter alone is $700, fortunately it doesn't happen often but it is something that can fail at a big price. Thanks for the nice words too.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

@@SilverCymbal A great test would be a $225 Sportsman 800w/1000w surge inverter generator 4 stroke VS the $100 Tailgaitor 800w/900w to see which gets the most run hours before failure. Many van dwellers will run a 5,000btu window AC off a little generator. I seen 1 guy use a Sportsman that lasted about 2 summers before the generator head went bad. He said he was going to buy a $300 something westinghouse (1200w I think) because it had a 3 yr warranty. If the $100 tailgator can last 2 summers/just as long as the sportsman, it'd obviously make more sense to but the $100 Tailgator.

[@reggiehodges6784]

I use mine in the field to run saws and drills . I works great ! Cut the time in half compared to hand saws .

[@SilverCymbal]

Perfect for that type of use, the price is tough to beat.

[@jamesbowen5573]

I was thinking about trying to use one with one of those cheap electric chainsaws that don't use very much power. It would be good for cutting up Limbs and stuff and save the battery life on my larger chainsaws

[@christopherarthur9577]

Can you run a skilsaw without completely bogging down? The video doesn't mention amperage. They pull 12- 14 amps.

[@jamesbowen5573]

@@christopherarthur9577 I have run a bandsaw, and grinder no problem

[@SilverCymbal]

@@christopherarthur9577 A saw that large will likely not run well, you might be able to if its got a soft start but it depends a bit on the saw

[@karlarriola2306]

I bought a tailgater last year at first i only used it for going to the river camping or the beach and it work perfect i used just like 2 weeks ago my power went out and it was hott here so i plug in my window A/C and a lamp and it work great this generator is great for its price it works perfect

[@carloschavez5368]

A friend bought one last year for lighting and a 10amp battery charger which worked great for about 2 months during hunting season then it quit running like it had no compression. He knew it was a experiment,it was very cheaply made .I told him to get a honda iu2000 instead and last lifetime and have confidence that it will work. Im sold on honda brands.

[@theyoungbarista6715]

It’s a interesting little generator.

[@efjefe]

I live on solar. Ive been looking for a backup. Thanks

[@charlesmanning5819]

I have owned one it was awesome ran it for four years and when sold it the new owner is still using it

[@kennethdavis9339]

My wife and I used it when we lost power and it was great! and we still have it..

[@SilverCymbal]

That's awesome!

[@jayyjay5113]

this video was great very informative. I wanted to get one of the tailgate gens. So now here s a question. Due to the wave being bad is it possible to just add a line conditioner in-between to clean the power and make it safe for electronics?

[@muthrfuqrjonz3530]

Good job ,very good production.

[@lucasstuart-chilcote7069]

We used that generator to run our refrigerator and a lamp. Definitely impressed by that little thing. It’s our main backup generator.

[@anthonyg.4761]

And it did not damage your refrigerator?

[@katanajoe1]

I bought one from harbour freight for use on construction sites where i didnt want to drag the big 5k generator we have. Suprizingly it is super quiet, runs a long time on a tank of fuel, runs saws, drills, and lites. I found it to be amazing value in a small easy to move and store package.

[@gogereaver349]

i know its sad inflation has killed them. now you cant find one for under 170$.

[@bombasticborneo]

Good to know. Thanks bro🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@mauriciorosales1259]

I appreciate the review and for $100, I might get one. So thank you! One observation, power quality ( by that I mean a single wavelength sine wave) really depends on what you are doing with it. If what you plug in has a rectifier grid as part of the input supply it’s mostly irrelevant ( that is it needs to convert the power to DC to operate the electronics, the first stage will be a step down transformer then a basic electronic ac to dc stage and maybe some smoothing electronics or just some capacitors). Devices that need ‘clean 60 hz sine waves are more susceptible, so a cheap alarm clock could completely not work, because it depends on that ‘clean wave’, or certain electrical tools ( although most are pretty robust’) to make a long story short I wouldn’t worry too much about the additional wavelengths in that power signal ( I and say that with a Fourier series in mind to model that ‘ugly’ wave). ps : did the geek in electrical engineer in me come out too loudly

[@coripuckett5596]

I have one of these and it works fine for most things, small power tools, lights, tv, small freezers and some fridges.... ive had it for 5+ years and its always worked everytime i needed it.

[@thesoulsnatcher7921]

I have own one of this little Gen for over 5 years, two years ago we lost power for 28 hours after a thunder storm,this little guy powered my sump pump and my fridge till power was fixed. The only downside, is a 8 hrs gas tank capacity and too noisy, overall great buy and very reliable.

[@Blubb5000]

You just have *generated* some interest in me to get a *generator*

[@batvette]

Droll. Very droll.

