Blue Max GEN 4000 4,000 Watt 6.5 HP OHV Gas Powered Generator (Non-CARB Compliant)

This generator is cheap but delivers what you expect from it. The hole for the oil is not easily accessible but once you filled it you should be good to go for some time. The gas tank can be refilled very easily.
It comes with a detailed documentation about the engine if you want to do any maintenance on the engine. Once you have figured out that the label for 'choke' is wrong (open and close are actually reversed), it just starts like a charm!
It is also pretty quiet. The wheel kit is highly recommended if you need to move this baby around because it is >100lbs empty (no oil, no gas). Even though the wheel kit is not really great, it will get you move this thing around.

Excellent generator. Shipped with no problems. Added correct amount of oil and fired right up. For the cost you can't beat this deal.

Received the first unit in a short period of time, however it was damaged in transit. Amazon shipped a replacement which arrived in just two days,( fantastic ) however this one was also damaged in transit, but was fixable. It would be nice if whoever is packing these units would add a support under the rail to which the generator and engine are attached. Be sure to check all fasteners to be sure that they are tight, this is very important. I added oil and gas, pulled two times and away we went. I have run this unit two times for about fifteen minutes each time and the unit has started on the second pull each time. I ran a leaf blower and a skill saw at the same time and it did just fine. I bought this unit to run my sump pump in case of a power failure and I am sure that it will do just fine. For the money I paid, I believe this to be a good value.

Mine was damaged also Fedx (so open the ends with a razor knife and look inside simplify repacking it if you have to return it) Mine had a broken engine shock mount . One end of the unit structure is heavy duty the other end is long and thin shock mount arms which need some form of shipping brace that you remove prior to use. I have a amazon prime account found the problem in 15 min. called amazon and they shipped a replacement over night. Might want to check the control panel real well it can be hit pretty hard in shippment. I very impressed with with. It actually started on the first pull. Quiet and smooth running. I say its a steal for the price.

-----Final review. Turns out the generator isn't enough to run a 13.5K BTU a.c. unit. The model number is very misleading. 4k PEAK, 2600 operating. Very underpowered for my needs and very deceiving ad / model number. Do your homework and make darn sure you add up your total RUNNING watts required as well as peak watts. There are many places on the web with conversion charts for say btu's to watts, etc.

I ended up selling my unit on craigslist and buying the model XP4400 (4400 watts peak), 3500 running watts with wheel kit and electric start directly from maxtool.com for 499.99!!!!! This baby is a gem and is cheaper than amazon.com! It runs my 13.5k btu a.c. very well. Should of spent the extra money to begin with! It started with just a bump of the electric start switch PLUS, they sent me 2 bonus gifts of all-in-pocket tools... not necessary but appreciated! 2nd day service was superb from maxtool. TERRIFIC PACKING! Almost overkill on packing! It is just as quiet as the other unit but more powerful. It sells itself and for the price, is most definitely 5 stars!

-----Begin 1st followup: After one hour of use, the generator portion (not the motor) sounded like breaking glass and crunching egg shells inside of it. No more electricity! The generator (not the motor) obviously crashed internally. Though the motor works great and starts now on just one pull, it's useless.

Called Amazon who referred me to Homier. Homier said they only warranty the unit to the original buyer (Amazon) so sent me back to Amazon. Amazon made it right and is overnighting me another unit. I will add that update when it arrives. Perhaps my initial cranking problems had to do with the fact that the generator had some sort of obstruction which made the unit tough to pull? I dunno.

You need to know that if you have issues with your unit, your warranty work MUST be done via Amazon, NOT Homier as they will not even talk to you about warranty work so don't let an unknowledgeable foreign customer service rep (pakistan or india?) send you to Homier. My second customer service rep at Amazon, Tony - an American, was professional and courteous!
---------------------------------------------End first follow-up

Read the reviews and ordered it based on the overall majority being positive. Joined prime so I could get it in 2 days via fedex since most here say fedex does a good job. Got it in 3 days but it was undamaged!

