Harbor freight Predator mower engine review
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- Опубліковано 8 жов 2024
- Update since video was made: The engine in the video still runs, but not in service at the moment. It ended up at 1,257 lawn mows before it started losing a little power. It would still cut, but not any thick and tall stuff. But runs and cuts, and can still be used for a normal height lawn. At $125 bucks, thats about .09 cents per mow. Im on my second Predator now which is currently at 1,055 mows, still strong, no signs of weakening as of yet. I have another new one in the box as well awaiting to be installed on whatever deck.
With all the use it gets - does it still run? Video is now 5 years old.
Yep, Ive still got it. its on a Honda deck now. Plus Im running another one I bought spring of 2023. Harbor Freight quit selling them for a couple years. Dont know why. Scared me for a minute. Then they showed back up on the shelves. Since then Ive found exact copies of this engine on Amazon for less than $200 free shipping.
You get shocked because the brake also engages a switch to ground out the coil to kill the spark.
I have a 22 year old briggs and stratton intek vtwin off of a tractor that my dad and granddad bought new together in 2001 and today that's its still going strong that the amount of hours that's on it is alot from all the times of cutting the grass that took us 9 am to 4 pm and picking up the leaves took us 9 am until dark until all the leaves are picked up and my dad did regular maintenance on it and the spark plugs only has been changed once 10 years ago the only thing went wrong with it is something with the rocker arms and governer comming loose because we had to change the throttle cable and it made it rev up to high and sears came out and fixed it and redone the throttle cable and it just outlasted the tractor and we swapped it onto another tractor that I found for sale with a blown engine
Briggs and Crappin LMAO
Breaks & Scrapem is what i call them
The electrical shock might be static from the brake
The engine brake also has a ground wire hooked to it to ground the engine out as the brake locks it up.
Sounds nice!!!!! I had a cheap one that I could do same but got left out in weathrr
I would like to see a close up and better description of the throttle control. I'm using a Preditor on an old Sensation deck. Been using now for more than five years. I recently had a very difficult time finding a primping pump assembly. Luckily found two on EBay. Any suggestions on the primer pump, what to use and where to get it??
The throttle is just set to a position i feel is a good rpm. The kill switch, i removed the heavy spring under the starter housing, then put a rubber band on it. So it rests in the ready-to-start position. Never ran into a need for a primer. The engine in the video is now replaced with a new one after about (stopped counting) 1000 mows. It still ran, just alot of power loss in anything over ankle high.
Just installed one of these on an old school Murray® 22-inch deck; I first installed it on a 2002 Murray® with a 4.0 engine, but the shaft on the original B&S engine was so short and the deck had such a low recessed mounting area, that when the Predator™ was installed along with the adapter and blade, it was dangerously close to the ground (on its highest setting). Luckily, the deck that I ended up using had a "raised dome" engine mounting area, thereby providing adequate clearance. So, before you buy one of these engines, double check your original engine's shaft length and deck height. And, good comment about Stihl®.
You can use a stack of washers also to raise the engine, or buy a plastic ring that has metal inserts at the 3 mounting points. Thanks, that's an important factor,if not THE most important that i failed to mention.
@@TheCaskOf43 Any idea where to buy that plastic ring? And, by using washers I'm guessing that you mean topside at the base of the engine, which means purchasing longer bolts. I am asking because I also have an old Craftsman™ that was given to me that sits kind of low...plus, I want to fit one on my original Murray® deck. If HF would come out w/an engine w/ a shorter shaft, they'd sell a bunch of 'em---keep mowin' dude!!
@@ClassicTV4U Yes, on the top side with the washers, between engine and deck. The ring I have been using and transfering from deck to deck came with a Husqvarna mower. The ring is better because washers allow grass and debris to be blown through the space (normaly covered by the plastic ring) up onto the deck. Yeah I think the longer shaft is throwing people off, especially home owners who havent destroyed 100's or mowers or worked on as many of them as someone who mows for a living or a mower mechanic. So they dont really think to use washers or something else. This is probably the most detailed and thorough Husqvarna parts list out there. I looked though some... you might find that ring. www.partstree.com/parts/husqvarna/mowers-walk-behind-lawn-mower/
@@TheCaskOf43 Good lookin' out, man--I will attempt to find that ring, because I can buy another Predator cheaper than I can pay someone to repair the 20-year-old Tecumseh (which did well in its day). Crankshaft seal is leaking, etc., so let me go look for this riser ring. Will let you know the results.
Great video. Just curious where are you getting the air filters
Ebay, but I may switch to Amazon. Shipping is twice as fast. Ive gotten stuff from Amazon is less than 24 hours at times.
