Honda engine life

[jrider]

I recently had to replace the Honda engine on my log splitter. My best guess is it had about 2,500 - 3,000 hours on it. I feel satisfied with the longevity but not sure if I should be or not. What kind of mileage have you put on yours.

 

[backhoelover]

you got you moneys worth out of it. that about right if you service it right, good job on making it last that long

 

[lone wolf]

Honda 13 hp on my splitter , dont know the hours but around 500 - 800 cords and still going.

 

[Sandhill Crane]

Which Honda engine did you have? What weight and brand oil did you use?

 

[lone wolf]

Which Honda engine did you have? What weight and brand oil did you use?

I think its a GX390 13 HP. Synthetic Mobil one oil.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I once saw a list of many of the common small engines at an industrial engine dealer. It had a number by each model for the "expected" life for those engines on the list, when used for HD work.

The Honda OHV was number two on the list and the expected hours was 2500...

The top of the list was a Kubota diesel at 4,000 hrs

Common cheapo motors like the flat head Briggs IC was 300 hrs.

The Kohler flat head was something like 1000 hrs. or 1500 I forget for sure.

As a side note, I was running a couple B&S IC powered 2" water pumps back then, and I kept meticulous records on them, changing the oil every 10 hours as was specified in the owners manual. By the time each one hit 300 hours, they started hard and were waaay down on power!

I finally gave up on those cheapo motors, and bought a gas powered Kubota pump, NOW that pump was/is MILES better than any other pump I had used at that time. I still have the Kubota pump and it's still working just fine, I wish I knew how many hours that gas powered Kubota motor has on it.

SR

 

[jrider]

I figure I have around 1000 cords on the old motor

 

[svk]

Somewhat OT but one time we toured a light house on Lake Superior and historically the four stroke generators used to power the lighthouse and adjacent residence were run nonstop then torn down and rebuilt every week. They kept two motors on hand to run each one every other week plus a whole heap of spare parts.

 

[svk]

I figure I have around 1000 cords on the old motor

That's pretty impressive.

@chucker has a splitter with a few hours on it. Hopefully he will comment on longevity.

 

[chucker]

in my book brigg's is king! 3 years ago finally had to replace my old 5 hrs on the splitter with well over a 2 thousand cords or 3000 working hours in it's short 25 year life span. briggs, intec 6 hrs. worth the $300.00 or so spent adapting to the dino. when you have a diamond, its worth a million ! when you get a piece of worth less junk, well you know what you have. the new engine so far is a shining lump of coal with a bright future ! FORD, chevy or dodge it's all the same take care of it!!!!!!

 

[chucker]

here's a good hours work of splitting green red oak or 2/3rds cord of 16/18" on a 6 hrs. intec briggs and an antique dino splitter.

 

[TimberWolf530]

You guys have snow already?

 

[WoodTick007]

I recently had to replace the Honda engine on my log splitter. My best guess is it had about 2,500 - 3,000 hours on it. I feel satisfied with the longevity but not sure if I should be or not. What kind of mileage have you put on yours.

Did you never change the oil or perhaps use discarded oil from your vehicles gas or diesel engines? That does not sound like many hours for an actual Honda. Perhaps it was a Chonda or some other type of clone. . . just because the engine tins look like a Honda does not mean it was an actual Honda.
Better luck with the choice of your next engine. . .for longer operation try a Robin or Kawasaki.

 

[jrider]

Did you never change the oil or perhaps use discarded oil from your vehicles gas or diesel engines? That does not sound like many hours for an actual Honda. Perhaps it was a Chonda or some other type of clone. . . just because the engine tins look like a Honda does not mean it was an actual Honda.
Better luck with the choice of your next engine. . .for longer operation try a Robin or Kawasaki.

Oil got changed but sometimes not as frequently as it should. I'm not too upset by the hours I got and it seems others think it was pretty good too. How many hours you think I should have got?

 

[chucker]

You guys have snow already?

no! this pic was taken early last spring/winter...

 

[svk]

Oil got changed but sometimes not as frequently as it should. I'm not too upset by the hours I got and it seems others think it was pretty good too. How many hours you think I should have got?

When you changed oil did you use small engine oil or regular auto oil? Small engine oil has extra detergents due to lack of filtration through an element filter.

 

[Streblerm]

It depends on the series. The gc engined are probably good for <500 hrs. The gx significantly more. I think that if you get 2000 hours out of any air cooled small engine you are doing really well.

 

[jrider]

When you changed oil did you use small engine oil or regular auto oil? Small engine oil has extra detergents due to lack of filtration through an element filter.

I've used both

 

[Sandhill Crane]

How hard is it to put an hour meter on these small engines? It would be so helpful.

 

[CR888]

How hard is it to put an hour meter on these small engines? It would be so helpful.

Its easy to fit a small tach/hr meter off the plug wire. But keeping them there not getting knocked off or damaged is a little harder. Possible though for about $20.