The Little Generator that could - Part Deux

 Mike Hendrix, mainly in reply to your questions but also to highlight some
interesting new developments.

http://www.johndearmond.com/2008/12/31/the-little-generator-that-could-part-deux/

John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com  <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
Better remain silent and be thought a fool than to cite Wikipedia and remove all
doubt.

 

Nice article John.  My Chicom generator comes next week, so I will look for
that same loose wire.

That $299.00 inverter generator you mentioned initially generated a powerful
pull on my wallet, but then I read the reviews at
http://tinyurl.com/299-invertergen  .  I can easily overlook a single bad
review, but there are several reviews there that show a depressing
similarity.  That unit seems to have an overly sensitive shutdown circuit.
Also several mention that it is difficult to check and add oil.  I think it
would be best to delay that purchase until they make some incremental
improvements.

Taking this discussion a bit afield, having just retired and downsized to
one car, I have been casually checking out the motor scooter market.  I was
discouraged to discover that Honda/Yamaha want so much for one that I could
easily go out and buy an infinitely more useful used pickup truck.  I
initially ignored the Chicom units because of quality and dealer issues, but
I just took a test ride on a friend's Chicom 150 CC scooter and was
thoroughly charmed.

Any experience/opinion anyone?

Vaughn

 wrote:


Like generators, research the availability of parts AND service
locations. Most of the time you'll find they are hard to find and get.
There are MANY china made scooters from different manufacturers. I
would check on tire sizes and see if you can get them readily. Also,
gaskets, cables, brakes, and other normal wear items of scooters/
motorcycles.

I've had a few brought to me for repair. I quit taking them in because
I couldn't find parts, mostly carb kits and cables.

Don't believe everything a salesman will tell you because they have
never had to find parts.

Good luck,

Hank <~~~would pay the price for a jap scooter

 wrote:



Lots of observations and a little experience.  The ChiComs seems to be VERY
fond of cloning the Honda Trail 90.  That was the step-through dirt bike with
the manual shift and automatic clutch.  I've seen versions in up to 200 cc.

Unlike the super-cheap generators, I WOULD give a little consideration to
spare parts.  The trim - throttle, grips, levers, cables, are replaceable with
brand name stuff when they break.  I'd be interested in parts only to the
extent of being able to get, say, a shifter shaft if the scooter is manual
shift and you happened to break it.

Otherwise, I really like what I see.  I'm still kicking myself for passing up
a $100 deal on a 200 cc ChiCom special.

John
--
John De Armond
See my website for my current email address
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.johndearmond.com  <-- best little blog on the net!
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
No one can be right all of the time, but it helps to be right most of the time.
-Robert Half

 

Do a search for 'chonda' and/or chonda chinese honda.. I first heard the
term 'chonda' at a small engine repair shop where they had found chinese
honda cloned parts for a fraction of the price -- generator carbs and
other parts.  The guy said 'dude we use chonda parts - they're quality'

At first that got my anti-wallmart hackles up then I figured well.. we're
just screwing the japanese by using chonda .. since nobody in the USA
actually makes anything anymore.