It’s cheap and readily available. I think some models have shared/interchangeable parts with other better name brands, e.g. Honda.
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Hi Thierry, I have made a large inside diameter carb and it may have produced a bit more power but it’s a lot of work and difficult to get the governor to work properly with it. For me it’s easier to work with the stock carb and looks cleaner.
A predator is a bored and stroked Honda GX200.
Its 18cc larger in displacement…
There are 3 or 4 versions of the Loncin 212 engines used by harbour freight.
The 60636 part number from harbour freight is closest to the Honda for parts interchange.
They are cheap and that’s a good thing.
People hate to hear this but that Chinese engine is cheaper and stronger, longer lasting and easier to start than a 5 hp flat head Briggs.
I can’t think of anything the 5 hp flat head did better than turning gasoline in noise and smoke.
That should be a warning that we are not making things here to last.
If you could buy a 6 hp cast iron engine with OHV and higher quality material inside that would be worth buying.
But no one makes a cast iron engine anymore
The perfect engine for our needs would be OHV, turn 1800 rpm displacing 400cc and making 6 hp.
It would have a simple piston oil pump and spin on filter.
CDI ignition and an adjustable carb.
These villiers clones might be good too, never took one apart.
Forgot to add we had good engine companies.
They were called Onan (and Cummins screwed that up).
Kohler was good but they moved production to China with Briggs.
Wisconsin engines were good but the range is limited now.
Hercs were excellent engines and perfect for our needs too.
This is turning into one of my ranting speeches so I will call it quits now…
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I think Kyle’s Predator is the ~12hp model. Does that one interchange with the larger Honda model? Hard to beat the 212 for the money per horse power.
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Yes Jeff that are all clones of the Honda.
In China there is no stigma about cloning things.
The better you are at it the better/cheaper you look in their eyes
The idea behind the clone is make it as good as it needs to be and as cheap as you can.
The 12 Hp is probably a version of the GX390.
Some of the clone versions off the 390 are up to 440cc…
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As Brian said, the predator engines are cheap and available (from harbor freight).
Also, I have heard quite a bit of positive feedback about them.
So, that is why I bought one.
As Wallace said, they are probably not built to last.
But, what is, these days?
I believe the one I bought was advertised as 13 HP (420cc).
I am hoping that, by de-rating it to about 8 hp on charcoal gas, I will achieve a good lifespan.
We will see.
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Nothing that turns at high rpm can be expected to last too long sadly.
Old tractors are a good source for engines like the B43G.
That being said it will cost you more to rebuild one than you can buy a Predator for.
What is a fellow to do?
Look at what this costs.
http://onanparts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=137
I am confident it could make 1/2 its rated power or more at a reasonable rpm of 2200 or so.
And do it very reliably for a long time with care.
But the cost, my god what has happened to the world?
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Yes these Onan part are crazy expensive I have a commercial 4500 That needs a AC voltage regulator at about $300 Found a newer ohv unit on craigslist that needs a circuit board @$500-$600. CCK pistons $130 each rings sold separately. I have 2 of these but at 5.5 :1 cr and flat head to boot how well can they do on wood? Steve U made reference to someone successfully doing it I will have to see if I can find that. Sure would be nice to hear one of them chugging along rather than that screaming thing I am using now.
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I’ve got an old Onan that I tried to patch up a few years ago.
It works OK now.
But that’s about $1,000 in parts later.
And they weren’t major parts.
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That’s why mine are setting now and I am collecting all I can find. Thinking I want to run two 120 volt units with a 4cyl car engine. Run 1 for most of my needs and second when I need 240 in the shop, on wood of course. Baby steps, I gather this stuff as I find it for free, trades or next to nothing. Big plans, little money.
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I am thinking the ford 2.3 litre used on the Mustang and Pinto might be a reasonable choice.
Its free wheeling if a valve sticks and much cheaper to buy and repair.
But would it be reliable?
It should be good for 20 Hp at 1800 rpm on wood
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Wallace I have had them and 2.0 and 2.2 and 2.5 Chevrolets and personally liked the performance, reliability and fuel economy of the Chevrolets much better. the 2.3 I had was in a Ranger, had a timing belt and over head cam, not sure about the older ones. Mine was a 1990
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im always surprised when I get a " puff back " that the top of my engine is still there 
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That’s great mike. Had no idea you caught all of that on video. Priceless. 
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I was saving it for a surprise!
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First Predator Run
Apparently, the repairs to the gasifier at Argos were successful.
We were standing around the shop tonight, and decided to improvise a fitting to the new Predator engine.
We hadn’t even unloaded the charcoal from the gasifier from Argos.
A brief inspection of the alumina nozzle with the fiber scope leads us to believe that another crack is developing.
But, we thought what the heck.
At first, we couldn’t get it to start.
Then, we realized that, in our excitement, we had failed to disconnect the blower before trying to crank the engine, and the gas was too rich.
We disconnected the blower, and it started right up.
Man. I really like that electric start.
Anyway, will try to post a short video soon.
EDIT - Here it is.
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First Predator Generator Test
OK. Finally got all the parts and got the generator put together.
It ended up being:
13 HP Electric Start Predator Engine from Harbor Freight $360
Chicago Electric 7.2 kw running 10 kw peak generator head Harbor Freight $300
1/2 inch plate steel to mount everything on $50
2 4" pulleys and belts (around $50 I think).
Total cost approximately $760.
Got everything assembled this weekend and did the first run from charcoal gas yesterday.
Test went extremely well. Haven’t made any changes to the gasifier since Argos. Still has the same charcoal in it. Lit it up, just barely touched the starter, and the generator fired right up. Tried running various loads including an air compressor, a mig welder, angle grinder, shop fan, etc. It handled all the loads with no problem.
Very pleased so far.
I will paste in the video shortly.
EDIT - Here it is:
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After the Test Run
I decided to go ahead and empty the gasifier out and check the condition of the nozzle. I expected that it was getting eroded because the heat lobe had moved closer to the front. Sure enough, the nozzle was about shot. I will post more about that in the “nozzle” thread.
I would make the following comments about this generator design:
For my intended application, I could have used a smaller gen-head. However, as it turns out, the harbor freight gen head was cheaper than smaller gen heads that I could source elsewhere.
If somebody really wanted to maximize the output of this setup, especially running on woodgas or charcoal gas, the 22HP V-Twin Predator engine would be a better choice. It could probably achieve full output of the gen head even when derated by 30% or more. However, the engine is about twice as expensive ($700).
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Nice set up.
Chris offered a good suggestion about finding a Geo Metro engine for the 10k gen head I have. I have looked in Craigslist and found some for about $200.
Did you load this generator down?
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