Offering an even more compact frame for 2011, the Generac GP5500 portable gas-powered generator (model 5939) provides a reliable 5,500-watt power supply wherever you need it and a maximum power output of 6,875 watts. An OHV (overhead valve) engine delivers performance and power, while a sturdy steel-tube cradle protects the generator's exterior. For safe and comfortable use, the circuit-breaker outlets prevent power overloads, and the low-tone muffler makes for ultra quiet operation.
The hardened steel-tube cradle, fold-down handle, and wheel kit ensure both durability and portability (see larger image).
The Best Features:
Think twice.... By Joe's Garage
We bought this Generac GP5500 as part of a deal with our electrician when he installed a transfer switch in out home.
I was impressed by the solid construction of this genset and the strong build of the frame/cage. The power generated is as advertised. It is not unduly loud either, and is held down to a reasonable sound level when the windows in the house are closed and the unit is running out in the driveway.
Anyway, I dutifully exercised this generator every month for a 15 minute run under load. It provided enough power to keep my essentials on in my home. I put about 5-6 oz. of fresh fuel with stabilizer in it for each run. After about 15 minutes under load, I switched off the load, and then ran it until the fuel ran out. I then turned off the fuel valve and put it back in the garage. I also changed the oil when it first hit 2.0 hours of run time.
After about 5 months of owning this machine, it suddenly started spewing fuel all over the ground during the monthly maintenance run. I contacted Generac for warranty service and the referred me to a local dealer. After transporting the generator to them, they had it for about a week. They said that the float in the carburetor was stuck open due to some corrosion. They claimed that this was due to bad fuel or fuel contaminated with water, or leaving the machine idle for too long without exercise. This boggled my mind since I have been very careful to prevent just this sort of issue.
They refused to even attempt to go get Generac to cover the cost of the repair and billed me $300.00. I explained to them that I followed all maintenance recommendations. The unit was kept in a dry garage without any fuel in the system between test runs. It had 2.1 total hours of run time -- all of it for monthly test runs. Essentially brand new. And yet they refused to even attempt going to Generac for warranty coverage since they explained it was a failure of maintenance by the owner. I told them my maintenance routine, but they said that and corrosion like that is simply not covered.
I am extremely disappointed with this response from the local Generac dealer. It was also very expensive to repair when compared to the overall cost of the unit (nearly 50%). I suspect that the valve was stuck or was of inferior quality and that it had nothing to do with corrosion. perhaps there was a metal flake or burr in there since everything was brand new. But without filming the entire repair and taking parts to inspect them, it is impossible to know and prove what exactly was truly wrong.
If I had to buy over again, I would choose a Honda. And if something goes wrong with the Generac again while I still own it, I will fix it myself instead of taking it in for warranty service. Coverage for repairs is completely at the discretion of your Generac dealer/service people and there is no way to prove that you, as the owner, followed all the proper maintenance and still encountered a part failure -- and are thus stuck with a bill. It is not worth paying $300 to clean a float value for a generator that costs about $700.00.Generac 389cc Fuel Leak Problem Solved By ken vann
I have solved my fuel leak problem. I own a two year old Generac GP 5500 (model 005623-1) that had this problem. It only has about 20 hours run time, but I keep fuel in it year round. I start and run for 30 minutes every 14 days.
Carburetor leaks are caused by a float stuck in the lower position. This can be caused by dirty/old fuel, or Ethanol and water mixing in the fuel. Temporary repairs can be made by lightly taping the carburetor, or by removing and shaking it to free up the float.
Inspection of the float needle showed it to be made of bright aluminum, with a synthetic tip. This needle had corrosion and pitting on it's body, while the synthetic tip had minor wear. It did not have an anodized coating for protection from corrosion. I believe this to be an engineering problem.
Mine has a Huayi Standard of Japan carburetor. Huayi Model #: P27-1, P23 and or P20-1. Not sure which model.
Internal carburetor parts are not available from Huayi or the generator manufacturers. The Huayi design is a clone of certain Honda carburetors, used on some models of GX-240, GX-340 & GX-390 engines. Honda parts or generic equivalents can be used for repairs. See Honda parts manuals for detailed drawings.
I recommend to use Honda Part #16011-ZA0-931 Float Valve, or equivalent, for all repairs to these carburetors. The Honda part is made of synthetic material. The generic parts appear to be made of Aluminum or Zinc with a dull finish. This finish may or may not resist corrosion. All examples came with a spring.
Here is a list of part numbers that are generic equivalents to the Honda part.
Prime Line:7-02343, Rotary:22-10475, Stens:525-554 Needle Valve HONDA/16011-ZAO-931, Oregon:49-997 Oregon 49-997, Carburetor Needle Valve H
I installed the Rotary part in August of 2012, and will keep an eye on it to see if it holds up to the 10% Ethanol fuel. Cannot get pure gas in my area.
Also I changed fuel treatment. Quit using Sta-Bil and went to Star Tron. Star brite Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Gas Additive (8 oz)
I replaced the Solenoid Fuel Valve mounting screws. They were Philips head and I stripped them out. Used hex bolt in 5mm x 12mm, 0.80 thread pitch, grade 8.8. Had to use a thinwall socket to put them in but it works great.
