The 190cc BS engine on my Pony 16" tiller has finally crapped the bed and needs new rings at minimum, so it may be a good time to try a different engine on it. I'm considering either a used Honda GX or a new Lifan 212cc clone.
The GX200 (196cc) would be a modest increase in torque over the current BS and it's the largest "bolt-in" Honda engine. For a 270cc GX240 I'd have to find a two step pulley for a 1" shaft (not sure how specialized Troy-Bilt's pulley is). The GX240 is also an extra 20lbs of weight. Usually the heavier engines are bolted onto the tiller from the back of the engine to lower the mounting height and thus the center of gravity. I don't know how much of an issue it would be but a used GX240 costs about the same as a used GX200.
The Lifan 212cc is a drop in fit and would obviously offer more power than the GX200, but what about replacement parts ten years from now? I'd hate to lose a motor because of a damaged air housing which is not an uncommon occurrence on a tiller without a bumper. On the other hand if the extra 16cc results in better, faster tilling I could buy or try to fabricate a bumper and pray for clone longevity.
So I suppose the primary question is how much power is actually needed for a 16" tiller? Does anyone have any thoughts on how much power one can use on such a narrow tiller before it hits diminishing returns? The newest Pony tillers have 250cc engines but is that an engineering or a marketing decision?
Go with the Honda GX200. You won't have the headaches incurred by having to fabricate a larger engine. Dealer and parts support is excellent and you will have all the power that tiller needs or can handle.
