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5stars
193ratings4stars
36ratings3stars
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2ratings1star
7ratings
155 reviews
DS4000S
Received unit in about 31/2 days. Fedex didn't treat the shipping box very nice, but the packing protected the gen.
Filled it with 30Wt non detergent oid, and did a four hour break in with no load. then ran it for one hour with some load, then ran it with a 15000 btu travel trailer AC, a TV ,a stereo all the LED lights and a vent fan.
The unit took the load with no problems. Being from China it is light weight, as all things from China are. but in this case that that maybe an asset , the unit weighs less than 100 Lbs.
The unit started on the second pull. Well worth what I payed for it. I would give it a 4.5, deduct .5 for light weight materalsRead full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales
Not Inverter Quiet
This generator makes the same amount of noise as a non inverter, 69db. Inverter quiet is miss leading. Made in China and leaked oil right from the start. You can find this same generator with the same 69db on e bay not claiming to be inverter quiet. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: papa_store_busi...
Solid backup generator...with quirks
Bought because main generator in my RV needs major engine repair and parts might be slow in coming.
The DuroMax DS4000S/3300w generator is very solid. Included tools are of marginal use as you need a lot more leverage than these small wrenches affords. No biggie, have plenty of tools to handle the few bolts needing loosening or removal.
Oil filling is a challenge but included funnel & clear tubing make it easier. Problem is the fill hole is at the very bottom area si if generator is on floor/ground it is challenging for sure. Then when you remove tube oil WILL flow out until you get plug/dipstick back in place.
I'll confirm you should change the oil several times during the first 20-25hrs operation. The first in order to help clear out any metal bits in engine left over from manufacturing. It also gets dirty fast. So pay attention to everything the owner's manual mentions. Baby it and I'm betting you'll get years of reliable use.
Now, the oh so "special" act of changing the oil. PUT GENERATOR ON BENCH THEN IN BLOCKS or you will have no way to drain oil into a dish or whatever. I'm going to find a bit of tubing to give additional working room. If you can't put it up higher to access find a low dish to hold about 20oz of used oil.
Those are not short comings just gottchas needing attention. Starting can't be easier. Started first pull then every pull. Just don't work to hard or try to pull really forcefully as if it won't start right away you missed closing the choke, opening fuel valve, turning on the actual engine button on the front. But an easy start for sure, at least so far.
It's not really heavy at about 110lbs with fuel & oil. Easier to pick up thanks to it's cage. Consider adding wheels & handle kit. I learned that at my age now 100lbs is MUCH heavier than it used to be. Did gravity increase?
Electrical connections on front are, not great. The standard 20A/120v receptacles are, well, crappy. The vibration of generator will slowly push any plug out. So consider using the L5-30 three prong twist locking receptacle instead. Plus that is the full 30A connection if plugging your RV in directly.
Sound is fair. Not super quiet but not high pitched obnoxious loud either. A bit of distance and a couple boards to strategically baffle & deflect the sound waves will make it effectively quieter.
Were i to buy again with another $100-$150 in my budget, i paid $229+tax, i would look at the E4400 model instead. Still this is a no regret purchase. It's going to be a backup, gives me about 50% of electricity my 6.6Kw generator produces. I can yse convection/microwave oven or one rooftop A/C unit plus keep house batteries charged. What more could I ask for? Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales
DuroStar DS4000S
The price tag on this generator is terrific... but, be aware, it is HEAVY! When the specs indicate 94 pounds empty, it doesn't seem like much--- until you try to pick it up! Definitely order the extra wheel package. I especially appreciated the 30 amp connection, since I have a small cruiser boat, and I use the shoreline connector to transfer power into the vessel when needed. The DS4000S always starts at first pull, and the big gas tank is a good thing--- (however, when you add 4 gallons of gasoline, you're also making the unit even heavier....)
