toying with the idea of swapping out a Kohler motor that has a chronic oil leak with a Harbor Freight Predator engine

They have essentially a plug-n-run model that is 22HP/708cc - same plugs, shaft size, etc for $849

reviews are generally pretty good - made by a chinese company of course called Loncin, but get this, Exmark uses the same engine in one of their mowers, as well as some of the Toro branded engines.

I was going to pull the trigger on it tonight but then I read its has 34 lbft of torque at 2600rpm, and the Kohler Command I am replacing has 44.

so that gave me pause and I'm trying to decide if I just want to tear down that Kohler ......again.

The motor is on clearance at Harbor Freight, so I'm not sure if they are replacing it with a new model and if so, will it be the same shaft and wiring.

Harbor Freight says they have a 90 day return policy so if I bought it now, left it in the crate and held on to it while I tried to fix the Kohler, at least if the Kohler is trashed, I can swap it out but that will afford me enough time to determine what can be done with the Kohler.

I also have a bead on a used 25HP Kohler Command that should be plug-n-run as well, but its a 2 hour drive from here. I'm also trying to find a local Kawasaki FR or FS model but those are pretty rare on the used market and they last about 20 minutes once the ad is put out there.

One thing that is interesting about these HF Predator engines is there is a huge aftermarket for modding - guy can get in excess of 40HP out of these things with adding hot cams, dual carbs and getting rid of the EPA stuff.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do. At the rate I mow, a 500 hour motor would last me 10 years. Probably makes sense to drop $300 on a used Kohler that maybe I can get 3-4 summers out of it.

I stay away from Harbor Fright on that type of items. YMMV. Be well, RZ.

Rebuild the Kohler.

yea, I understand the logic, and I'm not trying to say these motors are commercial heavy duty, but they have a reputation for being better than the intek/courage level motors

I don’t know much about the HP model you are looking at but the smaller HP versions are phenomenal on wood splitters and such. Basically a Honda copy.

I've got to where I can take that Kohler off in about 15 minutes now.

I thought the oil leak was in the oil sump which has a silicone seal, no gasket, but I replaced it and its leaking again, and I can't tell where the oil is coming from. Its not the heads, and its above the oil seal.

My mistake last time was cleaning the engine before I took it out, because I thought I was certain where it was leaking oil.

fwiw, Exmark has a 4 year/500 hour warranty on their 708cc Loncin motor.

I have a few of the smaller ones, they have been fine.

Jump on to Amazon. Bought a 20 hp 725 cc v-twin for my dad’s mower. Plug and play for $549 last year. They’re about $780 now but still cheaper than harbor freight, and it’s NOT harbor freight! The cc size is more important as they play games with the hp ratings which vary according to rpm. It should be plug and play too

I have a small one that runs great. Always starts first or second pull.

One of my biggest PITA motors is a Honda on a pressure washer.

Go figure.

JUST SLAP A PREDATOR ON IT!


Very versatile with great reviews.

My experience as well. The $99 one I got for the tiller still runs like a top.

+1.

Swapped one out on a tiller. Runs like a scalded ape.

Usually one pull starts.

so I went down to Harbor Freight today to get some tools and I was going to look over the motor.

They had the display model on clearance for $575 - original price is $899, current price is $849.

So impulse buy I snagged it.

Took the Kohler off the zero turn, same shaft size, plugs aren't the same but same color wires - its pretty much as advertised replacing a Kohler Command

so I have this oil leak that was driving me crazy, which is why I've gone down this rabbit hole. I take the Kohler off , lay it sideways and notice the oil leak that I thought was from the oil sump is actually from a hose just below it,its not very obvious, the hose fitting has cut the hose, which I had another built for $20 this morning.

So I'm going to put the Kohler back on and see if I just happened to fix it. Its a 20 minute job to pull it off or put it back on.

If so, then I'll have to decide if I want to keep that Predator motor as spare or bring it back. I have 5 days to return a clearance item. I'll probably just hang on to it since I"m not sure I have 100% faith the Kohlery has any longevity to it. Get some fogging oil, mouse proof it and put it on a shelf in the workshop

Crap! I opened this thread thinking I'd find out I can build my own Predator drone from HF parts.

my son has one of those chonda predator engines on his modded go cart. usually one pull and she fires up.
Big Ed

I suppose that is good news.

If the Predator starts growing old and dusty just sitting on the shelf you could always put it on Craigslist as ' New, Never Used $650 '

I have 4 of their engines on the farm.

3 on sideroll watering systems and 1 on a genset.

They have set for a few years and i did have to spin them with a 1/2 drill to get started.

I have a bad shoulder and can not pull more than 4 or 5 times.

The genset had a 5 1/2 hp Briggs on it and i put a 6 on it.

The set voltage is set with speed and a volt meter.

That thing ran for 10 hours running a fridge,lamp,TV and the Direct TV we had at the time.

It is rated at 1800 Watts.

I replace an old B&S 5HP with the Predator 6.5 HP on an old Roper log splitter. It was plug and play and I was beyond satisfied. It never let me down and was easy to start. I would buy another. What's crazy is the modding that folks do on the 6.5 HP Predators to get 30 HP out of them. Google that.

is that the 212cc? bunch of videos on the 212cc

Yep.