Generator starts with one or two pulls and runs great with the Rotary part.
Found generic air filter that fits. Try Oregon 30-963 Pre-Oiled Foam Air Filter For Honda 17211-899-000 or Air Filter HONDA/17211-899-000. These replace the two piece filter that came with the generator.
My generator came with a fuel filter. It not listed in the Generac parts list, so I have been testing a KOHLER 25 050 07-S Engine Fuel Filter 75 Micron With 3/16-Inch & 1/4-Inch Fuel Line Inside Diameter. It fits 3/16 and 1/4 ID fuel line.
I will edit this review in the future and post the long term results of the carburetor repair.
One last thing, always check back with the Generac website to see if they have revised the parts list or owners manual for your model. When I checked, the parts list went from Revision B (when I purchased it) to Revision D this August. More parts are now available for this 389cc engine.
And yes, this fuel leak problem should be solved by Generac. It's an engineering problem.
===============================================
Revised: October 6, 2012
Search for Ken's Generator Resources for more information on how to fix this fuel leak.
============================
Revised: February 18, 2013
Be sure to read the comments on this post for more information on how to fix this fuel leak. This problem is an easy fix.Generac GP5500 saved the day By rtbreeves
I recently purchased this Generac GP5500 Model 5939 (Not from Amazon) during an online sale from another retailer. With free shipping, the generator took about 5-7 business days to arrive. It arrived at my house on a Thursday, and we had a major wind storm/tornado come through our town on Sunday evening. Luckily I had installed the wheel/handle kit that Sunday afternoon, so when the storm hit, all I had to do was fill up the gas tank and insert the quart of oil that shipped with the unit and we were ready to go. I was truly amazed, all I did was set the choke to full, and with one pull the generator started the very first time!!! I hooked up some 120v extension cords to run the essential items in our house (2 refrigerators, 1 freezer) and another chord to the 240v outlet to power our travel trailer where our family stayed during the power outage. The storm took out our electric power for over 2 full days, and the generator ran for over 42 hours the entire time (only shutoff to refuel periodically - would run about 10 hours on a tank of gas). This thing really saved us and made a bad situation somewhat bearable. I cannot comment on long-term reliabitility, since I've only had the generator about 2 weeks, but for something right out of the box it worked very well without any hassles. Thanks Generac. The Best-Selling Generac 5939 GP5500 6,875 Watt 389cc OHV Portable Gas Powered Generator then to sell out very fast, if this is a must have product, be sure to order now to avoid disappointment.CHECK PRICE NOW!!!
The Best Features:
- Portable gas-powered generator with 389cc OHV engine
- Reliable 5,500-watt power supply; 6,875 surge watts
- Solid, never-flat wheels; ergonomic fold-down handle with locking capabilities
- 7.2-gallon steel fuel tank with incorporated fuel gauge; runs up to 10 hours at 50% load
- Non-CARB Compliant/Not For Sale In California
Think twice.... By Joe's Garage
We bought this Generac GP5500 as part of a deal with our electrician when he installed a transfer switch in out home.
I was impressed by the solid construction of this genset and the strong build of the frame/cage. The power generated is as advertised. It is not unduly loud either, and is held down to a reasonable sound level when the windows in the house are closed and the unit is running out in the driveway.
Anyway, I dutifully exercised this generator every month for a 15 minute run under load. It provided enough power to keep my essentials on in my home. I put about 5-6 oz. of fresh fuel with stabilizer in it for each run. After about 15 minutes under load, I switched off the load, and then ran it until the fuel ran out. I then turned off the fuel valve and put it back in the garage. I also changed the oil when it first hit 2.0 hours of run time.
After about 5 months of owning this machine, it suddenly started spewing fuel all over the ground during the monthly maintenance run. I contacted Generac for warranty service and the referred me to a local dealer. After transporting the generator to them, they had it for about a week. They said that the float in the carburetor was stuck open due to some corrosion. They claimed that this was due to bad fuel or fuel contaminated with water, or leaving the machine idle for too long without exercise. This boggled my mind since I have been very careful to prevent just this sort of issue.
They refused to even attempt to go get Generac to cover the cost of the repair and billed me $300.00. I explained to them that I followed all maintenance recommendations. The unit was kept in a dry garage without any fuel in the system between test runs. It had 2.1 total hours of run time -- all of it for monthly test runs. Essentially brand new. And yet they refused to even attempt going to Generac for warranty coverage since they explained it was a failure of maintenance by the owner. I told them my maintenance routine, but they said that and corrosion like that is simply not covered.
I am extremely disappointed with this response from the local Generac dealer. It was also very expensive to repair when compared to the overall cost of the unit (nearly 50%). I suspect that the valve was stuck or was of inferior quality and that it had nothing to do with corrosion. perhaps there was a metal flake or burr in there since everything was brand new. But without filming the entire repair and taking parts to inspect them, it is impossible to know and prove what exactly was truly wrong.
