Harbor Freight Motor questions.

[SEMI_287]

Ok so the old Kohler K241 is dead. My mother ran it with NO oil for 4 acres... I am going to replace it with a new Harbor Freight 420cc engine here. It has an alternator so it can run the electric PTO.

Now, I know it's a Honda clone so is there a vacuum source so I can hook up a fuel pump and use the existing 3 gallon tank in the tractor?

My second question is, is there an exhaust header that goes straight out and make a 90 degree turn up? I'd use the existing muffler but the exhaust would be blown back at me.

Any help is appreciated guys.

 

[JTK]

What machine will this be going in? You're probably going to have to customize an exhaust.

BTW, there's no real vacuum source. If anything a hose barb is put into the rocker cover to capture pressure/vacuum swings to drive a vac/pulse diaphragm fuel pump.

Joel

 

[Trav]

If there is no vacuum port you could possibly pull the intake manifold and drill a small hole then tap it for a port.

 

[SEMI_287]

Oh I suppose that would help. It's going into an old 1983 John Deere 210. I think I found a gokart header I can modify to to work. Time to get my welder out!

 

[cronk]

FYI, my buddy put a harbor freight motor on his John Deere 212. You are in for some major modifications. He had to cut part if the hood pedistals out for clearance for the carb, the exhaust points straight out the hood/grille area. If you have mechanical pto, that will need some major modification. He used the older "greyhound" engine, not the current "predator" engine HF now sells.

May be easier ho have the Kohler rebuilt, if the block is ok.
You can buy rebuild kits online for $100-$150, you would just have to have a machine shop bore the block, turn the crank, and machine the valves and seats.

 

[SEMI_287]

Yeah, I just went out and looked at the PTO, which is electric, and I think I might have to rebuild the engine.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: cronk
FYI, my buddy put a harbor freight motor on his John Deere 212. You are in for some major modifications.


+1 to that!

I've seen guys try "chondas" on other brands as well. It's never plug-n-play. Like you say, lining up the PTO so the belt routes perfectly can be a major to do. Then you've got exhaust work, linkage/cable work and tin work.

You gotta be setup for a major custom fab job if you want it to be some semblance of OEM.

As much as I like tinkering and like chondas, I couldn't disgrace a JD product like a 212 GT by trying to fit it with one!

I'm not really setup for it anymore, so I'd have to remove the original Kohler-K and take it to a good OPE shop for rebuild. It's worth the $500 or so.

Joel

 

[Michael_P]

Mods or not, I have put bocu hours on those HF Chondas with great luck.

 

[cronk]

I'm not saying anything negative about Chonda's, I own one myself and have been very happy with its performance.
They are a very different design than an older K series Kohler and will not interchange without major modifications and fabricating.

 

[JTK]

Yep, I've got a few small air cooled Chinese import engiens and have had great luck with them. I'd use them as replacement engines all day long in applications where it took only basic modifications to get it to work.

I wouldn't waste the resources trying to design a well proven/designed machine around one.

Joel