GCV160 Engine Seized - Questions on Replacement

[Duck_Hunter_117]

Hi all, I purchased a HRR216VKA mower 3 years ago and started having some issues with cut quality last year. It seemed like the engine just didn't have the power it used to. Fast forward to this summer and it finally quit. After mowing for 5 minutes or so the mower will lose so much power that it won't cut at all. When I shut the engine off to check it out the starter is stuck and I cannot get the engine to rotate. If I flip it over it takes way too much force to spin the blades while the engine makes a grinding noise. Once the engine cools down everything is fine for a couple minutes before the process repeats. I followed all maintenece procedures, changed the oil every 3 months etc.

Speaking with Honda last night I am 1 week out of warranty and since I didn't take it into a service center when I first started having issues I am on my own to fix the issue. I will not be putting in another Honda engine but instead will be getting on from Harbor Freight (link at bottom). My questions are what all is required to swap the motors? My biggest concern is the rear wheel drive and how that is handled. I am skilled mechanically so I'm sure I could just dig in and do it but wanted to check and see if other folks have any tips that may have done this before.

173 cc OHV Vertical Shaft Gas Engine - Certified for California

 

[gconti]

my experience with this was it is a direct fit, the harbor freight motors are clones of the Honda , they also run just as good, someone suggested even the Honda is made in china probably the same company. harbor freight is also great at returns if you see there will be a problem installing it just return it.

 

[robert@honda]

someone suggested even the Honda is made in china probably the same company..

All Honda lawnmower engines have been cast, assembled and sold from the Honda factory in Swepsonville, NC, since 1983. This of course includes all Honda mowers, as well as a number of other brands that buy and use Honda engines on their chassis.

Other engines made by Honda (larger V-twins for example) are made a completely owned and operated Honda plant in Thailand. A handful of engines are still made in Japan, but not many.

Clone engines are usually copies of Honda designs. Honda does not have any active patents on most of the GX-series motors, so anyone can make a copy of it. Where they get into trouble is when the paint it Honda red, or try and market it as "being made by Honda."

 

[DaveTN]

Just a comment on the engine seizing after getting hot. It might be the top crank bushing seizing due to lack of lubrication. I've seen this on several mowers that will start and run cold, but as it heats up it will sputter, lose power, stall out and die. Let it cool down and it will run for a short time and seize up again. Can't help you on the engine swap. Good Luck with it.

 

[Duck_Hunter_117]

I dropped the Predator engine in last night. It was very straight forward and didn't take more than 1 hour from start to finish. The most difficult part was just aligning the mounting holes, the new engine only uses 3 of the 4 holes in the deck. After the install the engine fired right up and sounded great. A little louder and a little more vibration than the Honda but... WOW! It has some serious power. Now I know just how unhealthy my Honda was.