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Briggs & Stratton Generator, Model No. 030238

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After being without electricity for 2 weeks due to Hurricane Rita in 2005, I bought a generator. The one I decided on is a Briggs & Stratton, 3750 Watts, Model No. 030238. I chose this one for several reasons. The first consideration was cost. I wanted one big enough to run a window unit air conditioner and not have the cost of a unit big enough to run a lot of appliances. My main concern was to be able to stay cool and sleep at night. Another consideration for this particular unit was that it was moveable without picking it up. It has 2 wide wheels on one side and a swing out handle on the other. The swing out feature is nice for storing. While the unit is still very heavy it can be moved up or down stairs. It is easy to operate - you just fill it with gasoline, make sure the oil is at the proper level, prime it and pull the rope. It has a start action like a lawn mower. This generator is not in the high dollar category even though it cost $500. It is NOISY - if you live close to neighbors just hope they are running a generator at the same time. The more expensive models have better mufflers, from what I understand, but you pay a lot more for that feature. This generator has a 4 gallon tank, it gets very hot as all generators do, and should NEVER be used inside an enclosed area. It is a life saver when it's hot and you have no electricity but you must follow the warnings and instructions very carefully.

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I bought this generator in 2006 and used it the first time in September 2008 after we were struck by Hurricane Ike. The generator ran flawlessly and it was great. It is very noisy but considering that it provided power, that didn't really matter. I love the generator since it's easy to start, runs a long time on a tank of gas and it gets the job done. I would recommend if you buy one as a source during a power outage. 1) have spare oil on hand to do a proper oil change, I've learned that taking care of tools pays off, 2) have enough gas on hand for an emergency, in the event there is one you will have a hard time getting fuel, 3) make sure you have a ground cable handy, I used a jumper cable clipped to the ground nut on the generator and the other end attached to a tire iron in the ground, you need this to avoid getting a serious shock, 4) MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE PROPER WIRE CORD SET AND THAT IT FITS INTO YOUR GENERATOR PROPERLY, I was given a cable and neglected to test this and found out that my skills as a machinist came in handy, I had to modify the plug to fit since they gave me the wrong cord set, 5) Test your generator so that you are familiar with how to start it and use it when you need to and 6) Properly store your generator and make sure you do not have gas in the carburetor or this will gunk up and if you keep the fuel tank full then follow the manufacturers instructions on a proper additive to avoid problems with old fuel, they have a "stabilizer" which you can add and also make sure you follow ALL INSTRUCTIONS regarding placement of the generator, I know that mine has a strong exhaust and I had the unit on my front porch but the exhaust pointing outward to avoid any carbon monoxide in the house. Best of luck and be safe.

TexasTiger on September 04, 2009 23:48

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Popularity Score

Overall Rating:

4.0

Product Name:
Model No. 030238 Made By:
Briggs & Stratton Purchased at: Lowes Price: $499.00 Category: Household / Tools Published: September 21, 2007 20:05

My Experience Level:

5.0

Feature Ratings: Effectiveness

5.0

Ease of Use

5.0

Maintenance / Cleaning

5.0

Price

5.0