Honda GX390

Tiger Pressure Wash

Tiger Pressure Wash

New member
Had an engine go out on me.
I see where I can buy some online for $600-$700 but I was hoping someone knew where I could find used ones (engine, not machine).
I'm upgrading everything once season gets going again but I need my 2nd machine running for the 1st month or 2.
I guess any brand engine would work and not just honda since its going to be temporary.
 
I'll get you a price for a Chinese replacement Thursday.
 
Chris Francis said:
Rance have you used that engine before I have seen them at harbor frieght was thinking about building belt drive out that motor
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Chris, I'm pretty sure the Predator is made for HF by Lifan.

I have a red Lifan 15 HP on one machine and a red GX 390 on another. Swear to god, put tape over their names and I wouldn't be able to tell them apart other than the Honda has a chrome gas cap. Even the ignition box and ignition key on the Lifan says Honda.

I don't think Lifan even stocks parts in the USA. You just use Honda parts and Honda manuals.

This is from Lifan's website:

LIFAN began in China in 1991 as a small engine R&D Company with nine employees. One of its first customers was Honda, which LIFAN helped redesign and engineer the GX Series of engines. Our manufacturing process is much like that of Honda and we utilize many of the same outsourced suppliers of parts. Therefore, many of our parts are interchangeable with the GX Series of engines. LIFAN has now grown to over 14,000 employees with three separate divisions – the Power Sports Division, Power Equipment Division, and the Automobile Division. This company is a prime engine manufacturer with the core business in the Power Equipment Division being small gasoline and diesel engines. It is now one of the largest small engine manufacturers in Asia, building more than five million engines per year.


LIFAN is unmatched in its investment in research and development. This focus ensures quality engines, generators, pressure washers, and other equipment powered by our engines at an extraordinary value, making it truly “The Best Value in Today’s Equipment Market.” LIFAN presently holds over 3000 patents and continues to be an innovator in this industry. LIFAN offers value-driven products worldwide with distributions in over 100 countries. LIFAN is the largest privately owned company in China with sales in excess of one billion dollars annually. LIFAN Power USA prides itself in standing behind all LIFAN products with a comprehensive One-Year Commercial Warranty and a very comprehensive Three-Year Residential Use Warranty.
 
Rapid HotClean said:
Chris, I'm pretty sure the Predator is made for HF by Lifan.

I have a red Lifan 15 HP on one machine and a red GX 390 on another. Swear to god, put tape over their names and I wouldn't be able to tell them apart other than the Honda has a chrome gas cap. Even the ignition box and ignition key on the Lifan says Honda.

I don't think Lifan even stocks parts in the USA. You just use Honda parts and Honda manuals.

This is from Lifan's website:

LIFAN began in China in 1991 as a small engine R&D Company with nine employees. One of its first customers was Honda, which LIFAN helped redesign and engineer the GX Series of engines. Our manufacturing process is much like that of Honda and we utilize many of the same outsourced suppliers of parts. Therefore, many of our parts are interchangeable with the GX Series of engines. LIFAN has now grown to over 14,000 employees with three separate divisions – the Power Sports Division, Power Equipment Division, and the Automobile Division. This company is a prime engine manufacturer with the core business in the Power Equipment Division being small gasoline and diesel engines. It is now one of the largest small engine manufacturers in Asia, building more than five million engines per year.


LIFAN is unmatched in its investment in research and development. This focus ensures quality engines, generators, pressure washers, and other equipment powered by our engines at an extraordinary value, making it truly “The Best Value in Today’s Equipment Market.” LIFAN presently holds over 3000 patents and continues to be an innovator in this industry. LIFAN offers value-driven products worldwide with distributions in over 100 countries. LIFAN is the largest privately owned company in China with sales in excess of one billion dollars annually. LIFAN Power USA prides itself in standing behind all LIFAN products with a comprehensive One-Year Commercial Warranty and a very comprehensive Three-Year Residential Use Warranty.
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Interesting. Where did you purchase the LIFAN engine? Is it a good quality engine in your opinion?
 
Rance said:
No Chris I have not but I believe others here have. There is another thread here somewhere that these engines are discussed.
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I was talking to a guy from Maryland (Chesapeake Pro Wash?) and he has 2 of those about a year old and spoke highly of them. He made gear drive units out of them and ran an auxiliary fuel tank for both. Has a nice setup out of his truck bed.
 
The Predator engines are a great alternative to the Honda. As Chad said, we are currently running 2 of them with 5.5 gpm pumps. Although the overall quality isn't as good as the Honda, they have been very reliable engines. I wouldn't hesitate buying another. They run about half the price of the Honda and a 2 year full replacement warranty is available.
 
Really liking what I hear... I'll have to swing by harbor freight one day this week.
 
One word of caution. As with the GX 390 there are three models. The base engine is pull start and doesn't have an alternator. One step up gets an alternator and electric start, but the alternator doesn't put out enough juice to fire a 12V burner. Top of the line has an 18 amp alternator.

Home Depot sells Lifan (as Lifan) and smokes Harbor Freight prices. Base - $299, With ES - $369, With ES & 18 amps - $409.

The cheapest I've seen a Honda GX 390 with 18 amps is $838, which just over twice as much as the Lifan.

Lifan claims 15 HP, Honda claims 13 HP.

http://m.homedepot.com/s/Lifan/?searchtype=text
 
Russ Johnson said:
The Lifan 15 hp is 420cc, the 13 hp is 389cc.
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Hey Russ. Why do some places rate the gx390 as 11.7 hp? and some call it a 13 hp? and why is Kohler command 429 cc called a 14 hp? is their a real formula to come up with the right answer? or is it based on load or what? and can you put a bigger pump on the 420 cc.I might just go this route and toss that engine in the garage.
 
Rapid HotClean said:
One word of caution. As with the GX 390 there are three models. The base engine is pull start and doesn't have an alternator. One step up gets an alternator and electric start, but the alternator doesn't put out enough juice to fire a 12V burner. Top of the line has an 18 amp alternator.

Home Depot sells Lifan (as Lifan) and smokes Harbor Freight prices. Base - $299, With ES - $369, With ES & 18 amps - $409.

The cheapest I've seen a Honda GX 390 with 18 amps is $838, which just over twice as much as the Lifan.

Lifan claims 15 HP, Honda claims 13 HP.

http://m.homedepot.com/s/Lifan/?searchtype=text
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hey Ted you were having a problem with your LIfan engine a while back. Did you get it fixed? and what was the problem?

Getting it at home depot is a good idea, because you have a place to take it if it goes down.
 
Ralph Q said:
Hey Russ. Why do some places rate the gx390 as 11.7 hp? and some call it a 13 hp? and why is Kohler command 429 cc called a 14 hp? is their a real formula to come up with the right answer? Not really. A lot depends on carburetion and exhaust too. I took a 16 hp Vanguard, removed the governor, put straight pipes on it, and reamed the main jet in the carb for about 25 hp. Most modern engines are rated in either ccs or gross torque now, since horsepower varies from implement to implement.

or is it based on load or what? and can you put a bigger pump on the 420 cc.Sure. The 14 will do nearly 5 at 3000.I might just go this route and toss that engine in the garage.
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Might be best overall to do exactly that.
 
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