Homelite generator

[Russ from MN]

My friend that gave me the Jonsered chain saw today also had an old Homelite generator, and I agreed to fix it up and sell it for him. It has an 11 hp Briggs, and is rated at 5000 watts. I got it running today and the voltage and hz are right on, I had 2 heat guns pugged into it, so it had about a 2500 watt load. What is something like this worth? I think it will clean up pretty well. He got a new one with electric start, I can see why, the 11 hp pulls pretty hard!

 

[john in la]

In my area……
If you sell it 12 hours after a storm passes it is worth a fortune.
If you sell it 12 days after a storm passes it ain’t worth squat.

 

[JMOR]

In my area……
If you sell it 12 hours after a storm passes it is worth a fortune.
If you sell it 12 days after a storm passes it ain’t worth squat.

??????

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Generators are hard to sell used, I would think because A). new ones aren’t that much and B). There is no warranty with used.

You can’t rightly offer a warranty as a private seller, there is no way to control what the buyer does with it… make one little mistake and poof the circuit board which often costs more than the generator is worth.

As an answer to your question, I have a 7500 Generac, with a new control panel worth $600 plus installation. I have advertised it in the past for $400 just to get rid of it. No takers.

 

[Gambles]

That sounds like an older generator that was probably made in North America, unlike the ones you buy new nowadays. It probably also has less electronics to go wrong, compared to something you buy currently.
Unfortunately, at least in my area, most people wouldn't want it. It's probably loud, right? It also probably has a thirstier gas consumption than something that you currently buy. And it also takes a young arm to pull-start the thing.
I like the comment about it being worth a lot of money right after a storm. There's a lot of truth to that statement.
I, myself, would probably cut the losses and offer to give it back to the original owner. He probably doesn't want it back and will let you keep it. It might come on handy after the next storm passes.

 

[Russ from MN]

Yes, I think it seems to be made in US, and has a heavy cast iron Briggs engine. We already have a smaller generator that has worked for us in the past. We have only had one power outage since we moved to this house 15 years ago, and it did what we needed then. I'm going to clean it up and advertise it, maybe start at $300 and be flexible.

 

[Scott 730]

With the advent of quiet, fuel efficient, inverter generators, the market for the old Briggs powered generators is not good.

 

[Dusty MI]

With the advent of quiet, fuel efficient, inverter generators, the market for the old Briggs powered generators is not good.

Older generators need to run at a stander higher speed to maintain 60 cycles, the newer inverter ones only need to run as fast as needed for the amount of power needed.

Dusty

 

[Tony in SD]

In my area……
If you sell it 12 hours after a storm passes it is worth a fortune.
If you sell it 12 days after a storm passes it ain’t worth squat.

X2 what john in la said

 

[Janicholson]

Yes, I think it seems to be made in US, and has a heavy cast iron Briggs engine. We already have a smaller generator that has worked for us in the past. We have only had one power outage since we moved to this house 15 years ago, and it did what we needed then. I'm going to clean it up and advertise it, maybe start at $300 and be flexible.

Shipping to Houston TX today fits the need, but not the practicality. Jim

 

[John T]

Older open frame loud constant high rpm non inverter gensets are still useful by contractors where no power is available and although not so much still have some value. However modern quieter not so rpm dependent inverter gensets are much more desired and worth more. Sure it has value if working properly maintaining correct voltage and frequency under heavy load but how much in any certain location I just can’t say, sorry. See what others think it’s worth

John T

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Older generators need to run at a stander higher speed to maintain 60 cycles, the newer inverter ones only need to run as fast as needed for the amount of power needed.

Dusty

I have a 10 year old 3500 watt Champion RV generator. Not that loud, unlike my neighbor's new Generac.
It uses 5 gallons of gas in 12 hours and powered up 2 refrigerators, a well, coffee pot, fans, TV and microwave.
It is not the newer inverter. It is a cheapie Honda clone.
I don't need a generator that often, but last year we lost power for 5.5 days. I'm glad I had the old generator. Many people lost all the food in their refrigerators.

The stores ran out of generators, That would be the time to sell the generator.