$99 for a new heart

Last day on sale at harbor freight was today so I picked up the new motor for the old splitter. Now all I have to do is dig it out from under 3 feet of snow and install it. Anyone have an ETA on spring?

 

Nice looking engine. $99?????????

 

February sales price. Back up to $119 tomorrow.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engine...hv-horizontal-shaft-gas-engine-epa-69730.html

 

I put a harbor freight motor on a snowblower, been going good for 4 years! Too bad the rest of the blower is going bad now. It was my dads old troybilt 8hp. $800 for a Tecumseh motor, $200 for the harbor freight 11hp. Good luck with your swap.

 

They have coupons for that motor for $99 all the time.

Of course when its on sale at $99 you can use the 20% coupon and get it for $80!!

My buddy put one of the previous versions on his splitter. The blue motor. Its an exact honda clone. And it is a sweet running motor. Good on fuel on his splitter. And starts right up on first or second pull if it sat one day one month or 4 months.

Its been on about 3-4 years now at least. Does not burn oil or anything. If it gernaded today id buy another.

 

The ads I've seen in car mags for harbor freight with the 20% off coupons state no predator power equipment can be bought with the coupons. I've been looking at their splitters, and sure enough they have predator motors on them. They are Honda gx clones, and will accept many honda parts. They work pretty darn well from what I hear.

 

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They just started adding that exclusion to the coupons. There are a few coupons around for 25% off that don't yet have the exclusion if you act fast!

 

I think your right about the 20%. J dont think they can be used on an engine. Worth a try.

I know I have read about many using the 20% off on splitters years ago. Think I read about guys doing that on the tractor forum I am on, tractorbynet.

 

Yeah, they have that dual action splitter for like 650 on sale, if you could get it for 20% less than that, that would be awesome.

 

I saw that splitter and was tempted.

The 25% off coupons are not as common but that would be cool if you can use them on the splitter.

 

This is a good site for the latest hf coupons... They have a current 25% off but it excludes predator products.

http://www.hfqpdb.com

 

I have the same one on my old toro blower that was an easy swap. Runs really good. Also have one on my boys go-cart.
Only problem with them is they are set extremely lean to pass epa regs. You'll realize this when to try to start it when it's hot and have to full choke it(my experience). You can buy a different emulsion tube and jet to richen it up, takes about 5 minutes. You can also use some mix in the gas tank, maybe 50/50 straight gas/mix to help with break in.

I have been running the above mentioned mix in mine and it runs extremely well. I've pulled the plug after each use and see no carbon buildup anywhere. My thinking is a little extra lube to break in the piston and rings. Also, with the mix in the tank they start right up without choke when warm(can't explain that one, but it works).

Just thought I'd share my experiences, I'm no expert but the cart has a ton of hours as the kids run it ragged and I'd buy another one without a second thought if it ever gives up the ghost. Happy splitting good luck with the swap!
Pics of predator powered stuff:

 

I too have found you need to choke it in the summer. I cut and split a good bit in the summer and notice that I have to half choke it times I would think I could just start it. Like say I was splitting for 45 mins and go in for lunch and watch a show I go back out, in summer heat, and sometimes I fail at just using the pull start with no choke. Then put it on like half choke and it catches first pull. Would of thought it wouldnt need choking in several cases I did choke it???

Most of my failed attempts are that I forget about that ignition switch and try to start it in the off position

 

Hey, that's actually my site :-D Glad it's finding it's way around the interwebs..

 

Saw the link on GJ.

 

Thought I was the only one! My fix for the kill switch thing? Every time I shut mine off I flip the switch right back to run. Ready to go for next time. Works for me.

And running some high octane mix eliminates the hot choke start thing completely. Can't explain it, it just works. I'm running amsoil sabre pro mix (trying to use it up) and straight gas about 50/50 and the blower starts hot no choke every time.
And it smells good too with the amsoil.

 

I just gave you another number on the website counter.

 

I've adopted that procedure, and I've yet to find myself pulling on a motor with the key in the off position.

 

So I dug the splitter out of the snow today and started to install the new motor and I decided that it was time to upgrade a few more parts. I get these crazy ideas sometimes.

When it's done I'll still have less than $600 into it.

New 13 GPM pump and 5 gallon hydro tank on the way. I'll post some pics of the progress when everything gets here and maybe a pic or two tomorrow of what I'm working with.