Predator engine

[olds45512]

My plan was to buy a vanguard from small engine warehouse to drop in my 782, cost with shipping would be about $1,450. I noticed on SEW they sell a driveshaft adapter for a honda engine or the predator which got me looking on Harbor Freight. The price point can't be beat, I could repower two tractors for what one vanguard would cost and looking at the specs i don't see any issues to keep it from working and the reviews are very positive. Here's a link to the engine, opinions welcome.

https://www.harborfreight.com/engine...epa-61614.html

[MO fabricator]

I figure for no more hours than I can put on mine it's hardly worth spending lots of money to make them last perfectly for 40 years. If it's actually a dedicated mowing machine that gets a lot of hours, I don't know, not much experience with wearing out engines like that. It might be worth going name brand in that situation. But if it's a hobby tractor like most of them? I'd try the predator. Or else try my hand at rebuilding a junk used one I overpaid for

[J-Mech]

One of our members called me today and,asked me about the Predator engines..... funny you bring it up, Tim. Incidentally.... the other member's name is also Tim, which makes this even more humorous to me.

For the money, they are worth a shot. I've looked them over, and considered it myself. What I want to know is, will honda parts fit them.....

[olds45512]

From what I've read some parts will interchange and some wont but there are several places that sell parts for the predator engine parts so i don't think getting parts later will be an issue.

[olds45512]

Here's a website that sells a bunch of parts and adapters.

https://www.performance670.com/index.php

[zippy1]

Will you be able to use your PTO? If I remember, SEW came with a sleeve. Also, the SEW engine was plug and play, not that you couldn't do that yourself... Also, was the muffle shroud. Some air duct and shears, and rivets, suppose you could make your own.
If you got it in you, "let er' rip, tater chip". I'm happy with my choice, and would do it again in a heartbeat...

[olds45512]

After some more reading I'm going to stick with the vanguard for the 782. I switch the reviews so it was showing me the newest ones and they are mixed, some people say they are great and others said the engine only lasted 10hrs and there seems to be an issue with the oil filters and only the predator filters work, there are also alot of complaints about it taking 10-12 weeks for parts including the oil filter. The 90 day warranty is also a turn off compared to the 3yr warranty on the vanguard.

If I had the money to burn I would gladly give one a try but that's alot of money to gamble on.

[J-Mech]

What's the price difference between the VG and a Kohler?

[olds45512]

What's the price difference between the VG and a Kohler?

There's another place that sells drop in kits with either a Honda or Kohler engine but they are about $2,300. I was looking at new Kohler's on eBay and can get one for around $1500 but then I would need to make adapters and buy a muffler.

[olds45512]

Here's a link to the Kohler I was looking at, it appears to have the right crankshaft.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F331952009585

[J-Mech]

That Kohler looks right to me. I bet Jeff already has a crank adapter that will bolt on.

[olds45512]

That Kohler looks right to me. I bet Jeff already has a crank adapter that will bolt on.

I will have to send him a message and see. I have a 1440 here that I'm parting out and I'd like to use the driveshaft from it.

[olds45512]

Or there's this one...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F173547879115

[G-Nest]

A guy at work had put one of those predator engines on a mud motor for his duck boat. He seems to be happy with it. It would be hard for me to shell out that kind of money for a harbor freight engine though. Seems like you can find used Kohlers for a couple hundred bucks, with decently low hours(200ish) 90% of them are vertical shafts though. I thought I saw someone convert from vertical to horizontal with out too much work. Not sure how mounting would work though I have a vertical shaft sitting on the shelf and there isn’t any hole on the bottom so perhaps I’m remebering completely wrong.

[J-Mech]

Converting a vertical crank motor to a horizontal engine is incredibly complicated and time consuming. It requires different heads, and machining in the block. Not recommended at all.