HF Greyhound Engine: 6.5 hp for $99, Oct 1-3

[38Chevy454]

A lot of people have these engines, they are on sale this weekend at Harbor Freight. The 6.5 hp horizontal shaft OHV version is $99, the same one many have used in different applications with good success. See flyer ad here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/retail-flyer?utm_source=retail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3910A

I personally put one on my rototiller and it works good. Use a 20% off coupon and get it for $79 plus tax. Can't beat that deal

 

[fflintstone]

they had them for $89 last april and I picked up one with coupon for $72 it is still in the box. I just couldnt say no.

 

[ar2stp48]

Thanks for the tip; I need one of these to repower an old Yazoo mower. That tool box for $139 deserves a close look too; might make a good starter box as a gift.

 

[trailwart]

Thanks for the tip; I need one of these to repower an old Yazoo mower. That tool box for $139 deserves a close look too; might make a good starter box as a gift.

that tool box is complete junk. it is thin and flimsy, drawers close hard empty, wouldn't imagine with any weight what they would be like. walk away from that box. it is nothing like there us general boxes, that i own.

 

[38Chevy454]

they had them for $89 last april and I picked up one with coupon for $72 it is still in the box. I just couldnt say no.

I know, I also bought one and used it for my rototiller. But if you need one now, here is your chance for a good price still.

I plan to pick one up to have for a spare, or could repower my little Bonneville mini-bike from 2.8 up to 6.5 hp

 

[Wes28376]

that tool box is complete junk. it is thin and flimsy, drawers close hard empty, wouldn't imagine with any weight what they would be like. walk away from that box. it is nothing like there us general boxes, that i own.

Agreed, complete junk. Now the 5 drawer service cart is a good deal at $199 and it's built like a brick $%^& house.

 

[djkyle65]

Is it worth getting the 2 year warranty for 20$ more or do you think it will hold up?

 

[gtivr4]

Agreed, complete junk. Now the 5 drawer service cart is a good deal at $199 and it's built like a brick $%^& house.

The red one thats always going on sale for $150?

 

[bentwrench54]

how is that greyhound engine? any idea who makes it?

 

[Torque1st]

I believe the greyhound engines are a china made honda clone. Don't count on getting any parts from a honda dealer. I guess they have a number of lawsuits filed. Even if they win a lawsuit the Chinese company will just fold up and disappear overnight and open the next day with a new name and all the same distributors just slightly different names or colors.

Remember there has been a lot of stink about inflated HP figures for small engines recently. Kind of like those 5HP compressors, vacuums, and circular saws...

 

[Skin]

they are indeed china made honda clones. The sad/pathetic part is the amount of product manufacturers that are using them [Toro, Ariens, Craftsman, MTD etc...]. Kind of an FU to Honda.

 

[Art From De Leon]

Since US Customs is always showing how efficient they are by having the media present when they destroy counterfeit CDs, 'Rolex' watches, DVDs, Gucci purses, why are they allowing these fake Honda engines to be sold?

 

[Skin]

There is a difference as these are not branded Hondas nor are they trying to pass them off as such. Its only under a basic visual inspection that you can tell they're direct copies of honda powered equipment. Honda is trying to uphold patent infringement but i think they've pretty much failed as the copies have been available for awhile. Apparently they've simply asked that their dealers not service them.

They've been selling them for the last 3 years. Like i said what i dont get is the amount of once quality equipment manufacturers ordering them. They're pretty easy to spot even if you dont know what they look like. Essentially any piece of equipment with a motor on it without an obvious branding, or branded the same as the equipment [Toro brand engine, MTD brand engine etc..] is chinese.

 

[Torque1st]

They seem to be good engines. The kart people modify them and abuse them and they keep on running. They are available from a number of distributors under various names.

Honda has made $$$$ for many years selling their premium quality engines. B&S has done the same. Both of those manufacturers are going to have to cut their margins and costs to compete. That usually means they offshore production if they have not already.

 

[Skin]

They seem to be good engines. The kart people modify them and abuse them and they keep on running. They are available from a number of distributors under various names.

Honda has made $$$$ for many years selling their premium quality engines. B&S has done the same. Both of those manufacturers are going to have to cut their margins and costs to compete. That usually means they offshore production if they have not already.

good for the price sure but that doesnt condone replicating.

