OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Honda Engines honda, worth it?

Hi all,
I know his can be a fairly controversial subject, but what is you opinion of the Chinese Honda copy engines. I have heard that allot of parts are interchangeable between the two engines. Also in my opinion the quality of Honda engines have slipped and I am now wondering wether or not it�s even worth paying 4 times more for the original over the copy (buy 3 copys in the time you have one original?).
thanks allot,
regards jay

Hi mowernut,
As you would know I have been a big fan of Honda small engines for quite a long time, however, all my experience has been with engines made in Japan, which have all been very reliable; just ask any contractor.
I think a lot of companies are setting up in China because of labour costs, but obviously the various alloys and metals used must come into question.....as would quality control...Just look at some of the latest Victa stuff to come from that direction.

Speaking of victa stuff I heard of a Chinese powertorque throwing a rod, How does a piece of metal that big break? They should have made it from their plastic over there.

Hi all,
My grandfather contracted with the same Honda I now have for 17 years!(hru194)the only ever problem was that in the end the base fell to pieces, but apart from the 3 monthly oil change he never even replaced the spark plug!
But his new Honda is no where near as good, it requires a new air filter every 3 weeks, and has leaked oil from the governor shaft from day one! The mower shop say its fine or it�s meant to!
But anyway I don�t know wether I would buy a copy over an entry level Honda. It seems here both practically the same now, I know you can even interchange the sumps between some!
Thanks
Regards Jay

hi again,
are they now making power torques over there?
another great aussi icon bites the dust! was it is some way conected to the american buy out?
regards jay

Jay they have been making the power torque engines in China for some years even before they sold the Company and that is one of the reasons why they got very little money when they sold it.

I absolutely agree, another Aussie icon bites the dust. Next our Holdens will be made in Asia.....

Hi all,
Darryl, they already 'source' the rodeo (now marketed as Colorado), barina and what ever that nasty 4wd is from Korea!
I can�t believe how little Australians actually own and manufacture. Statistics were produced a few years ago and it was something like 8%!!
Anyway I get mad thinking about it so I shall stop now!
Regards jay

Yes jay, I definately agree, I shudder to think of the future of Ozzie manufacturers.....What next!!

Dont forget the barina and other small 4cyl cars.


Quality of the imported Korean cars in my experience is poor.

Hi Joe, my next door neighbour just bought a Suzuki Swift and took delivery today; the build quality is nothing short of brilliant...a very tidy little vehicle......I wish I had one!!

G'day,
arnt the swift made in japan? or thought who knowes anymore! i know allot of people have had problems with thoes kia carnavals, and i dont believe any of these 'holdens' will prove any better!
all i know is i wouldnt touch them anyway!
regards Jay

I belive most of suzuki is still japanese,

When I was looking for a car a few years back I tried a korean excel, when engaged in gear it had so much slop in the gearstick you could littereally move it from first to fifth gear without disengaging anything.

I still think the new Honda motors are the best, most of the
contractors around here are still using them, these guys don't waste time buying rubbish.
I was at my local lawnmower shop last week ,a customer was looking at a new Honda mower the salesman said to the customer if it doesn't start first pull I'll give it to you for free.
Sure enough it started first pull.

The same lawnmower shop no longer sells new Victa mowers because of the poor build quality.

cheers gmax

Joe, I think most Korean cars have improved considerably since then. I drive a Korean car I bought new at the end of 2004, and I've been very happy with it. I had the Bowden cable that controls the driver's seat-slide latch replaced on warranty - a $10 part at retail pricing. Otherwise, no problems and the lightest, smoothest clutch and gearshift I've ever experienced (and I've driven quite a few cars over a lot of years). Incidentally, the second-best clutch and gearshift I've found was on a first-model twin-cam Corolla, way back when the twin-cam was their premium sports model.

One thing that I have heard about the Chinese clone Hondas/Fujis is that they don't have the cast iron sleeve that the originals do both Japanese and the Chinese made versions. It is interesting that the gxv 160 is now made in China but the the GSV 190 is made in the US.

nowadays if I was actually buying a mower for myself, I think I would definitely go for something older and second hand, a decent Briggs or victa motor from the 80's will be cheaper and outlast a lot of the junk on the market today.

LOL wouldn't you feel your heart sink if you were the salesman and for whatever reason it didn't go first pull.

I told the customer I would be a witness if it didn't start first pull