Generac SV 4200 Generator Major Features:

• 4200 watts - 4400 watts surge
• 1 Cylinder 8 HP Briggs & Stratton Gasoline Engine
• Manual pull start
• 2.5 gallon fuel tank
• Single 220v outlet
• Twin 110v outlets

My experience:
I bought this "portable" generator from Northern Tool Company in Miami Lakes for about $460.00 about a year after hurricane Andrew hit. (Andrew left me without power for 5 days) I brought it home and filled it with oil and gasoline. It started in about 8 pulls. This generator is loud. I let it run for about 10 minutes. I plugged various loads into it to make sure it worked correctly. I didn't have any problems with it at all. Later I took off the lawn mower style muffler and made an adapter to the original flange. Then I clamped on an automotive muffler. The exhaust is much quieter. It still has a substantial amount of noise but it's from the rotating engine and generator instead of the exhaust. Since then, I start it about every six months to make sure it's working and hasn't developed any problems. When I run it, I put gas stabilizer in the fuel and when I'm done with the test I run it out of fuel.
12 years later - Here come's hurricane Wilma. The power went out at night. The next day, I set up the Generac generator. It started in about 5 pulls. All I wanted to run was some lights, my solar water heater and the refrigerator. It was not even close to running at full capacity. It would run approximately 2.5 hours on 2.5 gallons of fuel. I ran it 3 times a day for 2 hours each run. The midday run was enough to get my solar water heater up to full temperature. On the 3rd day it started missing badly. Upon investigaton, I discovered the oil level sensor was shorting out even though it had the proper oil level. I ended up removing the oil level sensor wire. Then it ran perfectly for the next 4 days until the power was restored. I stored the generator again as I had done in the past. A year later, I went to do a test run and the mechanical on/off switch broke off. I made up my own on/off mechanism to fix it. No further issues so far.

Generac SV 4200 Generator Pros:

• It worked when I needed it
• Provided plenty of power
• Starts relatively easily considering the storage time and age

• Uses more fuel than I would like - needs larger tank
• Oil level sensor had issues
• On/Off Switch broke off
• Loud - especially without my muffler modification
• Wheels not included

Portable Generac SV 4200 Generator Spot Rating:
Considering the age and that it only had minor issues I think it's pretty good.