 

[Torque1st]

Unfortunately Asia has been replicating IP from the US and other countries for years. We are "nice" and look the other way.... Global economy and free trade and all that rot. -Grrrrr

It is kind of nice to see Japan getting hit by some of their own medicine tho. Korea is having the same problem. Just wait for India and some other nations to start ripping of the Chinese soon. What goes around comes around.

 

[yiranhu]

The other thing to keep in mind is how old the patent is. Patent protection is like 20 years. After that you can make "generic" versions (like drugs) without consequences... The patent of the original design is probably long expired. That's why many companies would rather keep some designs and things as corporate secrets so that there's much better legal leverage to fight copiers... For something like a motor though, this approach doesn't work since your design is no longer a secret once someone buys it.

 

[swharris]

Since US Customs is always showing how efficient they are by having the media present when they destroy counterfeit CDs, 'Rolex' watches, DVDs, Gucci purses, why are they allowing these fake Honda engines to be sold?

Because people keep buying this SH!t. Note to self, stop buying Chinese ****! That country will be the death of us. Consumer economy...pfft :-(

 

[wbclassics]

I bought one of these last weekend during the $99 sale with 20% off. Over the weekend I decided to see if it would fit my John Deere snow blower which has a tired and troublesome older Tecumseh 7HP engine on it. I decided to take a shot on one of these HF6.5 Honda clones because I was tired of fooling around with the Tecumseh. And since Tecumseh ceased business a few years ago, I figure it isn't going to be terribly long before I would be faced with doing an engine swap anyway when parts availability went away.

Took about an hour to do the swap, very little complications. The snow discharge chute directional lever was in the way, of the right hand side of the HF clone engine. I'll fabricate a longer threaded arm to hold the lever further away, and that'll fix that. Base plate bolt pattern matched the Tecumseh / JD setup, except that the cast base of the HF clone is thicker than the stamped steel mounting base on the Tecumseh motor. I'll have to knock out the mounting studs on the blower chassis and fit longer ones. Again, no fault of the motor, and at least I don't have to drill new holes, simply install longer fixed studs.

Filled with a little bit of gas, filled with oil, opened gas valve, set choke, switched engine to ON position... pulled recoil lightly until I felt it engage and then it couldn't have been more than a 1/3 of a pull until this thing fired. It honestly is the easiest starting recoil engine I've ever owned. Lets hope it starts this easily when it is 15degF outside. The Tecumseh had an electric starter and I was apprehensive about giving up the electric start capacility when I installed this HF clone. If it starts as easily when it is snowing out, I won't care about the lack of electric start.

How did it run? I didn't have it under load yet (no snow), but it idled and accelerated and ran at full RPM for a short blast just fine. Shut it off when it got warm, waited a minute, and started it back up hot - started just fine. I made no adjustments to the carb or anything else prior to starting or once it was running.

Only other issue is my OCD has now kicked in and the new blue motor looks terrible on a JD green chassis. Either I'll paint the motor or I'll paint the rest of the blower a more suitable color.

I didn't opt for the longer warranty period, so I've got the standard 90 days. Which will take me to Jan 2nd... so I'll have worked through a good month of snow season by then and have a good indication of whether cheapo clone motor was a worthwhile investment. My research prior to buying it as well as the apparent high quality (at least externally) of this thing (the castings are very clean with good details, good overall fit and finish) hopefully will reward me with uneventful use this winter and beyond.

 

[Skin]

The other thing to keep in mind is how old the patent is. Patent protection is like 20 years.

They arent just copying one motor, they've cloned quite a few styles in the honda line-up including their premium engines.

I was tired of fooling around with the Tecumseh. And since Tecumseh ceased business a few years ago, I figure it isn't going to be terribly long before I would be faced with doing an engine swap anyway when parts availability went away.

Should of fixed the problem instead of trashing it for some import copy POS, my opinion. After some TLC i've had tecumseh motors firing on the first pull and running like a top that are 30-40 years old. Chinese clones have been around for 3 years and have no proven track record. As far as parts availability for tecumseh, they're still making service parts, they never closed those plants down [quite a few were outside the US anyway]. Some stuff was outsourced. Even so they'd been in business for the better half of a century so its not like there isnt plentiful NOS to be had. I like old things, i like to recycle and try not to be a wasteful american, these chinese clones are simply throw away engines and for that reason i will never own one. To each their own.

