operating orientation varies with the engine. honda uses a donut-shaped oil sump that surrounds the crank in its own chamber and pushes the oil out from there--- there's a slinger that keeps the oil stored around the perimeter of the the 'O' IIRC. this design allows for any orientation.
Other 4-strokes just have a sump--- rotating the engine lets the oil go in places it shouldn't.... causing gobs of smoke and stalling.
I have had both. 2 -non-hondas.... one has been great (backpack blower by toro), one was awful (ryobi trimmer). And a honda on a husq trimmer which is the most elegant of all of them.
to be fair, the 4-stroke in the toro backpack blower has been Great. Starts 2nd pull every time, consumes zero oil, no muss no fuss.
the ryobi---- even the worst cantankerous model R/C engines I had as a kid were more reliable than the ryobi.
Other 4-strokes just have a sump--- rotating the engine lets the oil go in places it shouldn't.... causing gobs of smoke and stalling.
I have had both. 2 -non-hondas.... one has been great (backpack blower by toro), one was awful (ryobi trimmer). And a honda on a husq trimmer which is the most elegant of all of them.
to be fair, the 4-stroke in the toro backpack blower has been Great. Starts 2nd pull every time, consumes zero oil, no muss no fuss.
the ryobi---- even the worst cantankerous model R/C engines I had as a kid were more reliable than the ryobi.
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