Chonda junk

[Texan4Life]

I recently got a harbor freight 2200 watt generator (5.5hp chonda JF168) First thing I did was unpack it fill with oil and run it for a tank of gas to make sure it was go to go.

Half way through the tank of gas it stopped it died and wouldn't restart. No more sparks from the plug. So I took the spark plug out and put it on my briggs and touched it to ground and it was sparking away like normal.

So it was probably something easy like a coil, the oil level sensor (yes it was full of oil), or the ignition on/off switch. But being brand new I took it back to HF and they gave me a new one no questions asked.

New one ran great but started leaking fuel from the float bowl. At first I thought it was the oring around the float bowl, but it looked good and wasn't twisted or anything. Turns out when I took the float off and under the float needle was a tiny meal chip that was keeping it from seating all the way.

After that it has been a real champ! has about 30 hrs on it. I plan on adding an hour meter to keep better track.

 

[kcfx4]

i went out this morning to fire up my lawn mowers since i havent mowed since sept due to drought, fired up fine, also went to fire up boys minibike powered by chonda, pulled my arm off and nothing! sprayed some either in the carb, fired right up, then died, did it a few times and finally it ran good

 

[cronk]

I have a Champion Power Equipment 3500 watt generator with a 6.5 hp chonda. I got it at Tractor supply CO for $75, not working. It ran fine but made no power. I brought it home and followed some diagnostics I found online, ended up just needing a Automatic voltage regulator, which cost me about $25, for a new improved design. I have had it a couple years and it has been great, I use the Rotella T6 5w40 synthetic. I also add a little MMO to the gas, seems to help with the E10 gas. I start it once a month and let it run for an hour, it always starts in 3 pulls or less. So far I am pleasantly surprised with my chonda, I'm sure there are bad ones out there, but the handful I have had experiences with are great.

 

[boraticus]

I also have a Champion Generator 3000/4000 with the 196cc Honda clone engine. I was pleasantly surprised with the apparent quality of the clone. It's the quietest and smoothest single cylinder OPE engine I've ever owned and I have a few of them. Visual appearance, fit and finish is as good as anything I've seen.

When I did the initial oil change after five hours running under 3/4 load, I was impressed with how clean the oil was. I drained the hot oil through a coffee filter in a funnel and there was virtually no machine filings to be seen with the naked eye under bright light. That was a first for me.

The engine starts on first pull usually and get's decent fuel economy.

Generator performance is excellent. It has a built in volt meter and it read a constant 125 volts regardless of load. I put a digital volt meter on it and showed the same voltage. This machine is for emergency purposes only and we seldom have power failures so it's long term durability will not likely be challenged. For the money, I doubt I could get a better generator.

 

[mechanicx]

To the 2 Chonda quality issue posts, this is what I've been hearing a lot about them. Basically poor quality control like you would expect from China and not acceptable in my book. Sometimes you get lucky and get a Chonda that works properly and runs about like a Honda would. That's still not too impressive since it is a copy of Honda's better design engine. So no credit to China. But heck even genuine Hondas can have finnicky carburetors and starting, so maybe I do have a good Chonda

.

I'm thinking I'll run it with the fresh gas for awhile and see how it does, maybe add a 1/2-1 oz of Techron or Gumout, and change the plug and then it'll start easy and run smooth like a basically new snowblower should.

 

[kcfx4]

To the 2 Chonda quality issue posts, this is what I've been hearing a lot about them. Basically poor quality control like you would expect from China and not acceptable in my book. Sometimes you get lucky and get a Chonda that works properly and runs about like a Honda would. That's still not too impressive since it is a copy of Honda's better design engine. So no credit to China. But heck even genuine Hondas can have finnicky carburetors and starting, so maybe I do have a good Chonda

.
+1, hondas have had epa issues for years, their fix? under jet the carb, thus the loping when not under load. and as to chondas, my boys mini bike powered by 2.8hp chonda has way more power than a 3hp briggs, much less the whole carb costs $30

 

[boraticus]

What I find most amusing with these Chonda bashing threads is how uniformed the bashers seem to be.

The amount of Chinese content in domestic brand name products is far more than what people might want to believe.

For instance, Briggs & Stratton have many engine components built and assembled in China.

Harley Davidson engine parts are built in China.

Numerous OPE engines and other components found on domestic brand name products are built in China.

Many domestic auto parts are built in China.

Try to find anything in a big box store that does not have Chinese content.

It's a modern day fact of life. Chinese manufacturing has infiltrated virtually every aspect of a consumer's shopping list. It cannot be avoided.

Chinese small engine manufacturing was less than stellar ten years ago and there are probably still some sub-standard products making there way to our shores. However, the preponderance of small engines built by mainstream Chinese small engine manufacturers such as Champion, LCT, Kipor and Lifan to mention a few, are very good products.

 

[dakota99]

I have to agree, the bigger names like boraticus mentioned are very good. They're quiet, fuel efficient and the low cost is a plus too. I think i remember someone mentioning the gokart forums, those kids beat the snot out of these clones and they still run perfect. Removing the governors, not changing the oil and sometimes probably running some crazy grade. They still chug on.