By the way they make no servicable carburetor parts for your china clone, you'll need to replace the whole carburetor even for something as stupid as a gasket leak. My brother has had one for 2 years since it came on his cub cadet and has had nothing but constant valve lash issues. Again, disposable.

 

[wbclassics]

Because people keep buying this SH!t. Note to self, stop buying Chinese ****! That country will be the death of us. Consumer economy...pfft :-(

Next time you board a nice new Boeing plane, be sure to let the flight crew know that you don't want to take off until the plane has been rid of inferior Chinese components. Same if you're on a new Airbus.

Wait until you see Boeing and Airbus "clones" in 20 years. When the manufacturing exclusivity agreements end with Boeing and Airbus at the Chinese factories, the factories revert to full Chinese control with the existing tooling and manufacturing lines still in production. This is likely what happened with these Honda clone engines. Reinforcing that belief is the fact that I found no credible resource that stated that Honda was pursuing any legal action against the Chinese clone engine producers (Lifan being the largest). The only issue Honda was suing over was the use of the Honda name or a Honda sounding name relating to the sale or branding of the clones.

they are indeed china made honda clones. The sad/pathetic part is the amount of product manufacturers that are using them [Toro, Ariens, Craftsman, MTD etc...]. Kind of an FU to Honda.

...these chinese clones are simply throw away engines...

Right, so there are one of two conclusions we can draw from your statements:

1) Toro/Ariens/Craftsman/MTD make so much profit from the use of clone engines they could afford to warranty every single one of these disposable engines and still come out ahead financially and without caring about the impact on their brand from having so many engine failures.

2) The Honda engine is overpriced (they are) and that OE yard equipment manufacturers have started using clone engines because they are fairly (equally?) reliable and at a lower cost.

HF's own warranty / replacement policy on these engines leads me to believe that the return / failure rate is low enough that they'll go out of the way to repair a motor you've modified from stock. That was part of the sales pitch for the extended warranty. You think B&S is going to warranty a motor that has a rod through the case if they see the governor has been removed? Not likely, but Harbor Freight will.

Unfortunately for you, Skin, your claimed dissatisfaction with these clone engines is at odds with the vast majority of user experiences, which makes your opinion as disposable as you feel these engines are.

 

[Skin]

Right, so there are one of two conclusions we can draw from your statements:

1) Toro/Ariens/Craftsman/MTD make so much profit from the use of clone engines they could afford to warranty every single one of these disposable engines and still come out ahead financially and without caring about the impact on their brand from having so many engine failures.

This is where you'd be misinformed in your guess. The china motors are being used simply because of competition and walmart/home dope make requests for cheaper machines. Obviously they're not going to run out and purchase motors that cause their products to end up hundreds more than the competition. Not sure if i should include Sears since they dont make anything to begin with, its all contracted out to companies like AYP and MTD. Anyway its simply the fear of being undercut out of the market so they simply adopted the old slogan of if you cant beat them, join them. They have no idea what the actual quality or longevity of the motors are, and they probably dont care since warranty's only go 1-3 years.

HF's own warranty / replacement policy on these engines leads me to believe that the return / failure rate is low enough that they'll go out of the way to repair a motor you've modified from stock. That was part of the sales pitch for the extended warranty. You think B&S is going to warranty a motor that has a rod through the case if they see the governor has been removed? Not likely, but Harbor Freight will.

HF will warranty anything. I could cut a wrench in half and they'd give me a new one. Thats simply their policy of complete satisfaction. They're banking on people not actually cashing in otherwise they'd begin to take losses.

Unfortunately for you, Skin, your claimed dissatisfaction with these clone engines is at odds with the vast majority of user experiences, which makes your opinion as disposable as you feel these engines are.

Unfortunetly what i stated wasnt an opinion. They're simply unproven, disposable motors. For all you know they could self destruct at 500 hours and if they did they're made so cheaply they're meant to be thrown in the garbage rather than fixed. If B&S or Honda cant cast the major components in the US and use Japanese Mikuni or Nikki Carbs and then price their motors to compete with these throw away ones i guess you'll just have to continue to hold that against them. Personally, i'll just @ that opinion.

 

[Steve in Mi]

Harbor Freight store in Saginaw, Mi. wouldn't let me use a 20% off coupon in addition to the $99. sale price. I would have purchased 2 if he had but w/o the 20% off I bought only one and may not shop HF again.

