how are the harbor freight, predator engines?

[left4dawn]

i noticed online that harbor freight switched over from greyhound engines to predator engines, last year. found some info, but now since its a year later. i wondered if there is anyone who has purchased one recently and thinks they are good, or bad engines.

i did see that the price for one went up, the greyhound 6.5 was 100usually, with specials at times it was 60-80$.

predator right now is 119$.

 

[Blazkowiez]

I love them and feel it is an improvement.

 

[r_chez_08]

Supposedly they are better quality in some areas. They are meant to be a little more torquey too.

 

[Soapbox kid]

Im 1 tank in on mine but its my 1st kart so my 2¢ is i like it..

 

[Grimace]

My "13" hp replacement engine (predator 420cc) is more like 17 hp after I replaced the airbox with a high flow filter, replaced the VERY restrictive muffler with an aftermarket pipe and (giggle) "silencer", jetted the carb and turned out the throttle stop to max governed rpm. With a billet flywheel, race carb and no governor, 18-19 hp is very easy. For the money, they are second to none.

 

[Russ2251]

Not to start trouble....can you prove the 4hp increase?
An improved filter does little to nothing. Straight pipe might give .5 hp gain.
Any HP gain after 3600-4000 is minimal and in fact drops soon after.

 

[r_chez_08]

Not to start trouble....can you prove the 4hp increase?
An improved filter does little to nothing. Straight pipe might give .5 hp gain.
Any HP gain after 3600-4000 is minimal and in fact drops soon after.

Different engine, still Honda design-
http://karting.4cycle.com/showthread.php?t=392159&page=2&pp=35&highlight=Battle

Around 2hp increase from stock 6.5hp, from just a governor removal, replacement of exhaust and air filter and setting lash.

You can see on these motors (yeah I know they are different) that max HP is made around 4500 now the restrictive header and filter have been replaced. Not a lot higher than the HP at 3600rpm though.

A well set up 'box stock' Honda clone with minimum head cc's, good flowing stock casting head and well set up stock carb can easily make 9-10hp. Yeah a few more mods, but it doesn't take a lot with these style motors to make more HP.

True, an improved air filter does little but lean the mixture, but when jetted correctly, more a/f mix can enter the engine. (edit: sorry didn't realise, the poster dis not say that they remedied their carb.)

Also, the '13hp' replacement engine has around 30cc more than the 13hp engine it mimicks. This is probably worth a good HP.

 

[Grimace]

I was told the 420 predator was 15-16 hp, not 13 so that is where I started. A 1-2 hp gain is not out of the question on an engine this size with as restrictive as the original parts were, and how lean it ran anyway. Now that it's jetted, and flows like it should, at least a 1 to a 1 1/2 hp gain is plausible, wouldn't you say? Like I said earlier, it really isn't 13 hp to start with anyway, all the research I have done is saying closer to 15-16.

 

[gallagher19]

I have the 6.5hp predator which I just purchased a month ago for $86 with a warranty. It runs awesome. We ran it for 8 hours on Saturday and another 8 hours on Sunday. Changed the oil and ready to run again hopefully this weekend (if work doesn't get in the way). See pic LOL

 

[MARGR4V3Z]

I have the 6.5hp predator which I just purchased a month ago for $86 with a warranty. It runs awesome. We ran it for 8 hours on Saturday and another 8 hours on Sunday. Changed the oil and ready to run again hopefully this weekend (if work doesn't get in the way). See pic LOL

That's awesome, how did you get it for that cheap? I want to upgrade to that engine over the winter, my Kart looks just like yours.

 

[gallagher19]

Harbor Freight had it on sale via the web site for $119. I went in the store when I was over the river (US) for 24 hours and went to purchase in. When I was about to purchase it the gentleman told me that they were on sale even further. That I could also get a 1 year warranty thrown in the deal. Sooooooooooooooo I bought one. Now I wish I had bought two since we are allowed to purchase $200 after 24 hours. Darn it anyways.

 

[Beginnersluck]

awesome motor tons of torque (212cc)

 

[Beginnersluck]

but still should remove oil sensor for those hard turns (cause it shuts it down since all the oil is on one side of the tank)