Other reviews say the generator sounds like a lawn mower when running, and they're correct. This is certainly not a "whisper-quiet" unit, and it truly does have a similar lawn mower volume. Doesn't really matter, unless you're in an environment that requires an enclosed unit for sound reduction.
All in all, it's hard to find a more powerful, more reliable unit for $199! It's heavy, but highly functional!Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales
Inexpensive generator
Bought the DuroStar 4000 on black friday at excellent price and received
it within ten days with auxiliary wheel kit. After assembling wheels and adding
gas and oil, the generator fired up on the first pull.
The power receptacles are putting out a steady 120 volts and the engine
runs smoothly and reasonably quietly.
I have assembled the cables and plugs so that I can backfeed a few house
circuits but will wait for a power outage to truly test it.
I am a little disappointed that there is only one (double) standard plug box so that backfeeding is really necessary. And the large L5-30 receptacle only outputs 120V and not 240V. I think this generator is more appropriate for lesser jobs than house power
but can be used to power a few circuits in an emergency.
All in all, well worth it for the price.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales
Great generator at a low price.
My neighbor has one of these and seems happy with it so I figured I'd give it a try. We are both living off grid and use these for backup power. I have run this generator an average of 10 hours a week for about a month. So far no problems. It starts very easy and usually on the first pull. It is just the right size for my needs. Has enough power to run my mig welder and the battery charger and yet is fuel efficient. Great backup generator.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: factory_authori...
mellow yellow
my genny is yellow, but there is nothing chicken about this genny. started on the first pull, and
that is no bull. I changed the oil after one hour run time. There were a lot of metal and sludge.
kit is a must, unless you are hulk hoagin. mine runs 3 hrs. a gallon on 50% load. Although not
mandatory, I do recommend a ground kit. Voltmeter does let you know the dynamo is working,
so there is some kind of reason for it I guess. Engine hour meter is better application. Steel
gas tank is big and holds 4 gallons, leaving you plenty of time to go get more. Fuel guage is
really nice touch seeing as how my craftsman generator didn't bother to have one. So far so
good. I will up date when snowstorm hits and we all wish we had a generator. one of the best
options is this dynamo lets you access the acculmulator and brushes. Other Brands just leave you in the dark.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales
Camping Comfort and Emergency Home Power
Here in the Midwest we suffer from terrible Storms year-round, From Blizzards in the Winter Tornados and Thunderstorms in Spring and Summer leave us without power from days to weeks in Rural areas.
The Wheel Kit is a must have unless you are going to mount it permanently.
The DuroStar has by far the best Customer ratings of any like priced Generator and even better to some costing
much more! It will run our Campers Roof-top AC unit Fridge and lights with no problem if and when needed. It will also run our Furnace, lights and Refrigerator at it's top end of power.
You need to pull and discard a metal shipping brace and Wooden Block from the underside. I kept the plastic cover to be used as a dust cover, (But only after the Generator has cooled down)!
The Choke lever and the Breaker switch are made too flimsy on this model and I don't understand skimping a few pennyies of material cost on heavier plastic?? also a 12V output would be a nice feature, but at this close-out price I won't complain too much but I will be ordering an extra choke lever just in case.
I have always been Mechanically inclined so I am not afraid of this unit, especially after reading One Star reviews from people over a bolt or two working loose after a few weeks of running, really?
The first thing I did was epoxy a small powerful Alnico Magnet onto the inside end of the oil drain plug. During the break-in period there are always metal shavings that are part of the process while parts that contact each other match up, The Alnico magnet catches those Ferrous Metal shavings so they don't stay suspended in the oil, this was an old Mechanics trick I use for every Motor that does not already come with a magnetic drain plug.
I used regular 10-W-30 motor oil for the break-in period because Synthetic is too "slippery for good ring seating.
When Breaking in any Gasoline motor it is advisable to vary the Engine speed so I went out during the 4 hr run time
and manually pushed the throttle up for a few minutes every 20 minutes, I also plugged in several different objects
which ran the Governor and lugged the Engine differently. When I changed the oil there was kind of a paste of metal stuck on the drain plug showing the Magnet did it's job properly, that metal acts like sand paper inside the Engine and is why it is required to do a first oil change after a few hours run time.
Speaking of operating speed it is set fairly high from the Factory, this is to take some of the shock of appliance startup like Air Conditioners, it also adds to runtime noise and fuel consumption when at a low usage period.
as more and more power is required the Governor takes control and gives the motor more fuel by opening the throttle.
The Governor is a simple device run off of the cooling fins on the motor, as the motor lugs down the engine speed slows down which puts less air pressure on the governor control, this in turn opens the throttle more until the preset speed is met. It is a simple but very effective device and why you CAN lower the Engine idle speed. My last Generator (which is the same model basically) has over double the running time the MFGR has rated the engine life!
It still works but is beginning to use oil and with the motor just holding 20 oz it requires getting up in the middle of the night at times to add oil. I wish that the Motor held a full quart, it would be more convenient AND increase run time between oil changes. Which at 20 hours is more often than about every other brand of Generator on the Market.
Running Synthetic not only extends Engine life and I change at 30-40 hours run time depending on how hard it has run.
I advise keeping a Log Book including run time and oil changes, this takes all the guesswork out of oil changes.
putting the log book in a zip lock bag keeps it Weather proof and allows you to keep it at the generator at all times. A couple strips of Duct tape and heavy string allows you to tie the bag on the generator. I hope my tips help some of you on the fence of buying this brand. This price will only be around for a short time until the stock off 4000's runs out for the new model 4400 costing about $100.00 more.
Good Luck and HAPPY CAMPING from: Larry, Tracy and Hannah Beach.....Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales
Great Portable Generator
I've never owned a portable generator before. I was surprised at how well made it is and how well packaged it was. It came with two wrenches, a screwdriver, spark plug wrench and, thankfully, a funnel for filling it with oil. I also purchased the wheel kit, which I highly recommend as this thing isn't lightweight (I think it's 94 pounds). If you're getting the wheel kit, purchase it at the same time since you'll want to install the wheels before adding oil and gasoline (it's easier to install the wheel kit with the generator upside-down).
After I installed the wheels (the instructions are horrible), I filled it with oil, added some gas, and followed the instructions to start it. It started after a few pulls. I tried it again a couple of hours later and it started on the first pull.
To test it I ran the generator and plugged in a vacuum cleaner. Worked great. I have to assume that the next time I have a power outage that my wife and I will at least be able to make a pot of coffee, have some lamps, use a toaster oven and maybe watch television (assuming cable isn't out too!).
One bit of advice. If you intend to use a generator for whole-house wiring, look for a generator that also has a 240-volt output. This one does not. With 240-volt output, you can have an electrician add a second circuit breaker box in your home and place a receptacle outside for the generator to plug into. That way you don't need to run extension cords and your heating system pump and any built-ins, such as refrigerator, will have power. Just don't overburden the wattage output of your generator by using too many power-hungry appliances at once.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales
Better than Harbor Freight Tools sAmerican watt output generator
This was a bargain at $199! It has a 7 horse power motor as compared to a 6.5 Horsepower motor on the one Harbor Freight Tools sells with a coupon for $288. Same wattage output. I can use all my power tools and run Big screen TVS at tailgate parties. At this price and quality, you just gotta treat yourself to a generator of your own. Get some Stabili gas additive for assured starting after storage for some time. You don't use these everyday. But you could I love mine. Wish I got one decades ago..Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales
DuroStar DS4000S Gas Powered 400 Watt Portable Generator
Well....it came.....I put the Leg kit on it, SHOULD have ordered it WITH the Unit as it's HEAVY, and yesterday got the OIL that was not included and today I'm going to get some gas for it and FIRE it up!
I'm sure it will work well......I'm HOPING it will.......and then I will FEEL safer having this while living in Sunny Southwest Florida!Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: maxtoolsales