 

[Torque1st]

For all you know they could self destruct at 500 hours and if they did they're made so cheaply they're meant to be thrown in the garbage rather than fixed.

EVERYTHING seems to be made for disposal nowadays.

 

[wbclassics]

Unfortunetly what i stated wasnt an opinion. They're simply unproven, disposable motors.

Please provide some verifiable external references to qualify your statement.

Have you disassembled one of these and compared the machining quality and tolerances to a genuine Honda unit? How about sampling the materials of each of the major components to find out what their chemical make-up is? Have you taken hardness data from the crank, roller bearings, connecting rod and other components as a cursory check to see if they've been heat treated to industry norms for those parts? Please provide your photos and data, from a qualified testing lab (I suggest IMR, who I use).

Now, once you've proven that these are inferior in construction, I'd like to see your statistics on their operational failure rate and causes of failure.

 

[38Chevy454]

Unfortunetly what i stated wasnt an opinion. They're simply unproven, disposable motors. For all you know they could self destruct at 500 hours and if they did they're made so cheaply they're meant to be thrown in the garbage rather than fixed.

You can have your opinion, but the karting guys run these engines with very good reliability and success.

It also works great on my rototiller. It does bother me that so much stuff we get is MIC, but the Greyhound engine is an example of getting good product for the money in my opinion. It is not a cheap disposable ************* as you infer.

I have dealt with B&S, Tecumseh for many years in various equipment. All of them have more issues with owner neglect than any other issues.

 

[mcdtommy23]

They arent just copying one motor, they've cloned quite a few styles in the honda line-up including their premium engines.



Should of fixed the problem instead of trashing it for some import copy POS, my opinion. After some TLC i've had tecumseh motors firing on the first pull and running like a top that are 30-40 years old. Chinese clones have been around for 3 years and have no proven track record. As far as parts availability for tecumseh, they're still making service parts, they never closed those plants down [quite a few were outside the US anyway]. Some stuff was outsourced. Even so they'd been in business for the better half of a century so its not like there isnt plentiful NOS to be had. I like old things, i like to recycle and try not to be a wasteful american, these chinese clones are simply throw away engines and for that reason i will never own one. To each their own.

By the way they make no servicable carburetor parts for your china clone, you'll need to replace the whole carburetor even for something as stupid as a gasket leak. My brother has had one for 2 years since it came on his cub cadet and has had nothing but constant valve lash issues. Again, disposable.

Ever price a tecumseh carb with a choke? $100.00 + I've been working on a manifold to use a clone carb on a tecumseh.

The Honda Clone carbs are 100% rebuildable. Float, needle valve, jet, emulsion tube, that's about it. The Honda parts interchange!

Honda GX160/gx.200 parts interchange (mostly) depending on the valve cover style 4 or 5 bolts.

 

[digdug18]

I believe that the 6.5 motors are the same that the company below uses for karting race motors. They list prepping the motor upto 14hp @ 6500rpm. Now stick that in your mini bike, lol. http://www.nr-racing.com/Clones.htm

 

[pro-rallye]

I just did. 1960 Homelite Trail King with HF $99 special. And yes, it does burnouts.

It's like a Dumb and Dumber reenactment every time I ride the thing!

 

[fflintstone]

Harbor Freight store in Saginaw, Mi. wouldn't let me use a 20% off coupon in addition to the $99. sale price. I would have purchased 2 if he had but w/o the 20% off I bought only one and may not shop HF again.

I have found that store to go against most HF policies, you need to ***** up a storm because the coupon is good for ANY price, sale, clearance ETC. It cannot be used with another coupon. If you are buying something big it may be worth the drive down to flint, just to not have to deal with them.

 

[tdkkart]

Since US Customs is always showing how efficient they are by having the media present when they destroy counterfeit CDs, 'Rolex' watches, DVDs, Gucci purses, why are they allowing these fake Honda engines to be sold?

Because they're not painted red with "Honda" stenciled on the front.

Many of the other products you mentioned are indeed coming in, blantantly copied, right down to the name.

BIG difference

 

[tdkkart]

I have found that store to go against most HF policies, you need to ***** up a storm because the coupon is good for ANY price, sale, clearance ETC. It cannot be used with another coupon. If you are buying something big it may be worth the drive down to flint, just to not have to deal with them.

There's the key. The last sale flier I saw with the $99 motors was indeed a "coupon" sale. Little boxes with dashed lines around them, clearly indicating that they were cut out coupons.