@@TheCaskOf43 thats FAST
Verry nice I if it works commercially it should last me a lifetime how much was it out the door
$128 with tax. Heres the deal...the fine line between whats considered "commercial and home-owner grade" is becoming very thin. The Chinese copy of the Honda is basicaly the same engine. This is one of the reasons Stihl is getting away from gasoline engines and going to battery. The gig is up. A guy can buy just as good a knock off as they can a so-called commercial. I am now at over 1000 lawns/ hours, with this engine, just swapped chassis. If you' re just mowing you're own personal lawn, and change the oil, swap out air filters... this engine will last many years.
@@TheCaskOf43 $120 was a steal 5 years ago, now after 3+ years of Bidenomics they are $220 regular price and they might get down to $199 on sale.
Is there a 6.5 Tecumseh equivalent you suggest? I believe the one on my lawnboy is knocking.
I haven't seen a Tecumseh in years.
The reason you’re getting an electric shock is probably because the flywheel is also the magneto that runs the spark plug.
Mine spits oil out from the engine pressure hose into the carburetor air box. It's hard to see the oil level from that color oil dip stick. It says. 6 of a quart and I have taken oil out figuring it was over filled. But according to the dip stick oil level it's only half way up on the xxx but still spits oil out.. any info will help.. I only have 4 hours of time on the engine at 30% of throttle
You have blowby from a worn or damaged piston letting compressed air force the oil out the breather. If it's running OK live with it and just keep checking the oil and changing the air filter. Its definitely not worth fixing.
Do you have link to buy air filters for this engine? Are they the same as the ones for the Honda Gcv engines? Thanks!
Lately I've been using Amazon. They've been a lot cheaper than eBay. I just bought a 5 pack for like $10 with free shipping. Ive not been liking eBay lately because the shipping takes too long and the prices seem to be more expensive.. I certainly wouldn't pay more than 10 to 12 bucks for a 5-pack though. And yes they are 100% the same as the ones for the Honda GCV engines.www.amazon.com/HOODELL-17211-zl8-023-Compatible-Husqvarna-Premium/dp/B07DSSD762/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Air+Filter+Honda+gcv160&qid=1589327906&sr=8-4
www.amazon.com/HOODELL-17211-zl8-023-Compatible-Husqvarna-Premium/dp/B07DSSD762/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=Air+Filter+Honda+gcv160&qid=1589327906&sr=8-4
@@TheCaskOf43 Ok. I have a Honda mower with the Gcv now. It's a great engine, but I'm just looking at these in case I ever buy a backup mower or an engine replacement. If they use the same spark plug as well that would make it super convenient as you could just buy the Honda maintenance kit from Home Depot in a pinch. Thanks for the help!
Can't find it.
So..you took teh return spring off the engine brake? Cause you can't bare hand mine back to start the motor
Yes I took the spring off. I've got a couple of large rubber bands hooked to it that hold it in the start position continuously. That I just use my foot and turn it off..
@@TheCaskOf43 How hard was it to take the spring off? Do you need to take the flywheel off?
@@12namleht needle-nose pliers , it's a really stiff spring but just pop it off
@@TheCaskOf43 Awesome...Thanks
Wait A MINUTE LOL .....I LIKE YOUR VIDEO AND ALL BUT BRIGGS AND STRATTON WILL ALWAYS BE GREAT LOL
DENNIS Broadie our B&s just won’t die... we want to get rid of it and replace it with a HF motor
Ive put multiple Briggs motors in the grave over the years. They simply do not last. Even the Honda GCV, which is a close cousin to the Predator design, the 1st thing to go tits up on those is the carb. These Predator motors are just great engines
Briggs and Stratton used to be good
It’s garbage now
@@joekaps1210 I was only speaking on the old ones lol my bad I didn’t say old lol
Briggs filed chapter 11
Did you have to source a pulley for it or was it a direct swap?
For the starter rope? Thats the same fitment for a Honda GCV. They run about $10 here at our parts store. If you are talking about the self propel pully, its not self propelled.
@@TheCaskOf43 I'm talking about the self propelled pulley.
@@norge696 it's not self propelled. All of that was negated when I ripped out the transmission to reduce the weight. Plus I think it was rusted out inside there anyway. So I didn't mess with it. The blade adapter however is the same that goes on a Honda GVC. So basically this engine is a mixture of the GXV and the GCV.
too bad this is not 6.5 or 7 hp. why they insist on 5.5 is beyond comprehension.
Briggs and Crappin makes a 6.5 hp push mower engine for $239. It claims its a "professional" grade, but I doubt it. They also make 223CC 10HP vertical crankshaft for the Toro Time master, its about the same price. But I doubt it would work on a regular deck with a "regular" blade.
These damn things are 170$+ tax now
Bastards watching your video hahaha
Here, they are $124.
Just bought one of the last 3 here on the central coast of Crapifornia. Once those other 2 are sold NO more will be available thanks to the geniuses running the show here outlawing ALL fuel fired small engines. Cost me $250.00 out the door including tax WITHOUT the warranty which a 2 year would have added almost 70 more dollars PLUS tax on that. Its ludacris
Greedy HF keeps raising the price on this. used to be 99