520H - Honda conversion

[rakpak 0]

A friend of mine has a 520H with the Onan Engine which knocks. He is trying to find someone who has done the Honda Engine replacement for the Onan, and how the conversion went. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[MalMac 1,332]

Like you I have a friend that did the conversion to the Honda. It was not a drop right in thing. He had a bad time with the wiring and also getting everything line up right. He like the motor but it was alot of work and exspense. Said he would not do it again. He spent just as much if not more on the Honda and all the things and dodads than a complete rebuild of the Onan.

[rakpak 0]

Thanks for the info, I'll pass it on. He was affraid it would be like that.

[Duff 206]

Malmac, did your friend use one of the engines from Small Engine Warehouse that [supposedly] has already been converted to match the wiring and such for specific models of WHeel Horse tractors, or did he just buy a Honda motor in the size he thought he'd want and try to install that? Just curious.....

Duff :omg:

[rakpak 0]

Guess I should have asked that too, because thats the conversion he is thinking about.

[sorekiwi 761]

I seem to remember reading a few posts about the Honda conversions on MTF. There's probably a few on brands other than Wheel Horse too.

I love Honda power equipment, it seems that anything I have ever used or owned that has had a Honda has started easily, and been problem free.

I would love to put a Honda in my 520H, but I dont have the $1500 odd for the kit, or the $1200 odd for the bare motor.

[can whlvr 994]

i put a 13 hp pull start in my 308(i know its not a 520)but it bolted right in,because it doesnt produce power i have no lights which is good because i had to remove them because the exhaust goes right out the the right right,but other than that its the most reliable tractor i have and the fact that i need no battery,solinoids,key switches,the motor pays for it self and it runs a little higher rpms so the machine is faster than the rest of my 8 speeds.

[MalMac 1,332]

Duff Yes it was from small engine wh. Like I said he loved the engine. But had to do alot of work to make it go. He is a good mechanic. He is sharp on wiring so I tend to believe what he said. I know Honda makes a good engine, but for my money after seeing all the stuff he went thru I'll try to rebuild My Onan. Now I do not want to knock Small Engine Warehouse because thats what this sounds like. They are offering a service or an option to people that have had thier engines go south. Iam just saying my frinend had alot of trial and error to get things working. It was just not a drop right in and go.

[Duff 206]

No criticism meant or intended, and actually I'm glad to learn of your friend's experience since I'm not a great mechanic. I've been toying with the idea of a Honda repower for 312-8 #3 (the engine that came with it is complete toast). This gives me pause to think about it a little more before jumping into something I may not be able to handle.

Thanks!

Duff :omg:

[tarcoleo 119]

I have installed Honda power in a C-111 and a C-81. Its a piece of cake,

and with the stationary self-contained Hondas, just bolt them in, connect

belts and throttle cables and you're done. Mine have electric starters which

I do not use. They start every time first or second pull. It was necessary

to modify the hoods to clear the carb and air filter. Gas tanks are included.

The C-111 has an 11 hp engine and drives a 48" SD deck. The C-81 has

the Chinese-assembled 13 hp Honda and drives another 48" deck. The C-111

has been running 15 years without problems. It was so much fun that I

decided to do it again just this last fall, seeing that Harbor Freight was selling

the 13 hp unit for $299. The 11 hp Honda cost $700 back then.

More info if requested.

Tom in RI :omg:

[MalMac 1,332]

I also should add that you have to remember the conversion that my friend did with the Honda was on a 520H. The 520H has it's own set of problems to deal with over the 300's, C's and what ever else. To me the 520 is the most contankerist,stubbornist,hard to work on Wheel Horse there is. When it's working right it is a great machine. When trouble starts, it has a tendancy to feed on it's self and take on a whole life of it's own.

[VinsRJ 723]

Is there a Honda knock-off engine available for your application? That will lower the costs of the conversion. I have had good luck with the knock-offs.

[wh500special 2,268]

Is there a Honda knock-off engine available for your application?

I've not seen a cloned twin Honda-type engine, but there is this:

Chinese Twin Cylinder Diesel

I am waiting for somebody to be the guinea pig on one of these suckers.

I have no idea what they've cloned here. For all I know it might be a new design or a sandwich of two single cylinder engines. I'd really like to try one in a C195, but don't have the nerve to take the plunge. Yet.

(We need a Chinese flag emoticon )

Steve

[mavfreak 11]

id use one of those diesels if i could afford it

[KC9KAS 4,744]

Recently I was at the Toro/WheelHorse dealer and he told me a story that just took place the day before I was there.

Another fellow had purchased a gasoline powered generator from some farm store (don't know which one), and was told he had a HONDA engine.

Well, the engine blew up the 1st time the guy used it, so he took it back to the farm store. The farm store said they didn't do "warranty work", so he took it to the Toro guy, as he is also a HONDA dealer. Mind you this fellow drove 120 miles one way to the HONDA dealer.

Well, the engine was a Chinese knock-off and the guy didn't know the difference before, but after he found out from the HONDA dealer, he was planning on going back to the farm store and make "some heads roll".

I never saw any arrest reports about this, but this dude was pissed!

Soooooo, beware of these Chinese engines.

[tarcoleo 119]

Ken- I appreciate your note re Chinese knockoffs. I would have to say

that all knockoffs can not be equal. There are so many that they can't

all be good--or equal. But having an original Honda engine side by side with the

"Honda" (actually called Greyhound) purchased from Harbor Freight, I have to

tell you that they are absolutely identical--castings, layout, details--everything.

I take away the notion that these are Honda parts assembled in China. As an

engineer I can't imagine that the tooling is not original to Honda so exactly the

same as it has to be to make these castings.. But what do I know, I'm just......

The Viking is installed in the C-81 chassis and so far, so good after a matter of

weeks. Time will tell if this was a smart thing. Wish me luck. Will report back.

Tom in RI :omg:

[rakpak 0]

I do know that Honda Manufactures some items in China, most of the honda scooters are chinese. Then you have the Chinese scooters that have the cloned Honda engines.

In the music industry, there are a lot of what appears to be a brand name (Shure Mics) for one, that are copied even with the Shure name on it.

[sorekiwi 761]

Wow, that 22 hp diesel looks like quite the beast.

I am still tempted to to do the 10 hp Diesel in a 520H. Steve had good luck with his, and it seems that torque and power wise the 10 hp diesel is a good match.

[VinsRJ 723]

Over on the "Other Tractor Site" it was pretty well supported that the smaller Honda Knock-Offs were built in the same plant in China as the legit Honda motors. (Honda does assemble in China)

All of the 6.5hp GreyHounds I've had, have been identical to a Honda GX200. Every part has been exact right down to the made in Japan carb...... Not to mention guys have been getting double, sometimes tripple HP out of them in stock knock-off/clone classes in the carting arena with no issues.

As for the motor going bad....... how many B&S and Techs have taken a dump in the first go around...... I bet you about the same percentage as the knock offs. And to go nuts on the farm store is a bit out there. He or she should have really looked, unless its marked "Honda" then its not. I'm not saying he or she shouldn't get thier money back but honestly it was most likely bought from a teenage sales person. And the knock-offs are also known as "clones" for a reason, hard to tell the difference at first glance. :omg: