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2020/06/24 23:26:27
paqman

Mounting HF Predator Engine?

Hey all, new here, hoping someone can help.  Not sure if this is in the best place or not, but oh well.  I have an old tiller with a Briggs & Stratton 3.5hp engine on it and that thing is kaput.  The gas tank and carburetor are rusted to bits and full of junk, and I'm pretty sure missing some springs and not sure I could get the thing back together if I had all the parts.  Anyway, I decided to scrap the engine and am thinking about mounting a Harbor Freight Predator engine on it.  Problem is, the 79cc 3HP engine would be the perfect replacement horse power wise, but the mounting holes are too close together, and the shaft is too small so I'd have to get a different pulley.  The 212cc 6.5 hp engine looks like it would fit like a glove.  Mounting holes and shaft look to be the same as the current engine.  And the 212cc engine goes on sale for the same price as the 79cc engine all the time.  So I'm tempted just to get the 212.  But what would more than doubling the power do to it?   I'm no machinist, so I couldn't really make a mounting plate for the 79cc engine.  Just curious what drawbacks there would be to throwing on the 212cc 6.5hp engine on a machine made for 3.5hp.  Any thoughts?
7 comments Leave a comment
Roy
One downside will be weight. You will want to be careful in hard ground or contact with rocks, stumps etc, the extra power might stress the chaincase or gearbox beyond its limits.
2020/06/25 00:52:24
paqman
RoyOne downside will be weight. You will want to be careful in hard ground or contact with rocks, stumps etc, the extra power might stress the chaincase or gearbox beyond its limits.

Crap you're right, hadn't thought of that.  It is almost double the weight.  The 79cc engine is 22lbs, the 212 is nearly 40lbs.  I got this tiller for free, so I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to put any money into it.  We till our garden about once a year, and I typically spend about $25 renting a tiller when doing that.  Most used tillers around here go for at least $150 for one that runs with no issues.  So figured for just over $100 into it, this would make it a pretty good deal.  
 
I could get a different pulley to put on the driveshaft if I got the 79cc engine, but I really don't know how I could make the smaller profile of mounting bolts fit on the frame.  Thanks for the reply, gotta think about this.
2020/06/25 11:23:29
paqman
Ok I decided not to do a predator engine, almost just scrapped the whole idea, but a guy near me was selling a 3hp Briggs & Stratton engine that was a near match for what was on there already, for pretty cheap. It ran fine, but now that I've got it on the tiller I'm a bit confused. There is a little like kill wire sticking out, and pardon my ignorance, what do I need to do with that thing to keep this thing running? I can start it up and it runs for about 5 or 10 seconds, then just dies. Do I need to rig up a kill switch with that wire so it will stay running?

I also found it odd that there's no choke or anything on this engine. Or is there supposed to be? lol
2020/07/03 20:51:36
Roy
That is an old engine, the carburetor likely needs servicing with a new diaphragm. The kill switch is just that, right now you have no way of shutting it off if running properly unless there is a stop lever to ground the spark plug. I see what looks like a choke lever above the gas cap.
2020/07/03 23:45:25
paqman
Roy
That is an old engine, the carburetor likely needs servicing with a new diaphragm. The kill switch is just that, right now you have no way of shutting it off if running properly unless there is a stop lever to ground the spark plug. I see what looks like a choke lever above the gas cap.

Ah so you're saying it should keep running the way it is? Dude made it seem like it shut off because that wire needed to be hooked to something. Said it runs great and had no issues lol. Luckily I didn't pay much for it, but I might still talk to him. I'm not in the mood to mess with the carb lol. Really almost just tossed the thing.
2020/07/03 23:58:06
AVB
Will need the model and type numbers but it looks to be missing some parts that controls the carburetor as i appear to have a fairly new fuel tank and the control bracket mounting screw is there, just no bracket.
2020/07/04 06:39:49
paqman
AVB
Will need the model and type numbers but it looks to be missing some parts that controls the carburetor as i appear to have a fairly new fuel tank and the control bracket mounting screw is there, just no bracket.

Model is 90212, type is 0216-01
2020/07/04 09:06:57

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