Help identify 212 differences

[212]

I bought 2 Champion garden tillers with 212cc engines on them. What i have gathered is that these are Honda GX clone engines. I have seen great reviews on the 212 predator engines and noticed a lot of go cart builders use them. I got to looking a bit closer at my tillers and noticed both engines look different. I dont know if its from a different Chinese company or maybe one is a Hemi? Can anyone tell me why these engines look slightly different and have different valve covers?

First engine



And the second engine

 

[Rat]

I bought 2 Champion garden tillers with 212cc engines on them. What i have gathered is that these are Honda GX clone engines. I have seen great reviews on the 212 predator engines and noticed a lot of go cart builders use them. I got to looking a bit closer at my tillers and noticed both engines look different. I dont know if its from a different Chinese company or maybe one is a Hemi? Can anyone tell me why these engines look slightly different and have different valve covers?

First engine

View attachment 147742View attachment 147743

And the second engine


View attachment 147744
View attachment 147745

Tins don't mean squat.

This is a hemi specifically a First Gen Predator 212 Hemi... the crank flywheel taper is the only Hemi specific part below the cylinder head, and the valve orientation and stem length is the only hemi specific part in the head casting (uses non hemi springs without grinding out the seats)


The thing about non hemi valve covers is that the only ones significantly different is the single center stud valve cover found on some old GX160 based engines.

This is also a Hemi (Ducar 212)

 

[BrownStainRacing]

I bought 2 Champion garden tillers with 212cc engines on them. What i have gathered is that these are Honda GX clone engines. I have seen great reviews on the 212 predator engines and noticed a lot of go cart builders use them. I got to looking a bit closer at my tillers and noticed both engines look different. I dont know if its from a different Chinese company or maybe one is a Hemi? Can anyone tell me why these engines look slightly different and have different valve covers?

First engine

View attachment 147742View attachment 147743

And the second engine


View attachment 147744
View attachment 147745

Same engines (non hemi head), different style valve covers.

The top valve cover is what I'm seeing on newer engines, the last 3 years or so.

The second valve cover, I've seen as far back as '06.

If you need ENGINE parts, ALL the predator 212 non hemi parts will be a direct fit.

Don't bother trying to use honda gx200 or the clone 196cc parts.

Same goes for the honda gx160 and the clone 163cc parts.
Most will fit and work,, but ALL Predator 212 non hemi parts will be a direct bolt up and go for the champion 212.

 

[212]

ok, i just wanted to know if there were any differences between the two. I was thinking about doing a valve adjustment on them as preventive maintenance after break in but i don't know if i even need too. They run great and fire up on the first pull of the rope. These seem to be great engines, hopefully better than the Brigs and Stratton on my old 90's tiller. I did several oil changes on it to get the glitter out for the initial break in.

I have been using 10w30 Rotella non synthetic. Would it be worth switching over to full synthetic Rotella on these engines? I just use then a couple of hours a year to till a small garden. And are the magnetic drain plugs and dip sticks a gimmick or do you actually think they help?

 

[BrownStainRacing]

ok, i just wanted to know if there were any differences between the two. I was thinking about doing a valve adjustment on them as preventive maintenance after break in but i don't know if i even need too. They run great and fire up on the first pull of the rope. These seem to be great engines, hopefully better than the Brigs and Stratton on my old 90's tiller. I did several oil changes on it to get the glitter out for the initial break in.

I have been using 10w30 Rotella non synthetic. Would it be worth switching over to full synthetic Rotella on these engines? I just use then a couple of hours a year to till a small garden. And are the magnetic drain plugs and dip sticks a gimmick or do you actually think they help?

I use 30wt for the 1st 3-4 oil changes then switch to mobile 1 10w30 full synthetic.

I've never used any magnetic dip sticks, but I always use and recommend magnetic drain plugs.

 

[Rat]

Same engines (non hemi head), different style valve covers.

The top valve cover is what I'm seeing on newer engines, the last 3 years or so.

I hate that valve cover, it just looks stupid.

The second valve cover, I've seen as far back as '06.

They go back further, but it's a classic for sure

If you need ENGINE parts, ALL the predator 212 non hemi parts will be a direct fit.
Most will fit and work,, but ALL Predator 212 non hemi parts will be a direct bolt up and go for the champion 212.

Also feels worth mentioning you can easily head swap a Hemi to make it a wedge, or a wedge to make it a Hemi, you just need the corresponding pushrods for the head in play... from there it's bolt on and go.

If I'm not remembering backwards Hemi uses longer rods by near half an inch.

My personal favorite swap is jamming a Hemi Flat top piston under a wedge head for a compression bump.

 

[212]

I hate that valve cover, it just looks stupid.

They go back further, but it's a classic for sure


Also feels worth mentioning you can easily head swap a Hemi to make it a wedge, or a wedge to make it a Hemi, you just need the corresponding pushrods for the head in play... from there it's bolt on and go.

If I'm not remembering backwards Hemi uses longer rods by near half an inch.

My personal favorite swap is jamming a Hemi Flat top piston under a wedge head for a compression bump.

I don't want to make it a Hemi i just thought maybe they used what they had laying around and i ended up with one. I bought these things when Home Depot was selling them last fall for $160 each. I assumed the quality would be severely lacking but so far they have been great. And i think it's cool so many people like these little engines and build them. Mine does a good enough job tilling i dont need to do any performance mods but it does seem like it would be a lot of fun.

 

[Rat]

I don't want to make it a Hemi i just thought maybe they used what they had laying around and i ended up with one.

the odds of that happening are infinitely higher at horrible freight

Mine does a good enough job tilling i dont need to do any performance mods but it does seem like it would be a lot of fun.

It doesn't take much to wake them up. Less restricted exhaust and and air filter does wonders for getting the grunt levels up even if it's the only tweak done.

I'm notorious for doing what supposedly can't and definitely shouldn't be done... I have officially built my first monster that actually scares me, which in itself is an absolute accomplishment