Which generator to buy?

[HADave]

A very easy way to help quiet down your genset, and I think this what Lucy may have been refering to, is to attach a 1" dia piece of, and I would use silicone, automotive hose, as in heater hose. clamp this to the muffler tail pipe and stuff it up a 1 1/2" vertically mounted pvc pipe, like a chimney. 10 ft section should work fine and not only will you get the noise well above ear level but also the carbon monoxide will be sent higher in the air, which could be bad if the wind blows in the wrong direction. The silicone hose will not burn, although abit more expensive than rubber but still cheap enough. I would think less than 20 bucks and you are as noise free and you can be.

Of course the more elite models of generators tend to be quieter because of material and closer tolerances in assembly. Honda's claim to fame. vibration tends to make for more noise than you realize. so there is something to be said for smoother operation it also makes them abit more fuel efficient not having to work so hard. Iron cylinder blocks, poorly balanced crankshafts and loose fitting pistons translate into noise vibration. Then again if one is on a tighter budget noise can be dealt with. My $350.00 True Value 5hp Briggs will run all day long next to any 1000.00 Honda, so I guess, "what ever flips your switch"

Aloha HADave