Engine suggestions

[Chiron TL-34]

So I picked up this Manco 415-00 and it came with a Briggs & Stratton 5HP. Harbor Freight has a deal for the 6.5HP predator 212 and I was wondering if its any better. Any suggestions?

 

[pearl111]

Welcome to the DIY,.......If I had the money for the pred. 212. I would get it. Then at least you'll have it on hand.
I would probably run the Manco with the Briggs. and if runs ok then great, and now you have a spare motor if the other runs amuck.
If the B & S is running crappie, then put the new Pred. 212. on, and you'll have a running machine, and you can work on the B & S on your spare time.......That's what I probably would do.

 

[Hellion]

Doggone good advice.

That Manco probably has THE original engine, since I've now seen photos of it. Almost makes me wanna put it in a museum or up on a pedestal someplace.

 

[Chiron TL-34]

Doggone good advice.

That Manco probably has THE original engine, since I've now seen photos of it. Almost makes me wanna put it in a museum or up on a pedestal someplace.

Really?? Maybe I should just run a predator and clean up the Briggs. I was thinking about dumping a bunch of money into it over the summer but maybe not. Don't wanna blow a classic engine. Although, the predator deal is over

 

[Thepartsguy]

Really?? Maybe I should just run a predator and clean up the Briggs. I was thinking about dumping a bunch of money into it over the summer but maybe not. Don't wanna blow a classic engine. Although, the predator deal is over

Huh there starting a deal on the third of June for 212‘s out here. must be store to store basis.

 

[Thepartsguy]

A predator is worlds different then a flathead. with a junk air filter adapter and standard small header a 212 sounds and pulls like an mule.. you Cannot run a predator stock ungoverned.. multiple YouTube flywheel explosions. you should not just buy a flywheel to make it safe to rev a predator to the moon.. you will just break The rod. and if you have gone that deep on a predator just buy a cam/springs an 11$ intake and a Mikuni... you build a real monster... my 5hp billet goodies build isn’t touching a built predator.. not even at 47mph

 

[Chiron TL-34]

A predator is worlds different then a flathead. with a junk air filter adapter and standard small header a 212 sounds and pulls like an mule.. you Cannot run a predator stock ungoverned.. multiple YouTube flywheel explosions. you should not just buy a flywheel to make it safe to rev a predator to the moon.. you will just break The rod. and if you have gone that deep on a predator just buy a cam/springs an 11$ intake and a Mikuni... you build a real monster... my 5hp billet goodies build isn’t touching a built predator.. not even at 47mph

So you're saying the predator is faster, but blows up like a mf?

 

[Thepartsguy]

So you're saying the predator is faster, but blows up like a mf?

No I’m saying a 100$ briggs billet head and $175 flywheel and billet drop bracket... or just a 99$ engine and a billet kit for what under $250 and maybe 10hp or as others have said on here more... yes the flywheel blows up with people standing over it.... good on dude for living through that.

 

[Chiron TL-34]

Huh there starting a deal on the third of June for 212‘s out here. must be store to store basis.

Do you have a link to that? I think you're right on the store to store basis, but I just wanna make sure.

 

[Thepartsguy]

Do you have a link to that? I think you're right on the store to store basis, but I just wanna make sure.

watch out on this thread a bit later it‘s not a link. I was in the store and they handed me a magazine. if they are truly selling drills for $9 like this mag says I’m loading up.

 

[Hellion]

If you're serious about this hobby and consider yourself an motor head or grease monkey you should definitely get a few Predators or similar Chinese-made Honda-clone OHV 5.0, 6.0 or 6.5 HP engines. Saw someone here recommend a Northern Tool "Ironton" 212cc engine which I thought was interesting.

I love flatheads in general and Briggs and Stratton flatheads specifically. Just a neat little motor but they were long ago eclipsed by Overhead Valve Engines both in the automotive and small engine worlds because those overhead valves just allow for more power and efficiency.

I think a Briggs billet flywheel and connecting rod is all you really need plus maybe a dual ball bearing block to make yourself a homemade Raptor.

Huh there starting a deal on the third of June for 212‘s out here. must be store to store basis.

How do you have advance warning that *they're* (Horror Fright) having a June 3rd special on 212 Predators?

What's the sale price gonna be? I haven't bought one since they raised the price over $99, and 99 dollahs was money I was more than happy to throw away on cheap Chinese motors...

 

[BaconBitRacing]

If you're serious about this hobby and consider yourself an motor head or grease monkey you should definitely get a few Predators or similar Chinese-made Honda-clone OHV 5.0, 6.0 or 6.5 HP engines. Saw someone here recommend a Northern Tool "Ironton" 212cc engine which I thought was interesting.

