which predator 212

64cyclone

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i am looking to get a predator 212 to replace my tecumseh. and i was wondering if i should get a hemi predator 212 or a non hemi predator 212. Which one should i get? Because im looking for reliability and im only 10 and cant afford to fix it if it gets hurt.
 

Hellion

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Too bad the sale is over. They were $99.99 but now back up to $149.99. However any engine under $200 is still a real bargain.

I have heard they are putting non-Hemi engines into Hemi boxes and vice versa. To Harbor Freight it is just a "Predator 212cc 6.5 HP engine" regardless of the differences. If you wanted a Hemi, you cannot order one online and expect to receive a Hemi Predator. Even if you were in the Harbor Freight store, you have to take a peek into the box to make sure.

Tell Santa to look through the handle holes in the box and look at the valve cover. That's the easiest way to be sure (you have to push the handle open):

E4A0D9A1-301A-4DE5-8A65-6EABDD6FAA87_1_201_a.jpeg

Non-Hemi on the left, Hemi on the right 👇
The non-Hemi valve cover is shiny steel, like chrome plated. The Hemi valve cover is cast aluminum, dull and has a rough texture.

45C1DEA4-6874-438A-AA84-480756E788EC.png

5602A1CC-53A6-443E-A613-FCE4C78EC531_4_5005_c.jpeg
 

12348910

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Too bad the sale is over. They were $99.99 but now back up to $149.99. However any engine under $200 is still a real bargain.

I have heard they are putting non-Hemi engines into Hemi boxes and vice versa. To Harbor Freight it is just a "Predator 212cc 6.5 HP engine" regardless of the differences. If you wanted a Hemi, you cannot order one online and expect to receive a Hemi Predator. Even if you were in the Harbor Freight store, you have to take a peek into the box to make sure.

Tell Santa to look through the handle holes in the box and look at the valve cover. That's the easiest way to be sure (you have to push the handle open):

View attachment 143787

Non-Hemi on the left, Hemi on the right 👇
The non-Hemi valve cover is shiny steel, like chrome plated. The Hemi valve cover is cast aluminum, dull and has a rough texture.

View attachment 143788

View attachment 143789
They now have an extended Black Friday sale and it’s back down to $99. I’m going to buy another today. I really wish I would have know there was handles I walked the box a mile and a half to school in 18 degree weather 🤦‍♂️IMG_0840.jpeg
 
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Hellion

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64cyclone

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okey dokey man i will tell santa to check bc i want a hemi.

Too bad the sale is over. They were $99.99 but now back up to $149.99. However any engine under $200 is still a real bargain.

I have heard they are putting non-Hemi engines into Hemi boxes and vice versa. To Harbor Freight it is just a "Predator 212cc 6.5 HP engine" regardless of the differences. If you wanted a Hemi, you cannot order one online and expect to receive a Hemi Predator. Even if you were in the Harbor Freight store, you have to take a peek into the box to make sure.

Tell Santa to look through the handle holes in the box and look at the valve cover. That's the easiest way to be sure (you have to push the handle open):

View attachment 143787

Non-Hemi on the left, Hemi on the right 👇
The non-Hemi valve cover is shiny steel, like chrome plated. The Hemi valve cover is cast aluminum, dull and has a rough texture.

View attachment 143788

View attachment 143789
 

panchothedog

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Don't worry about which engine you end up with. If Santa brings you one just be grateful that he remembered you. Both engines work perfectly fine. You just want to be able to say I got a " HEMI " Christmas. Heck, I am 75 years old and nobody has ever given me a new Predator for Christmas. Still waiting.
 

Rat

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i am looking to get a predator 212 to replace my tecumseh. and i was wondering if i should get a hemi predator 212 or a non hemi predator 212. Which one should i get? Because im looking for reliability and im only 10 and cant afford to fix it if it gets hurt.
It depends on what you aim to put it in and all that.
If it goes on the rear of a kart, doesn't really matter.
If it's going on something like a minibike, the Hemi has a little more cylinder head and valve cover clearance because of its shape and lower profile compared to the common "wedge" head and valve cover. This is because the hemi valves sit at an angle where others are straight inline with the cylinder.
 

64cyclone

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Don't worry about which engine you end up with. If Santa brings you one just be grateful that he remembered you. Both engines work perfectly fine. You just want to be able to say I got a " HEMI " Christmas. Heck, I am 75 years old and nobody has ever given me a new Predator for Christmas. Still waiting.
Of course at school I get to tell my friends i got a engine and its even a hemi
 

64cyclone

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It depends on what you aim to put it in and all that.
If it goes on the rear of a kart, doesn't really matter.
If it's going on something like a minibike, the Hemi has a little more cylinder head and valve cover clearance because of its shape and lower profile compared to the common "wedge" head and valve cover. This is because the hemi valves sit at an angle where others are straight inline with the cylinder.
Yeah I'm just putting it on the back of a gokart
 
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Rat

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Does the hemi provide problems down the road?
No more than a wedge.

To elaborate ONLY ONE aspect of what @Denny meant, a wedge is the better base engine for upgrading and performance tuning.

An example of this would be raising compression.
A Hemi has a flat top piston stock and the only way to raise compression is to mill the head (shave some surface off the cylinder side) but you can't mill much before you will bending valves from the piston hitting them.

A wedge has a dished piston, swapping to a flat top raises compression. The wedge heads have a smaller comustion by default, so there's already more compression potential built in.
Since the valves are inline to bore you can mill a lot more off before you're in trouble to further raise compression.

If you have any intentions of getting your hands dirty and learning to tune the engine, a wedge is the better engine; If not it doesn't matter at all which you chose since the base performance is relatively equal.
 

64cyclone

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ok yes I understand but I wont be tuning or messing with it maybe a different carburetor but thats going to be it
No more than a wedge.

To elaborate ONLY ONE aspect of what @Denny meant, a wedge is the better base engine for upgrading and performance tuning.

An example of this would be raising compression.
A Hemi has a flat top piston stock and the only way to raise compression is to mill the head (shave some surface off the cylinder side) but you can't mill much before you will bending valves from the piston hitting them.

A wedge has a dished piston, swapping to a flat top raises compression. The wedge heads have a smaller comustion by default, so there's already more compression potential built in.
Since the valves are inline to bore you can mill a lot more off before you're in trouble to further raise compression.

If you have any intentions of getting your hands dirty and learning to tune the engine, a wedge is the better engine; If not it doesn't matter at all which you chose since the base performance is relatively equal.
 

Rat

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ok yes I understand but I wont be tuning or messing with it maybe a different carburetor but thats going to be it
Then either one is fine because the there's not a specific carb for them. I DO however recommend getting a "Hauyi" carb though.

It has a built in fuel shut off and MORE IMPORTANTLY has an Air/Fuel bleed screw adjustment which allows better low speed adjustment than trying to relying on jets alone
 

64cyclone

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wow thats great. but i must ask is it expensive?
Then either one is fine because the there's not a specific carb for them. I DO however recommend getting a "Hauyi" carb though.

It has a built in fuel shut off and MORE IMPORTANTLY has an Air/Fuel bleed screw adjustment which allows better low speed adjustment than trying to relying on jets alone
 

ezcome-ezgo

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The carb in the link he included is US $13.95/ea. Depends on your definition of "expensive". If you have $0.25 to spend, then yes it is. If you've got a $20 bill, "Bob's your Uncle", "I'm your Huckleberry". "Jackpot!"
 

Rat

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wow thats great. but i must ask is it expensive?
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