Harbor freight 173cc engine tested, quantified

[football]

I swapped one of these 173cc engines into a Toro Super Recycler (best mower ever made) about ten years ago. I removed a low hour 190cc Briggs flathead. Just becuase I wanted to tinker with something. The throttle was a useless feature for a mower. I drilled a hole into the throttle bracket and inserted a bolt so that the mower operated just like every other mower sold today; full throttle.

The 173cc engine ran perfect and had great power. I estimated it had 50% more power than the Briggs 190cc it replaced and also had 30-40% better fuel economy.

It’s a great engine. I probably paid $120 for it back then. Doubt I would pay $230 for one.

 

[oil pan 4]

I swapped one of these 173cc engines into a Toro Super Recycler (best mower ever made) about ten years ago. I removed a low hour 190cc Briggs flathead. Just becuase I wanted to tinker with something. The throttle was a useless feature for a mower. I drilled a hole into the throttle bracket and inserted a bolt so that the mower operated just like every other mower sold today; full throttle.

The 173cc engine ran perfect and had great power. I estimated it had 50% more power than the Briggs 190cc it replaced and also had 30-40% better fuel economy.

It’s a great engine. I probably paid $120 for it back then. Doubt I would pay $230 for one.

Yeah I was looting a dead relatives place a few weeks ago and found old harbor freight mailers showing the 173cc mower engine back in 2016. I believe I was $120.

 

[nwjones18]

Yeah I was looting a dead relatives place a few weeks ago and found old harbor freight mailers showing the 173cc mower engine back in 2016. I believe I was $120.

Its interesting the vertical motor got much more expensive but the horizontal motor for tillers is still around $100..

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Those Chinese are getting good at making small engines

 

[nascarnation]

Those Chinese are getting good at making small engines

Somebody at HF has imposed quality standards for sure. Those 212cc Predators are awesome for go karts. I think they copied a good basic OHV (not OHC) design from Honda and figured out manufacturing methods that produce consistent quality parts.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I agree. Had a 212cc Predator on a wheel leaf blower that I bought off of Amazon. ALWAYS started on 1st pull, and ran fantastic. Way better than any Briggs or Tecumseh I currently own on lawn mowers. Constant battle to get them going. I sold it , and bought 2 cycle back pack leaf blower. It was good on asphalt driveway, but not on grass since my back went south. I use to use it in the short grass. Sux to get old ......Still recovering from 2nd back surgery...UGH...