[@rebellucy5610]

Am I the only one who immediately thinks about how much the prisoner in the Chinese labor camp who made that cheap Generator got paid? 😫

[@SilverCymbal]

Today, there are still no US companies making portable generators, gas or battery power stations. I would like to see someone do it

[@michaelangelo6378]

Another racist bigot that has no idea about Chinese manufacturing.

[@rebellucy5610]

@@michaelangelo6378 are facts racist?

[@eddielikesfishing]

I have one of these generators for a few years, it's called a Storm Cat, HF changed the name and color. It works well. I use it to run a drill. I loaned it to my Mother to run her small fridge during a hurricane. She was also able to run a light separately. It won't run your Mr. Coffee, too much power draw. Keep within the wattage ratings and it will run for years. Voltage x Amperage = Wattage. The unit is 700 running watts, 900 startup watts. That means it can supply 900 watts for a short time to start a motor, but will supply 700 watts of continuous power. I think it's a great deal.

[@johnleibenguth2563]

Had one for about four years and works great and I only have had to replace the spark plug this year for it and clean the sponge air filter twice. No you don't have to buy special oil because any two cycle oil mix that is 40 to 1 will do that you would use in your 2 cycle chain saw or weed eater. The one thing you DO need to remember is when you shut it down turn the fuel shut off valve to the off position and let it burn the fuel out of the line. DO NOT just turn the motor off and walk away or you will foul up the carb in about 2 to 3 days. Now as for the power produced by it I have used it for two different things and one is for power for my wife and my laptops, a fan, and a light when the powers out since we live in the country. The other thing is for our Harbor Freight tree pruner when I have to clear fence line around trees in a pasture. When tree pruning it works fine as long as you don't bind the chain up to often or for long. If you do it will trip the breaker and you will need to shut it down and let it set for 4 to 5 minutes before it will allow you to reset the breaker

[@dillangeiser4820]

If you hooked a surge protector up to the generator would it change the readings? And how much if so?

[@channell11]

Surge protectors don't clean up power-they just protect against spike. Devices like line conditioners or running it to an auxiliary power unit or inverter first will improve the result.

[@fishpickles6532]

I may go get one of these i got my hedge trimmers from there 👍

[@kerrygibbs8198]

I enjoyed this video. You gave great information! Thank You for not dragging it out like so many others.

[@RESISTAGE]

When working on the oil drilling rig in North Dakota under extreme cold weather conditions this little guy kept my Volvo oil heaters running 24/7 no problem. I was able to start my car when others failed.

[@jwalbsavage6379]

Would this be ok for a refrig. or maybe a frezzer?

[@SilverCymbal]

So yes, but it depends. Even full size fridges draw as little as 300 watts (running watts) and smaller ones even less but the start up load vary that can be an issue but it depends on the model but for the most part I think it would do it.

[@munish1012]

Just wondering, what do you do for living?

[@mayur619]

I know nada about generators and this video allowed me to understand what to look for and how to apply that knwledge for diffrent application. Thank You.

[@harryballs6493]

I have a cabin in the woods use generators for power I have bought several expensive ones that didn't last long. Bought a tailgater it has been six months running everything with no problems. Has outlasted most of the expensive ones I have had. I have had such good luck with it I bought another one just like it for a spare just in case something happens.

[@SilverClouds2]

Camp generator Runs Great. Don't use with Refrigerator. Great for TV lasts 8 hours.

[@tonymaiettasr.7340]

Dranetz. Used those meters back in the day to troubleshoot mainframe computer problems. Was always able to pinpoint customer dirty power and not my computers.

[@SilverCymbal]

Very cool! They are some good stuff.

[@ghostrider-gm2wg]

I used mine for over 2 years to run my tv and a small radio when I used to go to the dunes to ride my atv with my friends. I used to watch the football games as well. It never damaged either. Still have both the tv and radio.

[@ronaldbertin9455]

Dont start well in the cold , but run great if you remember to mix the gas 900 watts if you want it to last

[@DeliciousBass01]

lol you’re the only one running Motul in a HF generator! :)

[@SilverCymbal]

That is probably true! The stuff is amazing and I buy about 1 bottle a year so its a great deal.

[@DeliciousBass01]

@@SilverCymbal Motul is great! VP racing 2stroke is also very good for the price, and is JASO FD rated. The rating probably isn't everything, but it's surprising how many high end oils are not rated.

[@asappestcontrol1250]

Thanks . You saved my laptop from dirty surge's. LoL

[@jacobmcandles1745]

Had one for running the fridge when the power went out. Worked fine. Also ran a 100 watt light at the same time.

[@idcray8572]

Just by the mix I have had mine for 6 years works great

[@frisqiestyleideas3447]

Absolute junk! I went through three or four of these things and the pull kept breaking or there were other problems. Seriously the worst piece of junk avoid it at all cost!