I love flatheads in general and Briggs and Stratton flatheads specifically. Just a neat little motor but they were long ago eclipsed by Overhead Valve Engines both in the automotive and small engine worlds because those overhead valves just allow for more power and efficiency.

I think a Briggs billet flywheel and connecting rod is all you really need plus maybe a dual ball bearing block to make yourself a homemade Raptor.



How do you have advance warning that *they're* (Horror Fright) having a June 3rd special on 212 Predators?

What's the sale price gonna be? I haven't bought one since they raised the price over $99, and 99 dollahs was money I was more than happy to throw away on cheap Chinese motors...

I bought mine for $99 in April. Great deal.

 

[Thepartsguy]

How do you have advance warning that *they're* (Horror Fright) having a June 3rd special on 212 Predators?

What's the sale price gonna be? I haven't bought one since they raised the price over $99, and 99 dollahs was money I was more than happy to throw away on cheap Chinese motors...

the guy behind the counter gave me this paper with all the Info on it and said stop out whenever the sale is going on.

 

[Denny]

Buy the biggest engine you can afford and you don’t have to build it! 420+

 

[Hellion]

Parts guy, thanks for posting the flyer. Seeing IS believing. I might cruise by my Hazard Fraught and see if they have the same. I get their emails but sheesh, they spam me too much

I bought mine for $99 in April. Great deal.

Oh that is good to hear--they have returned to some sanity. I figured those days were over EVEN with a parking lot sale.

 

[Thepartsguy]

Parts guy, thanks for posting the flyer. Seeing IS believing. I might cruise by my Hazard Fraught and see if they have the same. I get their emails but sheesh, they spam me too much



Oh that is good to hear--they have returned to some sanity. I figured those days were over EVEN with a parking lot sale.

make sure you ask for any open box sales. they have trouble with people returning them with gas/oil... I got a blown up predator for $20 someone returned...

 

[Hellion]

Oh dear. How blown up was the $20 Predator?

So you're saying the predator is faster, but blows up like a mf?

The Predator in stock form can rev a little faster just because that overhead valve configuration moves more air/fuel faster than a flathead because it is a cross-flow head. Just the nature of the beast.

There's been many a noob that has deleted the governor or disconnected it and revved the absolute piss out of an 212 engine, to the redline and left it roaring at maximum RPM and then wondered why the engine didn't last very long. I've seen them do it with the engine alone, just resting on a garage floor and in that situation, it will reach speeds that it never would have if it was connected to a chain, sprocket and an axle with wheels because all that rotational mass acts as drag.

Briggs and Stratton engines actually have a better reputation than the lowly Rotaderp. The magnet on the Rotaderp is like, bonded (glued?) onto the flywheel and it is one of the first things to let go and fly off into a low earth orbit. Just look on youtube for Predator flywheel explosion and revel in the schadenfreude.

People used to race with the stock cast iron Briggs flywheels in the early days and they were fine for many years, but I think the legend goes that at one point the planets all aligned with Mars (the god of war) and a cracked flywheel (unbeknownst to the owner) made it into a race where it finally exploded in spectacular fashion and someone was injured. So it became liability at that point.

 

[Thepartsguy]

Oh dear. How blown up was the $20 Predator?



The Predator in stock form can rev a little faster just because that overhead valve configuration moves more air/fuel faster than a flathead because it is a cross-flow head. Just the nature of the beast.

There's been many a noob that has deleted the governor or disconnected it and revved the absolute piss out of an 212 engine, to the redline and left it roaring at maximum RPM and then wondered why the engine didn't last very long. I've seen them do it with the engine alone, just resting on a garage floor and in that situation, it will reach speeds that it never would have if it was connected to a chain, sprocket and an axle with wheels because all that rotational mass acts as drag.

Briggs and Stratton engines actually have a better reputation than the lowly Rotaderp. The magnet on the Rotaderp is like, bonded (glued?) onto the flywheel and it is one of the first things to let go and fly off into a low earth orbit. Just look on youtube for Predator flywheel explosion and revel in the schadenfreude.

People used to race with the stock cast iron Briggs flywheels in the early days and they were fine for many years, but I think the legend goes that at one point the planets all aligned with Mars (the god of war) and a cracked flywheel (unbeknownst to the owner) made it into a race where it finally exploded in spectacular fashion and someone was injured. So it became liability at that point.

maybe cracked one on the Briggs but I heard the stock flywheels were good for wka 9k plus... until one was spun up past and let go. Then wka made billet not an option a must to even compete.

 

[BrownStainRacing]

This guy explains, why the hemi is not a good choice for upgrades. It does make more power then the non hemi in stock form.

 

[thatkartbuilder]

So, I'm thinking of using a small single-cylinder diesel on my new kart build, opinions?