Put in oil (had a funnel) and gas. I choked it, no hint of ignition. The pull start on this unit has _quite a bit_ of resistance, not for lightweights or fragile folks.

I then removed the air filter to visualize the choke valve to ensure it was working...it was. Tried again without the filter. It coughed but then nothing.

I then opened the drain nut on the bottom of the carb. to ensure there was good gas flow and no airlock. Gas flowed fine. My gas was fresh so that isn't the issue.

Back to the choke and only a burp or two. Getting really tired at this point, 20 plus pulls.

Tried a good ole boy trick of shooting a bit of WD 40 in the carb which did help it fire off but it still didn't stay running. Frustration sets in. I'm thinking, "what the heck? All of those other folks had it going in two pulls!" I own a farm and know a bit so am not a novice at starting small motors.

Checked oil again and decided to drain some oil to where it was just above the add mark. Choked it, fired up but I wasn't quick enough to move the choke lever to keep it running (could it be I was tired?). Tried again and was quick enough but it went dead anyway...several times.

Very awkward position of the pull cord which seems to encourage a left hand pull. I'm right handed.

It finally cranked and stayed running with quick work on the choke lever. Trust me, if your unit is like mine, you will get very good at operating the choke lever.

I must have looked like heck because my farm hand walks by and says, "you know, when you get a generator you probably should get one with an electric start". "Thanks" dripping with sweat.

So about 40 to 50 pulls later, it runs. I'm beat. Anyone not fit and strong should not order this unit. For that matter, if you aren't fit and strong, get one with an electric start anyway.

About ready to 'test' my unit and it goes dead like it was turned off. "AHA!" I know what that is, too little oil, the sensor works! Put oil back in it to where I had it before, cranked it up with the choke and quick action on the lever.

Hooked up 10 amp, 110v air compressor and it killed my little blue max right now, like I had turned off the machine. Back to the pull cord. Unlike the instructions stated, I did have to choke it even though I had let it run several minutes to warm up. Several more pulls to my "running total" pun intended.

Tried to run the compressor again, with the same result so I then decided it was idling to low for the compressor to kick in without killing it so adjusted the idle screw up 2 or 3 turns. Flipped the switch, it sputtered but alas, it was running great!

Now a really good test:

I turned off the compressor when it had about 60 pounds of air pressure in it so the extra load the compressor motor would have to overcome would cause it to pull more amps at the start. It killed the generator. Ok, note to self: "Don't try to use compressor with generator if there is a load on the compressor motor."

It runs my small power tools no problem. I'm going to install a small 13.5K BTU rv a.c. this weekend and will test it on that. If I have the same problem, back to Amazon it goes!

Typical cheap China "crafstmanship". It does sound about like a small 20" inch cut push mower as far as loudness goes. Impressive considering...

The protective plastic panel on the back of the 110 receptacles/breaker fell off. When the motor on the generator cools off, I'll put it back on but it could be futile, who knows. The fuel line does not line up with the protective clip, the oil fill is a bit tricky, etc, etc. I'm not a picky person which is why I bought it to begin with.

My unit is running right now as I want to make sure it can run for a few hours.

I did not get the wheel kit but will probably go buy some heavy duty casters to bolt to the bottom which should be fairly simple IF I keep it.

I am praying for the 'one pull' start up others describe after using it. I will reiterate, the pull is stiff. The unit weighs 100 pounds and inched to me (several inches) each time with each pull!

Still, I give it 3 stars because it is an inexpensive generator. One note: my generator has "2600 watts continuous" on it not 2800 or 3000. The ad is a bit deceiving.

This is definitely NOT a 5 star unit. Crafstmanship, stiff pull, etc. It's a 300 dollar - 3 star unit, plain and simple. Seldom use of this unit is probably a blessing. You get what you pay for. In an emergency, it'll do the job and for a cheap camping generator, its a deal.