Harbor Freight's predator engines

[karl]

Their just doing what all other manufacturers are doing. No one (as yet) can tell me why this is a problem.
I'll take a plastic cam over steel any day.

I got no pics of this. But one day I was talking to my grandpa and they said he had a tecumseh push mower with a plastic cam and it striped out. He put a steel on in from an older mower and he noticed he had to walk faster (self propelled).

But, I got no pics or the camshaft, so It cant be proven. I dont know why he would lie about it, but whatever. I have never had a problem with a plastic cam, I guess they are lighter and easier to make so thats why they use them now.

 

[Big Boy]

I guess they are lighter and easier to make so thats why they use them now.

Close. Cheaper.

 

[JHen]

Easier to make for sure. You can make very accurate castings of plastic and use faster and easier manufacturing methods if cutting from a blank than you can with steel. Making gears out of metal is a chore. Though, if they are using plastic on the cam gear, why not on the crank-cam gear.

 

[Russ2251]

I guess they are lighter and easier to make so thats why they use them now.

They are less apt to fail with of lack of lubrication.

 

[B man]

and wouldn't they flex not break like a metal cam?

 

[JHen]

Only the gear is plastic. The rest of the cam shaft is cast iron.

 

[karl]

and wouldn't they flex not break like a metal cam?

Have you ever seen a broken steel cam? Its pretty hard to do unless you pull it out of the motor and cut it with a torch, or beat on it with a sledge hammer, ect

 

[B man]

i mean if it did break wouldn't a steel one possibly hurt the engine more?

 

[JHen]

For certain.

 

[g0kartkid]

Jhen hows it holding up.im thinking about getting one and how fast is it running for u

 

[strang]

Well, I went and got one today... Got it for 150 + tax and a 2 year replacement warranty for free.

I just picked up mine for $119 and 2 year replacement for $20.

I also picked up some B&S 5w30 synthetic oil for it.

One question I have: The box says 'counter clockwise rotation'.

My kart has a B&S 5 hp flathead mounted on the left side driving the sprocket on the left hand side.


Is the B&S 5 hp flathead also 'counter clockwise rotation' ??

If not, I guess I'll have to do some fabricating....

 

[devino246]

I just picked up mine for $119 and 2 year replacement for $20.

I also picked up some B&S 5w30 synthetic oil for it.

One question I have: The box says 'counter clockwise rotation'.

My kart has a B&S 5 hp flathead mounted on the left side driving the sprocket on the left hand side.


Is the B&S 5 hp flathead also 'counter clockwise rotation' ??

If not, I guess I'll have to do some fabricating....

Counter-clockwise is the standard.

 

[strang]

Sa-weeeeet!

 

[jareeB]

I just picked up mine for $119 and 2 year replacement for $20.

I also picked up some B&S 5w30 synthetic oil for it.

One question I have: The box says 'counter clockwise rotation'.

My kart has a B&S 5 hp flathead mounted on the left side driving the sprocket on the left hand side.


Is the B&S 5 hp flathead also 'counter clockwise rotation' ??

If not, I guess I'll have to do some fabricating....

you dont break in engines on synthetic oils, it prolly even says not to in the manual. ik with building car engines your not suppose to use synthetic oils to break it in but you can switch over to them later on.

 

[strang]

I did not know that. Thanks.


<strang and headed out for some reg motor oil>

 

[pontiacman74]

I have owned this engine for 3 days. It runs great with some tuning. I will get Pictures of it along with my kart!

 

[Blazkowiez]

The predators seem surprisingly stronger than the older blue clones, mounted another... man those things seem to have way more punch.

 

[pontiacman74]

yes they do I tuned mine today and its real good on the low end and a little tuning goes a loooooong way, here is mine,

 

[Jknisley56]

how did you get the throttle to go back to idle when you let off of the gas. I have a go cart that I am changing the engine on for my kids but I bought a Honda GC 190, long story but it is a mistake. I want to put the Predator engine from this conversation. What can I do to reset the throttle when the kids let off of the gas pedal.

 

[r97]

noooooooooooo, whats wrong with the Honda!? are you just having trouble with the engine not going back to idle when you let off the gas pedal? loosening the bolt on the throttle plate so it rotates easily, and adding a return spring will solve that problem easily.