He couldn't get the $99 engine for 20% off just like I couldn't get the $349 toolbox for 20% off because it was on a coupon also.

 

[djd99]

I have found that store to go against most HF policies, you need to ***** up a storm because the coupon is good for ANY price, sale, clearance ETC. It cannot be used with another coupon. If you are buying something big it may be worth the drive down to flint, just to not have to deal with them.

So far the Flint store hasn't turn down the 20% coupon on anything I've purchased so far. They'll treat you right so it's worth the drive.

 

[Steve in Mi]

Glad to hear others are using the engine to modify their equipment. I think that if I can get this engine to fit into my new Radio Flyer wagon ... it should go pretty good. My dilemma will be squeezing in a drivers seat also.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/ceethese/Temp Posted Photos/LittleRedWagonpower1.jpg


Might even become as big a hit as the Radio Flyer wagon built on a Datsun pickup chassis

http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-radio-flyer-car-092910,0,1784245.story

 

[digdug18]

Glad to hear others are using the engine to modify their equipment. I think that if I can get this engine to fit into my new Radio Flyer wagon ... it should go pretty good. My dilemma will be squeezing in a drivers seat also.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v19/ceethese/Temp Posted Photos/LittleRedWagonpower1.jpg


Might even become as big a hit as the Radio Flyer wagon built on a Datsun pickup chassis

http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-radio-flyer-car-092910,0,1784245.story

I saw one on a mazda pickup chassis, but no datsun chassis, maybe that is another video.

 

[Torque1st]

I just ordered a "16HP" (~14HP at BEST) engine to repower an otherwise junk lawn tractor. It was a real nice Craftsman in good shape until the PO changed the oil and didn't put any back in...

I have not seen an ad yet where the listed HP matched the max torque figures. And the numbers are only in the ballpark if the peak torque happens at full 3600 RPM!!! I only figure the 16HP model for being 12HP for my driveline calculations.

(Torque x RPM ) / 5252 = HP

Torque in lb-ft

At least the engines are cheap enough so that if they blow up there is not a great loss.

 

[Skin]

It is not a cheap disposable ************* as you infer.

If replacement service parts near the price of a new motor, it is indeed a cheap disposable *************. Nobody in their right mind would throw some money and, more importantly time, at this motor to repair it when they can go right over to HF during happy sale day and get a new one for less than $100. Just saying they arent exactly meant to be cared for [rebuilt] or to last a long life.

Please provide some verifiable external references to qualify your statement.

Have you disassembled one of these and compared the machining quality and tolerances to a genuine Honda unit? How about sampling the materials of each of the major components to find out what their chemical make-up is? Have you taken hardness data from the crank, roller bearings, connecting rod and other components as a cursory check to see if they've been heat treated to industry norms for those parts? Please provide your photos and data, from a qualified testing lab (I suggest IMR, who I use).

Now, once you've proven that these are inferior in construction, I'd like to see your statistics on their operational failure rate and causes of failure.

I have dissasembled them and they are indeed cheap. I dont really give a damn if you believe that or not but i guess you'll find out for yourself. As far as the rest of your asinine requests, you can shove them . I will tell you that when i first began to see chinese motors some years ago, on small scooters, many were coming back with customer complaints of not starting. I kid you not i found one bore sleeved with a cheap piece of split aluminum sheeting like that from a soda can. Anyway enjoy your disposable copied [attempted anyway] motor.

 

[Tom2]

I was all set to buy one of these for my snowblower this fall..But my snowblower had a 2 shaft/pulley Tecumeh motor. Basically it looked like it would be a PITA to rig up. So I ended up selling that blower for parts and finding another larger snowblower for $100. Around here theres quite a few good old snowblower for around the $100-$150 mark. Especially early Fall. So it was hard to justify buying a motor and doing all the work. Still wish I had an excuse to buy one of the motors though.. Maybe a mini bike is in order..

The motor is sometimes shown as a coupon for $99, but I've seen it in other ads and on the website for $99. So if you bring those in, and have the 20% off, it should be no problem. I assume the sale is over now though. They usually dip down to that price about twice a year.

I also worry a little bit about the motor working well in really cold weather. Since it has an air cleaner, and no heater box. Not really made to be used on a snowblower. I imagine it'll still work fine though other than maybe on the coldest days.