If I had to buy over again, I would choose a Honda. And if something goes wrong with the Generac again while I still own it, I will fix it myself instead of taking it in for warranty service. Coverage for repairs is completely at the discretion of your Generac dealer/service people and there is no way to prove that you, as the owner, followed all the proper maintenance and still encountered a part failure -- and are thus stuck with a bill. It is not worth paying $300 to clean a float value for a generator that costs about $700.00.Generac 389cc Fuel Leak Problem Solved By ken vann
I have solved my fuel leak problem. I own a two year old Generac GP 5500 (model 005623-1) that had this problem. It only has about 20 hours run time, but I keep fuel in it year round. I start and run for 30 minutes every 14 days.
Carburetor leaks are caused by a float stuck in the lower position. This can be caused by dirty/old fuel, or Ethanol and water mixing in the fuel. Temporary repairs can be made by lightly taping the carburetor, or by removing and shaking it to free up the float.
Inspection of the float needle showed it to be made of bright aluminum, with a synthetic tip. This needle had corrosion and pitting on it's body, while the synthetic tip had minor wear. It did not have an anodized coating for protection from corrosion. I believe this to be an engineering problem.
Mine has a Huayi Standard of Japan carburetor. Huayi Model #: P27-1, P23 and or P20-1. Not sure which model.
Internal carburetor parts are not available from Huayi or the generator manufacturers. The Huayi design is a clone of certain Honda carburetors, used on some models of GX-240, GX-340 & GX-390 engines. Honda parts or generic equivalents can be used for repairs. See Honda parts manuals for detailed drawings.
I recommend to use Honda Part #16011-ZA0-931 Float Valve, or equivalent, for all repairs to these carburetors. The Honda part is made of synthetic material. The generic parts appear to be made of Aluminum or Zinc with a dull finish. This finish may or may not resist corrosion. All examples came with a spring.
Here is a list of part numbers that are generic equivalents to the Honda part.
Prime Line:7-02343, Rotary:22-10475, Stens:525-554 Needle Valve HONDA/16011-ZAO-931, Oregon:49-997 Oregon 49-997, Carburetor Needle Valve H
I installed the Rotary part in August of 2012, and will keep an eye on it to see if it holds up to the 10% Ethanol fuel. Cannot get pure gas in my area.
Also I changed fuel treatment. Quit using Sta-Bil and went to Star Tron. Star brite Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment Gas Additive (8 oz)
I replaced the Solenoid Fuel Valve mounting screws. They were Philips head and I stripped them out. Used hex bolt in 5mm x 12mm, 0.80 thread pitch, grade 8.8. Had to use a thinwall socket to put them in but it works great.
Generator starts with one or two pulls and runs great with the Rotary part.
Found generic air filter that fits. Try Oregon 30-963 Pre-Oiled Foam Air Filter For Honda 17211-899-000 or Air Filter HONDA/17211-899-000. These replace the two piece filter that came with the generator.
My generator came with a fuel filter. It not listed in the Generac parts list, so I have been testing a KOHLER 25 050 07-S Engine Fuel Filter 75 Micron With 3/16-Inch & 1/4-Inch Fuel Line Inside Diameter. It fits 3/16 and 1/4 ID fuel line.
I will edit this review in the future and post the long term results of the carburetor repair.
One last thing, always check back with the Generac website to see if they have revised the parts list or owners manual for your model. When I checked, the parts list went from Revision B (when I purchased it) to Revision D this August. More parts are now available for this 389cc engine.
And yes, this fuel leak problem should be solved by Generac. It's an engineering problem.
===============================================
Revised: October 6, 2012
Search for Ken's Generator Resources for more information on how to fix this fuel leak.
============================
Revised: February 18, 2013
Be sure to read the comments on this post for more information on how to fix this fuel leak. This problem is an easy fix.Generac GP5500 saved the day By rtbreeves
I recently purchased this Generac GP5500 Model 5939 (Not from Amazon) during an online sale from another retailer. With free shipping, the generator took about 5-7 business days to arrive. It arrived at my house on a Thursday, and we had a major wind storm/tornado come through our town on Sunday evening. Luckily I had installed the wheel/handle kit that Sunday afternoon, so when the storm hit, all I had to do was fill up the gas tank and insert the quart of oil that shipped with the unit and we were ready to go. I was truly amazed, all I did was set the choke to full, and with one pull the generator started the very first time!!! I hooked up some 120v extension cords to run the essential items in our house (2 refrigerators, 1 freezer) and another chord to the 240v outlet to power our travel trailer where our family stayed during the power outage. The storm took out our electric power for over 2 full days, and the generator ran for over 42 hours the entire time (only shutoff to refuel periodically - would run about 10 hours on a tank of gas). This thing really saved us and made a bad situation somewhat bearable. I cannot comment on long-term reliabitility, since I've only had the generator about 2 weeks, but for something right out of the box it worked very well without any hassles. Thanks Generac. The Best-Selling Generac 5939 GP5500 6,875 Watt 389cc OHV Portable Gas Powered Generator then to sell out very fast, if this is a must have product, be sure to order now to avoid disappointment.