 

[j_mac]

Its interesting how the Chinese cant make a spark plug (as per everyone's recommendation to change them out to a NGK on the Chonda's) but some people still trust the Chonda engines. Anything made is China is suspect to me. Yes, they can make some high quality stuff, but they can make some serious junk too and anything in between. The problem is you don't know what you're getting. I don't know anything about the Chinese name brands like Lifan, but I have seen how the Chinese make up a new name for a company, make lots of money selling their wares, and running their name in the ground with poor quality control/design. They then put that company name to rest and start up a new company with a new name making the same stuff in the same factory. And the cycle starts over. Please let me know when they learn how to copy an NGK plug properly.

By the way, I've got a Japanese 13hp Honda on my pressure washer. Several years of service. Has a hand starter. I'm always surprized how on the first pull this big thing slowy and smoothly pulls and starts EVERY TIME. No Chonda gremlins here.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: j_mac
Its interesting how the Chinese cant make a spark plug (as per everyone's recommendation to change them out to a NGK on the Chonda's) but some people still trust the Chonda engines. Anything made is China is suspect to me. Yes, they can make some high quality stuff, but they can make some serious junk too and anything in between. The problem is you don't know what you're getting. I don't know anything about the Chinese name brands like Lifan, but I have seen how the Chinese make up a new name for a company, make lots of money selling their wares, and running their name in the ground with poor quality control/design. They then put that company name to rest and start up a new company with a new name making the same stuff in the same factory. And the cycle starts over. Please let me know when they learn how to copy an NGK plug properly.

By the way, I've got a Japanese 13hp Honda on my pressure washer. Several years of service. Has a hand starter. I'm always surprized how on the first pull this big thing slowy and smoothly pulls and starts EVERY TIME. No Chonda gremlins here.

I don't trust my "Chonda".

I'm continuously suprised by it.

It's paid for itself several times over just by saving the contents of my freezer.

 

[Scienceman]

Good thing I changed my username.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: j_mac
Its interesting how the Chinese cant make a spark plug (as per everyone's recommendation to change them out to a NGK on the Chonda's) but some people still trust the Chonda engines. Anything made is China is suspect to me.


Like them or not, got used to'em. 'Breaks and Scatters' (Briggs) isn't going to hold the whole low to mid range OPE realm by themselves. Even the legendary old-school Troy-Bilt tillers are using Chondas for the first three models, all of today's snowblowers are either Chonda or Briggs, the list goes on.

Joel

 

[Vikas]

Personally, I am now believing that current red Stabil is just not cutting it. I never had any trouble with starting at the beginning of either snow season or mowing season for last 10 years using green Stabil until this year. I had problems with the red Stabil with my mower and snow blower. Is there anything better than Stabil? Unfortunately Stabil seems to be the only game in the town.

- Vikas

 

[boraticus]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
Personally, I am now believing that current red Stabil is just not cutting it. I never had any trouble with starting at the beginning of either snow season or mowing season for last 10 years using green Stabil until this year. I had problems with the red Stabil with my mower and snow blower. Is there anything better than Stabil? Unfortunately Stabil seems to be the only game in the town.

- Vikas


Drain the fuel from the carb and store the machine empty. It's the best thing you can do for it.

Why spend money on products with questionable effectiveness when an easy cost free solution is available?

 

[mechanicx]

Well draining up to a good part of gallon of gas and your time isn't free. Granted if you time it just right the snowblower could be about out of gas when you drain the carb. But I wouldn't say it is all cut and dry that Stabil doesn't work and drain the carb is always better.

 

[kcfx4]

A few yrs back Briggs bought simpicity and snapper, this made alot of OPE companies very upset, and this opened the door for these "chondas", that said, my boys minibike has a chonda, the whole thing cost me $200, and i must say im impressed so far

 

[boraticus]

Originally Posted By: mechanicx
Well draining up to a good part of gallon of gas and your time isn't free. Granted if you time it just right the snowblower could be about out of gas when you drain the carb. But I wouldn't say it is all cut and dry that Stabil doesn't work and drain the carb is always better.


What are you using to drain the tank? An eye-dropper?

Use a 3/8" siphon hose and you can drain a gallon of fuel in probably a minute or two. When the tank is empty, run the engine until it stops from lack of fuel. Put it away. You won't have a carb problem when you take it out again.

Put an in-line fuel filter on the thing as well. That will save you a lot of grief down the road.

 

[kcfx4]

running stabil has always worked best for me, im not into a dry carb, as it isnt just the carb that gets dried, ie gaskets diaphrams etc. dump some stabil in it and let it run 15-30 mins a month, all should be well

 

[mechanicx]

Running an engine out of gas does necessarlily mean all the carburetor orifices are dry and can't form deposits. that's the argument for using stabil and keeping the tank full. Less air to oxide the fuel and the stabil prevents oxidation.

 

[kcfx4]

id go fuel wo stabil b4 dry carb, if you start it periodically whats the downside? id say 15-30 min a month to keep btry up more than anything, but starting til warm should work just fine as to fuel issues