From: "John Smith" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.frugal-living misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Stocking up for emergencies
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2006 22:02:17 GMT


"Dottie"  wrote in message 
news:1140737113.099968.124240@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
> Someone
> else I talked to said the small ones were too hard to start and not
> very good.  The person who has the small one hasn't had to use it
> yet...

You addressed the problem, and the solution in the same paragraph.

Ever try to start a lawn mower / snowblower that hasn't been run in years 
and just "put away" in the shed? Very hard compared to one that's always 
running, or properly maintained.

You're supposed to run up your genset once every month or so. Up to full 
operating temperature. Good for the engine, (and the generator?). If you 
know there's a storm coming, dig it out and fire it up beforehand, so you 
know it will work if you need it.

Store it with fresh gas with stabil or the like added to the tank, and 
always use fresh gas (I try to rotate my lawnmower / snowblower stock, and 
dump the gas in the car every month or so.)

Once I learned from my mistake with old gas in my snowblower, and I started 
adding stabil to the blower and the mower at the end of the season, they 
always start first pull the next season. These cheap gensets will have 
similar engines, and are likely as easy to start if treated properly.