Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

I was surprised to see that there are several different clones (presumably Chines) of the Honda GX200. Oddly, some seem to sell for about the same price as price as a replacement Honda, although others are much less - about half. The various folks selling them claim parts are interchangable with the Honda.

Are these any good? I don' think "You get what you pay or" has been suspended, but  China does have very low labor rates and we are talking small engines, not satellites. The one owner I talked to bought one for a generator - $160 delivered - and he said it started on the second pull and seems to perform fine. 

And the parts being designed the same on CAD don't necessarily have the same properties of material.

I'm curious, are these  clone engines as quiet running as a Honda?  If so, that would be enough for me to try one out if I needed to replace a Tecumseh engine on a piece of power equipment.

These engines are as quiet.  The boss has had one on his woodsplitter since last year.  No big deal, but we rent it out.  I've figured out that it has probably has split 500 - 700 cord of wood.  Everyone that has used it has said that they can't tell the difference other then the decal.

In the cold weather it would start on the first pull, were as the brand new Honda needed some coaxing.

I've seen them both tore sown to nothing a bench beside each other.  Took internals and placed them in both engines.  Fits are as good as any.

Sherri

 Material properties could be worse, or better. And the manufacturing toleances could be worse, or better. As the Japanese have very good in-process quality control, one could assume the clones are worse. The Chinese have also cloned a wide variety of U.S. firearms, from  old Winchester pump shotguns to the civilian version of the M14. In general, the steel used was pretty good, but some of the internal tolerances weren't optimal. But making small engines is easier than forged firearm receivers and there's a bigger market.....

Ironically,  Honda soesn't seem to have an electric start 6.5 hp, but you can buy a clone with one.

Looked on eBay and some are selling for $130 plus shipping.

Check this out everybody! Hongda!!! LOL!!!

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-06/03/content_336280.htm

Lifan is BIG when it comes to the small .49CC to the 110CC pocket bikes.!!! They sell like crazy and for cheap!

Highwind wrote:
Pretty good guess Highwind,

according to the article:

"Last year, the Beijing No 2 Intermediate People's Court heard a case filed by Honda against Lifan. In that case, Honda said Lifan used "Hongda" on its products, which Honda claims is very similar to Honda. The case is still pending."

There is also a model called trumaxxs on e-bay  which is a clone not 1but 40 or 50  of them  cheap .

I am looking for parts to one of the 6.5 hp lifan engines and cannot find anyone in my area who can help me out. Anybody know where I can get a new head and valve for one?

Tim